Patents by Inventor Nicholas M. Trewhella

Nicholas M. Trewhella 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: 20230382451
    Abstract: A method for providing reverse directional polarity steering in a vehicle includes, in response to receiving a reverse position polarity steering mode signal indicating selection of a reverse position polarity steering mode: determining a selected gear of a transmission of the vehicle; determining a vehicle speed; and, in response to a determination that the selected gear includes a reverse gear and the vehicle speed is within a range of a predetermined vehicle speed, selectively controlling at least one roadwheel actuator of the vehicle in a direction opposite to a direction indicated by a handwheel actuator associated with a handwheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Scott T. Knaub, Nicholas M. Trewhella
  • Patent number: 11787468
    Abstract: A method includes, in response to an entry signal indicating an opening of an operator door, detecting a first torque value corresponding to a first torque applied to a handwheel and determining a second torque value corresponding to the first torque value. The method also includes applying, to the handwheel, a second torque corresponding to the second torque value and, based on at least one of a measurement associated with a seat sensor and a period associated with the first torque being applied to the handwheel: determining whether to selectively adjust the second torque value; and, in response to a determination to selectively adjust the second torque value, applying, to the handwheel, an adjusted torque corresponding to the adjusted second torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Trewhella, Scott T. Knaub, Jingyu Zhu
  • Patent number: 11724733
    Abstract: A vehicle steering control method includes receiving a sensed handwheel angle corresponding to a position of a handwheel and receiving a sensed handwheel toque value indicating an amount of torque applied by an operator on the handwheel. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the handwheel motor is in an unlocked condition, generating a roadwheel angle based on the sensed handwheel angle and a vehicle speed. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the handwheel motor is in a locked condition generating the roadwheel angle based on the sensed handwheel torque value and the vehicle speed and, in response to a determination that the locked condition of the handwheel motor is an intermittent condition, maintaining the handwheel motor in the locked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Steven D. Klein, Michael K. Hales, Nicholas M. Trewhella
  • Publication number: 20220089212
    Abstract: A vehicle steering control method includes receiving a sensed handwheel angle corresponding to a position of a handwheel and receiving a sensed handwheel toque value indicating an amount of torque applied by an operator on the handwheel. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the handwheel motor is in an unlocked condition, generating a roadwheel angle based on the sensed handwheel angle and a vehicle speed. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the handwheel motor is in a locked condition generating the roadwheel angle based on the sensed handwheel torque value and the vehicle speed and, in response to a determination that the locked condition of the handwheel motor is an intermittent condition, maintaining the handwheel motor in the locked condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Steven D. Klein, Michael K. Hales, Nicholas M. Trewhella
  • Publication number: 20210354751
    Abstract: A method includes, in response to an entry signal indicating an opening of an operator door, detecting a first torque value corresponding to a first torque applied to a handwheel and determining a second torque value corresponding to the first torque value. The method also includes applying, to the handwheel, a second torque corresponding to the second torque value and, based on at least one of a measurement associated with a seat sensor and a period associated with the first torque being applied to the handwheel: determining whether to selectively adjust the second torque value; and, in response to a determination to selectively adjust the second torque value, applying, to the handwheel, an adjusted torque corresponding to the adjusted second torque value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Trewhella, Scott T. Knaub, Jingyu Zhu
  • Patent number: 10946894
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for providing driver warning using steering systems. An example steering system includes a motor control system that sends a command to a motor. The steering system further includes a fault monitoring system that sets a fault indication flag by monitoring one or more components of the steering system. The steering system further includes a driver warning feedback system that generates a warning injection signal based on and in response to the fault indication flag being set. Further, the motor control system generates a driver feedback by modifying the command to the motor using the warning injection signal, and sending the modified command to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solution IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Tejas M. Varunjikar, Dennis B. Skellenger, Nicholas M. Trewhella, Jeffrey A. Zuraski, Jeffrey T. Klass, Michael K. Hales
  • Publication number: 20190111969
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described for providing driver warning using steering systems. An example steering system includes a motor control system that sends a command to a motor. The steering system further includes a fault monitoring system that sets a fault indication flag by monitoring one or more components of the steering system. The steering system further includes a driver warning feedback system that generates a warning injection signal based on and in response to the fault indication flag being set. Further, the motor control system generates a driver feedback by modifying the command to the motor using the warning injection signal, and sending the modified command to the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Tejas M. Varunjikar, Dennis B. Skellenger, Nicholas M. Trewhella, Jeffrey A. Zuraski, Jeffrey T. Klass, Michael K. Hales