Power Assist Alarms Or Disablers Patents (Class 180/404)
  • Patent number: 11993276
    Abstract: An integrated control apparatus and method for a vehicle are provided. The integrated control apparatus for the vehicle includes: a sensor unit comprising one or more sensing devices provided in the vehicle, wherein each of the one or more sensing devices provides driving environment information by sensing driving environments of the vehicle; an integrated control unit configured to generate one or more control commands for driving control of the vehicle based on one or more pieces of driving condition information of the vehicle received from a network of the vehicle and each driving environment information received from the sensor unit, mediate the generated control commands according to priorities determined based on driving safety of the vehicle and assigned to the respective control commands, and generate a final control command in which output response characteristic of the driving control according to the control command having higher priority is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 11912352
    Abstract: A moving body includes: a steering system configured to change steering of the moving body; and a steering control device configured to control the steering of the moving body by controlling the steering system. The steering control device selectively executes first steering control for controlling the steering of the moving body and second steering control for restricting the steering of the moving body, executes the second steering control when a failure related to execution of the first steering control occurs, ends the first steering control when an operation amount of an operation member exceeds a first threshold value in the state where the first steering control is being executed, and ends the second steering control when an operation amount of the operation member exceeds a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value in a state where the second steering control is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hirotaka Katayama, Haruhiko Nishiguchi
  • Patent number: 11851118
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method including the steps of: acquiring a time sequence of sets of vehicle parameter values; determining, for each set of acquired vehicle parameter values, based the set of acquired vehicle parameter values, a measure indicative of an observed strain in a steering rod, between a steering actuator and a wheel; determining, for each set of acquired vehicle parameter values, a measure indicative of a predicted strain in the rod, between the steering actuator and the wheel; and determining the functional status of the steering system based on a relation between the measures indicative of the observed strain in the rod and the measures indicative of the predicted strain in the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Anders Hansson, Carl-Johan Häll
  • Patent number: 11845498
    Abstract: A control method for a rear wheel steering apparatus of a vehicle adjusts current applied to a rear wheel steering (RWS) actuator by determining a compensation current value based on the aging of devices installed in the RWS actuator installed in the rear wheel steering apparatus, and further adjusts the current applied to the RWS actuator with a compensation current value based on the friction of the devices installed in the RWS actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jong-Min Kim
  • Patent number: 11760409
    Abstract: A steering device is connected to a turning mechanism to which a part of a turning force is applied by a hydraulic mechanism. The steering device includes an electric motor, a rotation angle detector, and a steering control device. The steering control device is configured to acquire a target turning angle which is a target value of a turning angle of turning wheels, to control the electric motor such that a turning angle of the turning wheels reaches the target turning angle, to estimate a delay of an actual turning angle of the turning wheels with respect to the target turning angle based on a delay model with the detected rotation angle as an input, to output delay information, and to correct the target turning angle based on the delay information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takanobu Nagano
  • Patent number: 11685432
    Abstract: A rotation detector has a first controller that monitors abnormality of a rotation number calculated by a rotation number calculator based on the calculated rotation number and a preset rotation angle. The first controller in a first system is configured to output rotation information calculated by a second controller in a second system upon having determination that the rotation number of the first system has abnormality, for a continuation of the rotation information calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Haruo Suzuki, Nobuyori Nakajima, Koichi Nakamura, Go Endoh, Atsuko Oka, Takashi Suzuki, Yosuke Ogi, Shuji Kuramitsu
  • Patent number: 11526170
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for predicting and controlling robot walking. The method includes the following steps: constructing a grid map based on grid units marked with a status; establishing a dynamic detection model with a current location of a robot as a reference point based on the grid map; predicting a forward path condition of the robot based on the dynamic detection model; and controlling a walking mode of the robot based on the prediction result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: AMICRO SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongyong Li, Gangjun Xiao
  • Patent number: 11498618
