Patents Represented by Attorney Michael D. Smith
  • Patent number: 7331606
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus and method for absorbing energy in response to a vehicle crash. The apparatus includes a knee bolster disposable in a vehicle for absorbing an impact from at least one knee of a driver. The apparatus also includes a connecting device associated with the knee bolster. The connecting device includes a breakable portion for releasably connecting the knee bolster to the vehicle such that the knee bolster breaks away from the vehicle under predetermined conditions. The method according to the invention includes the step of disposing a knee bolster in a vehicle for absorbing an impact from at least one knee of a driver. The method also includes the step of releasably connecting the knee bolster to the vehicle such that the knee bolster breaks away from the vehicle under predetermined conditions with a connecting device associated with the knee bolster and having a breakable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Riefe, Bruce M. Collier, Minoo J. Shah, Chantal S. Parenteau
  • Patent number: 7325834
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation dissipates energy associated with the telescopic collapse of preferably two steering column members. The first and second steering column members are moveable relative to one another along a collapse path. At least one anvil is fixed with one of the first and second steering column members. A strap extends along a bent path around the at least one anvil to first and second free ends. The apparatus also includes a lock device operative in a first condition to restrain the first free end with respect to the first steering column member and in a second condition to release the first free end of the strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin V. Manwaring, Richard K. Riefe, Ray G. Armstrong, Lee M. Tinnin, Ravindra Jwalapathy
  • Patent number: 7322609
    Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second steering column members disposed for movement relative to one another. The apparatus also includes an anvil associated with one of the first and second steering column members. The anvil is spaced from the other of the first and second steering column members. The apparatus also includes a strap having a mounting end fixedly associated with the other of the first and second steering column members. The strap also includes a free end spaced from the mounting end. The strap is drawable over the anvil in response to movement between the first and second steering column members. The strap also includes a slot extending away from the mounting end to the free end. The slot has a length and a variable width along at least a portion of its length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven P. Finkbeiner, Yoshio Mori
  • Patent number: 7323833
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an electric machine using voltage mode control comprising: receiving a voltage command, the voltage command corresponding to a voltage control command for a position control loop, the position control loop configured to control a position of the electric machine; receiving a motor velocity signal; and determining a q-axis current. The method also includes computing a d-axis current to supplement the torque if a magnitude of a voltage supply for exciting the electric machine is not sufficient to provide a torque corresponding to the q-axis current, otherwise establishing the d-axis current at about zero; and generating command voltages for controlling the electric machine corresponding to the q-axis current and the d-axis current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sayeed A. Mir
  • Patent number: 7322898
    Abstract: A steering system includes a differential transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, a rotary input device attached to the input shaft, a movable steering effector in operable communication with the output shaft, an angular-to-linear converter which converts a rotative motion of the output shaft to a linear motion that acts to move the steering effector. The motion of the steering effector enables path alteration of a vehicle. The steering system also includes an electromotive actuator in operable communication with the differential transmission. An activated electromotive actuator provides an active alteration of a speed change between a speed of the input shaft and a speed of the output shaft and a deactivated electromotive actuator provides a default speed change between the speed of the input shaft and the speed of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Augustine, Ratko Menjak
  • Patent number: 7306259
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus including first and second steering column members engaged for pivotal movement relative to one another. The apparatus also includes a third steering column member supporting the first steering column member for sliding movement along an axis. The apparatus also includes a positive lock engaged with the first and second steering column members. The positive lock can operate in a locked configuration to prevent the pivotal movement. The positive lock can also operate in an unlocked configuration to allow the pivotal movement. The apparatus also includes a friction lock engaged with said first and third steering column members. The friction lock can operate in a locked configuration to prevent the sliding movement. The friction lock can also operate in an unlocked configuration to allow the sliding movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Melvin Lee Tinnin, Xiaoyu Li, Richard K. Riefe
  • Patent number: 7308386
