With Electric Power Assist Patents (Class 180/443)
  • Patent number: 11964714
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls a motor used to turn a steered wheel of a vehicle, which synchronizes with a steering wheel, based on a command value. The steering control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to compute a feedback control torque to be reflected in the command value. The electronic control unit is configured to compute a disturbance torque based on the feedback control torque and a predetermined angle. The electronic control unit is configured to correct the feedback control torque by using the disturbance torque. The electronic control unit is configured to correct the command value reflecting the corrected feedback control torque, based on an applied torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Inden, Terutaka Tamaizumi
  • Patent number: 11958544
    Abstract: A control device for an electric power steering device includes an inverter converting direct current voltage into alternating current voltage, and apply to a synchronous motor; and a controller for converting three-phase current flowing in the synchronous motor into d-axis and q-axis currents, performing proportional integral control for a deviation between q-axis current command and the q-axis current so that the q-axis current follows the q-axis current command, to calculate q-axis voltage command, performing proportional integral control to calculate d-axis voltage command, converting the d-axis and q-axis voltage commands into three-phase voltage command, and controlling the inverter based on the three-phase voltage command. A q-axis proportional gain used in the proportional integral control for the q-axis current is obtained using a time constant of a q-axis current control system, a q-axis or d-axis inductance, and a constant greater than zero and less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Yu Hirotani
  • Patent number: 11955874
    Abstract: An electric powered work machine includes an inverter circuit, a power-source-side switching element, a power-source-side resistor, at least one circuit-side resistor, and a fault determiner. The power-source-side switching element is arranged between a direct-current power source and the inverter circuit. The power-source-side resistor is connected in parallel to the power-source-side switching element. The circuit-side resistor is connected to the inverter circuit in such a state that electrical conduction is possible between a positive side and a negative side of the direct-current power source in the inverter circuit in a case where semiconductor switching elements in the inverter circuit are all OFF. The fault determiner determines whether the switching elements are short-circuited based on a voltage at a connection point between the power-source-side switching element and the inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11945520
    Abstract: A steering system has a steering rod longitudinally displaceable in a housing and a steering motor acting on the steering rod via a ball screw drive. The steering rod has a recirculating ball thread interacting via spherical transmission elements with a transmission nut driven by the steering motor and that is rotatably mounted by a bearing arrangement with a pivot bearing having an inner ring to which a mechanism wheel is fixedly attached. The transmission nut is pivotably mounted on the mechanism wheel about a pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the steering rod, and has a curved joint section which interacts with a curved joint section of the mechanism wheel to form a pivoting bearing. In order to realize low-friction movement capability of the pivoting bearing, at least one of the joint sections has a sliding coating, and/or a lubricant is arranged between the joint sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frederik Schubert, Thomas Poetzl
  • Patent number: 11945496
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a shaft, a first gear, first and second motors. The shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and is configured for attachment of a steering wheel at one end. The first gear is connected to and configured to rotate with the shaft. Each of the first and second motors have an output driving a respective output gear. The output gears are engaged with the first gear, and there being control means configured to operate the motors in a first mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in opposite directions and a second mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 11939013
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering control device capable of reducing a steering amount while securing operability of a driver according to a traveling condition. A steering control device 61 forming a steer-by-wire system, which has no physical connection between a steering shaft by a driver and an actual steered angle of a vehicle wheel, the steering control device including an actual steered angle calculation unit 74 that determines the actual steered angle based on a steering angle and a steering torque generated on the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd
    Inventors: Shinya Kasai, Kotaro Shiino, Junya Takahashi, Masaru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11939010
    Abstract: A method for vehicle stabilization includes, in response to a determination that a fault occurred in a rear steering mechanism, identifying a fault type associated with the fault. The method also includes determining whether a position of a rack of the rear steering mechanism is controllable based on the fault type. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is controllable, selectively positioning the rack to a center position and holding, using a motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in the center position. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is not controllable, holding, using the motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in a current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Michael A Eickholt, David P. Holm, Rakesh Mitra