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assist device includes a first detector to detect steering torque by a driver's steering wheel operation, a first calculator to calculate assist steering torque for the detected steering torque, a second calculator to calculate target steering torque to perform steering control, a controller to switch the first calculator from an active state to an inactive state to limit an output of the assist steering torque when the second calculator is in an active state, an EPS torque setter to set EPS torque to drive an EPS motor based on outputs from the second calculator and the controller, and a second detector to detect a driver's holding state of a steering wheel. Even when the second calculator is in the active state, when the second detector detects that a driver holds the steering wheel, the controller switches the first calculator from the inactive state to the active state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11479294
    Abstract: A steering system of a vehicle is provided. The steering system adjusts the torsional rigidity of a torsion bar without limitation as to the configuration thereof and performs active control responding to the vehicle state by adjusting steering characteristics by controlling the torsional rigidity of the torsion bar based on the traveling condition, load state or driving mode of the vehicle. The steering system includes an MR assist device, which is coupled to an end portion of the torsion bar and adjusts the rotation and torsional rigidity of the torsion bar using an MR fluid as a working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Ji Hoon Lee, Jin Gyo Suh, Sung Han Cho, Seo An Lee
  • Patent number: 11472480
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering device including: a front-wheel steering mechanism, which is provided to front wheels of a vehicle, and includes a front-wheel steering motor as a drive source; and a rear-wheel steering mechanism, which is provided to rear wheels of the vehicle, and includes a rear-wheel steering motor as a drive source, wherein the rear-wheel steering motor is configured to be a double-inverter three-phase duplex motor, the double-inverter three-phase duplex motor including two three-phase windings and two inverters each configured to individually drive one of the two three-phase windings. Therefore, the electric power steering device is capable of, even when a failure has occurred in the steering motor of the rear-wheel steering mechanism, maintaining a function of the rear-wheel steering mechanism to secure behavior stability of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Akutsu, Yoshihito Asao
  • Patent number: 11325638
    Abstract: A dual-mode active rear-wheel steering device, including: a steering motor, a main shaft, an intermediate gear, a transmission gear, a planetary gear coupling mechanism and a mode switching assembly. An output end of the steering motor is provided with a first input gear. An end of the main shaft drives a first rear wheel to rotate by a two-stage gear transmission system and a first rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism, and the other end of the main shaft drives a second rear wheel to rotate by the planetary gear coupling mechanism and a second rear-wheel motion conversion mechanism. The intermediate gear, the transmission gear and a sun gear of the planetary gear coupling mechanism are provided on the main shaft. The intermediate gear meshes with the first input gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Jilin University
    Inventors: Junnian Wang, Tingxu Yan, Dedong Guo, Kai Wang
  • Patent number: 11292512
    Abstract: A method of operating an electric power assisted steering system of the kind in which an electric motor applies an assistance torque to a part of the steering system as a function of an assistance torque signal, the assistance torque reducing the force required by the driver to turn a steering wheel, comprises during normal operation generating an assistance torque signal that is dependent on the torque applied by the driver, and during a fault operation in which the torque applied by the driver is not reliably known to the system generating an assistance torque signal that is derived from a first term that has a value that varies as a function of the angular position of the steering relative to a changeable datum, the angular position of the changeable datum being updated in the event that the direction of rotation of the steering changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TRW LIMITED
    Inventors: Philip March, Nikhil Koppattil Prahlad, Xiao-Dong Sun
  • Patent number: 11192579
    Abstract: An actuator control device includes: a turning control value calculation unit configured to calculate a turning control value that controls an actuator configured to turn a steered wheel on a basis of an operation state amount by a driver with respect to a steering mechanism of the vehicle; a target value setting unit configured to set a target value of a state amount indicating a traveling direction of the vehicle on a basis of a surrounding environment of the vehicle; a target value control unit configured to control the actuator by integral control so that actual the state amount approaches the target value; and an integral suppression unit configured to suppress an increase in a first integral value calculated in the integral control according to a second integral value calculated according to the operation state amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Tadashi Ishida, Masahiro Maeda, Atsushi Kojima
  • Patent number: 11124225
    Abstract: A steering apparatus and method for a vehicle. Steering controllers are connected via an internal communications network. Each of the steering controllers monitors the operating state of another steering controller using the internal communications network, so that, if one of the steering controllers currently controlling the steering motor operates abnormally, the steering motor is controlled by at least one steering controller of the remaining steering controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Min Woo Jeong, HongYong Bhae, JinMook Park, Joo Namgung
  • Patent number: 11119156