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling, comprising: establishing a coordinate system; adding a base feature; adding a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Also disclosed herein is a horizontally structured CAD/CAM model, comprising: a coordinate system; a base feature; a form feature; where the form feature exhibits an associative relationship with the coordinate system. Further disclosed is a storage medium encoded with a machine-readable computer program code for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement the method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing. Additionally disclosed is a computer data signal for horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling. The computer data signal comprising code configured to cause a processor to implement a method of horizontally structured CAD/CAM modeling and manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diane M. Landers, Pravin Khurana, Bradley T. Muscott
  • Patent number: 7307416
    Abstract: Disclosed herein, in an exemplary embodiment, is a position sensor assembly including a circular-shaped or rhombus-shaped magnet and at least one magnetic flux density sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, wherein rotation of the magnet is detected by the at least one sensor. The magnet may be positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of a rotor shaft of a motor and provided within a support. A position extraction algorithm may be employed using the output from the sensors to detect the position of the rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohammad S. Islam, Matthew Mielke, Tomy Sebastian
  • Patent number: 7306535
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device may include a rotatable input shaft, a motor in communication with an input augmentation shaft, the input augmentation shaft and the input shaft sharing a longitudinal axis, and the motor further having a stator stationary with respect to rotation of the input shaft. The vehicle steering device may further include a differential mechanism for providing variable ratio steering to the steering device. The differential mechanism may be a harmonic drive differential or a planetary gearing system. In one embodiment, an external wave generator may be used within the harmonic drive differential gearing mechanism. The vehicle steering device may include a sensorless synchronous machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratko Menjak, Steven J. Collier-Hallman, Karen A. Boswell, Damir Menjak
  • Patent number: 7298967
    Abstract: A method of interfacing an electromagnetic sensor with a controller in a motor control system, the method including: applying an excitation signal to the electromagnetic sensor; receiving a first electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the first electromagnetic sensor signal comprising an amplitude modulated signal corresponding to a position of a rotor of the electromagnetic sensor; and receiving a second electromagnetic sensor output signal based on the excitation signal, the second electromagnetic sensor signal comprising another amplitude modulated signal corresponding to the position of the rotor of the electromagnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaotang Chen, Sayeed A. Mir, Tom C. Wong, Christian Ross, Tomy Sebastian
  • Patent number: 7293626
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle may include a load displacement system allowing transient loads of the steering mechanism to be displaced. The steering system may also include a first coupling mechanism coupling an electric motor to a rack housing, and a second coupling mechanism coupling a ball nut to a rack. A method for providing an actuation force to a rack of a vehicle includes isolating non-axial loads from an electric motor of a steering system and isolating non-axial loads from a linearly actuatable member of a rotary-to-linear conversion device in the steering system. An actuator for a steering system may include a rotary to linear actuator, a movable linear section, and an interface between the rotary to linear actuator and the linear section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Suat Ali Ozsoylu, Matthew Harvey Jimkoski, Michael Richard Pyrett, William F. Feriend
  • Patent number: 7293481
    Abstract: A drive mechanism is provided for a tilting and telescoping steering column. The drive mechanism can selectively tilt the steering wheel or telescope the steering column in response to input from the driver. A single drive mechanism controls the tilting movement and the telescoping movement. The invention includes a locking device for locking the single drive mechanism in one of first and second modes of operation corresponding to tilting movement and telescoping movement. A pivoting device for engaging the locking device is provided. The pivoting device can be a lever arm or can be a solenoid mounted to the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Li, Richard K. Riefe, Scott A. Stinebring, Melvin L. Tinnin
  • Patent number: 7281448
    Abstract: The invention provides a locking device for a tilting and telescoping steering column. The locking device provides a single mechanism for substantially preventing movement of the upper steering column jacket relative to the lower steering column jacket and also for preventing tilting movement of the tilt housing relative to the upper steering column jacket. The locking device includes a linking member that extends parallel to the upper steering column jacket. The linking member is pivotally connected to the tilt housing and slidably connected to the lower steering column jacket. A wedge member is positioned between the linking member and the upper steering column jacket adjacent to the lower steering column jacket. The wedge member is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the wedge member urges the linking member away from the upper steering column jacket in a direction transverse to the upper steering column jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoyu Li, Richard K. Riefe, Richard E. Woycik, Melvin L. Tinnin
  • Patent number: 7280046
