Patents by Inventor Michael Patrick Lopez

Michael Patrick Lopez has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Steer-by-wire steering system with rotation limiter
    Patent number: 6896089
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system 10 for steering road wheels 40A and 40B on a vehicle. The steering system 10 includes a steering wheel 12 rotatable by an operator to command steering of the steered road wheels 40A and 40B, and a steering input shaft 16 mechanically linked to the steering wheel 12. A housing structure 14 is disposed proximate the steering input shaft 16. A male member 46 is provided on the housing structure, and a female receptacle 50 is formed in the steering input shaft 16 for matingly receiving the male member 46. The female receptacle 50 comprises a pair of end walls 52 and 54 for limiting rotational travel of the steering wheel 12. The steering system 10 further has an actuator 26 for rotating the wheels 40A and 40B on the vehicle in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Michael Patrick Lopez
  • Steer-by-wire steering system with rotation limiter
    Publication number: 20030146038
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system 10 for steering road wheels 40A and 40B on a vehicle. The steering system 10 includes a steering wheel 12 rotatable by an operator to command steering of the steered road wheels 40A and 40B, and a steering input shaft 16 mechanically linked to the steering wheel 12. A housing structure 14 is disposed proximate the steering input shaft 16. A male member 46 is provided on the housing structure, and a female receptacle 50 is formed in the steering input shaft 16 for matingly receiving the male member 46. The female receptacle 50 comprises a pair of end walls 52 and 54 for limiting rotational travel of the steering wheel 12. The steering system 10 further has an actuator 26 for rotating the wheels 40A and 40B on the vehicle in response to rotation of the steering wheel 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron L. Mills, Michael Patrick Lopez