Patents Assigned to TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
  • Publication number: 20100198461
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric assist motor for providing steering assist in response to a sensed torque signal includes the step of filtering the sensed torque signal to provide a low frequency torque signal and a high frequency torque signal. A low frequency assist torque signal is determined as a function of the low frequency torque signal. A high frequency assist gain signal is determined as a function of the sensed torque signal and a sensed vehicle speed. The high frequency assist gain signal is applied to the high frequency torque signal to determine a high frequency assist torque signal. A torque command signal is determined as a function of the low frequency assist torque signal and the high frequency assist torque signal. The electric assist motor is commanded to provide steering assist in accordance with the torque command signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: TRW LUCASVARITY ELECTRIC STEERING LIMITED
    Inventors: Anthony Walter Burton, Angel Luis Andres Fernandez, Axel De Pascal
  • Patent number: 7686336
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a steering column shroud which supports a steering shaft for a steering wheel. The column shroud includes an inner member and an outer member. The inner member being at least partially received within the outer member. A support bracket is fixed in position relative to a part of the vehicle. A clamp mechanism is movable between a locked position in which the clamp mechanism fixes the inner member and the outer member in position relative to the support bracket and an unlocked position in which the clamp mechanism permits movement of at least one of the inner and outer members relative to the support bracket. The clamp mechanism includes a clamp pin that passes through an opening in the support bracket and is connected to a loop plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Dominique Cullier, Niclas Davies, Michael Appleyard, David Ward
  • Patent number: 7664583
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprises a steering mechanism, which operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of the vehicle, an electric motor operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a torque sensing means adapted to produce a first output signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism, a vehicle speed sensing means for producing a second output signal indicative of the speed of the vehicle, a signal processing unit adapted to receive the first and second signals and to produce a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor; and a motor drive stage adapted to provide a drive current to the motor responsive to the torque demand signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Angel Luis Andres Fernandez, Andrew James Stephen Williams, George Thomas Dibben
  • Patent number: 7318687
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a male component and a female component which connect together to form a mechanical connection, the female component being adapted to at least partially receive an end portion of the male component. The female component has at least one bore which is adapted to receive a clamping pin which can be tightened to clamp the female component around the male component. A guide is provided which is carried by the male component and which defines at least one blocking region and one opening region, the opening region being aligned with the at least one bore in the female component to permit insertion of the clamping pin into the bore when the male component and female component are correctly aligned and the blocking region otherwise preventing insertion of the clamping pin when the male component is inserted into the female component with an incorrect alignment. The guide assists in achieving correct alignment of the male and female components during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Michael Appleyard, Stephen David Butler, Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 7275765
    Abstract: The assembly comprises: a hollow lower guide portion 7 a hollow upper shroud portion 10, which fits at least partially within the guide portion and extends away from the guide portion a telescopic steering shaft 1, 2 having at least an upper part 2 and a lower part 1, the upper part co-operating with the lower part and the two parts extending through the guide portion and the upper shroud portion a lower axial bearing 16, which is supported in a seat in the guide portion and provides axial location for the lower steering shaft part an upper axial bearing 17, which is supported in a seat in the upper shroud portion and provides axial location for the upper steering shaft part and in which the guide portion has at least one arcuate guide wall, which co-operates with a complimentary arcuate guide wall of the upper shroud to define a contact surface along which the upper shroud portion is adapted to slide relative to the guide portion in the event of an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignees: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited, Lucas Automotive GmbH, TRW DAS A.S.
    Inventors: Eckart Op Den Camp, Jiri Nevrkla, Michael Appleyard
  • Patent number: 7100735
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system comprising a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of the vehicle, a torque sensing means (6) adapted to produce a first output signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism (7), a means (6) for producing a second output signal indicative of the angular velocity of the steering wheel, a difference means (21) for determining the difference in value of the torque carried by a portion of the column between two points in time to produce a third output value, an electric motor (1) operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a signal processing unit (7) adapted to receive the two signals and to produce a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor (1), and a motor drive stage adapted to provide a drive current to the motor (1) responsive to the torque demand signal, and in which the torque demand signal (1) includes a damping component
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Tony Burton, Angel L. Andres Fernandez
  • Patent number: 7022975
    Abstract: An angular position sensor (1) suitable for use in combination with the rotor of an electric motor comprising both absolute and incremental encoders (3) where a first signal of the absolute encoder produces a period corresponding to an electric revolution of the motor and less than a mechanical revolution of the rotor, a second output of the incremental encoder varies periodically over a complete revolution of the rotor, where the two signals provide sufficient information to determine the absolute mechanical position of the rotor. Typically, transitions in the first output signal combined with the state of the second output signal provide such information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventor: Steven John Horton
  • Patent number: 6800843
    Abstract: An optical displacement senor includes a source of optical radiation, a two-dimensional array of radiation detectors, and at least one modulating element disposed between the source and detector. The modulating element has alternating first and second modulating regions circumfrentially spaced around a central axis thereof. The modulating element is displacement relative to the array of detectors so that the detector array forms a two-dimensional image of the first and second regions of the modulating element of array. A data processor is connected to the detector array and is adapted to indentify the orientation of at least two different radially extending edges of regions on the modulating element from the two-dimensional image and also to determine the position of the centre of the element from the determined orientation of the edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventor: Steven John Horton
  • Publication number: 20020125845
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system of the kind in which an electric motor is operatively connected to a steering assembly through a gearbox to apply an assistance torque to the steering assembly and in which the steering assembly includes a steering column coupled at one end to a driver's handwheel and at the other end to steerable wheels, a means being provided for generating a signal representative of the velocity of rotation of the steering column. The system includes a high pass filter which is adapted to generate, for frequencies below a prescribed threshold, a signal at least approximately proportional to steering column acceleration and representative of the inertia of the rotor of the electric motor, the latter signal being arranged to be used to compensate for the motor rotor inertia in an overall assistance torque demand as developed by the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Walter Burton, Simon David Stevens, Russell Wilson Jones, Marie Saunier, Tom Michael Richard Ernest Roberts
  • Patent number: 6357794
    Abstract: An energy absorbing steering column assembly is disclosed in which a steering column shaft (3a, 3b) is supported within a two part steering column housing. The two part housing comprises a first part (1) secured to the vehicle body and a second (2) part which is supported by the first part (1) and adapted to slide telescopically relative to the first part in an accident. A spring (5) is provided in a space between the two parts, and upon relative movement between the first and second part (1, 2), the spring (5) slides along at least one of the two parts to generate a friction force which provides a damping effect. An additional, separate embodiment is also disclosed in which the two part housing (1, 2) is fixed to the vehicle through an energy controlling mechanism (300, 400) which comprises a first portion which is “squeezed” along or through an opening on a second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventor: Daniel J. DuRocher
  • Patent number: 6266591
    Abstract: A controller for an electric power assisted steering system comprises a drive circuit (2) for controlling current to a motor (1) and a data processor (8) for controlling the motor current and hence assistance torque. A circuit (9) generates a current limit which is a monotonically decreasing function of vehicle speed. A comparator (6) compares motor current with the current limit and switches off the drive circuit (2) if the current limit is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: TRW LucasVarity Electric Steering Limited
    Inventors: Russell Wilson-Jones, Steven J Horton