Patents by Inventor Christophe Nicot

Christophe Nicot 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).

  • Patent number: 6619102
    Abstract: A bearing of the type comprising a fixed raceway (2) intended to be associated with a fixed structure, a rotating raceway (3) intended to be associated with a rotating member (6, 8, 9) and rolling bodies disposed between them, in which the fixed raceway (2) comprises first means (5) of fixing the said bearing (1) to the fixed structure. The fixed raceway (2) comprises at least one elastic deformation zone able to be deformed under the action of forces exerted on the said bearing (1). At least one sensor (26) able to measure the said forces is functionally associated with the said elastic deformation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Arnaud Salou, Christophe Nicot, Olivier Blanchin
  • Patent number: 6593733
    Abstract: A device for a magnetic encoder, the magnetic encoder being designed to work with a sensor to measure the rotation of a rotating element, wherein a protective element, whose shape is designed to cover the active face of the magnetic encoder, is placed on the magnetic encoder during the storage, handling or shipment phases of the magnetic encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Patent number: 6552534
    Abstract: A fixed magnetic sensor (16) is used to determine absolute angular position of a turning component (3, 4). A detection device (27) detects an angular position of a multipole magnetic ring (11) near a reference angular position. A resetting device (28) resets the angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) detected by detection device (27). The resetting device (28) is capable of assigning a value called “offset” to the value of the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11). A determination device (29) determines the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) on all of the turns made by a turning component (3, 4) ascertained from the offset value and variations in the angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Pascal Desbiolles, Christophe Nicot
  • Publication number: 20030057903
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling an electronically commutated motor (1) comprising P phases and N pairs of poles (5), said device comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Pascal Desbiolles, Christophe Nicot, Achim Friz
  • Publication number: 20030059212
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronically commutated motor (1) comprising P phases and N pairs of poles, in which a circular multipole encoder (12) is associated with the rotating ring (6a) of an anti-friction bearing (6), said encoder (12) comprising a main multipole track (12a) and a multipole commutation track (12b) comprising 2*P*N singularities (12b1-12b6) equidistributed angularly and a control device comprising a fixed sensor (15) capable of delivering square digital signals A, B in quadrature and a digital signal C in the form of 2*P*N pulses per revolution of the encoder (12), a circuit for commutating (20) the currents in the phase windings of the motor (1) and a control circuit (21) for the commutation circuit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Pascal Desbiolles, Christophe Nicot, Achim Friz
  • Publication number: 20030057902
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric power-assisted steering system making it possible to apply an assist torque for the angular displacement of the wheels of a vehicle, said torque being applied by an electronically commutated motor (2) comprising P phases and N pairs of poles, said system also comprising a device for controlling the motor (2) comprising a circular multipole encoder (17) comprising a main multipole track (17a) and a multipole commutation track (17b) comprising magnetic singularities (17b1-17b6) equidistributed angularly, a fixed sensor (19) capable of delivering square digital signals A, B in quadrature, and a signal C in the form of 2*P*N pulses per revolution of the rotor (3), a circuit for commutating (20) the currents in the phase windings of the motor (2) and a control circuit (21) for the commutation circuit (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Pascal Desbiolles, Christophe Nicot, Achim Friz
  • Patent number: 6517113
    Abstract: The invention concerns a vehicle steering column (2) comprising a manual control member (3) for applying a torque on the column (2) drive shaft (8), the column being equipped with a device for measuring the torque applied to the drive shaft (8), characterised in that the torque measuring device includes a sensing element without requiring a torsion bar to be located along the drive shaft (8) axis and thus producing a break therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Patent number: 6456913
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering column having a manual control apparatus for applying a torque to the transmission shaft of the column, said column being provided with means of measuring the torque applied to said transmission shaft, the means of measuring the applied torque comprising a means generating magnetic pulses and a device for detecting these pulses, in which the detection device comprises a plurality of aligned sensitive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Christophe Nicot, Pascal Desbiolles, Fernand Peilloud
  • Publication number: 20020111728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering column having a manual control apparatus for applying a torque to the transmission shaft of the column, said column being provided with means of measuring the torque applied to said transmission shaft, the means of measuring the applied torque comprising a means generating magnetic pulses and a device for detecting these pulses, in which the detection device comprises a plurality of aligned sensitive elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: S.N.R. ROULEMENTS
    Inventors: Christophe Nicot, Pascal Desbiolles, Fernand Pelloud
  • Patent number: 6427542
    Abstract: Two external rings and an internal ring form an assembly that is connected to a column so it rotates with it, to which column the torque to be measured is applied. Elastically deformable members connect the internal ring to one external ring, and the other external ring remaining essentially unstressed. A measurement device, such as, for example, a probe having at least one with Hall effect device, measures relative displacement of the two external rings to determine the torque applied. The invention also concerns the steering devices equipped with such torque sensors, for example, for power or assisted steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Patent number: 6405605
