Patents by Inventor Stephane Cassar

Stephane Cassar 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: 20240425109
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an elongate steering column mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and configured for attachment of a steering wheel at one end. A gear is connected to the steering column at a location spaced from the steering wheel attachment location and configured to rotate with the steering column. A motor has a rotatable output shaft. A first worm screw is directly connected to and rotatable with the output shaft of the motor and engaged with the gear. A damper includes a rotatable shaft. A second worm screw is directly connected to and rotatable with the shaft of the damper and engaged with the gear. A control means is configured to operate the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Stephane CASSAR, Tim BUTTERY, Russell WILSON-JONES
  • Patent number: 10427691
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the direction of longitudinal travel of a vehicle comprising a step (a) of collecting a first signal (Signal1), representative of a first driving parameter, such as the steering-wheel torque, and of which the sign of the value and/or the sign of the variations is not dependent on the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, a step (b) of collecting a second signal (Signal2), representative of a second driving parameter separate from the first driving parameter, such as the yaw rate, and of which the sign of the value and/or the sign of the variations changes on the basis of the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, then a step (c) of comparing signs during which the sign of the value, or of the variation, of the first signal (Signal1) is compared with the sign of the value, or of the variation, of the second signal (Signal2) in order to deduce therefrom the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, depending on whether said signs are id
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Romain Moretti, Luc Leydier
  • Publication number: 20150158496
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining the direction of longitudinal travel of a vehicle comprising a step (a) of collecting a first signal (Signal1), representative of a first driving parameter, such as the steering-wheel torque, and of which the sign of the value and/or the sign of the variations is not dependent on the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, a step (b) of collecting a second signal (Signal2), representative of a second driving parameter separate from the first driving parameter, such as the yaw rate, and of which the sign of the value and/or the sign of the variations changes on the basis of the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, then a step (c) of comparing signs during which the sign of the value, or of the variation, of the first signal (Signal1) is compared with the sign of the value, or of the variation, of the second signal (Signal2) in order to deduce therefrom the direction of longitudinal travel of the vehicle, depending on whether said signs are id
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Romain Moretti, Luc Leydier
  • 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: 8666606
    Abstract: The steering system of the invention includes a processing means (26) comprising a means for determining (30) a driving signal (S3) of the power means (25) on the basis of: a first control signal (S1) determined from the measure of a torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel by applying a gain that depends on the longitudinal speed of the vehicle; a second correction signal (S2) determined from the measure of the torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel, and a setpoint determined on the basis of at least one characteristic parameter of the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Jean-Marc Kasbarian
  • Patent number: 8447470
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method which includes: filtering the torque signal using a low-pass filter of the first order at a variable cut-off frequency which takes on, respectively, a minimum value or a maximum value depending on whether the amplitude of the torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold; then in producing a signal indicating, respectively, a steering wheel release or a steering wheel grip depending on whether the amplitude of the filtered torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Julien Barthomeuf, Stephane Cassar
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110035110
    Abstract: The steering system of the invention includes a processing means (26) comprising a means for determining (30) a driving signal (S3) of the power means (25) on the basis of: a first control signal (S1) determined from the measure of a torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel by applying a gain that depends on the longitudinal speed of the vehicle; a second correction signal (S2) determined from the measure of the torque applied by the driver on the steering wheel, and a setpoint determined on the basis of at least one characteristic parameter of the lateral dynamics of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Stephane Cassar, Jean-Marc Kasbarian
  • Patent number: 7555402
    Abstract: The method consists in: determining in which actually sector the booster motor is located, a sector of the booster motor being defied by two successive poles; determining a relative angle position of the steering wheel in relation to the booster motor; identifying a sector, known as neutral, in which the booster motor is located when the rotation speeds of the rear wheels, i.e. right and left of the vehicle, are equal; determining an angle offset of the steering wheel corresponding to a neutral angle position of the steering wheel; determining an absolute angle position of the steering wheel which is equal to the difference between the relative angle position of the steering wheel and the offset angle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Europe
    Inventors: Julien Barthomeuf, Stephane Cassar, Andre Michelis
  • Publication number: 20090069981
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method which includes: filtering the torque signal using a low-pass filter of the first order at a variable cut-off frequency which takes on, respectively, a minimum value or a maximum value depending on whether the amplitude of the torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold; then in producing a signal indicating, respectively, a steering wheel release or a steering wheel grip depending on whether the amplitude of the filtered torque signal is, respectively, lower or higher than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Julien BARTHOMEUF, Stephane CASSAR
  • Publication number: 20080140340
    Abstract: The method consists in: determining in which actually sector the booster motor is located, a sector of the booster motor being defied by two successive poles; determining a relative angle position of the steering wheel in relation to the booster motor; identifying a sector, known as neutral, in which the booster motor is located when the rotation speeds of the rear wheels, i.e. right and left of the vehicle, are equal; determining an angle offset of the steering wheel corresponding to a neutral angle position of the steering wheel; determining an absolute angle position of the steering wheel which is equal to the difference between the relative angle position of the steering wheel and the offset angle thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: KOYO STEERING EUROPE (K.S.E.)
    Inventors: Julien Barthomeuf, Stephane Cassar, Andre Michelis