Patents by Inventor Kathryn L. Pattok

Kathryn L. Pattok 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: 10155531
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power steering system of a vehicle is provided. The method determines that one or more hand wheel torque sensors of the vehicle are not enabled. The method generates an assist torque command by estimating a lateral acceleration of the vehicle based on a hand wheel angle and determining an amount of assist torque based on the estimated lateral acceleration. The method controls the electric power steering system using the generated assist torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony J. Champagne, Timothy W. Kaufmann, Kathryn L. Pattok, Tejas M. Varunjikar
  • Publication number: 20140324294
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electric power steering system of a vehicle is provided. The method determines that one or more hand wheel torque sensors of the vehicle are not enabled. The method generates an assist torque command by estimating a lateral acceleration of the vehicle based on a hand wheel angle and determining an amount of assist torque based on the estimated lateral acceleration. The method controls the electric power steering system using the generated assist torque command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Champagne, Timothy W. Kaufmann, Kathryn L. Pattok, Tejas M. Varunjikar
  • Patent number: 8489280
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining an absolute rotational position of the vehicle handwheel are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes monitoring an amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel. The method further includes monitoring a rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel. The method further includes setting an absolute position value indicating the absolute position of the vehicle handwheel equal to a predetermined steering travel limit of the vehicle handwheel when both the amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel is greater than or equal to a threshold torque level, and the rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel is less than or equal to a threshold rotational speed. The method further includes storing the absolute rotational position value in a memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Wittig, Kathryn L. Pattok
  • Patent number: 8375779
    Abstract: A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Geoff P. Krieger, Tony Dodak, William H. Wittig, Steve R. Bannister
  • Publication number: 20110224874
    Abstract: A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Geoff P. Krieger, Tony Dodak, William H. Wittig, Steve R. Bannister
  • Patent number: 7950274
    Abstract: A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Geoff P. Krieger, Tony Dodak, William H. Wittig, Steve R. Bannister
  • Patent number: 7725227
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for providing enhanced steering pull compensation are provided. The method compensates for steering pull in a vehicle steering system that includes a handwheel. The method includes monitoring the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is heading forward along a substantially linear straight-ahead path and, if so, measuring handwheel torque, as a sensed torque signal, to determine an amount of steering pull existing at the handwheel. The method also includes generating a torque assist signal in response to the sensed torque signal and calculating an offset signal for reducing the amount of steering pull to substantially zero. The method further includes producing a modified torque assist signal by adding the offset signal to the torque assist signal, and applying the modified torque assist signal to the vehicle steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Terrence D. Smith, Ashok Chandy, Julie A. Kleinau, Jeff Zuraski, Mark P. Colosky, Troy P. Strieter
  • Publication number: 20090112403
    Abstract: A system and a method for determining an absolute rotational position of the vehicle handwheel are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a method includes monitoring an amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel. The method further includes monitoring a rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel. The method further includes setting an absolute position value indicating the absolute position of the vehicle handwheel equal to a predetermined steering travel limit of the vehicle handwheel when both the amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel is greater than or equal to a threshold torque level, and the rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel is less than or equal to a threshold rotational speed. The method further includes storing the absolute rotational position value in a memory device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: William H. Wittig, Kathryn L. Pattok
  • Patent number: 7523806
    Abstract: A method for generating an active damping torque signal for a vehicle steering system includes receiving a vehicle speed input, receiving a handwheel velocity input, receiving a handwheel torque input, and generating an active damping torque output from each of the inputs, wherein the active damping torque output is non-linear with respect to the handwheel velocity input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Geoff P. Krieger, Julie A. Kleinau, Kathryn L. Pattok, Bertram Moeller
  • Publication number: 20080282788
    Abstract: A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle steering column is provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method determines a relative position of a steering assist motor utilizing a relative position sensor. Thereafter, the method determines the absolute rotational position of the vehicle steering column based upon the relative position of the steering assist motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Geoff P. Krieger, Tony Dodak, William H. Wittig, Steve R. Bannister
  • Publication number: 20080147276
    Abstract: A method, system, and apparatus for providing enhanced steering pull compensation are provided. The method compensates for steering pull in a vehicle steering system that includes a handwheel. The method includes monitoring the vehicle to determine whether the vehicle is heading forward along a substantially linear straight-ahead path and, if so, measuring handwheel torque, as a sensed torque signal, to determine an amount of steering pull existing at the handwheel. The method also includes generating a torque assist signal in response to the sensed torque signal and calculating an offset signal for reducing the amount of steering pull to substantially zero. The method further includes producing a modified torque assist signal by adding the offset signal to the torque assist signal, and applying the modified torque assist signal to the vehicle steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kathryn L. Pattok, Terrence D. Smith, Ashok Chandy, Julie A. Kleinau, Jeff Zuraski, Mark P. Colosky, Troy P. Strieter
  • Patent number: 6965820
    Abstract: A controller (32) for a vehicular system (10) that includes a hand-wheel (16) and an electric motor (34) includes a torque-assist function (56) responsive to a signal representing the torque applied to the hand-wheel (16) for providing a torque-assist command to the motor (34), and a steering-pull compensator (52) responsive to a signal representing a valid ignition cycle for modifying the torque-assist command to the motor (34) by an offset corresponding to a detected steering-pull condition; where the method of control includes receiving the signal indicative of the torque applied to the hand-wheel (16), providing a torque-assist command to the motor (34) in response to the received torque signal, detecting an enabling signal related to the signal representing a valid ignition cycle, quantifying a steering-pull condition in response to the received and detected signals, and modifying the torque-assist command to the motor (34) by an offset corresponding to the quantified steering-pull condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanket S. Amberkar, Ashok Chandy, Kathryn L. Pattok, Mark P. Colosky, William Chin-Woei Lin, Weiwen Deng, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Publication number: 20030055543
    Abstract: A controller (32) for a vehicular system (10) that includes a hand-wheel (16) and an electric motor (34) includes a torque-assist function (56) responsive to a signal representing the torque applied to the hand-wheel (16) for providing a torque-assist command to the motor (34), and a steering-pull compensator (52) responsive to a signal representing a valid ignition cycle for modifying the torque-assist command to the motor (34) by an offset corresponding to a detected steering-pull condition; where the method of control includes receiving the signal indicative of the torque applied to the hand-wheel (16), providing a torque-assist command to the motor (34) in response to the received torque signal, detecting an enabling signal related to the signal representing a valid ignition cycle, quantifying a steering-pull condition in response to the received and detected signals, and modifying the torque-assist command to the motor (34) by an offset corresponding to the quantified steering-pull condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Sanket S. Amberkar, Ashok Chandy, Kathryn L. Pattok, Mark P. Colosky