Patents by Inventor Samuel Steele

Samuel Steele 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: 12649451
    Abstract: A redundant safety controller configured to monitor communications between at least one controller and a by-wire control system. The at least one controller has a first hardware architecture and is configured to manage operation of the by-wire control system. The redundant safety controller has a second hardware architecture. The first hardware architecture is different from the second hardware architecture. The at least one controller is configured to implement a first instruction set architecture. The redundant safety controller is configured to implement a second instruction set architecture. The first instruction set architecture is different from the second instruction set architecture. The redundant safety controller is configured to determine whether the at least one controller has failed and assume management of the operation of the by-wire control system based on the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sundaresan Balasubramanian, Sean Edward Zuzga, Edward Thomas Heil, Samuel Steele, David Barnes
  • Publication number: 20260116364
    Abstract: A redundant safety controller configured to monitor communications between at least one controller and a by-wire control system. The at least one controller has a first hardware architecture and is configured to manage operation of the by-wire control system. The redundant safety controller has a second hardware architecture. The first hardware architecture is different from the second hardware architecture. The at least one controller is configured to implement a first instruction set architecture. The redundant safety controller is configured to implement a second instruction set architecture. The first instruction set architecture is different from the second instruction set architecture. The redundant safety controller is configured to determine whether the at least one controller has failed and assume management of the operation of the by-wire control system based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sundaresan Balasubramanian, Sean Edward Zuzga, Edward Thomas Heil, Samuel Steele, David Barnes
  • Patent number: 12344219
    Abstract: A brake actuator control system for a vehicle includes: a request module configured to determine a braking request for brake actuators of the vehicle; a front bias module configured to, based on one or more operating parameters, determine a front bias for front ones of the brake actuators associated with front ones of wheels, respectively; a rear bias module configured to, based on the front bias, determine a rear bias for rear ones of the brake actuators associated with rear ones of wheels, respectively; a control module configured to: based on the braking request and the front bias, determine a front braking request; actuate the front ones of the brake actuators based on the front braking request; based on the braking request and the rear bias, determine a rear braking request; and actuate the rear ones of the brake actuators based on the rear braking request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Larson, Nicholas Reilly Ridenour, Samuel Steele, Edward Thomas Heil
  • Patent number: 12257991
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. One example system includes a deceleration actuator coupled to a first wheel of the vehicle and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the deceleration actuator. The electronic processor is configured to receive a vehicle park command. The electronic processor is configured to, responsive to receiving the vehicle park command, determine a maximum holding pressure threshold. The electronic processor is configured to determine a requested braking pressure for the deceleration actuator. The electronic processor is configured to determine whether the requested braking pressure exceeds the maximum holding pressure threshold. The electronic processor is configured to, responsive to determining that the requested braking pressure does not exceed the maximum holding pressure threshold, control the deceleration actuator to apply, to the first wheel during a hold time, a holding braking pressure equivalent to the requested braking pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kuhlman, Erica Hingst, Guillaume Hastoy, Samuel Steele
  • Publication number: 20240416878
    Abstract: A brake actuator control system for a vehicle includes: a request module configured to determine a braking request for brake actuators of the vehicle; a front bias module configured to, based on one or more operating parameters, determine a front bias for front ones of the brake actuators associated with front ones of wheels, respectively; a rear bias module configured to, based on the front bias, determine a rear bias for rear ones of the brake actuators associated with rear ones of wheels, respectively; a control module configured to: based on the braking request and the front bias, determine a front braking request; actuate the front ones of the brake actuators based on the front braking request; based on the braking request and the rear bias, determine a rear braking request; and actuate the rear ones of the brake actuators based on the rear braking request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Inventors: Bryan LARSON, Nicholas Reilly Ridenour, Samuel Steele, Edward Thomas Heil
  • Publication number: 20240383487
