Patents by Inventor Stephan Hiegler

Stephan Hiegler 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: 8626393
    Abstract: In order to transmit reliable and precise information, to as great an extent as possible, on current driving conditions and driving situations, and also achieve disturbance-free behavior of the steering system in the center point range, in a steering device in a vehicle, a target steering torque (torSSW) is determined by determining an actual toothed rack force (forRT), determining at least one first component for the target steering torque (torSSW) as a function of the actual toothed rack force (forRT), and determining at least one additional component for the target steering torque (torSSW) from a calculated toothed rack force (forRS), wherein the calculated toothed rack force (forRS) is determined from a wheel steering angle and a vehicle speed (velV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Strecker, Thomas Werner, Stephan Hiegler, Manuel Diez Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20120259513
    Abstract: In order to transmit reliable and precise information, to as great an extent as possible, on current driving conditions and driving situations, and also achieve disturbance-free behavior of the steering system in the center point range, in a steering device in a vehicle, a target steering torque (torSSW) is determined by determining an actual toothed rack force (forRT), determining at least one first component for the target steering torque (torSSW) as a function of the actual toothed rack force (forRT), and determining at least one additional component for the target steering torque (torSSW) from a calculated toothed rack force (forRS), wherein the calculated toothed rack force (forRS) is determined from a wheel steering angle and a vehicle speed (velV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Joerg STRECKER, Thomas WERNER, Stephan HIEGLER, Manuel Diez RODRIGUEZ
  • Patent number: 7383109
    Abstract: A vehicle power steering system suppresses chattering, i.e., unpleasant noises in the form of mechanical and generally higher frequency oscillations resulting from backlash in a gear connection transmitting the torque from the motor to the steering wheel mechanics, produced under certain driving conditions. A control system is provided which evaluates the rotor rpm of the electric motor, and increases the dynamic response time of the rotor in the event that the evaluation of the rotor rpm indicates an unstable state of the control system. As a result, chattering is suppressed only when a critical driving situation arises in which the control system becomes unstable, while, in the normal state, the steering system exhibits all properties thereof, and is neither delayed nor limited in a dynamic behavior thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Stephan Hiegler, Michael Bischofberger
  • Patent number: 7239104
    Abstract: A method is for compensating for a rotor angle deviation of a motor, which may be used as an actuator, e.g., as a servo actuator, in a steering system. The rotor angle deviation is compensated for by a piecewise linearized control of the difference between a desired rotor angle, which is based on a manual torque and a stored rotor angle, and a measured rotor angle, a control factor of the control being variable as a function of the control range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Stephan Hiegler, Michael Bischofberger, Dietmar Hiller
  • Publication number: 20060076916
    Abstract: A method is for compensating for a rotor angle deviation of a motor, which may be used as an actuator, e.g., as a servo actuator, in a steering system. The rotor angle deviation is compensated for by a piecewise linearized control of the difference between a desired rotor angle, which is based on a manual torque and a stored rotor angle, and a measured rotor angle, a control factor of the control being variable as a function of the control range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2005
    Publication date: April 13, 2006
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Stephan Hiegler, Michael Bischofberger, Dietmar Hiller
  • Publication number: 20050096813
    Abstract: Vehicle power steering systems with an electric motor have an electronic control system which controls the electric motor dynamically so that it produces a motor torque which supports the steering force and is usually transmitted to the steering wheel mechanics over a gear connection such as a worm gear. However, gear connections cannot be constructed completely without backlash. Under certain driving conditions therefore, chatter develops in the form of mechanical, generally higher frequency oscillations, which cause unpleasant and irritating noises. In order to counteract such disturbances, there is provided a vehicle power steering system with an electric motor and a method for controlling the electric motor for which the control system evaluates the rotor rpm of the electric motor and increases the dynamic response time of the rotor, in the event that the evaluation of the rotor rpm indicates an unstable state of the control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventors: Arnulf Heilig, Stephan Hiegler, Michael Bischofberger