    Abstract: A torque sensor to determine the torque exerted on an assembly comprising a component generating magnetic impulses, with this sensor comprising a number of aligned sensor components divided into two subassemblies, the signals emitted by such subassemblies being processed by an electronic circuit capable of delivering an analog signal as a function of the torque exerted. The invention also proposes a process for processing the signals emitted by such a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Pascal Desboilles, Christophe Nicot, Fernand Peilloud
  • Patent number: 6402196
    Abstract: The invention concerns an instrumented steering wheel comprising a torque sensor integrated or directly mounted in its armature. The torque measurement enables power steering control. The rigid monobloc torquemeter is unaffected by electromagnetic interference and is inexpensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Publication number: 20020061148
    Abstract: A bearing of the type comprising a fixed raceway (2) intended to be associated with a fixed structure, a rotating raceway (3) intended to be associated with a rotating member (6, 8, 9) and rolling bodies disposed between them, in which the fixed raceway (2) comprises first means (5) of fixing the said bearing (1) to the fixed structure. The fixed raceway (2) comprises at least one elastic deformation zone able to be deformed under the action of forces exerted on the said bearing (1). At least one sensor (26) able to measure the said forces is functionally associated with the said elastic deformation zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Arnaud Salou, Christophe Nicot, Olivier Blanchin
  • Patent number: 6352370
    Abstract: Bearing (1) with a built-in encoder (22) that comprises a fixed ring (2), a rotating ring (3) designed to be mounted on a rotating body (5), and rolling components (4) between them. A frame (13) forms, on the one hand, support for an annular encoder (22) to generate electromagnetic impulses and, on the other hand, a device for rigidly connecting the rotating body (5) and the rotating ring (3). The rotating ring (3) fits onto the connection device, which is designed to be inserted between the rotating body (5) and the rotating ring (3). Sensor (29) and steering system components may be added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Publication number: 20020024336
    Abstract: A fixed magnetic sensor (16) is used to determine absolute angular position of a turning component (3, 4). A detection device (27) detects an angular position of a multipole magnetic ring (11) near a reference angular position. A resetting device (28) resets the angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) detected by detection device (27). The resetting device (28) is capable of assigning a value called “offset” to the value of the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11). A determination device (29) determines the absolute angular position of the multipole magnetic ring (11) on all of the turns made by a turning component (3, 4) ascertained from the offset value and variations in the angular position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Pascal Desbiolles, Christophe Nicot
  • Publication number: 20020012484
    Abstract: The object of the invention is an assembly comprising a bearing (1) and a mechanical interface (5) associated, by means of association means (7), with the fixed raceway (2) of the bearing (1), this interface (5) being intended to be interposed between the fixed raceway (2) of the bearing (1) and the fixed structure, the said interface (5) comprising:
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Inventors: Arnaud Salou, Christophe Nicot, Olivier Blanchin
  • Patent number: 6273614
    Abstract: A rolling-contact bearing having a termal compensation insert. The bearing includes a first ring with a first ball race, a second ring with the second ball race, and a row of rolling bodies which obliquely contact the ball races. A compensating insert is in stop contact on one of the rings. One of the sheet metal rings has a supporting surface which is extended by a radial stop extension for blocking the insert axially and radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: SNR Roulements
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Patent number: 6227060
    Abstract: A device for measuring torque in a rotating shaft of a vehicle steering column including a magnetic-field generator situated in a plane of cross section of the rotating shaft and a detector which delivers a signal proportional to the torque in the rotating shaft as a result of the relative angular offset between the field generator and the detector. A first electronic circuit inside the steering column is fixed to a support that concentrates the magnetic field and moves past the magnetic field generator together with a mechanical connection for angular return of two sections of the rotating shaft. Measurement sensors carried by the first electronic circuit deliver signals to a second electronic circuit outside the steering column, for processing those signals and for operating receiver devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventors: Christophe Nicot, Alain Bochet
  • Patent number: 6176622
    Abstract: Attachment device for a data sensor for a bearing on which an encoding element is connected to a turning race that is separated by rolling elements from a fixed race, the sensor being mounted on a support that is immobile relative to the fixed race. The support has at least a first element and a second element joined together. The first element immobilizes the support relative to the fixed race, and the second element integrates functions of guiding and immobilizing the sensor on the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot
  • Patent number: 6131472
    Abstract: Two members for generating a magnetic field are fixed symmetrically with respect to a shaft in a first plane perpendicular to the shaft, and two members for detecting the magnetic field are fixed, symmetrically with respect to the shaft, in a second plane which is parallel and axially offset with respect to the first plane. A routing member for routing the magnetic field lines, made of ferromagnetic material, rotationally integral with the shaft and surrounding the shaft, is provided at the periphery of the members for detecting and for generating a magnetic field, on at least that portion of the shaft which lies between the first and second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: The Torrington Company
    Inventor: Christophe Nicot