Patents by Inventor Leon Henderson

Leon Henderson 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: 11952060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering assembly (12) for a vehicle (10). The steering assembly (12) comprises a first steering actuator (14) and a second steering actuator (16). The first steering actuator (14) is adapted to be actuated in accordance with at least one signal issued from a motion control system (18) to control a steering angle of at least one steerable ground engaging member (20, 22) of the vehicle (10) to thereby control the steering of the vehicle (10). The first steering actuator (14) is associated with a first nominal steering capability, defining at least one limitation of at least one of the following: steering angle, steering angle rate and steering torque, for the at least one steerable ground engaging member (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Jan-Inge Svensson, Lionel Farres, Christian Oscarsson, Leon Henderson, Jose Vilca, Kristoffer Tagesson, Johanna Majqvist
  • Patent number: 11938909
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle comprising at least a first vehicle retarding subsystem controllable to retard the vehicle, and processing circuitry coupled to the at least first vehicle retarding subsystem, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring, by the processing circuitry from the first vehicle retarding subsystem, at least one value indicative of current energy accumulation by the first vehicle retarding subsystem; and determining, by the processing circuitry, a measure indicative of a retardation energy capacity currently available for retardation of the vehicle, based on: the acquired at least one value indicative of current energy accumulation by the first vehicle retarding subsystem; a predefined model of retardation energy accumulation by the first vehicle retarding subsystem; and a predefined limit indicative of a maximum allowed energy accumulation by the first vehicle retarding subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Kristoffer Tagesson, Leon Henderson
  • Patent number: 11926381
    Abstract: A system for estimating an articulation angle of a vehicle combination comprises a motion sensor for sensing one or more linear and/or angular motion quantities of the vehicle combination and a dynamics-based estimator configured to estimate state variables, including the articulation angle on the basis of the sensed motion quantities, wherein the dynamics-based estimator is dependent on one or more masses and moments of inertia of the vehicle combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: José Vilca, Leon Henderson, Thorsten Helfrich, Jonathan Olsson, Mats Jonasson, Axel Ceder
  • Patent number: 11926326
    Abstract: A system and to a method executed in a vehicle control unit for controlling wheel slip of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises at least two wheels driven by at least primary actuator via an open differential. The primary actuator is controlled to rotate at a speed resulting in a slip ?em of the primary actuator. A signed wheel slip limit ?lim is determined by adding a configurable value to the slip ?em of the primary actuator, such that ?lim>?em. The at least two wheels are controlled to rotate at wheel speeds resulting in respective wheel slips ?l, ?r below the signed wheel slip limit ?lim, wherein each one of ?l, ?r and ?em are signed numerical values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adithya Arikere, Leo Laine, Leon Henderson, Sidhant Ray
  • Publication number: 20240025267
    Abstract: A vehicle motion management (VMM) system for a heavy-duty vehicle, configured to obtain a desired wheel force value of a wheel of the vehicle; determine a torque limit for a first motion support device (MSD) associated with the wheel based on the desired wheel force value; determine a tire model based on a relationship between wheel force and wheel speed of the wheel; determine a desired wheel speed for the first MSD based on the tire model; and determine a torque fill request for a second MSD of the vehicle based on the desired wheel force and on a torque capability of the first MSD. The VMM system determines the torque fill request for the second MSD in dependence of the torque limit for the first MSD in case the operating torque of the first MSD is limited by the torque limit, and to determine the torque fill request for the second MSD in dependence of an applied torque status signal in case the operating torque of the first MSD is not limited by the torque limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Adithya ARIKERE, Sidhant RAY, Leon HENDERSON, Leo LAINE
  • Publication number: 20230339477
    Abstract: A method for setting a heavy duty vehicle in motion. The method includes obtaining a motion instruction for setting the vehicle in motion, determining a target wheel slip value corresponding to a wheel slip suitable for executing to the motion instruction, and controlling wheel speed to maintain wheel slip of the vehicle at the target wheel slip value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Mattias ÅSBOGÅRD, Leon HENDERSON
  • Patent number: 11794747
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling at least one actuator of a vehicle, the actuator being configured to apply a torque on at least one wheel of the vehicle, wherein the applied torque is determined by a control function associated with a control bandwidth, the method comprising configuring the control function to control the applied torque to reduce a difference between a first parameter value related to a current rotational speed of the wheel and a second parameter value related to target rotational speed of the wheel; obtaining data indicative of a current operating condition of the vehicle; setting the control bandwidth of the control function in dependence of the current operating condition of the vehicle; and controlling the actuator using the control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Adithya Arikere, Leo Laine, Ray Sidhant, Leon Henderson, Mattias Åsbogård, Johan Lindberg