  • Patent number: 11919582
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for lateral control of a steering system includes identifying at least one parameter of at least one lateral control feature that results in an optimized value in an outcome of control for a lateral control feature enabling robustness to an uncertainty; adaptively adjusting an output control signal generated by a vehicle trajectory controller coupled to the steering controller, by quantifying the uncertainty of an uncertain value in a lateral control feature; and sending a control command including at least a torque control or a wheel angle control to compensate for the uncertainty of the at least one uncertain value in the configuration of components of an electronic power steering (EPS) system associated with the vehicle variant by correcting at least one parameter of the at least one lateral control feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Ashraf Abualfellat, Brian Porto
  • Patent number: 11919568
    Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
  • Patent number: 11921484
    Abstract: A safety rated robotic motor control system may be configured to receive sensor data from sensors positioned on a motor. The data can be received by a programmable logic device and processed to generate a fault message based on a first set of characteristics. The fault message and the data can be transmitted to a safety controller that determines a second set of characteristics and generates operating instructions based on the fault message and the second set of characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Croyle, Sean Garcen, Craig Ropi, Joshua Zarr
  • Patent number: 11913523
    Abstract: The precessional gear transmission comprises a body, a satellite wheel with two bevel gear rings driven by a crankshaft in sphero-spatial motion around a fixed point, two central bevel wheels, one immobile fixed in the body and the other mobile mounted on a driven shaft. The teeth of the gear rings have a circular arc flank profile, those of the central bevel wheels are variable curvilinear. The configuration of the parameters of angles, the number of teeth, the ratio of the numbers of teeth of the mating wheels in the gears and the radius of the circular arc of the teeth profile of the gear rings determines the geometry and the kinematics of the contact of the teeth, the degree of frontal overlap, expressed by the number of simultaneously engaged pairs of teeth and defines the pressure angle between the mating flanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Viorel Bostan, Ion Bostan, Maxim Vaculenco
  • Patent number: 11897553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to steering apparatuses, and more specifically, to torque estimation apparatuses, and steering assist apparatuses and methods. The torque estimation apparatus can include a first estimator for estimating an eccentric mass of a steering wheel, and a second estimator for estimating an eccentric torque of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donghoon Shin
  • Patent number: 11897555
    Abstract: A steering control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect an absolute steering angle, to calculate a current command value, to control driving of a motor such that an actual current value which is supplied to the motor reaches the current command value, to store an end-position-corresponding angle which is correlated with the absolute steering angle, to perform end contact relaxation control for correcting the current command value such that a decrease of an end separation angle is regulated when the end separation angle is equal to or less than a predetermined angle, and to calculate the current command value such that an increase of the end separation angle is not regulated by the end contact relaxation control when the end separation angle is equal to or less than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Toko, Nobuaki Kataoka, Takafumi Yamaguchi, Yukinobu Ezaki
  • Patent number: 11891074
    Abstract: A remote driving device configured to remotely operate a vehicle includes a remote operation device, a reaction force unit, a receiver, and a processor. The remote operation device is operated by an operator in order to remotely operate the vehicle. The reaction force unit is configured to generate an operation reaction force to be applied to the remote operation device. The receiver is configured to receive a parameter affecting vehicle characteristics of the vehicle from the vehicle. The processor is configured to control the reaction force unit so as to generate a magnitude of the operation reaction force according to the received parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Akatsuka, Toru Takashima, Satoru Niwa, Takashi Suzuki, Rio Suda, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hojung Jung
  • Patent number: 11891130
    Abstract: Provided is a feature which allows an electric power steering device to improve the steering feel. The electric power steering device includes: a basic control amount calculating section configured to calculate a basic control amount corresponding to steering by a driver; a frictional force calculating section configured to calculate, by using a friction model, a frictional force corresponding to a wheel angle-related value, which is a value relating to a wheel angle of a steering device, and calculate a friction-originated control amount, which originates from the calculated frictional force; and a control amount calculating section configured to calculate a steering control amount in accordance with the basic control amount and the friction-originated control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Minakawa, Miki Kohso
  • Patent number: 11878733
