With Electrical Control Patents (Class 180/422)
  • Patent number: 11874660
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle uses a secondary vehicle control system to supplement a primary vehicle control system to perform a controlled stop if an adverse event is detected in the primary vehicle control system. The secondary vehicle control system may use a redundant lateral velocity determined by a different sensor from that used by the primary vehicle control system to determine lateral velocity for use in controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform the controlled stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: AURORA OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ethan Eade, Nathaniel Gist, IV, Thomas Pilarski
  • Patent number: 11820441
    Abstract: An electromechanical steering system may include a reduction gearbox where a worm gear is mounted in first and second bearings rotatably about a longitudinal axis. Rolling elements are disposed between inner and outer rings of the bearings. The inner rings are rotationally fixed on a shaft driven by the worm gear. A spring element is disposed between the inner ring of the second bearing and the worm gear. The spring element has an at least partially annular main body that when installed extends coaxially with the longitudinal axis. Spring arms in a circumferential direction are spaced apart from the longitudinal axis emanating from an external circumferential side of the main body. A first spring arm has a first leg that points away from the longitudinal axis and a second leg on which a free end is disposed, with the second leg running at least partially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Andreas Bachmann, Felix Burger, Martin Graf, Dirk Möller
  • Patent number: 11745821
    Abstract: A straddled vehicle includes a vehicle body frame, a steering shaft supported by the vehicle body frame, a handlebar that includes a left grip and a right grip and is connected to the steering shaft, a steering wheel, and a steering assist device that applies assist force in a same direction as that of a steering torque that has been input to the handlebar by a rider to the steering shaft. The steering assist device causes the assist force to decrease as speed of the vehicle increases in a first vehicle speed zone and causes the assist force to increase as the speed of the vehicle increases in a second vehicle speed zone that is higher than the first vehicle speed zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Toyota, Nobuo Hara, Yukihide Fukuhara, Tatsuya Nagata
  • Patent number: 11691666
    Abstract: Power steering device has steering mechanism 2, power cylinder 29 having a pair of hydraulic chambers 29a, 29b divided by piston 31 and providing steering force to steering mechanism, torque sensor 11 detecting steering torque Tr of steering mechanism, rotary valve 30 selectively supplying working fluid supplied from pump 9 to the pair of hydraulic chambers according to relative rotation between input and output shafts, hollow shaft motor 10 providing steering force to input shaft, control unit 13 in which microcomputer is mounted, and torque command signal operating section 61 provided in control unit and configured to calculate torque command signal Tm* for driving and controlling electric motor 10 on the basis of the steering torque Tr and vehicle speed Vs and when vehicle speed is a predetermined vehicle speed or greater, set torque command signal to 0. With this, physical size of power steering device can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE STEERING SYSTEM JAPAN LTD.
    Inventor: Tatsuo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11584430
    Abstract: A hydraulic steering arrangement (1) comprising a supply port arrangement having a pressure port and a tank port, a working port arrangement having two working ports (L, R), a mechanical steering unit (3) connected to a steering wheel (2) and being arranged between the supply port arrangement and the working port arrangement (L, R), supply valve means (12) having a connection to the pressure port and to the working port arrangement (L, R) and being controlled by a controller (10), and a steering wheel sensor (9) connected to the controller (10) is described. Such a steering arrangement could allow a comfortable feeling for the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions ApS
    Inventors: Niels Bjarne Hansen, Søren Pedersen, Tom Rudolph, Jens Vester, Morten Hoeck Petersen, Thomas Traeger Hansen
  • Patent number: 11560173
    Abstract: A method (300) and control arrangement (210) for controlling a vehicle (100) to freewheel with engine off. The vehicle (100) has an engine (260) for propelling the vehicle (100) and a hydraulic power steering system (400). The hydraulic power steering system (400) comprises a primary power steering pump (270a) arranged to be driven by the engine (260) and a secondary power steering pump (270b). The method (300) includes: determining (301) when to start freewheeling the vehicle (100) with its engine off; and prior to starting the freewheeling of the vehicle (100) with engine off, determining (302) to start the secondary power steering pump (270b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Roos, Oscar Flärdh, Peter Karlsson
  • Patent number: 11554760
    Abstract: An automatic brake subsystem (24) includes second accumulators (25F, 25R), a front second line (28) and a rear second line (29), second brake valves (30F, 30R), a first solenoid switching valve (32), first shuttle valves (33F, 33R), and a controller 37. A second solenoid switching valve (34F) and a pressure sensor (35F) are provided in the front second line (28), and a second solenoid switching valve (34R) and a pressure sensor (35R) are provided in the rear second line (29). In a case where it is determined that each of the second brake valve (30F, 30R) is not performing normally based upon a pressure of a hydraulic fluid detected by each of the pressure sensors (35F, 35R) and an operating signal supplied to the first solenoid switching valve (32) or each of the second brake valves (30F, 30R), a controller 37 performs control to switch each of the second solenoid switching valves (34F, 34R).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takaaki Tanaka, Takanobu Ikari, Yasutaka Tsuruga, Takayuki Sato, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11465673
