Patents by Inventor Michael L. Wurn
Michael L. Wurn 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: 11307606Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal housing. A rotatable pedal includes a drum extending into the pedal housing. The drum includes a friction contact surface. A pedal friction pad extends in the pedal housing and includes a pedal friction surface in contact with the friction contact surface on the drum. The pedal friction surface is shaped and positioned to provide for a line frictional contact between the pedal friction surface and the drum. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface in contact with the drum is arc-shaped. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface includes a first curved converging segment, the arc-shaped surface segment defines the second surface segment and extends between the first and a third straight converging segment.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2019Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Inventors: Christopher M. Byrd, Michael L. Wurn, Thomas A. Hallberg
-
Publication number: 20200073431Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal housing. A rotatable pedal includes a drum extending into the pedal housing. The drum includes a friction contact surface. A pedal friction pad extends in the pedal housing and includes a pedal friction surface in contact with the friction contact surface on the drum. The pedal friction surface is shaped and positioned to provide for a line frictional contact between the pedal friction surface and the drum. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface in contact with the drum is arc-shaped. In one embodiment, the pedal friction surface includes a first curved converging segment, the arc-shaped surface segment defines the second surface segment and extends between the first and a third straight converging segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2019Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: CTS CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Byrd, Michael L. Wurn, Thomas A. Hallberg
-
Patent number: 9459649Abstract: An active force pedal assembly that includes a housing for a pedal and a torque motor that is coupled to the pedal in a direct drive relationship via a shaft that extends between and is coupled directly to both the pedal and the torque motor. The drum of the pedal and the torque motor are disposed in a side-by-side relationship in which the respective longitudinal axes of the drum and the torque motor are co-linearly aligned. The torque motor generates and transfers a rotational torque force to the shaft which, in turn, applies an active force to the pedal and thus the foot of the operator of the vehicle for providing a sensory signal of a vehicular condition or event.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: CTS CORPORATIONInventors: Michael L. Wurn, Yulanda Wang
-
Publication number: 20160102997Abstract: A magnet assembly retained on the rotor of a rotary position sensor such as, for example, the drum of a vehicle pedal. The drum of the vehicle pedal includes a retention pocket for the magnet assembly. In one embodiment, the magnet assembly includes a magnet with a pair of spaced apart legs and a pair of pole pieces abutted against the exterior of the legs. Each of the pole pieces includes a plurality of pointed barbs that are pressed into the material of the retention pocket on the drum of the vehicle pedal to retain the magnet assembly on the vehicle pedal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2015Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Michael L. Wurn, Murray Kaijala, William W. Wheeler
-
Patent number: 9310826Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal including a pedal stub arm having a metal pedal arm molded into a plastic stem with inserts molded therein and an actuator bar coupled to the stem of the pedal. Fasteners extend through the actuator bar and into the inserts in the stem for securing the actuator bar to the pedal. The actuator bar is adapted to exert an active force against the pedal. In one embodiment, both the pedal arm and the actuator bar include one or more bends defined therein. The pedal arm has a length and shape dependent upon the distance and position of the floor or pedal pad relative to the pedal. The actuator bar has a length and shape dependent upon the distance and position of the pedal relative to an actuator arm.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: CTS CorporationInventors: Michael L Wurn, Steven P Howard, Christopher M Byrd
-
Publication number: 20140366678Abstract: A vehicle pedal assembly comprising a pedal including a pedal stub arm having a metal pedal arm molded into a plastic stem with inserts molded therein and an actuator bar coupled to the stem of the pedal. Fasteners extend through the actuator bar and into the inserts in the stem for securing the actuator bar to the pedal. The actuator bar is adapted to exert an active force against the pedal. In one embodiment, both the pedal arm and the actuator bar include one or more bends defined therein. The pedal arm has a length and shape dependent upon the distance and position of the floor or pedal pad relative to the pedal. The actuator bar has a length and shape dependent upon the distance and position of the pedal relative to an actuator arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2014Publication date: December 18, 2014Applicant: CTS CorporationInventors: Michael L. Wurn, Steven P. Howard, Christopher M. Byrd
-