    Abstract: A steering control device according to the present invention is configured to obtain information on a parking position of a vehicle obtained by an external world recognition unit, and to output, based on the obtained information on the parking position, an instruction for moving a rear portion of the vehicle to a set position in a parking width direction to a rear-wheel steering device configured to control a steered angle of rear wheels of the vehicle. With this configuration, even when a timing or an angle for operating a steering wheel by a driver is not appropriate, or even when a steered angle of front wheels is limited, parking of the vehicle at the predetermined position in the parking width direction is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakano, Tomoaki Fujibayashi, Kazuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11872996
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle having a first control unit and having a first power electronics unit connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the first control unit for supplying power to a first actuator in normal operation of the control system. In order to ensure proper operation of a control system for a motor vehicle, even in the event of a fault, the control system has a backup control unit and a backup power electronics unit connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the backup control unit for supplying power to the first actuator in a first backup operation of the control system. The backup control unit is connected to the first control unit in a signal-transmitting manner. The control system is transferred from normal operation to the first backup operation as a function of the arrival in the backup control unit of a fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Nikolaus Decius, Julian Eckstein, Sergey Orlov, Peter Grabs, Matthias Korte, Pascal Vollmer, Heiko Lerch, Michael Claus, Fridolin Bauer, Juergen Gebert, Florian Oszwald
  • Patent number: 11866106
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine rack force are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a rack to couple to a steering knuckle of a vehicle, a ball nut engaged with the rack, a first ring gear coupled to the ball nut, a first pinion fixed to a motor, the first pinion engaged with the first ring gear, the motor to rotate the ball nut to move the rack, a motor encoder to detect a rotation of the first pinion, a second ring gear coupled to the ball nut, and a sensor fixed to a second pinion, the second pinion engaged with the second ring gear, the second pinion to rotate as the second ring gear rotates, the sensor to detect a rotation of the second pinion, the rotation of the second pinion and the rotation of the first pinion corresponding to a force on the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Washnock
  • Patent number: 11861054
    Abstract: A robot and a method for controlling the robot detects a theft of the robot based on posture information for a main body of the robot and position information of the robot. Operation of the robot is restricted depending on whether a theft of the robot is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyungman Yu, Jongil Park, Seungin Shin
  • Patent number: 11851121
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vibration of a steering wheel may include: a judder compensation logic unit configured to calculate judder compensation torque for removing a judder which occurs in a steering wheel of a vehicle, based on one or more of a motor current, vehicle speed and vehicle wheel speed; and a judder compensation diagnosis unit configured to determine an operation state of the judder compensation logic unit based on one or more of the vehicle wheel speed, steering torque and a brake state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Hyuk Kim, Pil Woo Lee, Kwang Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 11851101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power assisting steering system for a vehicle having at least a first and a second steered wheel, the system comprising a control unit configured to receive input on a desired change of steering angle, a first and a second power generating device configured to provide power assisted steering for turning the first and the steered wheel, respectively. The control unit, in response to the received input, is configured to alternatingly activate and deactivate the first and second power generating device, respectively, so as to repeatedly and alternatingly provide power assistance to the first and the second steered wheel as the first and second steered wheels are turned to achieve the desired change of steering angle. The invention also relates to a method of operating a power assisting steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jesper Blomstrand, Anders Petersson, Ahmed Abbas
  • Patent number: 11840296
    Abstract: A steering control device includes a control unit configured to control at least an operation of a steering-side motor. The control unit is configured to calculate a target reaction torque; calculate a difference axial force that is used to limit steering for turning the turning wheels in a predetermined direction, the difference axial force being reflected in the target reaction torque; and set a reference angle to one of a steering angle and a turning angle, set a converted angle to an angle obtained by converting another of the steering angle and the turning angle according to a steering angle ratio, and calculate the difference axial force based on a difference between the reference angle and the converted angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Namikawa, Satoshi Matsuda, Tomoyuki Iida, Yoshio Kudo, Masaharu Yamashita, Kenji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11840295
