Patents by Inventor Scott T. Sanford

Scott T. Sanford 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: 20240101117
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system including brake-to-steer algorithms may achieve lateral control of a vehicle without longitudinal compensation but may also force a vehicle to slow down too rapidly before appropriate lateral movement can be achieved and may deliver an unnatural driving experience for vehicle occupants. A more natural feeling deceleration may be achieved by optimally selecting appropriate transmission shifts to allow for optimal engine speed or electric motor speed and torque based on current vehicle speed thereby reducing undesirably longitudinal disturbance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Michael S. Wyciechowski, Clinton L. Schumann, Emmanuel Garcia, Scott T. Sanford, Gregory J. Katch
  • Publication number: 20240092326
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a system, method, a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions thereon executable by an electronic processor to implement functionality comprising enhancing the curvature capability of a tertiary rack and pinion actuator by using brake-to-steer while the tertiary rack and pinion actuator is operating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Michael S. Wyciechowski, Scott T. Sanford
  • Publication number: 20240075981
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method using a brake-to-steer model predictive control to providing a limited level of lateral control for self-driving or semi-self-driving vehicles, when a component of a vehicle steering system fails or is failing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Michael S. Wyciechowski, Iulian Ungureanu, Thomas Raste, Scott T. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11820377
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system including brake-to-steer algorithms may achieve lateral control of a vehicle without longitudinal compensation but may also force a vehicle to slow down too rapidly before appropriate lateral movement can be achieved and may deliver an unnatural driving experience for vehicle occupants. A more natural feeling deceleration may be achieved by optimally selecting appropriate transmission shifts to allow for optimal engine speed or electric motor speed and torque based on current vehicle speed thereby reducing undesirably longitudinal disturbance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Michael S. Wyciechowski, Clinton L. Schumann, Emmanuel Garcia, Scott T. Sanford, Gregory J. Katch
  • Patent number: 11718299
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system and method of controlling vehicle slowing while implementing brake-to-steer functionality that may include providing a feed-forward gain on vehicle propulsion torque to achieve or maintain target longitudinal acceleration and replicate the behavior of a vehicle not using brake-to-steer. The system may manipulate propulsion of the vehicle to manage longitudinal acceleration disturbance and speed disturbance during brake-to-steer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc., Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Labarbera, Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Michael Wyciechowski, Emmanuel Garcia
  • Publication number: 20230122952
    Abstract: A number of variations are discloses including a system and method including using differential braking to increase evasive lateral maneuver capability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: JOSEPH A. LABARBERA, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL WYCIECHOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230121593
    Abstract: A number of variations are discloses including a system and method including using differential braking to reduce steering effort during loss of assist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: JOSEPH A. LABARBERA, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL WYCIECHOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230119249
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system including brake-to-steer algorithms may achieve lateral control of a vehicle without longitudinal compensation but may also force a vehicle to slow down too rapidly before appropriate lateral movement can be achieved and may deliver an unnatural driving experience for vehicle occupants. A more natural feeling deceleration may be achieved by optimally selecting appropriate transmission shifts to allow for optimal engine speed or electric motor speed and torque based on current vehicle speed thereby reducing undesirably longitudinal disturbance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Michael S. Wyciechowski, Clinton L. Schumann, Emmanuel Garcia, Scott T. Sanford, Gregory J. Katch
  • Publication number: 20230121296
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system and method of controlling vehicle slowing while implementing brake-to-steer functionality that may include providing a feed-forward gain on vehicle propulsion torque to achieve or maintain target longitudinal acceleration and replicate the behavior of a vehicle not using brake-to-steer. The system may manipulate propulsion of the vehicle to manage longitudinal acceleration disturbance and speed disturbance during brake-to-steer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: JOSEPH A. LABARBERA, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL WYCIECHOWSKI, EMMANUEL GARCIA
  • Publication number: 20230119160
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a method including pre-charging at least a portion of a vehicle brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: JOSEPH A. LABARBERA, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL WYCIECHOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230124821
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system that may manage torque overlay scenarios in a vehicle where the brakes and propulsion system are providing both lateral and longitudinal movement commands and there is a change in longitudinal acceleration requested from a driver or autonomous driving system. The system may manage driver brake inputs and brake-to-steer brake inputs to maintain brake-to-steer functionality while also applying sufficient braking as requested by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: JOSEPH A. LABARBERA, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL WYCIECHOWSKI, EMMANUEL GARCIA
  • Publication number: 20230058353
