Patents by Inventor Pierre Pilaz

Pierre Pilaz 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: 8924038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power steering system in which the set value for torque or force at the steering wheel is predetermined on the basis of various parameters and information so as to provide the most driving comfort in all conditions of driving the vehicle. The torque or force set value is predetermined on the basis of the sideways acceleration of the vehicle, the acceleration in turn being predetermined mainly from an estimate of the force exerted on the rack, and preferably also predetermined by other methods, with the estimate being weighted among all of the obtained values. Said method is particularly useful for vehicles provided with electrical power steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: JTekt Europe
    Inventors: Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Pascal Moulaire, Serge Gaudin
  • Patent number: 8731776
    Abstract: The processing means, which control the power assisted steering motor (8), determine and give consideration to a first steering angle signal (A) determined as a function of the calculation or measurement of the force or torque delivered by the power assisted steering motor (8) and possibly of the steering torque or force applied by the driver to the steering wheel (2), a second steering angle signal (B) determined as a function of the calculation of the measurement of the angular position of the power assisted steering motor (8), a third signal (C) of the “index” type, that is to say of the type emitted for certain angular positions of the steering system (21), a convergence signal (D) indicative of the convergence of the steering angle calculations, and a confirmation signal (E) confirming the calculation of the steering angle, the convergence signal (D) being produced thanks to the signal (C) of “index” type to indicate a confidence level on the estimated steering angle value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Europe
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Sebastien Herault, Jean-Marc Kasbarian, Pierre Pilaz, Pascal Moulaire
  • Patent number: 8725352
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power assisted steering system (21) that includes an electric assist motor (22) arranged to assist the manual force exerted by a driver on the steering wheel of the automobile, a processing means (23) arranged to control the electric assist motor (22), the processing means (23) including a means (28) for predetermining a signal (S3) for controlling the electric assist motor on the basis of a first operation signal (S1) determined on the basis of the angular position of the electric assist motor, and a second operation signal (S2) determined on the basis of the measurement or calculation of the angular acceleration of the electric assist motor and the measurement or calculation of the assistance torque output by the electric assist motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Pierre Pilaz, Stephane Cassar, Pascal Moulaire
  • Patent number: 8712646
    Abstract: A method for determining the absolute angular position of a steering wheel of an electric power-assisted steering column of a motor vehicle, including a means for measuring a dynamic parameter while the vehicle is running and including among others, the steps of periodically determining a multi-turn relative angular position, determining at least one dynamic parameter relating to the running conditions of the vehicle using the means for measuring said parameter, determining an absolute steering-wheel angle calculated according to at least one dynamic parameter, and weighting the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle according to a test of the validity of the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle and the origin of said value, in other words, the measurement means used to determine said at least one dynamic parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: André Michelis, Julien Barthomeuf, Pierre Pilaz, Stéphane Bourbon
  • Patent number: 8666605
    Abstract: A method for securing the assistance torque (15) supplied by an electric assistance motor (8) in a motor vehicle power steering system includes the steps of: estimating the force on the steering system rack from the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel (2), from the assistance torque (15), and optionally from other parameters such as the speed of the electric assistance motor; comparing a target assistance torque with an authorized assistance range, defined with respect to the estimated rack force (17) at any moment, and in the event the target assistance torque is maintained above predefined limits for a predefined duration, correcting and optionally interrupting the power steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Jocelyn Delarche, Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Christophe Ravier
  • Publication number: 20130151081
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for securing the assistance torque (15) supplied by an electric assistance motor (8) in a motor vehicle power steering system, the securing method being characterized in that it includes the steps of: estimating the force on the steering system rack from the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel (2), from the assistance torque (15), and optionally from other parameters such as the speed of the electric assistance motor; comparing a target assistance torque with an authorized assistance range, defined with respect to the estimated rack force (17) at any moment, and in the event the target assistance torque is maintained above predefined limits for a predefined duration, correcting and optionally interrupting the power steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Jocelyn Delarche, Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Christophe Ravier
  • Publication number: 20130024072
    Abstract: A method for determining the absolute angular position of a steering wheel of an electric power-assisted steering column of a motor vehicle, including a means for measuring a dynamic parameter while the vehicle is running and including among others, the steps of periodically determining a multi-turn relative angular position, determining at least one dynamic parameter relating to the running conditions of the vehicle using the means for measuring said parameter, determining an absolute steering-wheel angle calculated according to at least one dynamic parameter, and weighting the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle according to a test of the validity of the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle and the origin of said value, in other words, the measurement means used to determine said at least one dynamic parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: André Michelis, Julien Barthomeuf, Pierre Pilaz, Stéphane Bourbon
  • Publication number: 20120203397
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power steering system in which the set value for torque or force at the steering wheel is predetermined on the basis of various parameters and information so as to provide the most driving comfort in all conditions of driving the vehicle. The torque or force set value is predetermined on the basis of the sideways acceleration of the vehicle, the acceleration in turn being predetermined mainly from an estimate of the force exerted on the rack, and preferably also predetermined by other methods, with the estimate being weighted among all of the obtained values. Said method is particularly useful for vehicles provided with electrical power steering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Andre Michelis, Pierre Pilaz, Pascal Moulaire, Serge Gaudin
  • Publication number: 20110257844
    Abstract: The processing means, which control the power assisted steering motor (8), determine and give consideration to a first steering angle signal (A) determined as a function of the calculation or measurement of the force or torque delivered by the power assisted steering motor (8) and possibly of the steering torque or force applied by the driver to the steering wheel (2), a second steering angle signal (B) determined as a function of the calculation of the measurement of the angular position of the power assisted steering motor (8), a third signal (C) of the “index” type, that is to say of the type emitted for certain angular positions of the steering system (21), a convergence signal (D) indicative of the convergence of the steering angle calculations, and a confirmation signal (E) confirming the calculation of the steering angle, the convergence signal (D) being produced thanks to the signal (C) of “index” type to indicate a confidence level on the estimated steering angle value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Sebastien Herault, Jean-Marc Kasbarian, Pierre Pilaz, Pascal Moulaire
  • Publication number: 20110184609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power assisted steering system (21) that includes an electric assist motor (22) arranged to assist the manual force exerted by a driver on the steering wheel of the automobile, a processing means (23) arranged to control the electric assist motor (22), the processing means (23) including a means (28) for predetermining a signal (S3) for controlling the electric assist motor on the basis of a first operation signal (S1) determined on the basis of the angular position of the electric assist motor, and a second operation signal (S2) determined on the basis of the measurement or calculation of the angular acceleration of the electric assist motor and the measurement or calculation of the assistance torque output by the electric assist motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Pierre Pilaz, Stephane Cassar, Pascal Moulaire