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft; a motor configured to generate a torque applied to the steering shaft; and a control unit configured to control the motor. The control unit has a function of performing steering angle feedback control for causing a steering angle that is a rotation angle of a steering wheel to reach a target steering angle that is set based on a point of view of adjusting a rotational position of the steering wheel, as an adjustment process of adjusting the rotational position of the steering wheel. The control unit is configured to set a limit value for limiting a change range of the target steering angle with respect to the steering angle at each moment in a period in which automatic rotation of the steering wheel is hindered in a case where the automatic rotation is hindered while the adjustment process is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Uchino, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11842225
    Abstract: A method for distributed processing includes receiving an idle time and at least one task execution characteristic corresponding to each respective processor of a plurality of processors, wherein at least one processor of the plurality of processors is remotely located from other processors of the plurality of processors. The method also includes identifying a target processor of the plurality of processors to execute a task based on the idle time and the at least one task execution characteristic of the target processor. The method also includes communicating, to the target processor, a task request requesting the target processor execute the task and, in response to receiving a communication from the target processor indicating acceptance of the task, communicating, to the target processor, instructions for executing the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Story, Keyur R. Patel, Farhad Bolourchi, Joachim J. Klesing, Mariam S. George, Peter D. Schmitt, Larry J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11834115
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft; a reaction motor; and a control unit configured to control the reaction motor. The control unit has a function of performing a correction process of rotating the steering wheel using the reaction motor such that a displacement in a rotational position of the steering wheel with respect to a correct rotational position corresponding to a turning position of the turning wheels decreases when a power supply of the vehicle is turned on and the rotational position of the steering wheel is different from the correct rotational position. The control unit is configured to perform the correction process when the displacement is equal to or greater than a predetermined permissible value and not to perform the correction process when the displacement is less than the permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Uchino, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11827231
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes an actuator control module and a damping ratio module. The actuator control module is configured to control an actuator of a vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a yaw maneuver by rotating about its yaw axis. The damping ratio module is configured to determine a damping ratio based on an operating parameter measured during the yaw maneuver. The operating parameter includes at least one of a yaw rate of the vehicle, a yaw rate of a trailer connected to the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the trailer, a heading angle of the vehicle, and a hitch angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Lin, Bo Yu
  • Patent number: 11828623
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a steering apparatus including a sliding shaft that is built into a shaft housing and linearly moves in the axial direction, a shaft coupling member coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the sliding shaft and axially sliding together with the sliding shaft inside the shaft housing, a magnet coupling member having a built-in magnet inside, coupled to the shaft coupling member, and axially sliding together with the sliding shaft inside the shaft housing, a sliding support member fixed to the shaft housing and slidably coupled to the magnet coupling member at a lower end thereof, and a sensor member coupled to the sliding support member and to which a sensor for detecting a magnetic field change of the magnet and a circuit board are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyungsub Shin, Han Sang Chae
  • Patent number: 11822955
    Abstract: A method for dynamic software management includes receiving, at a source processor, an idle time and at least one task execution characteristic of corresponding to respective processors of one or more other processors. The method also includes identifying a target processor of the one or more other processors capable of executing a task associated with the source processor based on the idle time and the at least one task execution characteristic of the target processor. The method also includes communicating, to the target processor, a task request requesting the target processor execute the task associated with the source processor. The method also includes, in response to receiving a communication from the target processor indicating acceptance of the task, communicating, to the target processor, instructions for executing the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Story, Keyur R. Patel
  • Patent number: 11814117
    Abstract: Described herein are steer-by-wire systems and methods of operating these systems in vehicles. A steer-by-wire system comprises a steering wheel assembly, comprising a steering wheel, sensors, and a torque generator. The system comprises a rack assembly, comprising a steering rack, sensors, and a rack actuator. The steering wheel assembly and the rack assembly are communicatively coupled by a steer-by-wire system controller, without having any direct mechanical links between the assemblies. In some examples, the controller instructs the rack assembly to control the steering rack position based on the steering input, such as changes in the steering wheel position. A steering map is used to determine the desired steering rack position based on the current steering wheel position. In some examples, a steering map is selected from a steering map set based on, e.g., the vehicle speed, vehicle direction, driver preference, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Narasimhan, Paolo E. Pucci
