Patents by Inventor Scott A. Millsap

Scott A. Millsap 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: 12097918
    Abstract: A system and method of hands-off signature detection may include applying a unique sinusoidal motor command to an EPS or handwheel actuator of a vehicle and monitoring attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command to determine if a user's hands are on or off of a handwheel of a vehicle. Attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command may occur due to the physical presence of a driver's hand(s) on the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A Millsap, Gustavo M. Nunes, Omkar Karve, Joseph A LaBarbera, Michael S. Wyciechowski
  • Publication number: 20240010277
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a vehicle, system and method of modulating power steering or torque from a lane keep assist system based on driver attentiveness to avoid accidental land changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Omkar Karve, Scott A. Millsap
  • Publication number: 20230294762
    Abstract: A system and method of hands-off signature detection may include applying a unique sinusoidal motor command to an EPS or handwheel actuator of a vehicle and monitoring attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command to determine if a user's hands are on or off of a handwheel of a vehicle. Attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command may occur due to the physical presence of a driver's hand(s) on the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Gustavo M. Nunes, Omkar Karve, Joseph A. LaBarbera, Michael S. Wyciechowski
  • Patent number: 11639195
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of communication between a driver and an autonomous steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Joseph A. Labarbera
  • Publication number: 20220363274
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method or product for monitoring and responding to component, system, or module failure in an autonomous driving system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Brian McGregor, Chris Sommer, Ulrich Auerswald, Scott Millsap, Patrick Steele, Iulian Ungureanu, Joachim Gerold, Varunraj Shedge
  • Publication number: 20220281478
    Abstract: In a number of illustrative variations, a method may include providing a first motion control algorithm and a second motion control algorithm, the first motion control algorithm and a second motion control algorithm being constructed and arranged to provide motion control requests. The method may further include determining if the first motion control algorithms motion control requests are within a plausible range and performing a switchover from the first motion control algorithm to the second motion control algorithm if necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Varunraj Arunrao Shedge, Scott A. Millsap, Joseph A. LaBarbera, Omkar Karve
  • Publication number: 20220281473
    Abstract: In a number of illustrative variations, a method may include providing an autonomous steering system that may include a steering interface. The method may include determining at least one trajectory; providing driving steering input on the steering interface; providing haptic feedback in the form of effort augmentation in the steering interface indicating the autonomous steering systems intent to remain on the at least one trajectory; and increasing or decreasing haptic feedback in intensity as a function of the magnitude of diversion from the at least one trajectory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Scott A. Millsap, Scott T. Sanford, Michael S. Wyciechowski
  • Publication number: 20210097786
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method or product for monitoring and responding to component, system, or module changes in an autonomous driving system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Scott A. Millsap, Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Geoff Bauer, Varunraj Arunrao Shedge, Jason Schwegler, Michael S. Wyciechowski
  • Publication number: 20200269920
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of communication between a driver and an autonomous steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Joseph A. Labarbera
  • Publication number: 20200070888
    Abstract: In a number of illustrative variations, an autonomous steering system may comprise a number of logic modules intended to autonomously address a number of areas of control within the realm of vehicle steering and travel including but not limited to vehicle acceleration, vehicle braking, and lateral control of the vehicle. The logic for the modules of the autonomous steering system may account for driver assistance or intervention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Joseph A. Labarbera, Scott T. Sanford
  • Patent number: 10538267
    Abstract: An embodiment of a system of a vehicle includes a power steering system that operates as commanded by control commands, and a control module configured to receive a first control command. The control module is also configured to generate a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals, generate a second control command based on a subset of the plurality of input signals, determine whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time, and send the second control command to the power steering system in response to determining the first control command is out of the range for longer than the predetermined duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Ashok Chandy, Kevin L. Derry, Caroline Dannöhl, Hans-Peter Hank, Jens Schotte, Kristian Vetter
  • Publication number: 20170144699
    Abstract: An embodiment of a system of a vehicle includes a power steering system that operates as commanded by control commands, and a control module configured to receive a first control command. The control module is also configured to generate a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals, generate a second control command based on a subset of the plurality of input signals, determine whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time, and send the second control command to the power steering system in response to determining the first control command is out of the range for longer than the predetermined duration of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Ashok Chandy, Kevin L. Derry, Caroline Dannöhl, Hans-Peter Hank, Jens Schotte, Kristian Vetter
  • Patent number: 9598102
    Abstract: A method of mitigating abnormalities in a first control command for controlling a power steering system is provided. The method generates a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals. The method determines whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time. The method limits the first control command to the range and sends the limited first control command to the power steering system in response to determining that the first control command is out of the range for shorter than or equal to the duration of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION, BAYERISCHE MOTORENWERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Ashok Chandy, Kevin L. Derry, Caroline Dannöhl, Hans-Peter Hank, Jens Schotte, Kristian Vetter
  • Patent number: 9321481
    Abstract: A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a lateral position module and a torque command module. The lateral position module determines a lateral position command based on a curvature of a lane and a near field heading angle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the lateral position command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kauffman, Scott A. Millsap, Farhad Bolourchi
  • Patent number: 9308932
    Abstract: A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a proportional gain module and a torque command module. The proportional gain module determines a proportional gain value. The proportional gain value is scheduled as a function of a lateral position error and at least one of the following: a near field heading angle, a far field heading angle, a curvature of the lane, and a lateral position of the vehicle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the proportional gain value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kaufmann, Scott A. Millsap, Farhad Bolourchi
  • Patent number: 9114826
    Abstract: A method for generating and verifying an output command for using in a power steering system is provided. The method receives, by a module having at least a primary processing path and a secondary processing path that is in parallel with the primary processing path, a set of input signals. In the primary processing path, the method generates a primary output command based on the set of input signals and sends the primary output command out of the module. In the secondary processing path, the method generates a first range of command values based on the set of input signals, determines whether the primary output command falls within the range of command values, and generates a fault signal based on determining that the primary output command does not fall within the first range of command values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Chandy, Scott Millsap
  • Publication number: 20150142268
    Abstract: A method of mitigating abnormalities in a first control command for controlling a power steering system is provided. The method generates a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals. The method determines whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time. The method limits the first control command to the range and sends the limited first control command to the power steering system in response to determining that the first control command is out of the range for shorter than or equal to the duration of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Scott A. Millsap, Ashok Chandy, Kevin L. Derry, Caroline Dannöhl, Hans-Peter Hank, Jens Schotte, Kristian Vetter
  • Publication number: 20140257639
    Abstract: A method for generating and verifying an output command for using in a power steering system is provided. The method receives, by a module having at least a primary processing path and a secondary processing path that is in parallel with the primary processing path, a set of input signals. In the primary processing path, the method generates a primary output command based on the set of input signals and sends the primary output command out of the module. In the secondary processing path, the method generates a first range of command values based on the set of input signals, determines whether the primary output command falls within the range of command values, and generates a fault signal based on determining that the primary output command does not fall within the first range of command values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ashok Chandy, Scott Millsap
  • Publication number: 20140046547
    Abstract: A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a proportional gain module and a torque command module. The proportional gain module determines a proportional gain value. The proportional gain value is scheduled as a function of a lateral position error and at least one of the following: a near field heading angle, a far field heading angle, a curvature of the lane, and a lateral position of the vehicle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the proportional gain value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kaufmann, Scott A. Millsap, Farhad Bolourchi
  • Publication number: 20140046542
    Abstract: A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a lateral position module and a torque command module. The lateral position module determines a lateral position command based on a curvature of a lane and a near field heading angle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the lateral position command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy W. Kauffman, Scott A. Millsap, Farhad Bolourchi