    Abstract: A power assisted steering system provides a gear reduction between a steering wheel and a steering mechanism and a much larger gear reduction between an electric motor and a steering mechanism. The system is back-driveable from the steering mechanism. The system utilizes a ball-screw, several helical gears, and two bevel gears. A rack fixed to the ball-screw nut drives a sector gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Kyle DeHoff, Nicholas Hrusch
  • Patent number: 11377140
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described herein for steer-by-wire (SBW) steering systems to detect an end-of-travel condition dynamically and generate responsive handwheel torque for a driver. According to one or more embodiments, a steer-by-wire steering system includes a first controller that generates a plurality of torque commands. Generating the plurality of torque commands includes generating a curb torque command in response to detecting a curb condition in which road wheels are stationary despite a change in handwheel position, and generating an end-of-travel torque command in response to detecting an end-of-travel condition. The steer-by-wire steering system further includes an arbitrator module that determines a notification torque command by arbitrating between the plurality of torque commands, which comprises the curb torque command and the end-of-travel torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Scott T. Sanford, Patrick M. Ryne, Nick M. Trewhella
  • Patent number: 11353867
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle uses a secondary vehicle control system to supplement a primary vehicle control system to perform a controlled stop if an adverse event is detected in the primary vehicle control system. The secondary vehicle control system may use a redundant lateral velocity determined by a different sensor from that used by the primary vehicle control system to determine lateral velocity for use in controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform the controlled stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Aurora Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Eade, Nathaniel Gist, IV, Thomas Pilarski
  • Patent number: 11332187
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cooling system for a system, such as an electric power assisted steering (EPAS) system and the components of such system, such as a motor. The cooling system includes a temperature sensor coupled to an electric motor of the EPAS system, one or more fluid reservoirs, and a fluid transfer device coupled to the motor and to the first fluid reservoirs. The fluid transfer device extends along a length of the motor. The cooling system further includes a pump coupled to the fluid reservoir and the fluid transfer device, a control unit coupled to the sensor and the pump. The control unit is configured to activate the pump in response to temperature detected by the sensor being greater than or equal to a first threshold motor temperature. The pump transfers the fluid in the fluid reservoirs to the fluid transfer device for absorbing the heat of the motor. The fluid transfer device is configured to contain the transferred fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Offerle, Jonathan Edward Gunger, Christopher Michael Paiva
  • Patent number: 11293787
    Abstract: In a housing structure for a steering apparatus, a first seal holding portion 50B is formed to a first sensor housing 50 and a second seal holding portion 51B is formed to a second sensor housing 51, and in a state in which the first sensor housing 50 is combined with the second sensor housing 51, a seal ring 55 is held between the first seal holding portion 50B and the second seal holding portion 51B, and recessed space parts 56A to 56D for storing moisture is formed on the radial outer side of the second seal holding portion 51B when viewed in the rotation axis of a steering shaft 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventor: Susumu Kimoto
  • Patent number: 11262737
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring a vehicle steering system are disclosed. An example monitoring system for a vehicle steering system may include a vehicle steering system comprising a rack, a pinion, and a steering column; a data acquisition circuit structured to interpret a plurality of detection values corresponding input sensors operationally coupled to the rack, the pinion, or the steering column; a data storage circuit structured to store specifications, and to buffer the plurality of detection values for a predetermined length of time. The example system may further include a timer circuit structured to generate a timing signal based on a first detected value of the plurality of detection values; a steering system analysis circuit to determine a steering system performance parameter in response to a relative phase difference and a response circuit structured to perform at least one operation in response to the steering system performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016, LLC
    Inventors: Charles Howard Cella, Gerald William Duffy, Jr., Jeffrey P. McGuckin, Mehul Desai
  • Patent number: 11247720