  • Patent number: 11780426
    Abstract: A method for estimating a longitudinal force difference ?Fx acting on steered axle wheels of a vehicle, the method comprising obtaining data from the vehicle related to an applied steering torque Msteer associated with the steered axle wheels, obtaining a scrub radius value rs associated with the steered axle wheels, and estimating the longitudinal force difference ?Fx, based on the obtained data and on the scrub radius rs, as proportional to the applied steering torque Msteer and as inversely proportional to the scrub radius rs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leon Henderson, Leo Laine
  • Patent number: 11702054
    Abstract: A brake control device (10) for delivering air under controlled pressure to a pneumatic brake actuator (BA), comprising an inlet port (51) coupled to a compressed air supply circuit, a working port (54) coupled to a service brake chamber (C2) of the brake actuator (BA), a venting port (56), first and second inlet solenoid valves (31, 32) for selectively connecting inlet port(s) to the working port, first and second outlet solenoid valves (41, 42) for selectively connecting the working port to venting port(s), a biased check valve (12), for coupling the working port to venting port(s), the brake control unit device further comprising first and second local electronic control units (21, 22) for controlling independently first and second inlet solenoid valves and first and second outlet solenoid valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leon Henderson, Christian Oscarsson, Leo Laine
  • Patent number: 11691609
    Abstract: A control arrangement for a vehicle motion system including a braking function, comprising motion actuators with one or more brake actuators pertaining to the braking function, a first vehicle motion management controller (VMM1) and a second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2), forming a redundant assembly to control the braking function, wherein, in riding conditions, the first vehicle motion management controller controls the brake actuators with a current nominal expected braking performance, while the second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2) is in a waiting-to-operate mode, the control arrangement comprising a hot swap functionality in which the second vehicle motion management controller (VMM2) is configured to take over control of the brake actuators from the first vehicle motion management controller, with the current nominal expected braking performance, in a short time period (SWT) less than one second, preferably less than 0.5 second, preferably less than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Leo Laine, Lionel Farres, Christian Oscarsson, Leon Henderson, Johanna Majqvist, Jose Vilca, Kristoffer Tagesson, Karthik Ramanan Vaidyanathan, Nicolas Soulier
  • Publication number: 20230120062
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for controlling at least one driven and/or braked wheel of a heavy-duty vehicle. The method includes obtaining a motion request indicative of a desired longitudinal acceleration and/or longitudinal force associated with the vehicle, and configuring a wheel slip limit value indicative of a maximum allowable wheel slip by the at least one driven and/or braked wheel at a nominal value, and increasing the wheel slip limit value from the nominal value to a boost wheel slip value in response to detecting a boost signal, as well as controlling the at least one driven and/or braked wheel in dependence of the motion request and subject to the wheel slip limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leon HENDERSON, Ramadan Salif, Nikhil Baliga
  • Publication number: 20230109721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of determining that a failure has occurred at or in a wheel end bearing of a vehicle. An estimated value of the temperature of the wheel end bearing is calculated by a processing circuitry. A measured value of the temperature of the wheel end bearing is acquired by a temperature sensor. The measured value is compared with the estimated value by the processing circuitry. When the measured value deviates from the estimated value by a predefined difference or more, then the processing circuitry determines that a failure has occurred. The invention also relates to a system for determining that a failure has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Leon HENDERSON, Ramachandran SANDRASEKARAN
  • Publication number: 20230097194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension control system for a vehicle. The system comprises a suspension device, a wheel end bearing, at least one vibration sensor and a processing circuitry. The vibration sensor is provided at or in the wheel end bearing for measuring vibrations propagated from the road wheel to the wheel end bearing when the road wheel travels on a road having surface variations, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to transmit measurement signals representing the measured vibrations. The processing circuitry is configured to receive the transmitted measurement signals and to control at least one suspension parameter of the suspension device based on the received measurement signals. The invention also relates to a vehicle and to a method for controlling a suspension device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Leon HENDERSON, Ramachandran SANDRASEKARAN
  • Publication number: 20230082801