    Abstract: A monitoring arrangement for monitoring a security device includes a) a first electric supply source connected to an input terminal for connecting an input of the security device b) a first outlet side measuring device connected to the output terminal for connecting an output of the safety device, c) an evaluating assembly connected to the first output-sided measuring device and which receives a measuring signal, and d) a first input-sided measuring device connected to the input terminal and to the evaluation assembly, which captures the measuring signal of the first input-sided measuring device and is designed to evaluate the measuring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TRUMPF Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Thomas Huerlimann
  • Patent number: 11021185
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rear-wheel steering system and a controlling method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dae Sung Kim, Jin Hwan Lee, SeungCheol Lee
  • Patent number: 10913489
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises an upper column shaft that is connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle; and a lower column shaft. A torsion bar interconnects the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft; and an electric motor is connected to the lower column shaft of the torque sensor assembly. A first sensor circuit generates a first torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, and a second sensor circuit generating a second torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, the apparatus further including: an error determining circuit which produces two error signals, each indicative of the validity of a respective torque signal, and a torque plausibility estimator which generates two plausibility signals each indicative of the plausibility of a respective one of the two torque signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Inventor: James Owen Patrick Farrelly
  • Patent number: 10870421
    Abstract: A device for control of a safety-relevant process. For automated driving, safety precautions are necessary. The brake system is a redundant design including primary and secondary brake systems. Both brake systems safely decelerate the transportation vehicle and take over the function of the other brake system. The control of the safety-relevant process is based on the analysis of the signals of at least one sensor. A hardware architecture and a test mode for the hardware architecture are provided. A communications bus enables exchange of data between the primary and secondary control units. The at least one sensor of the hardware architecture connects to the primary control unit and to the secondary control unit, wherein a respective sensor arrangement isolation circuit is associated with the primary control unit and the secondary control unit, which isolates the associated primary or secondary control unit from the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: VOLKSWAGEN AG
    Inventor: Alexander Tschiene
  • Patent number: 10822032
    Abstract: A turning mechanism is equipped with a wire (first movable member) which moves in a movable direction (direction of the arrow B) under the motive power of a turning actuator, a wire (second movable member) which moves in a movable direction under the motive power of a turning actuator, and a coupler connecting the two wires. The coupler is configured in a manner so that the wires are capable of being moved independently in the case that a difference (differential angle) between the toe angles of the rear wheels lies within an allowable range, whereas in the case that the differential angle has exceeded the allowable range, is configured in a manner so that the wires are capable of being operated in a mutually interlocked manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryousuke Yamazaki, Takumi Inagaki
  • Patent number: 10814726
    Abstract: A control apparatus comprises a microcontroller, an auxiliary circuit, a delay module and a logical circuit; the microcontroller is connected to a first input end of the logical circuit via the auxiliary circuit and connected to a second input end of the logical circuit via the delay module, and an output end of the logical circuit is connected to a device to be controlled; if the microcontroller is reset in a process of outputting the closing control signal, a delay disabling signal becomes invalid, the delay module is enabled to output the closing control signal within a preset delay time, wherein the delay time is greater than or equal to a reset time. A power supply system is also provided to avoid a risk that an automobile suddenly loses power due to unexpected reset of the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuqun Zeng, Kai Wu, Chao Wang, Wei Dai, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 10549774
    Abstract: A control strategy for an electric motor of an electric power assisted steering system of the kind in which a control means produces motor current demand signals that are fed to a motor drive means, the demand signals being dependent on the amount of assistance torque demanded from the motor, the motor drive means being arranged to cause currents to flow in each phase of the motor as required to meet the demanded assistance torque, the control strategy comprising limiting the rate of change of current that is drawn from the electrical supply of the vehicle by the motor in the event that it would otherwise exceed a threshold rate of change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TRW Limited
    Inventors: Christopher David Dixon, Peter Geoffrey Scotson, Adrian Szabo, Hui Jiang
  • Patent number: 10498265