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle is disclosed, comprising a steering wheel unit, connected with a wheel unit. The steering wheel unit has a steering wheel angle sensor, a steering wheel actuator for setting a steering wheel target torque, and a steering wheel controller for actuating the steering wheel actuator. The wheel unit has a steering sensor for capturing at least one actual steering value, a wheel actuator for setting a target steering value, and a wheel controller. The wheel controller is designed to calculate a virtual torsion rod torque based on the target steering value and the actual steering value, to actuate the wheel actuator based on the calculated virtual torsion rod torque, and to transfer the calculated virtual torsion rod torque to the steering wheel unit. The steering wheel controller is designed to calculate the steering wheel target torque based on the transferred virtual torsion rod torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Christopher Kreis, Tobias Rüger
  • Patent number: 11235801
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for generating a damping torque in a magnetic torque overlay (MTO) steering system. An example method includes generating a damping torque based on a vehicle speed value, a handwheel velocity value, and a differential pressure value. The method further includes detecting an off-road condition, and in response, computing an off-road damping torque signal based on one or more of the vehicle speed value, the handwheel velocity value, the differential pressure value, and a handwheel angle value. The method also includes scaling the damping torque by the off-road damping torque signal in response to detecting the off-road condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 11214296
    Abstract: Steer-by-wire steering systems for vehicles and related methods are described herein. An example steer-by-wire steering system includes a steering wheel angle sensor to detect a current steering wheel angle (?) of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering actuator to generate a variable steering torque on a steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering angle sensor to detect a current steering angle (?) of the steerable wheel, and a steer-by-wire controller to process signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the steering angle sensor and control the steering actuator based on the signals. The steer-by-wire controller is configured to vary a transmission ratio between a change in the steering wheel angle (?) and a change in the steering angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Peter Engels, Oliver Nehls, Sergio Codonesu, Florian Rath
  • Patent number: 11150649
    Abstract: An abnormality detection device includes a sensor configured to detect an external environment of a vehicle and an electronic control unit configured to: detect a traveling state of the vehicle; acquire a control command value for the vehicle in automatic driving control, the vehicle being caused to travel automatically in the automatic driving control; determine, based on a difference between the traveling state and the control command value, whether the traveling state is abnormal; determine, based on a detection result from the sensor, whether the external environment is suitable for execution of the automatic driving control; and determine that an abnormality has occurred in an automatic driving system when it is determined that the traveling state is abnormal and it is determined that the external environment is suitable for the execution of the automatic driving control, the automatic driving system performing the automatic driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kunihito Sato, Nobuhide Kamata, Bunyo Okumura
  • Patent number: 11148716
    Abstract: Provided is a steering assistance device 1, wherein and a demarcation line detection unit 100 detects left and right lane demarcation lines for a lane in which a vehicle is travelingtravels. An assistance unit 11 performs steering assistance for of the vehicle so that the vehicle travels parallel to the left and right lane demarcation lines. If the vehicle is between the left and right lane demarcation lines and the angle formed by the a direction of travel of the vehicle and a line along the center between the left and right lane demarcation lines is equal to or less than a prescribed angle, a steering control unit 102 stops the steering assistance for of the vehicle by the assistance unit 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED
    Inventor: Teruhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11095115
    Abstract: A system includes a housing; and a breaker/relay device positioned in the housing, wherein the breaker/relay device is configured to interrupt a motive power circuit for an electrical vehicle system, where the housing is disposed on the electrical vehicle system, where the breaker/relay device includes a physical opening response portion responsive to a first current value in the motive power circuit, and a controlled opening response portion responsive to a second current value in the motive power circuit, where the physical opening response portion is structured to be adjustable to at least one adjustment operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventor: Brandon William Fisher
  • Patent number: 11084527
    Abstract: Method for monitoring the operation of a power steering system including a steering wheel, a servo motor and a monitoring module, characterized in that said method involves a step of determining at least one temporary limit value of a parameter, a step of estimating an additional value which an assistance functionality contributes to a setpoint value of the parameter, and a step of correcting the at least one temporary limit value by the additional value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Romain Moretti, Tahar Slama
  • Patent number: 11046359
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Steer-By-Wire system including: a torque sensor configured to sense torsion bar torque generated when the driver operates the steering wheel; a steering angle sensor configured to sense a steering angle of the steering wheel; a reaction motor configured to provide reaction force in a direction opposite an operating direction of the steering wheel; a state variable estimator configured to receive information on the torsion bar torque and the steering angle and configured to estimate a plurality of state variables from which disturbances have been removed; and a reaction controller configured to determine a reaction torque to be output from the reaction motor using the plurality of state variables estimated by the state variable estimator, and further relates to a control method thereof. Accordingly, it is possible to accurately recognize the driver's steering intention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donghoon Shin, SangJin Ko
