Patents by Inventor Joel E. Birsching

Joel E. Birsching 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).

  • Publication number: 20250083625
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a handwheel angle signal, generating a handwheel speed signal and a handwheel acceleration signal, and synchronizing the handwheel speed signal and the handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes delaying the handwheel angle signal, calculating a sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and a phase value, converting the sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and the phase value to radians, determining an offset correction value by calculating a sine function value of the converted sum of the operator torque estimation signal and the phase value, calculating a product of the offset correction value and a calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, adjusting the operator torque estimation signal by adding the product and the calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, and determining whether hands of an operator of the vehicle are on the handwheel based on the adjusted operator torque estimation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20250065945
    Abstract: A method for performing hysteresis shaping in a steer-by-wire (SbW) steering system of a vehicle includes determining a desired hysteresis associated with rotating a handwheel of the vehicle, determining, based on the desired hysteresis, whether to perform hysteresis subtraction or perform hysteresis addition, in response to a determination to perform hysteresis subtraction, calculating a hysteresis subtraction value, modifying an estimated rack load based on the hysteresis subtraction value, and generating a reference torque based on the estimated rack load as modified based on the hysteresis subtraction value, in response to a determination to perform hysteresis addition, calculating a hysteresis addition value and generating the reference torque based on hysteresis addition value, and controlling the handwheel based on the reference torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Meyer, Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20240400132
    Abstract: A method for augmenting a return velocity of a handwheel coupled to a steering system of a vehicle includes calculating return-to-center (RtC) torque for the handwheel based on a vehicle speed and a position of the handwheel, calculating a return load value for the handwheel based on the RtC torque, providing the return load value as an input to an effort function of the steering system, and augmenting, based on the return load value and using the steering system, a return velocity of the handwheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Meyer, Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 12151626
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a handwheel angle signal, generating a handwheel speed signal and a handwheel acceleration signal, and synchronizing the handwheel speed signal and the handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes delaying the handwheel angle signal, calculating a sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and a phase value, converting the sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and the phase value to radians, determining an offset correction value by calculating a sine function value of the converted sum of the operator torque estimation signal and the phase value, calculating a product of the offset correction value and a calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, adjusting the operator torque estimation signal by adding the product and the calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, and determining whether hands of an operator of the vehicle are on the handwheel based on the adjusted operator torque estimation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20240337548
    Abstract: A method for compensating for torque sensor hysteresis. The method includes receiving, from a torque sensor, a first torque signal corresponding to a torque applied to a handwheel associated with a steering system; determining a full hysteresis value associated with the torque sensor; determining a shift value based on the full hysteresis value; calculating a product of the full hysteresis value and the shift value; generating a modified torque signal based on the first torque signal and the product of the full hysteresis value and the shift value; and determining a torque assist value based on the modified torque signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20240336300
    Abstract: A method for rack force effort-based damping includes: receiving a handwheel velocity signal associated with rotational motion of a handwheel of a vehicle; determining a vehicle speed; identifying, in a rack force look-up table, a rack force value based on the handwheel velocity signal and the vehicle speed; generating a modified rack force signal by adding the rack force value to a rack force signal; identifying, in an effort look-up table, an effort value based on the modified rack force signal; and selectively controlling at least one aspect of a steering system based on the effort value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Meyer, Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20230271577
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a handwheel angle signal, generating a handwheel speed signal and a handwheel acceleration signal, and synchronizing the handwheel speed signal and the handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes delaying the handwheel angle signal, calculating a sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and a phase value, converting the sum of the delayed handwheel angle signal and the phase value to radians, determining an offset correction value by calculating a sine function value of the converted sum of the operator torque estimation signal and the phase value, calculating a product of the offset correction value and a calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, adjusting the operator torque estimation signal by adding the product and the calibratable value of an offset mass magnitude, and determining whether hands of an operator of the vehicle are on the handwheel based on the adjusted operator torque estimation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 11722039
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic pole piece includes molding a magnetic body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between a first end and a second end, and a trim cap disposed at the first end. The method further includes fixing a non-magnetic isolator to the magnetic body between the outer wall and the inner wall and removing the trim cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Kubiak, Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20230174088
    Abstract: A method hands-on-wheel detection includes receiving a handwheel angle signal from a sensor associated with a handwheel of a vehicle and generating, based on a handwheel angle indicated by the handwheel angle signal, a handwheel speed signal and a handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes synchronizing the handwheel speed signal and the handwheel acceleration signal by generating a delayed handwheel speed signal and a delayed handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes generating an operator torque estimation signal based on, at least, the delayed handwheel speed signal and the delayed handwheel acceleration signal. The method also includes determining whether hands of an operator of the vehicle are on the handwheel based on the operator torque estimation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 11305811