    Abstract: Provided is a motor drive control device capable of accurately and speedily detecting an abnormal condition of a motor. When the motor is started, the control circuit section determines the commanded rotational speed in accordance with an actual rotational speed calculated based on the position signal, the control circuit section determines whether or not the motor is in an abnormal condition based on a predetermined determination condition for a predetermined period, upon determining that the motor is in the abnormal condition, the control circuit section outputs the drive control signal to the motor drive section to stop the motor, and the abnormal condition includes a reversely rotating state. In the reversely rotating state the motor rotating in a direction opposite to a rotating direction when the motor is successfully started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventors: Masato Aoki, Hiroyuki Kaidu
  • Patent number: 10476497
    Abstract: Method and device for safe switching of a signal between a first and second point. Device includes a first branch having a first switch and second switch arranged between the first and second point, and a parallel second branch having a third switch and fourth switch. A testing device instructs a control unit, in a test sequence, to open the first switch for a first period of time, open the second switch for a second period of time, open the third switch for a third period of time, and open the fourth switch for a fourth period of time. Neither the first nor second periods of time overlap with the third or fourth period of time. A testing unit tests functioning of the switches during respective period of time, and generates an error signal in the event of a malfunction of at least one switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventors: Christof Klappauf, Christian Schneider, Norbert Winkler
  • Patent number: 10421193
    Abstract: To provide a robot system capable of reducing the burden of a setting operator regardless of conditions such as setting conditions of a robot and the complexity of a work space at the time of setting an operable-inoperable area of the robot. A robot system has a robot capable of detecting contact with an obstacle. The robot moves inside a predetermined search area in a predetermined posture along a previously-determined scheduled search route and sets an operable-inoperable area of the robot inside the search area based on position-posture data with respect to the robot having come into contact with the obstacle during moving of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kamoi, Tomoyuki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10414431
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an MDPS system may include: a current supply unit configured to drive a motor by injecting a preset frequency and magnitude of current to the motor; a torque sensor configured to sense a torque of a steering shaft; a hall sensor fault determination unit configured to determine whether a fault has occurred in a hall sensor; a torque signal processing unit configured to process a signal outputted from the torque sensor and calculate the magnitude of a torque signal; an encoder fault determination unit configured to determine whether a fault has occurred in an encoder, using the torque signal outputted from the torque signal processing unit; and a motor control unit configured to acquire a position of a motor rotor according to the determination results of the hall sensor fault determination unit and the encoder fault determination unit, and control the operation of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Moon Su Kim, Ji Hoon Yoo
  • Patent number: 10392048
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power steering device 1 having a control unit 33 equipped with an abnormality detection circuit 50. The abnormality detection circuit 50 is configured to judge the occurrence of an abnormality in the power steering device when a peak level Trp of a frequency component of a steering torque Tr etc. that periodically changes in a frequency range of 20 to 25 Hz becomes higher than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Sasaki, Makoto Goto
  • Patent number: 10343713
    Abstract: Each of two control units configured in a double system has a CPU, each CPU obtains input information of the control unit of the other CPU, each CPU independently drives an electric motor at a normal time, and continues the motor drive by utilizing the input information of the control unit of the other CPU when an abnormality relating to input information is detected, and when an abnormality relating to information other than input information is detected, the control unit in which the abnormality has occurred controls the electric motor so as to continue the drive or stop the drive in accordance with details of the abnormality, and the control unit on the normal side controls the electric motor so as to at least continue the drive as normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihito Asao, Akihiko Mori
  • Patent number: 10308276
    Abstract: A variable steering angle steering device rotationally drives a rotational element using a steering angle ratio adjustment motor so as to change the relationship between the amount of rotation of a first rotating shaft and the amount of rotation of a second rotating shaft, thereby changing the relationship between the amount of steering of the steering wheel and the amount of change in steering angle. The steering angle ratio adjustment motor is supported and fixed at a part of a steering column forward than a portion at which the steering column is supported with respect to a support frame. In the event of primary collision, the steering angle ratio adjustment motor collides with the support frame and is thereby prevented from being displaced rearward beyond the support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Tani
  • Patent number: 10293856