  • Patent number: 11027774
    Abstract: Provided is an actuator for a steering system, which can be increased in degree of freedom for design change, regardless of a configuration change of a hydraulic power steering side. The actuator for a steering system comprises a transmission mechanism configured to transmit the rotation of a steering shaft to a steered wheel, a piston disposed in the transmission mechanism, and a pair of pressure chambers configured to generate a force acting to move the piston. The actuator for a steering system is disposed between a hydraulic power steering system, which imparts a steering force to the steered wheel along with the movement of the piston, and a steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: KNORR-BREMSE STEERING SYSTEM JAPAN LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiro Yoda, Takuya Ishihara
  • Patent number: 10983497
    Abstract: A motor control system includes a mechanical apparatus configured to be driven by a motor, a position detector configured to detect position information of the motor, circuitry configured to control the motor, at least one sensor configured to detect information relating to at least one of the mechanical apparatus and the motor, and an input and output device including input-and-output connectors. The position detector and the input and output device are connected to the circuitry through a same communication path. The at least one sensor is connected to the input-and-output connectors of the input and output device. The position information is configured to be transmitted from the position detector to the circuitry. The information relating to the at least one of the mechanical apparatus and the motor is configured to be transmitted from the at least one sensor to the circuitry through the input and output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventor: Isamu Matsumura
  • Patent number: 10953915
    Abstract: A hydraulic steering unit (1) is described comprising a supply port arrangement having a pressure port (P) connected to a main flow path (6) and a tank port (T) connected to a tank flow path (7), a working port arrangement having a left working port connected to a left working flow path (8) and a right working port (R) connected to a right working flow path (9), a bridge arrangement (14) of variable orifices (A2L, A2R, A3L, A3R) having a first left orifice (A2L) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the left working flow path (8), a first right orifice (A2R) connected to the main flow path (6) and to the right working flow path (9), a second left orifice (A3L) connected to the left working flow path (8) and to the tank flow path (7), and a second right orifice (A3R) connected to the right working flow path (9) and to the tank flow path (7). Such a steering unit should make steering comfortable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: DANFOSS POWER SOLUTIONS APS
    Inventors: Niels Arbjerg, Charles Anthony Bates, Poul Ennemark, Mogens Frederiksen, Casper Mikael Olesen
  • Patent number: 10922509
    Abstract: A label reading system that reads labels attached to packages placed on a conveyor vehicle while the conveyor vehicle passes through a label reading area includes a guide device that guides the conveyor vehicle toward the label reading area, by indicating a traveling speed and a traveling position set in advance so as to enable reading of the labels, and an information reading device that takes images of the labels in the label reading area, and reads information on the labels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daiji Sone, Katsuhiko Nagasawa, Keizo Fukushima
  • Patent number: 10858040
    Abstract: Methods for controlling a feedback torque actuator and at least one yaw and/or lateral vehicle state actuator in a steer-by-wire steering system include measuring an input signal with a sensor, determining from the input signal a measure of a torque applied by the driver via a steering wheel, transforming the measure to a desired yaw and/or lateral vehicle state, controlling the yaw and/or lateral vehicle state actuator for vehicle state control, and defining a steering-wheel torque to steering-wheel angle relation describing steering feel. If the vehicle position control results in a yaw and/or lateral vehicle state error, this error is transformed to a change in the steering-wheel torque to steering-wheel angle relation describing steering feel. This new steering feel relation is used as an input signal for controlling the feedback torque actuator in order for the driver to get feedback of the yaw and/or lateral vehicle state error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SENTIENT IP AB
    Inventor: Johan Hultén
  • Patent number: 10800446
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture are disclosed to modify a steering assist of a hydraulic power steering system. A disclosed method includes calculating modifier values based on sensor data of a vehicle, calculating a torque modifier value based on the modifier values, and generating a final torque assist based on the torque modifier value and a base torque assist, the final torque assist to be applied to a steering system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Gerard Offerle, Bradley G. Hochrein, Anand Naik
  • Patent number: 10794043