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system and method of modifying steering wheel effort and end of travel limits dynamically during electronic power steering failure, steer-by-wire failure, or brake-to-steer implementation within a vehicle where steering systems have degraded or failed to provide a driver with a normal or near-normal steering driving experience while brake-to-steer systems are in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, CLINTON L. SCHUMANN, SCOTT T. SANFORD, MICHAEL S. WYCIECHOWSKI
  • Publication number: 20230055296
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a system and method of using vehicle brakes to steer a vehicle where steer-by-wire steering systems have failed. The system may include supplying varying brake pressure, as needed, to different vehicle wheels to steer the vehicle. The system may include supplying engine system commands to maintain vehicle speed or acceleration such that in the event of steering system failure, a vehicle may continue to operate safely without effecting driver input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Joseph A. LaBarbera, Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Michael S. Wyciechowski
  • Patent number: 11472413
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method of providing a reliable driving surface friction coefficient estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Wyciechowski, Scott T. Sanford, Mariam S. George, Tejas Varunjikar
  • 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: 20220274640
    Abstract: A number of illustrative variations may include a method for use in a vehicle having an electronic steering system, a position control module, an electronic steering system rack force observer, and a rack force observer vehicle diagnostic, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a vehicle that may include an electronic steering system, a position control module, an electronic steering system rack force observer, and a rack force observer vehicle diagnostic; measuring the steering angle and steering velocity of the vehicle; communicating a steering angle of the vehicle to the position control module and the electronic steering system rack force observer; communicating a steering velocity of the vehicle to the electronic steering system rack force observer; communicating electronic steering system motor commands to the electronic steering system rack force observer; and estimating rack force data and communicating the rack force data to the rack force observer vehicle diagnostic; and determining a co
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Geoff Bauer, Joseph A. LaBarbera
  • Patent number: 11414122
    Abstract: According to one or more embodiments, a steer by wire steering system includes a handwheel actuator, a roadwheel actuator, and a resynchronization module to dynamically adjust handwheel position that is used for rack position reference calculation. The dynamic adjustment includes determining a desynchronization amount based on a difference in an actual handwheel position and a synchronized handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment further includes computing a handwheel adjustment using the desynchronization amount, a vehicle speed, and a handwheel speed. The dynamic adjustment further includes computing an adjusted handwheel position based on the handwheel adjustment and the actual handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment further includes updating the reference rack position based on the adjusted handwheel position. The dynamic adjustment is continuously repeated until the handwheel adjustment is substantially equal to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Kai Zheng, Steven Klein, Mariam Swetha George, Scott T. Sanford
  • Patent number: 11377140
    Abstract: Technical solutions are described herein for steer-by-wire (SBW) steering systems to detect an end-of-travel condition dynamically and generate responsive handwheel torque for a driver. According to one or more embodiments, a steer-by-wire steering system includes a first controller that generates a plurality of torque commands. Generating the plurality of torque commands includes generating a curb torque command in response to detecting a curb condition in which road wheels are stationary despite a change in handwheel position, and generating an end-of-travel torque command in response to detecting an end-of-travel condition. The steer-by-wire steering system further includes an arbitrator module that determines a notification torque command by arbitrating between the plurality of torque commands, which comprises the curb torque command and the end-of-travel torque command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Scott T. Sanford, Patrick M. Ryne, Nick M. Trewhella
  • Publication number: 20220155094
    Abstract: In a number of illustrative variations, a method may include the steps of providing a vehicle that may include at least one sensor; providing at least one signage constructed and arranged to convey a known geolocation of the at least one signage to the at least one sensor; determining a detected geolocation of the vehicle via the at least one sensor; reading the known geolocation of the at least one signage; comparing the detected geolocation to the known geolocation; and identifying discrepancies between the detected geolocation and the known geolocation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Geoff Bauer, Joseph A. LaBarbera
  • Publication number: 20220111895
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a method including using at least one of brakes or propulsion energy to steer an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle if a primary, secondary or other redundant steering system for an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle has failed or is insufficiently unhealthy to perform a desired function, the method including determining if a primary, secondary or other redundant steering system of an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle has failed or is not sufficiently healthy to perform a desired function, and if so, converting a steer request into a desired yaw rate, curvature, curvature over time, radius, radius or time or yaw rate acceleration, calculating a brake pressure sufficient to produce the desired yaw rate, curvature, curvature over time, radius, radius or time or yaw rate acceleration, delivering brake pressures signals via a lateral control module to an actuator for at least one brake connected to a wheel of the vehicle so that the brake pressure causes the vehicle ya
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Clinton L. Schumann, Scott T. Sanford, Michael S. Wyciechowski, Todd Bowman