    Abstract: In a vehicular steering system, a steering wheel (steering member) operated for steering and a steering operation mechanism are not mechanically coupled together, and the steering operation mechanism is driven by a steering operation motor. The vehicular steering system includes a reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering member, and a reaction force motor control unit that controls the reaction force motor. The reaction force motor control unit includes a torque limiter that limits a current flowing through the reaction force motor to a predetermined value or smaller during automatic operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiaki Oya
  • Patent number: 10286556
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing an operation on a workpiece using a multi-axis compliant end-effector for attachment to a robotic device. The end-effector is positioned at a nominal location of a workpiece feature on which the operation is to be performed. The end-effector is passively aligned with the workpiece feature by contacting the end-effector with the workpiece feature. The operation is performed on the workpiece feature in response to aligning the end effector with the workpiece feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: James J. Troy, Daniel J. Wright, Scott W. Lea
  • Patent number: 10282926
    Abstract: A computer for a motor vehicle including at least one main control module intended to manage an onboard system such as a power steering system, which uses a plurality of internal variables representative of the successive life situations of the vehicle, the computer including, in addition to the main control module, an integrated monitoring module that includes an extraction and recording unit, placed under the dependency of a trigger unit in order to extract, from a buffer memory, in case of a detection of a predefined alarm event occurring at a triggering time, one or more recordings, that correspond respectively to one or more internal variables, and that each cover a time interval that extends from a start time that precedes the triggering time to an end time that follows the triggering time, and then to store the recording or recordings in a non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Deville, Pierre-Willem Pilaz
  • Patent number: 10173720
    Abstract: A sensor device includes two sensor parts and an ECU. An output division of one of the two sensor parts stops output of an output signal when a detected internal abnormality is a first abnormality. Further, when the detected internal abnormality is a second abnormality that is different from the first abnormality, the output division controls an abnormality signal to take a value indicative of the second abnormality. An abnormality determiner determines either of a signal obtainment abnormality or the first abnormality of the sensor part when the output signal is not obtained from the one of the sensor parts, or determines the second abnormality of the one of the sensor parts when the obtained output signal includes the abnormality signal having a value indicative of the second abnormality. Such determination, thus, enables the abnormality determiner to classify an abnormality caused in the sensor parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaharu Kozawa, Shuji Kuramitsu, Kouichi Nakamura, Masaya Taki, Toshimitsu Sakai, Katsuhiko Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10144445
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power steering system is provided. The method estimates steering rack force to be caused by a tire and a surface of a ground with which the tire is in contact in response to determining that one or more hand wheel torque sensors are not enabled. The method generates a steering assist torque command based on the estimated steering rack force. The method controls the electric power steering system using the steering assist torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tejas M. Varunjikar, Anthony J. Champagne
  • Patent number: 10053142
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus that performs an assist control of a steering system, including: at least two respectively independent torque sensors and angle sensors, wherein having a function that respectively calculates steering angles from the torque sensors and the angle sensors to utilize, wherein comparison diagnoses of independent signals are performed and also concurrently individual diagnoses of each individual signal are performed, in a case that it is judged that there is an abnormality in the comparison diagnoses, the angle sensor signals are not used, in a case that it is judged that at least one of the individual diagnoses is abnormal, the angle sensor signal is treated as downgrading, and in a case that it is judged that two or more of the individual diagnoses are abnormal, the angle sensor signals are not used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Tomonori Hisanaga, Fumitoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 10053148
    Abstract: A toe optimization system for a vehicle with first and second rear wheels defining a rear toe angle. The vehicle includes a plurality of sensors and first and second actuators operatively connected to the first and second rear wheels, respectively, for varying the rear toe angle. A controller has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which is recorded instructions for executing a method for controlling the rear toe angle. Execution of the instructions by the processor causes the controller to select one of a plurality of vehicle states. Each of the plurality of vehicle states has a respective toe setting. The controller is configured to actuate the first and second actuators to vary the rear toe angle to the respective toe setting. By actively controlling the rear toe angle, the agility and stability of the vehicle can be optimized according to the specific vehicle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Joshua R. Auden
  • Patent number: 10047850