    Abstract: A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a pressure sensing unit, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator varies a steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is configured to be operated by an operator and to control the control valve when varying the steering angle. The pressure sensing unit senses a pressure produced by the hydraulic actuator. The force imparting component imparts an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the operation member. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the operation member based on a pressure value sensed by the pressure sensing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanori Ikari, Masanobu Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 10746682
    Abstract: A wireless sensor includes an antenna, a sensing integrated circuit (IC), and a power supply impedance altering element. The antenna is operable to receive an inbound radio frequency (RF) signal and to transmit an outbound RF signal. The sensing IC includes a power supply, a first power supply connection, and a second power supply connection. The power supply impedance altering element is coupled to the first and second power supply connections and is coupled to sense a condition of an item. The sensing IC is operable to detect an impedance change of the power supply based on an effect of the power supply impedance altering element. The sensing IC is further operable to convert the impedance change into a digital value that represents the condition of the item. The sensing IC is further operable to output, via the antenna, the digital value or a representation of the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: RFMicron, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian David Young
  • Patent number: 10747223
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle uses a secondary vehicle control system to supplement a primary vehicle control system to perform a controlled stop if an adverse event is detected in the primary vehicle control system. The secondary vehicle control system may use a redundant lateral velocity determined by a different sensor from that used by the primary vehicle control system to determine lateral velocity for use in controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform the controlled stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Aurora Innovation, Inc.
    Inventors: Ethan Eade, Nathaniel Gist, IV, Thomas Pilarski
  • Patent number: 10730549
    Abstract: An articulated work vehicle with linked front and rear frames includes a joystick lever, a force imparting component, a speed sensor, and a controller. The joystick lever is configured to change a steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame by operation by an operator. The force imparting component is configured to impart an assist force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever by the operator. The speed sensor is configured to sense speed of the work vehicle. The controller is configured to control the force imparting component so as to impart the assist force or the counterforce according to the speed sensed by the speed sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: KOMATSU LTD.
    Inventors: Yuita Takenaka, Masanobu Nakabayashi, Masanori Ikari
  • Patent number: 10689026
    Abstract: There is provided a control device for an electric power steering device, which determines an estimate of a steering angle instead of using an angle sensor when any abnormality is detected in the angle sensor to perform steering angle control using the determined estimate of the steering angle. When it is determined that the detected steering angle is normal based on a steering angle abnormality determination signal Flg_?h, a steering angle calculating section 201 outputs a steering-wheel angle ?h as an actual steering angle ?r, while when it is determined that the detected steering angle is abnormal, the steering angle calculating section 201 determines and outputs an estimate ?r of an actual steering angle using a past value Z?r of the actual steering angle under normal conditions, a motor relative angle ??m, and a relative twist angle ?? of a torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsubaki, Osamu Tatewaki
  • Patent number: 10661828
    Abstract: A system and a method for estimating a steering torque, may include receiving, in a controller, information including a value of a yaw rate and a value of a lateral acceleration of a vehicle collected in the vehicle in real time; determining and estimating, in the controller, a value of a rack force from the received information and a setting information using a predetermined model formula of estimating the rack force; and generating, in the controller, an estimated value of the steering torque according to an operation of a steering wheel of a driver from the estimated value of the rack force using a predetermined value of a gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Chan Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 10633019
    Abstract: A method for controlling rear wheel steering of a vehicle may include: determining, by a control unit, whether an error exists in rear wheel steering control input information received therein to control rear wheel steering of the vehicle; calculating, by the control unit, a rear wheel angle reduction rate for controlling rear wheels to neutral based on a yaw rate of the vehicle when it is determined that an error exists in the rear wheel steering control input information; and controlling, by the control unit, the rear wheels to neutral according to the calculated rear wheel angle reduction rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Bem Yoo
  • Patent number: 10625675
    Abstract: A lane departure judgment apparatus is configured to detect a lane-dividing line based on image information output from an image-capturing device that acquires an image of an area outside a vehicle, and to judge whether or not departure of the vehicle from the lane-dividing line occurs based on a distance between the vehicle and the lane-dividing line, wherein when an angle of the vehicle with respect to the lane-dividing line thus detected is constant, the distance between the vehicle and the lane-dividing line to be used to judge whether or not departure of the vehicle occurs is changed according to whether the vehicle is being driven on a road having a lane-dividing width that is greater than a predetermined width or on a road having a lane-dividing width that is smaller than a predetermined width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Clarion Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Imai, Masayuki Takemura, Shoji Muramatsu