Publication number: 20140260767Abstract: An active force pedal assembly that includes a housing for a pedal and a torque motor that is coupled to the pedal in a direct drive relationship via a shaft that extends between and is coupled directly to both the pedal and the torque motor. The drum of the pedal and the torque motor are disposed in a side-by-side relationship in which the respective longitudinal axes of the drum and the torque motor are co-linearly aligned. The torque motor generates and transfers a rotational torque force to the shaft which, in turn, applies an active force to the pedal and thus the foot of the operator of the vehicle for providing a sensory signal of a vehicular condition or event.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: CTS CORPORATIONInventors: Michael L. Wurn, Yulanda Wang
-
Patent number: 7926384Abstract: An accelerator pedal assembly that provides a hysteresis in pedal force-response upon actuation is provided. The accelerator pedal assembly includes a housing, an elongated pedal arm terminating at one end in a rotatable drum defining a curved braking surface, a brake pad having a curved contact surface substantially complementary to the braking surface and a bias spring device operably situated between the pedal arm and the brake pad. The pedal arm is rotatably mounted to the housing such that the curved braking surface rotates as the pedal moves. The brake pad defines a primary pivot axis and is pivotably mounted for frictional engagement with the braking surface. The bias spring serves to urge the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: CTS CorporationInventor: Michael L. Wurn
-
Publication number: 20090007717Abstract: An accelerator pedal assembly that provides a hysteresis in pedal force-response upon actuation is provided. The accelerator pedal assembly includes a housing, an elongated pedal arm terminating at one end in a rotatable drum defining a curved braking surface, a brake pad having a curved contact surface substantially complementary to the braking surface and a bias spring device operably situated between the pedal arm and the brake pad. The pedal arm is rotatably mounted to the housing such that the curved braking surface rotates as the pedal moves. The brake pad defines a primary pivot axis and is pivotably mounted for frictional engagement with the braking surface. The bias spring serves to urge the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2008Publication date: January 8, 2009Inventor: Michael L. Wurn
-
Patent number: 7404342Abstract: An accelerator pedal assembly that provides a hysteresis in pedal force-response upon actuation is provided. The accelerator pedal assembly includes a housing, an elongated pedal arm terminating at one end in a rotatable drum defining a curved braking surface, a brake pad having a curved contact surface substantially complementary to the braking surface and a bias spring device operably situated between the pedal arm and the brake pad. The pedal arm is rotatably mounted to the housing such that the curved braking surface rotates as the pedal moves. The brake pad defines a primary pivot axis and is pivotably mounted for frictional engagement with the braking surface. The bias spring serves to urge the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2004Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: CTS CorporationInventor: Michael L. Wurn
-
Publication number: 20040237700Abstract: An accelerator pedal assembly that provides a hysteresis in pedal force-response upon actuation is provided. The accelerator pedal assembly includes a housing, an elongated pedal arm terminating at one end in a rotatable drum defining a curved braking surface, a brake pad having a curved contact surface substantially complementary to the braking surface and a bias spring device operably situated between the pedal arm and the brake pad. The pedal arm is rotatably mounted to the housing such that the curved braking surface rotates as the pedal moves. The brake pad defines a primary pivot axis and is pivotably mounted for frictional engagement with the braking surface. The bias spring serves to urge the contact surface of the brake pad into frictional engagement with the braking surface of the drum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventor: Michael L. Wurn
-
Patent number: 6515472Abstract: A transmission selector position sensor is designed for easy integration into a transmission assembly. The transmission selector position sensor includes a Hall effect sensor carried on a stationary member to be mounted to the transmission body and a magnetic field generator to be mounted to a rotatable member mounted to the selector shaft. The sensor assembly is made so that the stationary member carries the rotating member prior to installation in the transmission, and then is not a load bearing member after installation.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2001Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: CTS CorporationInventors: Michael L. Wurn, Murray Kaijala
-
Publication number: 20020175675Abstract: A transmission selector position sensor is designed for easy integration into a transmission assembly. The transmission selector position sensor includes a Hall effect sensor carried on a stationary member to be mounted to the transmission body and a magnetic field generator to be mounted to a rotatable member mounted to the selector shaft. The sensor assembly is made so that the stationary member carries the rotating member prior to installation in the transmission, and then is not a load bearing member after installation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2001Publication date: November 28, 2002Inventors: Michael L. Wurn, Murray Kaijala