    Abstract: A slew drive includes a housing, a worm shaft having a worm thread carried within the housing for rotational movement and a torque tube having an outer surface. The torque tube is carried by the housing for rotational movement perpendicularly to the worm shaft and worm thread. A ring gear section having teeth is carried by the torque tube with the teeth engaging the worm threads. An inner raceway is fabricated as an integral part of the torque tube. An outer raceway is fabricated as an integral part of the housing, the outer raceway radially overlying the inner raceway, and bearing elements captured between the inner raceway and the outer raceway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: KINEMATICS, LLC
    Inventor: Brent Morgan
  • Patent number: 9751214
    Abstract: An apparatus for returning of robot and a returning method thereof are provided, in which the apparatus for returning of robot includes a signal transmitter which is disposed on a charging station and transmits a single front signal and a plurality of distance signals including first, second and third distance signals, a signal receiver which is disposed on the robot and includes a plurality of receiving sensors to receive any one among the single front signal and one among the plurality of distance signals, and a controller which calculates an angle of the charging station by using one among the received single front signal and the plurality of received distance signals and controls the driving so that the robot can return to the charging station by using the calculated angle of the charging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji-min Kim, No-san Kwak, Shin Kim, Kyung-shik Roh, Soon-yong Park, Suk-june Yoon
  • Patent number: 9729098
    Abstract: A system for controlling a motor of a hybrid vehicle determines a current of a first axis and a current of a second axis according to a driving condition, converts the currents of the first and second axes into a 3-phase AC current, and drives the motor by applying the 3-phase AC current to the motor, and includes: a revised temperature calculation module that calculates a revised temperature in order to compensate a torque error according to counter electromotive force dispersion of the motor; and a current determination module that determines the currents of the first and second axes by substituting the corrected temperature to a current map for each temperature and by using a demand torque at a present driving condition, a present speed of the motor, and a maximum counter magnetic flux of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Sung Kyu Kim, Mu Shin Kwak, Hong Geuk Park, Suhyun Bae
  • Patent number: 9714049
    Abstract: When an engine is to be restarted, a power-steering mechanism is reactivated once a battery voltage has reached at least a predetermined voltage at which the power-steering mechanism normally operates after the resistance of a power supply circuit is switched by the circuit switching device, after startup of the engine has been initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuuichi Hosaka, Yuuichi Fukuyama, Shota Miyoshi, Michiharu Gunji, Hiromoto Shimizu
  • Patent number: 9663141
    Abstract: A vehicular steering system includes a driving wheel, a wheel drive actuator that rotationally drives the driving wheel, a steering operation mechanism that steers the driving wheel, a steering operation actuator that applies a steering operation force that is used to steer the driving wheel to the steering operation mechanism, and a hydraulic circuit that transmits the rotational driving force of the wheel drive actuator to the steering operation mechanism via hydraulic oil as a steering operation force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Arima, Yasuhiko Hasuda, Keita Nimura
  • Patent number: 9584148
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for identifying and reporting failures of an analog to digital (A/D) conversion system. The systems and methods are configured to detect and report a failure of a preamplifier of the A/D conversion system and/or a failure of a A/D converter of the A/D conversion system. A high frequency component can be included in the input of an A/D converter. The A/D converter is configured to output a digital value to the A/D conversion system, wherein the digital value includes the high frequency component of the A/D converter input. The A/D conversion system is configured to determine an output status, including a frequency component and a corresponding amplitude, and to determine a failure of the A/D conversion system based on the determined output status. The A/D conversion system can report a change in, or a failure of, the A/D converter, and can operate or prevent operation of protection elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Travis C. Mallett
  • Patent number: 9522696
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling electric power steering. In particular, the present invention provides a power steering control method that includes: a breakdown detection step of detecting whether a torque sensor has broken down; an information reception step of receiving steering angle information and vehicle speed information in the case in which the torque sensor has broken down; a compensation target value calculation step of calculating a self-aligning torque, and a damping force, an inertial force, and a frictional force of an electric power steering apparatus by using one or more of the steering angle information and the vehicle speed information; and a current control step of calculating a steering assist force based on the compensation target value and controlling the supply of a motor control current that corresponds to the steering assist force, and an apparatus for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seung Gyu Hong
  • Patent number: 9513653
    Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method are provided to control a switched current circuit by switching the switched current circuit into an ON-state, waiting an amount of waiting an amount of time tB after the current within the switched current circuit increases above a current threshold, and switching the switched current circuit into an OFF-state after waiting the time tB. Further, a duration of time tA1 between switching the switched current circuit in the OFF-state and the point at which the current within the switched current circuit decreases below the current threshold is determined, and the method includes waiting a time tA2 after the current within the switched current circuit decreased below the current threshold, the time tA2 based at least in part on the time tA1, after which the switched current circuit is switched into the ON-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Everson, David Putti
  • Patent number: 9487231
    Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a control system for controlling a steering system having a tie rod is provided. The control system includes a sensor coupled to the tie rod, the sensor configured to measure forces exerted on the tie rod and to generate a signal indicative of the measured forces, and a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the sensor. The control module is programmed to generate a motor assist command based on the generated signal to control the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Christian E. Ross
  • Patent number: 9452776
    Abstract: A method for characterizing steering gear reversal clunk noise in a steering system having a rack and a pinion gear, and electric power steering assist via a steering assist motor, includes transmitting a steering input angle control signal to a rotary actuator to rotate a steering shaft to a fixed steering angle with assist active. A linear actuator applies an axial force at a constant rate along a longitudinal axis of the rack. Axial rack acceleration is measured after imparting the axial force. A control action is executed when peak amplitude of the axial acceleration value exceeds a calibrated threshold axial acceleration value indicative of the clunk noise. A system includes the rotary actuator and steering system, a linear actuator for providing a calibrated axial apply force along the rack axis, an accelerometer for measuring an axial acceleration value of the rack, and the controller noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ian Y. Hwa, William K. Adams
  • Patent number: 9434251
    Abstract: A method of controlling an all-wheel drive system of a vehicle includes supplying torque to front and rear wheels of the vehicle, sensing a failure of the all-wheel drive system, and adjusting a crankshaft torque of an engine of the vehicle so that the front wheel torque remains constant regardless of a failure of the all-wheel drive system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steve Turner
  • Patent number: 9434074
    Abstract: In a running control method of a running apparatus, person moving direction and speed are estimated based on a person position history for predetermined time. It is decided whether contact with a person is likely to be made based on the estimation and running information about the running apparatus. When it is decided that the contact is likely to be made, a first route where the running apparatus avoids the person is generated for controlling running of the running apparatus therealong. It is decided whether the person has the intention to contact with the running apparatus based on the decision in the contact possibility deciding unit after the running along the first route. When it is decided that the person has the contact intention, a second route where the running apparatus approaches the person is generated for controlling the running of the running apparatus therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toru Tanigawa, Jun Ozawa, Yumi Wakita, Katsuyoshi Yamagami, Eiichi Naito
  • Patent number: 9371090
    Abstract: A steering linkage structure of a rear wheel device may include a housing receiving a screw nut integrally and rotatably connected to a driving motor, a steering shaft inserted in the housing and having a lead portion coupled to the screw nut that rotates and being movable left and right in the housing by the screw nut, and linkages coupled to the steering shaft to connect both ends of the steering shaft to rear wheels, in which coupling portions where the linkages are coupled to the steering shaft are inserted and protrude into and out of the housing, such that when a bending load is applied, the coupling portions support the bending load and are in contact with the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: JoonWon Chun, Min Chul Shin
  • Patent number: 9374032
    Abstract: A PWM output apparatus includes a calculating circuit configured to calculate an output width of a PWM output signal of a first signal and a second signal, which have phases different from each other, based on a command value of a PWM output. A comparing circuit compares the output width and a reference period which is set longer than a predetermined dead time period. A PWM output signal generating circuit outputs the PWM output signal to a dead time inserting block as a corrected PWM output signal, when a set/clear signal generating circuit outputs the set signal, and carries out a correction of setting the first signal of the PWM output signal to be inactive to output to the dead time inserting block as the corrected PWM output signal, when the set/clear circuit outputs the clear signal. The dead time inserting block corrects the corrected PWM output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Minami
  • Patent number: 9346486
    Abstract: When a steering speed reaches a steering speed determination threshold, a steering speed gain is set to “0”. As a result, a final basic assist controlled variable becomes “0”, and application of an assist force to a steering system is stopped. Therefore, repetition of so-called reverse assist that is a cause of occurrence of an unintended steering behavior, such as self-excited vibration, is stopped. Accordingly, the steering behavior is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenori Itamoto, Gempei Nakasone, Takashi Mitsuhara, Makoto Ikeno