  • Patent number: 10577016
    Abstract: An electric power steering system includes a control for providing a calculated torque assist demand in the event of failure of a steering wheel torque sensor. The control is responsive to one or more of a vehicle speed, a steering column position, a steering column velocity, a gear lever position, a vehicle yaw rate and a vehicle lateral acceleration for generating the calculated torque assist demand. The control is operable to modify the torque assist demand by providing one or more of (a) friction and inertial compensation, (b) vehicle oversteer compensation, (c) reverse motion compensation, (d) damping compensation and (e) self steer prevention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: Anand Naik, Arnold Spieker, Tim Sworn
  • Patent number: 10457370
    Abstract: A steering system on a marine vessel includes a steering wheel movable by a vessel operator to steer the marine vessel and a variable resistance device controllable to apply a variable resistance amount to resist movement of the steering wheel. The system includes a control unit that controls the variable resistance device to determine a baseline resistance amount based on vessel speed and/or engine RPM and detect at least a threshold change in angular position of the marine vessel. The control unit then controls the variable resistance device to prevent a decrease in the resistance amount below the baseline resistance amount or to increase the resistance amount above the baseline resistance amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Poirier, Scott M. Westpfahl
  • Patent number: 10260895
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a path of a vehicle includes: a path generating processor configured to generate a first path by searching for a path from a current location of the vehicle to a destination and generate a second path by searching for a path from a path deviation prediction area on the first path to the destination based on a request; a path deviation area extracting processor configured to extract the path deviation prediction area based on road attributes on the first path; and a path controller configured to determine whether to generate the second path based on a congestion level of a road around the vehicle and reset a driving path of the vehicle to the second path when path deviation occurs on the extracted path deviation prediction area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Tae Sung Choi, Keon Yup Chu
  • Patent number: 10246127
    Abstract: A rotational angle detecting device has a detecting element that detects a rotating magnetic field of a magnet that is variable according to a rotation of a motor. A rotational angle calculator calculates a rotational angle and a rotation number. A power supply failure determining circuit has a volatile memory that stores power supply failure information indicating that power supply failure occurs in which electric power is not supplied to the rotational angle detecting device from a battery. A communication portion outputs the rotational information and output information corresponding to the power supply failure information to the controller. The communication portion receives a notifying signal after the controller receives the output information indicating that the power supply failure occurs. The volatile memory stores the power supply failure information indicating that the power supply failure occurs after the power supply failure occurs until the communication portion receives the notifying signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaharu Kozawa, Toshihiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 10216198
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to perform observer based control of a vehicle are disclosed. An example apparatus includes an error module to calculate a difference between a first state of a vehicle and a second state of the vehicle, the second state based on a measurement from a sensor, an observer module todetermine a third state of the vehicle based on the difference, a baseline control module to generate a first command based on the third state, and a vehicle module to execute the first command to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Eugene Lavretsky, Kevin Andrew Wise
  • Patent number: 10202986
    Abstract: A hydraulic drive system (1) including a meter-in compensator (37) and a bleed-off compensator (42) comprises a plurality of sensors (64 to 68), a controller (62), and an outlet pressure switching valve (61). The controller (62) determines whether or not the state of a wheel loader (2) which is detected based on the signals output from the sensors (64 to 68) meets a predetermined steering limiting condition. When the controller (62) determines that the state of the wheel loader (2) meets the steering limiting condition, it outputs a command signal to the outlet pressure switching valve (61). The outlet pressure switching valve (61) reduces the flow rate of the hydraulic oil flowing to steering cylinders (18L, 18R), in response to the command signal in such a manner that the flow rate becomes lower than that corresponding to the operation amount of a handle of a steering device (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: KCM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Tanaka, Hiroyasu Kodera
  • Patent number: 10173719
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus that calculates a first current command value based on at least a steering torque and performs an assist-control of a steering system by driving a motor based on the first current command value, including: a configuration of a model following control including a viscoelastic model as a reference model within a predetermined angle at front of a rack end, wherein an offset is given to input or output of the viscoelastic model for preventing an overheat, resulting in suppressing a rack end hitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Sakaguchi, Toshikazu Onoe
