Patents Issued in April 2, 2020
  • Publication number: 20200101966
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of controlling a hybrid propulsion system of a vehicle, wherein a control (COM) (minimizing consumption and pollutant emissions at the after-treatment system outlet) is defined. The control method is based on minimizing a cost function (H) of a model (MOD) of the propulsion system. Thus, the method according to the invention allows simultaneous minimizing of fuel consumption and pollution emissions by accounting for after-treatment system efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Laurent THIBAULT, Olivier GRONDIN
  • Publication number: 20200101967
    Abstract: A vehicle controller includes a first estimator, a second estimator, and a first controller. The first estimator is configured to obtain first estimation information with regard to a target vehicle that stops in a pick-up area where a plurality of vehicles is allowed to stop waiting for a user to get therein. The first estimation information indicates whether the user of the target vehicle is carrying a large piece of luggage having a size equal to or greater than a predetermined size. The second estimator is configured to obtain second estimation information indicating an other-vehicle stopping status. The other-vehicle stopping status indicates a status of another vehicle stopping around the target vehicle. The first controller is configured to cause the other vehicle to move on the basis of the first estimation information obtained by the first estimator and the second estimation information obtained by the second estimator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Junya SEKI
  • Publication number: 20200101968
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a host vehicle may include: a processor configured to calculate a cut-in possibility in which a nearby vehicle cuts into a lane on which the host vehicle travels ahead of the host vehicle, to determine a plurality of cut-in steps of the calculated cut-in possibility, and to control operation of the host vehicle so as to perform an inter-vehicle distance control operation or to provide a warning to a user of the host vehicle based on a state of the user in each of the plurality of cut-in steps; and storage configured to store the calculated cut-in possibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dae Young Kim, Young Min Han
  • Publication number: 20200101969
    Abstract: According to various examples, a vehicle controller is described comprising a determiner configured to determine information about surroundings of a vehicle, the information about the surroundings comprising information about velocities of objects in the surroundings of the vehicle and a velocity controller configured to input the information about the surroundings of the vehicle and a specification of a path of the vehicle to a convolutional neural network, to determine a target velocity of the vehicle along the path based on an output of the convolutional neural network and to control the vehicle according to the determined target velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Koba NATROSHVILI, Kay-Ulrich SCHOLL
  • Publication number: 20200101970
    Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for emergency stopping of a vehicle which has an electronic control unit (ECU) and speed sensors on each ground engaging wheel with other conventional components of a motor vehicle wherein once the apparatus for rapid stopping of a motor vehicle is activated, the brakes will stop the forward motion/rotation of each wheel and once the rotation of the tire is ceased the transmission is activated such that the tire will be driven in the reverse rotation until the vehicle is stopped, once the vehicle is stopped the transmission is placed into the original position or into park.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Gary L. Reinert
  • Publication number: 20200101971
    Abstract: A collision avoidance apparatus for use with an automated guided vehicle (AGV) includes: an object detection sensor assembly; a controller in electronic communication with the sensor assembly; the object detection sensor assembly configured to generate a detection signal to define a sensing region and receive a reflected detection signal; the controller configured to: process the reflected signal to detect presence of an object based on a parameter of the reflected signal, define a boundary within the sensing region, dynamically adjust the size and/or shape of the boundary, and determine if the detected object is located within the boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ka Lun Fan, Wing Leung Chow, Lu Sze Wai, Yuan Li Yin
  • Publication number: 20200101972
    Abstract: A driving system for an electric vehicle may include a shift assembly receiving power from a motor, and providing a plurality of shift gears using a plurality of meshed external gear pairs, a clutch intermittently transferring power from the motor to the shift assembly, a gear lever allowing a driver to sequentially select a plurality of assigned positions that are discontinuously disposed, a position sensor detecting the assigned positions to which the gear lever sequentially moves, on the basis of continuous changes in physical quantities, a clutch actuator actuating the clutch, a shift actuator actuating the shift assembly to change gear shifts, and a controller configured for controlling the clutch actuator, the shift actuator, and the motor to change gear shifts by receiving signals from the position sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jae Joon Lee, Hyun Noh Kim, Jin Ho Kim, Jong Sool Park, Kyeong Hun Lee, Bong Guy Son, Jong Sung Kim, Jin Young Hwang
  • Publication number: 20200101973
    Abstract: An electric power supply control apparatus for a vehicle decreases a first electric power prior to switching the modes, when a sum of a request value of a second electric power and the first electric power exceeds a total electric power upper limit value in the mode before the switching, and switches the modes after the sum of the decreased first electric power and the request value of the second electric power becomes equal to or smaller than the total electric power upper limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ryohei HOSHI, Fumiyuki MORIYA, Hirofumi YABE, Ken WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20200101974
    Abstract: A device and a method that allow selection of an optimal travel route by creating a route considering a real-time driving environment in an autonomous driving vehicle are disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one of surrounding situation information or road situation information from a cloud; calculating a score about each of a plurality of lanes of a road based on the at least one of the surrounding situation information or the road situation information; and configuring a travel route based on the calculated scores. The device and method may be associated with an AI (artificial intelligence) device, a drone, an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle), a robot, an AR (augmented reality) device, a VR (virtual reality) device, and a 5G service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Dae Geun HA, Junyoung YU, Soojung JEON