  • Patent number: 11814121
    Abstract: A steering device includes a steering shaft, a motor, a stopper mechanism, and a controller. The controller is configured to execute a first process and a second process when a determined condition is established. The first process includes causing the steering wheel to operate to a first operation end through control of the motor and thereafter operate in reverse to a second operation end. The second process includes computing a neutral position of the steering wheel based on a rotational angle of the motor at a time when reverse operation of the steering wheel is started and at a time when the reverse operation of the steering wheel is ended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Uchino, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11797010
    Abstract: A device for autonomous drive of a wheel-equipped apparatus, the wheel-equipped apparatus including a drive component operationally connected to a control component adapted to control the drive component, the control component being adapted to be operated manually by a user, the device being adapted to be operationally connected to the drive component, the device having storage adapted to store at least one electric signal corresponding to at least one manual control operated by the user on the control component, and wherein the device is adapted to autonomously control the drive component, as an alternative to the control component, by way of the at least one electric signal stored in the storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Alba-Robot SRL
    Inventor: Andrea Bertaia
  • Patent number: 11784605
    Abstract: A motor driving apparatus that drives a motor including a plurality of windings respectively corresponding to a plurality of phases, may include a first inverter including a plurality of first switching elements, and connected to a first end of each of the windings; a second inverter including a plurality of second switching elements, and connected to a second end of each of the windings; and a controller including a current controller to produce, based on a predetermined current command of the motor, a voltage command for determining a switching duty of the first switching elements and the second switching elements, wherein the current controller is configured to produce a zero-phase component voltage command among the voltage commands by applying 3rd harmonic feedforward compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yong Jae Lee, Jang Yoon Jeong, Jae Ho Hwang, Jung Mo Yu
  • Patent number: 11772636
    Abstract: A parking assist apparatus uses vehicle information and the recognition result of a peripheral recognition unit to calculate a plurality of patterns of parking paths, in which the radius of curvature of each of the arcs included in the parking paths is differentiated, as parking paths to park a vehicle at a parking area, by a parking path calculation unit. In addition, the parking assist apparatus selects, among the plurality patterns of parking paths, a parking path with both a minimum number of times of driving operations for changing an advancing direction of the vehicle from forward to reverse or reverse to forward, and the radius of curvature of the arc that is largest, by a parking path selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Faurecia Clarion Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Ishinoda
  • Patent number: 11746871
    Abstract: A method for mitigating torque steer in a vehicle having a steering axle with a limited slip differential and a pair of output members. The limited slip differential includes a pair of differential outputs and a clutch. The method includes: operating the limited slip differential with the clutch in the first condition; determining that the vehicle is in a state in which a torque steer condition is occurring or is likely to occur; and operating the clutch to reduce a torque differential between the differential outputs to mitigate the torque steer condition. A vehicle with a steering axle and a controller that is configured to operate a clutch in the steering axle to attenuate torque steer is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Weston, Jonathan Michael Graves, Andrew Monticello, Brent Clark
  • Patent number: 11745706
    Abstract: In motion control in the present invention, operation amounts relating to braking and drive are set as a control command when a difference between a physical quantity relating to a target vehicle attitude which is based on a target trajectory and a physical quantity relating to a linear model vehicle attitude which is based on a linear model of a vehicle exceeds a threshold value, operation amounts relating to braking and steering are set as the control command when the difference is equal to or smaller than the threshold value, and an attitude of the vehicle in a yaw direction is controlled based on the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11738799
    Abstract: A system includes a steering-system motor, a first electronic control unit (ECU) and a second ECU each electrically connected to the steering-system motor, a communication line directly communicatively connecting the first ECU and the second ECU, and a gateway module communicatively connecting the first ECU to a controller area network (CAN) bus and communicatively connecting the second ECU to the CAN bus. The first ECU is programmed to, upon detecting a fault, transmit a fault code to the second ECU via the communication line and via the gateway module. The second ECU is programmed to, upon detecting a fault, transmit a fault code to the first ECU via the communication line and via the gateway module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohamad Wajih Issam Farhat, Steven R. El Aile