    Abstract: Technical solutions for compensating for lash in a steering system are described. An example method includes determining a rack pressure value based on a driver torque value and a differential pressure across a rack of the steering system. The method also includes determining a compensation friction value based on a position of a handwheel of the steering system and a speed of a vehicle equipped with the steering system. The method also includes computing a pressure value based on the rack pressure value and the compensation friction value. The method also includes generating a torque command using the pressure value, the torque command being added to the driver assist torque for the steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 11235801
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for generating a damping torque in a magnetic torque overlay (MTO) steering system. An example method includes generating a damping torque based on a vehicle speed value, a handwheel velocity value, and a differential pressure value. The method further includes detecting an off-road condition, and in response, computing an off-road damping torque signal based on one or more of the vehicle speed value, the handwheel velocity value, the differential pressure value, and a handwheel angle value. The method also includes scaling the damping torque by the off-road damping torque signal in response to detecting the off-road condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20200373793
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic pole piece includes molding a magnetic body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between a first end and a second end, and a trim cap disposed at the first end. The method further includes fixing a non-magnetic isolator to the magnetic body between the outer wall and the inner wall and removing the trim cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: David M. Kubiak, Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 10848015
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic pole piece includes molding a magnetic body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between a first end and a second end, and a trim cap disposed at the first end. The method further includes fixing a non-magnetic isolator to the magnetic body between the outer wall and the inner wall and removing the trim cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Kubiak, Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 10784726
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic pole piece includes molding a magnetic body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between a first end and a second end, and a trim cap disposed at the first end. The method further includes fixing a non-magnetic isolator to the magnetic body between the outer wall and the inner wall and removing the trim cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Kubiak, Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 10703408
    Abstract: A method of assisting a steering effort in a hydraulic steering system is provided. The method includes measuring a pressure with a pressure sensor assembly. The method also includes calculating an input torque with a controller. The method further includes measuring at least one vehicle condition with at least one vehicle sensor and sending a vehicle condition signal to the controller. The method yet further includes determining a current required to operate an actuator with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joel E. Birsching, Martin P. Sheridan, John T. Sigelko
  • Publication number: 20190351943
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for generating a damping torque in a magnetic torque overlay (MTO) steering system. An example method includes generating a damping torque based on a vehicle speed value, a handwheel velocity value, and a differential pressure value. The method further includes detecting an off-road condition, and in response, computing an off-road damping torque signal based on one or more of the vehicle speed value, the handwheel velocity value, the differential pressure value, and a handwheel angle value. The method also includes scaling the damping torque by the off-road damping torque signal in response to detecting the off-road condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20190322315
    Abstract: A method of assisting a steering effort in a hydraulic steering system is provided. The method includes measuring a pressure with a pressure sensor assembly. The method also includes calculating an input torque with a controller. The method further includes measuring at least one vehicle condition with at least one vehicle sensor and sending a vehicle condition signal to the controller. The method yet further includes determining a current required to operate an actuator with the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventors: Joel E. Birsching, Martin P. Sheridan, John T. Sigelko
  • Publication number: 20190300049
    Abstract: Technical solutions for compensating for lash in a steering system are described. An example method includes determining a rack pressure value based on a driver torque value and a differential pressure across a rack of the steering system. The method also includes determining a compensation friction value based on a position of a handwheel of the steering system and a speed of a vehicle equipped with the steering system. The method also includes computing a pressure value based on the rack pressure value and the compensation friction value. The method also includes generating a torque command using the pressure value, the torque command being added to the driver assist torque for the steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Joel E. Birsching
  • Publication number: 20190296593
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic pole piece includes molding a magnetic body having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between a first end and a second end, and a trim cap disposed at the first end. The method further includes fixing a non-magnetic isolator to the magnetic body between the outer wall and the inner wall and removing the trim cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: David M. Kubiak, Joel E. Birsching
  • Patent number: 10421485
    Abstract: A power steering system includes a steering column assembly, a steering gear assembly, and a pressure sensor, and a torque sensor. The steering column assembly has a steering shaft and the steering gear assembly is operatively connected to the steering shaft. The steering gear assembly has an input shaft that extends through a valve housing and extends into a rack housing. The pressure sensor is arranged to provide a pressure signal indicative of a fluid pressure of at least one of a first cavity and a second cavity disposed within the rack housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joel E. Birsching, Martin P. Sheridan, John T. Sigelko