Patents by Inventor Stein Slootmaekers

Stein Slootmaekers 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).

  • Patent number: 11938772
    Abstract: A system for grading filling of a suspension system includes: a pump control module configured to, during first and second periods, operate an electric pump of the suspension system in first and second directions and decreasing and increasing hydraulic fluid pressure within the suspension system, respectively; a monitoring module configured to: store a first pressure of hydraulic fluid within the suspension system measured using a pressure sensor when the first pressure is less than or equal a first predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the first direction; and store a second pressure measured using the pressure sensor when the second pressure is greater than or equal a second predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the second direction; and a grade module configured to determine a grade value for the filling of the suspension system based on the first and second pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Bert Vandersmissen, Nandish Calchand, Kylian Praet, Stein Slootmaekers, Peter Boon
  • Patent number: 11919355
    Abstract: A state module selectively sets a present state to a first state in a predetermined order of states; a valve control module determines first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and opens and closes the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump of the suspension system in a first direction and pump hydraulic fluid toward the suspension system; and a diagnosis module configured to: record first and second values of pressures within the suspension system measured using pressure sensors, respectively, before and after the operation of the electric pump in the first direction, respectively; and selectively diagnose faults in a first subset of the valves based on whether pressure increases occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Nandish Calchand, Stein Slootmaekers, Peter Boon
  • Publication number: 20240066938
    Abstract: A hydraulic fluid reservoir fluidly couple to a shock absorber. The hydraulic fluid reservoir having a flexible housing, a fluid channel, and a pump provided along the fluid channel. The flexible housing having a flexible wall defining a first interior, with the first interior a variable volume of hydraulic fluid and no air. The fluid channel fluidly coupling the first interior with the shock absorber. The pump being configured to move the flow of hydraulic fluid into or out of the flexible housing. The flexible housing being configured to move between a first position and a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: CARL OLOFSSON, STEIN SLOOTMAEKERS, JORIS VANWEZEMAEL
  • Patent number: 11912092
    Abstract: A system includes: a state module configured to selectively set a present state to a first state; a valve control module configured to determine first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and to open and close the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump in a first direction to increase hydraulic fluid pressure in a first portion of the suspension system; and a leak module configured to selectively diagnose a leak in a first one of the valves associated with the first state based on a first pressure in the first portion of the suspension system while the valves are open and closed according to the first target open and closed states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Bert Vandersmissen, Stein Slootmaekers, Peter Boon
  • Patent number: 11691474
    Abstract: A system for filling a tank of a suspension system with hydraulic fluid includes: a module configured to turn on an external pump and pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system, where the external pump is separate from the suspension system and is configured to pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system via a port fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of the suspension system; and a fill module configured to, after operating the external pump, operate a pump of the suspension system and pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic line into the tank of the suspension system thereby filling the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Boon, Stein Slootmaekers, Nandish Calchand, Bert Vandersmissen
  • Publication number: 20230111355
    Abstract: A system includes: a state module configured to selectively set a present state to a first state; a valve control module configured to determine first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and to open and close the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump in a first direction to increase hydraulic fluid pressure in a first portion of the suspension system; and a leak module configured to selectively diagnose a leak in a first one of the valves associated with the first state based on a first pressure in the first portion of the suspension system while the valves are open and closed according to the first target open and closed states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Bert VANDERSMISSEN, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Peter BOON
  • Publication number: 20230113777
    Abstract: A system for grading filling of a suspension system includes: a pump control module configured to, during first and second periods, operate an electric pump of the suspension system in first and second directions and decreasing and increasing hydraulic fluid pressure within the suspension system, respectively; a monitoring module configured to: store a first pressure of hydraulic fluid within the suspension system measured using a pressure sensor when the first pressure is less than or equal a first predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the first direction; and store a second pressure measured using the pressure sensor when the second pressure is greater than or equal a second predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the second direction; and a grade module configured to determine a grade value for the filling of the suspension system based on the first and second pressures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Bert VANDERSMISSEN, Nandish CALCHAND, Kylian PRAET, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Peter BOON
  • Publication number: 20230113913
    Abstract: A state module selectively sets a present state to a first state in a predetermined order of states; a valve control module determines first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and opens and closes the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump of the suspension system in a first direction and pump hydraulic fluid toward the suspension system; and a diagnosis module configured to: record first and second values of pressures within the suspension system measured using pressure sensors, respectively, before and after the operation of the electric pump in the first direction, respectively; and selectively diagnose faults in a first subset of the valves based on whether pressure increases occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nandish CALCHAND, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Peter BOON
  • Publication number: 20230115190
    Abstract: A system for filling a tank of a suspension system with hydraulic fluid includes: a module configured to turn on an external pump and pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system, where the external pump is separate from the suspension system and is configured to pump hydraulic fluid into the suspension system via a port fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of the suspension system; and a fill module configured to, after operating the external pump, operate a pump of the suspension system and pump hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic line into the tank of the suspension system thereby filling the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Peter BOON, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Nandish CALCHAND, Bert VANDERSMISSEN
  • Publication number: 20230115594
    Abstract: A rinsing system includes: a pump control module configured to, when a hydraulic line is connected to a port that is fluidly connected to a hydraulic line of a suspension system, selectively operate a hydraulic fluid pump of the suspension system and pump hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid tank of the suspension system through the hydraulic fluid pump toward the hydraulic line; and a valve control module configured to, when the hydraulic line is connected to the port and the hydraulic fluid pump is pumping hydraulic fluid, open valves of the suspension system and fluidly connect the hydraulic fluid pump with the hydraulic line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nandish CALCHAND, Bert VANDERSMISSEN, Kylian PRAET, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Peter BOON
  • Publication number: 20230110337
    Abstract: A system includes: a state module configured to selectively set a present state to a first state; a valve control module configured to determine first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and to open and close the valves of the suspension system according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump of the suspension system in a first direction and increase a pressure of hydraulic fluid in a first portion of the suspension system including an accumulator, where the valve control module is configured to decrease the pressure in the first portion after the increase; and a diagnosis module configured to selectively diagnose a fault in the accumulator based on a pressure during the decrease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nandish CALCHAND, Bert VANDERSMISSEN, Stein SLOOTMAEKERS, Peter BOON, Monzer AL SAKKA, Kylian PRAET
  • Publication number: 20230055142
    Abstract: A system for use in a vehicle, the system includes at least two hydraulic damper assemblies. The system includes a syringe pump in fluid communication with the hydraulic damper assemblies. The syringe pump includes a barrel having an opening. The syringe pump includes a plunger slidable within the barrel in a first direction that moves hydraulic fluid into the barrel via the opening and in a second direction that moves hydraulic out of the barrel via the opening. The system includes an actuator supported within the barrel and operatively coupled to the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: DRiV Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Stein Slootmaekers, Gert Mangelschots