  • Patent number: 11731700
    Abstract: A computer includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to determine a planned curvature of a planned path of a vehicle, determine a friction-compensation torque based on image data received from a camera of the vehicle, and control a steering system of the vehicle based at least in part on the planned curvature and the friction-compensation torque. The friction-compensation torque compensates for friction internal to the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Ivanovic, Quazi Farooqi
  • Patent number: 11731623
    Abstract: An anticipating module for a device for controlling, in real time, the path of a motor vehicle includes a sub-module for computing a turning command for compensating for the curvature of a bend in the lane of the vehicle and a variable-gain device that is connected to an output of the computing sub-module. The gain of the variable-gain device is connected to a controller to adjust the gain so as to decrease the lateral offset between the centre of gravity of the vehicle and the centre of the lane of the vehicle depending on the result of the comparison of components of a vector of current measurements of state variables of the device to one another and to a detection threshold, the output of the variable-gain device being the steering command for compensating for the curvature of the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignees: Renault s.a.s., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Pedro Kvieska
  • Patent number: 11724731
    Abstract: A steering reaction force apparatus for a vehicle includes: a housing that is openable and closable by a cover unit, a stator unit fixed to an inside of the housing, a rotor unit disposed to face the stator unit and to be rotated by electromagnetic interaction with the stator unit, a transmission shaft unit connected to the rotor unit to rotate in conjunction with the rotor unit, a power transmission unit disposed inside the rotor unit to transmit a rotational force of the transmission shaft unit to a steering shaft, and a retainer unit to support the power transmission unit with respect to the cover unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Il Ryong Kim
  • Patent number: 11718360
    Abstract: A mounting system for a bicycle steering angle sensor is presented herein. The mounting system is capable of being mounted to a steering assembly of a bicycle with an angle sensor coaxially aligned with the steering axis. The steering assembly includes a steering tube, a stem and a headset, such that the headset is structured to provide a rotatable interface between the steering tube and a frame head tube. The mounting system includes a housing defining an interior portion and a bottom mounting portion. The bottom mounting portion of the housing is fixedly mountable to a portion of the steering assembly of the bicycle via a top cap mounting fastener. The angle sensing device is disposed within the housing and at least partially rotatable with the housing to determine an amount of angular rotation applied thereto. An attachment assembly maintains a coupler in a fixed position while the housing rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel J. McAllister
  • Patent number: 11713071
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second steering drivers that steer first and second wheel pairs, a lock that locks the first wheel pair to be non-steerable, a first steering controller that controls the first steering driver in accordance with a first steering angle, and a second steering controller that controls the second steering driver in accordance with a second steering angle. The first steering controller controls the lock to lock the steering of the first wheel pair upon detecting anomaly in the steering of the first wheel pair from the steering angle and a steering detection angle of the first wheel pair. The second steering controller controls the second steering driver in accordance with a second corrected steering angle, if the steering of the first wheel pair exhibits anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Shin Kunieda
  • Patent number: 11708887
    Abstract: A gearbox assembly for an electric power assisted steering apparatus includes a gearbox housing, a worm shaft, a main bearing assembly, and a first fulcrum means. The worm shaft may be supported relative to the housing by a main bearing assembly at an end closest to the motor. The main bearing assembly may include an inner ring defining an inner bearing race, an outer ring defining an outer bearing race, and a plurality of bearings that run between the two races. The first fulcrum means may be located on a first side of the main bearing assembly which reacts only the axial component of the wormshaft tooth load for a first direction of gearwheel torque. A second fulcrum means may be located on a second, opposing, side of the main bearing assembly, which reacts only the axial component of the wormshaft tooth load for the second direction of gearwheel torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Appleyard
  • Patent number: 11691665
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power steering system utilizes a vehicle having a motor, a controller coupled to the motor, and a steering assembly. The method includes detecting a steering rate using the controller. A base level steering damping is computed using the steering rate. At least one approximate vehicle acceleration is determined. A steering torque of the steering assembly is sensed through a torque sensor configured to sense the steering torque of the steering assembly. Moreover, a user torque is determined using the torque sensor. A damping boost is computed using the user torque and the at least one approximate vehicle acceleration. A final steering damping gain is determined using the base level steering damping and the damping boost. The final steering damping gain is applied to the steering assembly to minimize unwanted feedback to the steering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: BRP Megatech Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Gagné, Nicolas Girard, Simon Bédard, Alexandre Frigon