    Abstract: A steering column assembly (18) of the type for controlling one or more steerable wheels in a motor vehicle includes a steering wheel (14) interface secured to the free end of a steering column (20). The steering column assembly (18) includes powered telescope adjust and tilt adjust features which a driver (16) uses to adjust the position of the steering wheel (14) for maximum comfort. One or more condition sensors (48) monitor numerous parameters about the vehicle. When an emergency condition is detected, such as the seat belt warning, a door that is ajar, various engine conditions, or erratic driving activity, a haptic controller (50) rapidly vibrates the steering wheel (14) through the telescoping and tilt adjusting motors (32, 40) as a means of alerting the driver (16) to the emergency condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Berg, Timothy J. Bennett, Alan C. Davis, Richard K. Riefe, Ronald H. Dybalski, Timothy M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 7280948
    Abstract: A system and method of integrating geometric models, comprising identifying a product to design or manufacture, generating a product template, initiating the generation of at least one geometry, associating knowledge with the geometry, performing operations on the geometry, comparing results of the operations to rules, modifying the geometry and the knowledge, propagating the modifications to at least one second geometry, and updating the template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ravikiran Duggirala
  • Patent number: 7278526
    Abstract: The invention provides a brake-transmission interlock system for a vehicle. The brake-transmission interlock system prevents the driver from shifting out of a park transmission position with a selector lever unless at least one brake of the vehicle is engaged. The brake-transmission interlock system includes a locking member operable to move to a locked position wherein movement of the selector lever is prevented. The locking member can move to the locked position from an unlocked position wherein the selector lever is moveable to shift out of the park transmission position. The brake-transmission interlock system also includes an indicating device operable to communicate a signal corresponding to the park transmission position to the driver. The locking member is in the locked position prior to the signal being communicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Vermeersch, Larry W. Burr
  • Patent number: 7278660
    Abstract: An apparatus has an adjustable steering column that moves between first and second positions along a path. The path defines tilting movement of at least a portion of the steering column, telescoping movement of at least a portion of the steering column, or both tilting and telescoping movement. The apparatus also includes a lock moveable between locked and unlocked positions. When the lock is in the locked position, the steering column can not move adjustably along the path. When the lock is in the unlocked position, the steering column can be adjusted along the path. The apparatus also includes a switch operable to emit an unlock signal, and a controller communicating with the switch to receive the unlock signal. The controller controls the lock to move to the unlocked position in response to the unlock signal. The apparatus also includes a signal generator operable to emit a second signal to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgeway, Damir Menjak
  • Patent number: 7267370
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering column for a vehicle. The steering column includes an outer member having a first portion and a clamping portion cantilevered from the first portion. The clamping portion includes first and second projections and a first aperture defined between the first and second projections. The steering column also includes an inner member received in the first aperture for telescoping movement relative to the outer member along an axis. The steering column also includes a clamping mechanism disposed to selectively urge the first and second projections closer to one another to change a size of the first aperture. The first aperture is relatively smaller when the first and second projections have been urged relatively closer together by the clamping mechanism to lock the inner and outer members relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Drinan
  • Patent number: 7264274
    Abstract: A steering column assembly (10) of the collapsible type includes a mounting plate (30) for rigid attachment to a vehicle body structure. The mounting plate (30) supports the steering column (12) during normal operation through interconnecting release capsules (24) which allow the steering column (12) to collapse, away from the rigidly attached mounting plate (30), during a frontal collision. An energy absorbing tear strip (44) in formed integrally in the mounting plate (30) and is connected via tab (43) to a fixed connection (42) which adjoins a portion of the column bracket (18). The column bracket (18) moves together with the steering column (12) during a collapse situation. The tear strip (44) simultaneously bends and tears in a peeling fashion as the steering column (12) collapses to provide energy absorption for the assembly (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgway, Sam L. Scrivener
  • Patent number: 7263910
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering column for a vehicle. The steering column includes a steering column jacket defining a column axis. The steering column jacket is operable to at least partially encircle a steering shaft in a vehicle. The steering column also includes a tilt housing engaged with the steering column jacket for tilting movement about a tilt axis between a plurality of tilt positions. The steering column also includes a locking member supported for linear movement by the tilt housing. The locking member has a tip moveable outwardly with respect to the column axis to a locked position contacting the steering column jacket and inwardly towards the column axis to an unlocked position spaced from the steering column jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Maida, Steven P. Finkbeiner