    Abstract: A dolly vehicle includes at least one motion support device, MSD, and a control unit arranged for vehicle motion management, VMM, wherein the control unit is configurable in a master mode where the at least one MSD is controlled based on a set of capabilities of a vehicle combination comprising the dolly vehicle to fulfil an assigned task. The control unit is configurable in a slave mode where the at least one MSD is controlled based on requests received from an external master control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, José VILCA, Mats JONASSON
  • Publication number: 20230068987
    Abstract: A control unit for a heavy duty vehicle. The vehicle includes an electric machine connected to first and second driven wheels via an differential. The control unit includes a first wheel slip control module associated with the first driven wheel, and a second wheel slip control module associated with the second driven wheel, where each wheel slip control module is arranged to determine an obtainable torque by the respective wheel based on a current wheel state, wherein the control unit is arranged to determine a required torque to satisfy a requested acceleration profile by the vehicle, and to request a torque from the electrical machine corresponding to the smallest torque out of the obtainable torques for each driven wheel and the required torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Mattias ASBOGÅRD, Leon HENDERSON
  • Publication number: 20230062199
    Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicle brake system of a heavy duty vehicle, the brake system comprising a service brake system and an electrical machine brake system. The method includes determining a total brake torque request for braking a wheel of the vehicle, obtaining a brake torque capability of the electrical machine, determining if the total brake torque request exceeds the brake torque capability of the electrical machine, and if the total brake torque request exceeds the brake torque capability of the electrical machine but is below a threshold level, applying a baseline brake torque by the service brake system, wherein the baseline brake torque is configured to compensate for a difference between total brake torque request and brake torque capability of the electrical machine, and controlling wheel slip by the electrical machine brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Mattias ÅSBOGÅRD, Leon HENDERSON
  • Publication number: 20230063613
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed in a vehicle control unit for controlling motion of a heavy-duty vehicle. The method includes obtaining a vehicle motion request, wherein the vehicle motion request is indicative of a target curvature and a target acceleration, determining a motion support device, MSD, control allocation based on the vehicle motion request, determining a dynamic wheel slip angle limit based on the vehicle motion request, where dynamic wheel slip angle limit increases with a decreasing target acceleration, and controlling the motion of the heavy-duty vehicle based on the MSD control allocation constrained by the dynamic wheel slip angle limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yangyan GAO, Leon HENDERSON, Timothy GORDON
  • Publication number: 20230047444
    Abstract: A vehicle motion management system (260) for a vehicle, the vehicle motion management system being connectable to a motion support system (230230) for communication of control signals therebetween, wherein the vehicle motion management system is configured to: —determine a desired torque for operating the vehicle at a current vehicle operating condition; —determine a wheel slip limit for at least one wheel of the vehicle; —determine, based at least on the wheel slip limit, a wheel speed limit for the at least one wheel of the vehicle; and—transmit a control signal indicative of the desired torque and the wheel speed limit to the motion support system (230).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leon HENDERSON, Leo LAINE, Andreas GILLSTRÖM, Mattias ANDREASSON, Jerker LENNEVI, Sidhant RAY
  • Publication number: 20230023411
    Abstract: A braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes a first brake controller arranged to control braking on a first wheel and a second brake controller arranged to control braking on a second wheel, based on a respective configured wheel slip limit and on a respective brake torque request, wherein the first and the second brake controllers are interconnected via a back-up connection arranged to allow one of the first and the second brake controller to assume braking control of the wheel of the other of the first and the second brake controller in case of brake controller failure, the braking system comprising a control unit arranged to, in response to brake controller failure, reduce the configured wheel slip limit associated with the failed brake controller to a reduced wheel slip limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, Christian OSCARSSON
  • Publication number: 20230012982
    Abstract: A braking system for a heavy duty vehicle includes a first brake controller arranged to control braking on a front axle left wheel, and a second brake controller arranged to control braking on a front axle right wheel. The first and second brake controllers are connected by a back-up connection arranged to allow one of the first and the second brake controller to assume braking control of the wheel of the other of the first and the second brake controller. The first and second brake controllers are arranged as fail-operational brake controllers. A third brake controller is arranged to control braking on a first rear axle left wheel, and a fourth brake controller is arranged to control braking on a first rear axle right wheel. The third and the fourth brake controllers are arranged to place respective rear axle left and right wheels in an unbraked state in response to failure. The third and fourth brake controllers are arranged as fail-silent brake controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leo LAINE, Leon HENDERSON, Christian OSCARSSON, Edo DRENTH, Kristoffer NILSSON