  • Patent number: 10171023
    Abstract: A motor starter apparatus includes at least one semiconductor switch configured to selectively couple a power source to a motor, at least one current sensor configured to generate a current sense signal indicative of a current provided via the at least one semiconductor switch, and a control circuit coupled to the at least one current sensor and configured to cause the at least one semiconductor switch to momentarily couple the power source to the motor and identify a fault based on a behavior of the current sense signal in response to the momentary coupling. The control circuit may be configured to identify the fault responsive to detecting that a rate of change of the current in response to the momentary coupling meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Lee VanEyll, Benjamin Stewart Wells, Gary Bruce Tweed
  • Patent number: 10160483
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a retainer assembly for a power steering assist system is provided. The retainer assembly includes a retainer having an inner wall defining an opening, at least one permanent magnet coupled to the retainer, and at least one spiral channel formed in the inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason A. Dutsky, Sheri L. Bachynski, John W. Kalmar
  • Patent number: 10144407
    Abstract: A method and system of controlling a configuration of a vehicle power-assisted steering (PAS) system is provided. The method includes detecting at a vehicle a change between two-wheel-drive driveline operation and four-wheel-drive driveline operation; accessing a pre-defined PAS profile stored at the vehicle based on the detected change; and operating the vehicle PAS system using at least one variable included in the PAS profile in response to the detected change in driveline operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited
    Inventors: Nick Temple, Craig Edwards, John Kewley, Anthony Whittle
  • Patent number: 10017367
    Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic operation device, a supply passage, a drainage passage, an unloading valve that connects the supply passage and the drainage passage to each other, and a controller that controls open/closed state of the unloading valve. If an on-load period at the time of application of load on the engine is less than a first predetermined time, the controller performs open/close control of causing the unloading valve to enter the closed state to set an on-load state, thereby increasing pressure of hydraulic oil passing through the supply passage and then causing the unloading valve to enter the open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Yukikazu Koide
  • Patent number: 10005488
    Abstract: A steering assistance actuator for a vehicle includes a actuator shaft, a torque sensor, a motor, a drive mechanism and a drive housing. The actuator shaft is rotatable about a first axis. The actuator shaft includes an integral torque sensor. The motor has an output shaft rotatable about a second axis. The second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis. The drive mechanism is disposed between and drivingly connects the motor and the steering column. The drive mechanism provides a speed reduction from the motor to the actuator shaft. The drive housing encloses the torque sensor and the drive mechanism and is separate from a steering gear. The drive housing also has a mounting feature to which a housing of the motor is fixed. The drive housing also has a first bearing and a second bearing rotatably supporting the actuator shaft in the drive housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley G. Hochrein, Jack E. Barry, James Philip Cooper, Alex Parker, Joseph Washnock, Salvador Toledo, Timothy Patrick Diez, Thomas Philip Flanagan
  • Patent number: 9937951
    Abstract: A reference position in a power steering system is defined by acquiring a first edge position corresponding to a first edge of a first index pulse generated when a movable steering member passes an indexed position in a first movement direction; acquiring a second edge position corresponding to a second edge of a second index pulse generated when the movable steering member passes the same indexed position in a second movement position opposite the first movement direction; and calculating the reference position from the first edge position and the second edge position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Romaric Pregniard, Christophe Ravier, Xavier Palandre
  • Patent number: 9902401
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a road profile along a predicted path. In one implementation, a system includes at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of a user vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the image capture device through the data interface; and compute a profile of a road along one or more predicted paths of the user vehicle. At least one of the one or more predicted paths is predicted based on image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Itay Blumenthal, Nadav Shaag
  • Patent number: 9889846
    Abstract: The vehicle behavior control device is designed to control a behavior of a vehicle having steerable front road wheels. The vehicle behavior control device comprises a PCM configured to perform control to reduce a torque for the vehicle according to a steering speed of the vehicle, and acquire an understeer-causing state of the vehicle which is a factor causing understeer, wherein the PCM is further configured to perform control to, after reducing the torque, increase the torque at a change rate decided based on the understeer-causing state of the vehicle acquired by the PCM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu