Patents by Inventor Christophe Lauwerys
Christophe Lauwerys has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240397865Abstract: An agricultural system includes a cutter bar assembly with a first knife section and a second knife section. The agricultural system also includes a drive system associated with the cutter bar assembly and having a first drive assembly configured to drive movement of the first knife section and a second drive assembly configured to drive movement of the second knife section. The agricultural system further includes a controller configured to receive signals indicative of a relative phase between the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly and provide control signals to adjust the relative phase between the first drive assembly and the second drive assembly to maintain the relative phase at a target relative phase.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2023Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Cory Douglas Hunt, Jethro Martin, Christophe Lauwerys
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Publication number: 20240324509Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a height of a harvesting implement includes receiving distance data from a distance sensor supported relative to the harvesting implement that is indicative of a measured distance from the distance sensor to a location on a ground surface positioned, receiving pose data associated with the distance sensor, determining a pose of the distance sensor based on the pose data, and determining a compensation value for adjusting the measured distance based on the pose of the distance sensor. Additionally, the method includes calculating a compensated distance value as a function of the measured distance and the compensation value, and controlling an operation of an actuator based at least in part on the corrected distance value to adjust a vertical height of at least a portion of the harvesting implement relative to the ground surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: October 3, 2024Inventors: Christophe Lauwerys, II, Cory Douglas Hunt, Bart M.A. Missotten, Jethro Martin, Bart Lenaerts
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Patent number: 11351830Abstract: A method of producing an anti-roll moment distribution module for a vehicle comprises determining understeer characteristics of the vehicle, determining a maximum lateral acceleration of the vehicle, adjusting understeer characteristics of the vehicle based on the maximum lateral acceleration, determining reference understeer characteristics, determining a plurality of reference yaw rates based on (i) the maximum lateral acceleration and (ii) the reference understeer characteristics using a non-linear quasi static vehicle model, storing the plurality of reference yaw rates in a first look up table in the anti-roll moment distribution module, determining a plurality of feedforward contributions using the non-linear quasi static model of the vehicle. Each feedforward contribution of the plurality of feedforward contributions can be used to determine a front to total anti-roll moment distribution for the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.Inventors: Aldo Sorniotti, Marco Ricco, Miguel Dhaens, Christophe Lauwerys, Bert Vandersmissen
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Patent number: 11338637Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a pressurized gas damper, electromagnetic actuator, and pressurized gas spring. The pressurized gas damper includes first and second working chambers that are fluidly connected by a flow control orifice. The electromagnetic actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator cavity and a magnetic rotor that is slidingly received in the stator cavity. The magnetic rotor is fixed to a damper tube that houses the second working chamber. The stator cavity and an end of the damper tube cooperate to define the first working chamber. The pressurized gas spring includes a bellows chamber that extends annularly about the damper tube. The damper tube includes an opening between the second working chamber and the bellows chamber.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2019Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.Inventors: Miguel Dhaens, Monzer Al Sakka, Christophe Lauwerys
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Publication number: 20210023902Abstract: A method of producing an anti-roll moment distribution module for a vehicle comprises determining understeer characteristics of the vehicle, determining a maximum lateral acceleration of the vehicle, adjusting understeer characteristics of the vehicle based on the maximum lateral acceleration, determining reference understeer characteristics, determining a plurality of reference yaw rates based on (i) the maximum lateral acceleration and (ii) the reference understeer characteristics using a non-linear quasi static vehicle model, storing the plurality of reference yaw rates in a first look up table in the anti-roll moment distribution module, determining a plurality of feedforward contributions using the non-linear quasi static model of the vehicle. Each feedforward contribution of the plurality of feedforward contributions can be used to determine a front to total anti-roll moment distribution for the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Aldo SORNIOTTI, Marco RICCO, Miguel DHAENS, Christophe LAUWERYS, Bert VANDERSMISSEN
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Patent number: 10850586Abstract: A system for controlling a suspension of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors, an anti-roll moment module configured to determine a front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution based on at least a first operating parameter of the vehicle, at least one suspension actuator, and a suspension control module configured to control the at least one suspension actuator based on the determined front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Aldo Sorniotti, Marco Ricco, Miguel Dhaens, Christophe Lauwerys, Bert Vandersmissen
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Publication number: 20200238780Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a pressurized gas damper, electromagnetic actuator, and pressurized gas spring. The pressurized gas damper includes first and second working chambers that are fluidly connected by a flow control orifice. The electromagnetic actuator includes a stator assembly with a stator cavity and a magnetic rotor that is slidingly received in the stator cavity. The magnetic rotor is fixed to a damper tube that houses the second working chamber. The stator cavity and an end of the damper tube cooperate to define the first working chamber. The pressurized gas spring includes a bellows chamber that extends annularly about the damper tube. The damper tube includes an opening between the second working chamber and the bellows chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2019Publication date: July 30, 2020Inventors: Miguel DHAENS, Monzer Al SAKKA, Christophe LAUWERYS
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Patent number: 10690215Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes an outer tube, a piston rod, and a piston assembly that is mounted to the piston rod and separates the outer tube into first and second working chambers. A valve assembly, mounted to the piston assembly, controls fluid flow between the first and second working chambers. A magnetic rotor is fixed to and extends annularly about the outer tube. A stator assembly is coupled to the piston rod by a spherical bearing assembly. The stator assembly includes a plurality of coils that apply an active damping force to the piston rod when energized. The coils can also generate electricity from axial movements of the piston rod relative to the outer tube. One or more glide bearings are disposed radially between the coils and the magnetic rotor in a sliding fit to stabilize the stator assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Monzer Al Sakka, Miguel Dhaens, Christophe Lauwerys, Thibault Le Polain
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Patent number: 10589591Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a damper and actuator. The damper extends longitudinally along a damper axis between first and second damper ends. The actuator is separate and spaced apart from the damper. The actuator extends longitudinally along an actuator axis between first and second actuator ends. The damper and the actuator are arranged next to one another where the actuator axis is spaced from and substantially parallel to the damper axis. The damper and the actuator are positioned within a cylindrical packaging envelope that has a diameter of 300 millimeters or less. The cylindrical packaging envelope is an imaginary cylinder, which may be defined by one or more components of a vehicle's suspension system such as a coil spring or an upper suspension arm. The damper and the actuator are completely contained within the cylindrical packaging envelope.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.Inventors: Monzer Al Sakka, Miguel Dhaens, Christophe Lauwerys
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Publication number: 20200062069Abstract: A system for controlling a suspension of a vehicle includes a plurality of sensors, an anti-roll moment module configured to determine a front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution based on at least a first operating parameter of the vehicle, at least one suspension actuator, and a suspension control module configured to control the at least one suspension actuator based on the determined front-to-total anti-roll moment distribution.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Aldo SORNIOTTI, Marco RICCO, Miguel DHAENS, Christophe LAUWERYS, Bert VANDERSMISSEN
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Publication number: 20190264771Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes an outer tube, a piston rod, and a piston assembly that is mounted to the piston rod and separates the outer tube into first and second working chambers. A valve assembly, mounted to the piston assembly, controls fluid flow between the first and second working chambers. A magnetic rotor is fixed to and extends annularly about the outer tube. A stator assembly is coupled to the piston rod by a spherical bearing assembly. The stator assembly includes a plurality of coils that apply an active damping force to the piston rod when energized. The coils can also generate electricity from axial movements of the piston rod relative to the outer tube. One or more glide bearings are disposed radially between the coils and the magnetic rotor in a sliding fit to stabilize the stator assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Monzer Al SAKKA, Miguel DHAENS, Christophe LAUWERYS, Thibault Le POLAIN
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Publication number: 20190263213Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle is provided that includes a damper and actuator. The damper extends longitudinally along a damper axis between first and second damper ends. The actuator is separate and spaced apart from the damper. The actuator extends longitudinally along an actuator axis between first and second actuator ends. The damper and the actuator are arranged next to one another where the actuator axis is spaced from and substantially parallel to the damper axis. The damper and the actuator are positioned within a cylindrical packaging envelope that has a diameter of 300 millimeters or less. The cylindrical packaging envelope is an imaginary cylinder, which may be defined by one or more components of a vehicle's suspension system such as a coil spring or an upper suspension arm. The damper and the actuator are completely contained within the cylindrical packaging envelope.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2018Publication date: August 29, 2019Inventors: Monzer Al SAKKA, Miguel DHAENS, Christophe LAUWERYS
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Publication number: 20170240017Abstract: A control system and method is disclosed for controlling an active suspension and a leveling system for a motor vehicle. The control system may use estimator, controller and management modules. The estimator module processes measured signals obtained from various components and sensors of the vehicle relating to modal displacements, velocities and accelerations, and calculates derived signals which are used as inputs to the controller module. The controller module calculates the desired damper force for each active damper based on motions of the vehicle body and wheels. The management module translates the desired active damper force into an appropriate set of control signals to control each active damper. These operations are performed for each active damper of the vehicle to control each damper in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Bert VANDERSMISSEN, Christophe LAUWERYS, Kristoff SIX, Koenraad REYBROUCK
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Patent number: 8290632Abstract: A method for controlling the influx of fluids into a multizone well in which each inflow zone is provided with an inflow control device, comprises: assessing the flux of oil, gas, water and other effluents from the well; monitoring production variables, including ICD position and/or fluid pressure in each inflow zone upstream of each ICD and/or downstream of each ICD; sequentially adjusting the position of each of the ICDs and assessing the flux of crude oil, natural gas and/or other well effluents; monitoring production variables; deriving a zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well; and adjusting each ICD to control the influx of crude oil, natural gas and/or other effluents into each inflow zone on the basis of data derived from the zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee, Henk Nico Jan Poulisse
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Patent number: 8204693Abstract: A method for virtually metering flow rates in a cluster of injection wells comprises: closing each well in and performing a dynamically disturbed injection test (DDIT) on it, during which the injection rate to the well is varied while the flow rate in the header conduit assembly (HCA) and one or more injection well variables of the test well and the other wells are monitored, and the other wells are controlled so that their tubing head pressures or flow meter readings remain constant; for each tested well deriving a model providing a correlation between variations of the fluid flowrate attributable to the test well and variations of the well variables monitored during each DDIT; injecting fluid into each well while monitoring a flow pattern in the HCA and one or more well variables; calculating an estimated injection rate at each well basis on flow pattern, well variables and the model.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee
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Publication number: 20110301851Abstract: A method for virtual metering of fluid flow rates in a cluster of fluid injection wells which are connected to a collective fluid supply header conduit assembly comprises: a) sequentially testing each of the injection wells of the cluster by closing in that well and then performing a dynamically disturbed injection well test (DDIT) on the tested well, during which test the injection rate to the tested well is varied over a range of flows whilst the fluid flowrate in the header conduit assembly and one or more injection well variables, including tubing head pressure, of the well under test and of the other wells in the cluster are monitored, and the other wells in the cluster are controlled such as to cause their tubing head pressures or flow meter readings to be approximately constant for the duration of the test; b) deriving from step a a well injection estimation model for each tested well, which model provides a correlation between variations of the fluid flowrate attributable to the well under consideratiType: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2008Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee
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Publication number: 20100217575Abstract: A method for controlling the influx of fluids into a multizone well in which each inflow zone is provided with an inflow control device, comprises: assessing the flux of oil, gas, water and other effluents from the well; monitoring production variables, including ICD position and/or fluid pressure in each inflow zone upstream of each ICD and/or downstream of each ICD; sequentially adjusting the position of each of the ICDs and assessing the flux of crude oil, natural gas and/or other well effluents; monitoring production variables; deriving a zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well; and adjusting each ICD to control the influx of crude oil, natural gas and/or other effluents into each inflow zone on the basis of data derived from the zonal production estimation model for each inflow zone of the well.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Jan Jozef Maria Briers, Keat-Choon Goh, Christophe Lauwerys, Peter Stefaan Lutgard Van Overschee, Henk Nico Jan Poulisse
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Patent number: 7386378Abstract: A vehicle suspension system that includes a cylinder, a rod inserted within the cylinder, a piston coupled to the rod and a piston valve which has an input piston current. The suspension system further includes a base coupled to the cylinder, a base valve which has an input base current, and a controller coupled to the piston valve and the base valve. The controller is adapted to generate the input piston current and the input base current based on a generated virtual current.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2004Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Lauwerys, Jan Swevers, Paul Sas
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Patent number: 7321816Abstract: A method for controlling a shock absorber system of a vehicle that includes a plurality of controlled shock absorbers linearizes the system. The method includes transforming original control inputs of the shock absorbers into virtual damper force input signals based on a bilinear damper characteristic. The system dynamics are then decoupled into modal components using static decoupling matrices, and the system is controlled with a linear decentralized controller.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Lauwerys, Jan Swevers
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Publication number: 20050240326Abstract: A method for controlling a shock absorber system of a vehicle that includes a plurality of controlled shock absorbers linearizes the system. The method includes transforming original control inputs of the shock absorbers into virtual damper force input signals based on a bilinear damper characteristic. The system dynamics are then decoupled into modal components using static decoupling matrices, and the system is controlled with a linear decentralized controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2005Publication date: October 27, 2005Applicant: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company, Inc.Inventors: Christophe Lauwerys, Jan Swevers