  • Patent number: 11668615
    Abstract: A steering system for a motor vehicle, having a steering column, an electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, a sensor which is assigned to the steering column and is configured to sense a torque and a rotational angle of the steering column, and a regulator, wherein the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus comprises a motor having an angular position encoder which is configured to sense the motor rotational angle of the motor, wherein the regulator is configured to determine a torque of the electromechanical steering assistance apparatus, and wherein the regulator is also configured to determine a disturbance variable, which gives rise to an undesired steering sensation, in the steering system by means of a Kalman filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Emad Farshizadeh, Arno Luengen
  • Patent number: 11661103
    Abstract: A steering control device for a steering system includes an electronic control unit configured to: calculate target torque that is a target value of the motor torque; control operation of the motor; calculate a vehicle speed basic axial force based on a detected vehicle speed; calculate another state quantity basic axial force based on a state quantity other than the detected vehicle speed; calculate a distributed axial force by adding the vehicle speed basic axial force and the other state quantity basic axial force at individually set distribution ratios; calculate the target torque based on the distributed axial force; and reduce the distribution ratio of the vehicle speed basic axial force when the detected vehicle speed is abnormal as compared to when the detected vehicle speed is normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kodera, Isao Namikawa, Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11661107
    Abstract: A steering control device includes control circuitry configured to perform synchronization control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Uchino, Yusuke Kakimoto, Koji Anraku, Isao Namikawa, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11654966
    Abstract: A control method is provided for controlling a lateral position of a motor vehicle. The control method includes calculating a sighting distance of a detector means embedded in the vehicle, calculating a first component of a steering angle setpoint of a steered wheels of the vehicle, and calculating a second component of the steering angle setpoint. The first component is an open loop component of a control system, while the second component is a closed loop component of the control system. The first component is weighted by a gain that is a decreasing function of the sighting distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pedro Kvieska, Simon Mustaki, Raphael Quilliard
  • Patent number: 11654956
    Abstract: A vehicle steering intervention system and method prevents a loss of vehicle control condition or a vehicle rollover condition. The system includes a driver input torque sensor for sensing torque applied by a driver to a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor for sensing a steering angle, and a speed determination device for determining a vehicle speed. An electronic power steering unit includes an electronic processor and a memory. The electronic power steering unit determines a vehicle steering intervention threshold based on the torque sensed, the steering angle, and the vehicle speed. The electronic power steering unit predicts whether the vehicle steering intervention threshold will be exceeded within a predetermined time based on a torque gradient and/or a steering angle gradient. When the vehicle steering intervention threshold is predicted to be exceeded, the electronic power steering unit reduces a power steering assist and/or provides a counter steer force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Achim Frankovics
  • Patent number: 11643095
    Abstract: An electronic control device includes a control command generation unit that generates and outputs a control command for controlling a first control object; a communication unit that performs communication with another electronic control device that controls a second control object; a communication abnormality determination unit that determines whether communication with the another electronic control device by the communication unit is abnormal; and a reset determination unit that determines whether the another electronic control device is reset based on a change in a sensor signal related to a state of the second control object when the communication abnormality determination unit determines that the communication with the another electronic control device is abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Nakao, Nobuki Sato, Mitsuo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11637484
    Abstract: A low profile electric pump arrangement having a motor housing connected to a pump element of a transmission for a vehicle. An inverter housing connected to the motor housing and has a where an electronics control unit (ECU) connects through the inverter housing to selectively supply power to the motor within the motor housing. The recess and the ECU are covered and sealed off from the elements by a plastic cover. In order to obtain a low profile of the electric pump arrangement so it can fit within a desired packaging line on a transmission casing a metal bracket is over molded into the plastic cover. The metal bracket has at least one exposed surface that engages the inverter housing to hold the plastic cover onto the inverter housing in a position so that the plastic cover covers and seals the ECU and recess at the second side of the inverter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Manmohan Sehmby, Harpreet Baraich