    Abstract: A system for detecting actuator misconfiguration in a vehicle includes actuators and a control module. Each actuator is assigned a unique identifier. The control module includes interface ports in communication with the actuators via serial data links. Each interface port is in communication with two of the actuators. Each actuator is in communication with two of the interface ports. The control module is configured to receive a message from an actuator installed at a location of the vehicle, the message including the unique identifier assigned to the actuator, compare the received unique identifier assigned to the actuator to a stored identifier specific to the location of the vehicle, and in response to the received unique identifier being different than the stored identifier, transmit an error signal indicating a failure associated with the actuator. Other examples systems and methods for detecting actuator misconfiguration in vehicles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Sean Edward ZUZGA, Samuel STEELE, Edward Thomas HEIL
  • Publication number: 20230134211
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle. One example system includes a deceleration actuator coupled to a first wheel of the vehicle and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the deceleration actuator. The electronic processor is configured to receive a vehicle park command. The electronic processor is configured to, responsive to receiving the vehicle park command, determine a maximum holding pressure threshold. The electronic processor is configured to determine a requested braking pressure for the deceleration actuator. The electronic processor is configured to determine whether the requested braking pressure exceeds the maximum holding pressure threshold. The electronic processor is configured to, responsive to determining that the requested braking pressure does not exceed the maximum holding pressure threshold, control the deceleration actuator to apply, to the first wheel during a hold time, a holding braking pressure equivalent to the requested braking pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kuhlman, Erica Hingst, Guillaume Hastoy, Samuel Steele
  • Patent number: 10894533
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing wheel torque of a highly automated driving (HAD) vehicle includes a wheel hub configured to rotate around a rotation axis as the vehicle moves and a brake caliper, including a brake pad, configured to apply a caliper force to the wheel hub. A reaction carriage is interconnected with the brake caliper and is configured to have a reaction force applied to it when the brake caliper applies the caliper force to the wheel hub. The wheel torque sensor includes a hydraulic chamber having a hydraulic fluid and a pressure sensor, interconnected with the hydraulic chamber, that senses pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid in response to the reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Samuel Steele, Eduardo Herrera Lopez, Kevin M. Danford
  • Patent number: 10807420
    Abstract: A dual tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and wheel torque sensor system generates a single wireless signal containing both tire pressure data and wheel strain data. The wheel strain data is functionally related to wheel torque. The dual sensor has a transceiver that generates the wireless signal for a remote controller. A body of the dual sensor is positioned on the interior of the wheel under the tire, near the valve stem. The wheel torque is used to control braking, propulsion or steering of a Highly Automated Driving (HAD) vehicle, and to improve vehicle stability control and vehicle diagnostics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Samuel Steele, Kevin M. Danford
  • Patent number: 10634366
    Abstract: A cooktop ventilation appliance or system for providing ventilation for a domestic cooking appliance, includes a housing configured to communicate with a ventilation device to convey air from an environment around the domestic cooking appliance into the housing, and a smoke detection and alarm system including at least one sensor configured to detect a density of particles in the air conveyed by the ventilation device, and a control unit in communication with the at least one sensor. The control unit is configured to compare the density of particles detected by the at least one sensor to a predetermined threshold particle density at a given air speed of the air being conveyed and activate an alarm if the density of particles detected by the at least one sensor exceeds the predetermined threshold particle density for the given air speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgerate GmbH
    Inventors: Garrett Bentley, Tyrel Alastair Hunter, Sean Maloney, Jack Miller, Samuel Steele, Vincent Trieu
  • Publication number: 20190291518
    Abstract: A dual tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and wheel torque sensor system generates a single wireless signal containing both tire pressure data and wheel strain data. The wheel strain data is functionally related to wheel torque. The dual sensor has a transceiver that generates the wireless signal for a remote controller. A body of the dual sensor is positioned on the interior of the wheel under the tire, near the valve stem. The wheel torque is used to control braking, propulsion or steering of a Highly Automated Driving (HAD) vehicle, and to improve vehicle stability control and vehicle diagnostics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel Steele, Kevin M. Danford
  • Publication number: 20190193693
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing wheel torque of a highly automated driving (HAD) vehicle includes a wheel hub configured to rotate around a rotation axis as the vehicle moves and a brake caliper, including a brake pad, configured to apply a caliper force to the wheel hub. A reaction carriage is interconnected with the brake caliper and is configured to have a reaction force applied to it when the brake caliper applies the caliper force to the wheel hub. The wheel torque sensor includes a hydraulic chamber having a hydraulic fluid and a pressure sensor, interconnected with the hydraulic chamber, that senses pressure applied to the hydraulic fluid in response to the reaction force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Samuel Steele, Eduardo Herrera Lopez, Kevin M. Danford