  • Publication number: 20200101975
    Abstract: A vehicle driving apparatus, configured to drive a vehicle including first and second wheels, includes first and second motors, first and second power transmission mechanisms, and a controller. The first motor is configured to generate first driving torque that rotates the first wheel. The second motor is configured to generate second driving torque that rotates the second wheel in a direction same as a direction in which the first wheel is rotated. The first and second power transmission mechanisms are configured to transmit the first and second driving torque from the first and second motors to the first and second wheels, respectively. The controller is configured to perform torque distribution control in a case where a gear rattle occurrence condition is satisfied. The torque distribution control drives the first motor to thereby decrease the first driving torque and drives the second motor to thereby increase the second driving torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Hiroyuki SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20200101976
    Abstract: Transportation systems have artificial intelligence including neural networks for recognition and classification of objects and behavior including natural language processing and computer vision systems. The transportation systems involve sets of complex chemical processes, mechanical systems, and interactions with behaviors of operators. System-level interactions and behaviors are classified, predicted and optimized using neural networks and other artificial intelligence systems through selective deployment, as well as hybrids and combinations of the artificial intelligence systems, neural networks, expert systems, cognitive systems, genetic algorithms and deep learning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Charles Cella
  • Publication number: 20200101977
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes: detecting at least one of a position or a state of occupant in a vehicle; determining an operation inputting part that is most easily operable for the occupant from among a plurality of operation inputting parts in the vehicle based on the at least one of the position or the state of the occupant which is detected in the detecting; notifying a consent request in the vehicle with respect to a processing content scheduled to be performed in response to an occurrence of an event; and validating consent operation to the operation inputting part that is most easily operable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: JUN NAKAI, TAKASHI OKOHIRA
  • Publication number: 20200101978
    Abstract: Provided are a vehicle speed sensor device, an ABS apparatus including the same, and an operating method thereof. The vehicle speed sensor device comprises: a rechargeable battery; a speed sensor for receiving power supplied from the battery and measuring a rotation speed of a wheel bearing to generate a speed signal; and a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting a speed signal to an electronic controller through wireless communication. Such a configuration enables the vehicle sensor device to be robust against an external damage, can remove the signal crosstalk problem due to complex cable connection, and can reduce the weight of a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: ILJIN GLOBAL CO.,LTD.
    Inventor: Young Tae KIM
  • Publication number: 20200101979
    Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an actuator configured to control vehicle steering, acceleration, or shifting, a sensor configured to provide signals indicative of a lateral distance between a current vehicle location relative to a desired path, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to a determination that the lateral distance exceeds a threshold, automatically control the actuator according to an interstitial path. The interstitial path is automatically defined by the controller, and is based on a b-spline defined by a first position boundary condition at the current vehicle location, a second position boundary condition at a merge location relative to the desired vehicle path, a first curvature boundary condition based on a current vehicle yaw rate, and a second curvature boundary condition based on a curvature of the desired vehicle path at the merge location. The interstitial path is further optimized based on a cost function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Nikolai K. Moshchuk, Kausalya Singuru, David Andrés Pérez Chaparro
  • Publication number: 20200101980
    Abstract: Methods and systems for mitigating irritants during travel in a vehicle. The method includes determining, at a remote server, an airborne irritant is present external to the vehicle, which may involve data from the vehicle or from other nearby vehicles. The data may be direct irritant measurements by sensors or may be indirect data indicative of possible irritants. Based on the determination that the airborne irritant is likely present external to the vehicle, an irritant mitigation action is caused within the vehicle. The irritant mitigation action may include displaying a notification signaling presence of the airborne irritant, outputting an audio notification signaling presence of the airborne irritant, closing a window of the vehicle, or closing an air vent of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Neil Patrick ADAMS, Jeremy Lawson KOMINAR
  • Publication number: 20200101981
    Abstract: A method and system for impaired driving detection, monitoring and accident prevention with driving habits. An impairment test method is provided with an impairment test determining in real-time whether a driver of vehicle is impaired (e.g., has used drugs, alcohol, is distracted, talking, texting, eating, etc. or is drowsy, etc.). The impairment test determines plural assigned probability impairment values over a pre-determined time interval to compare a frequency of received plural event signals from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and from an environment detected outside the vehicle and external to the vehicle for one or more of the plural driver performance actions completed by a driver of a vehicle to those previously stored in a unique driver profile for the driver to determine with a statistical probability whether the driver operating the vehicle may be impaired based on the unique behavior patterns for the driver of the vehicle stored in the unique driver profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Brian K. PHILLIPS, Geoffrey A. Wilson, Brian K. Phillips, II
  • Publication number: 20200101982
    Abstract: A system for controlling operation of a vehicle, the system comprising: a voice synthesizer unit for providing voice communication to a driver; a speech recognition unit for receiving speech from a driver; a breath alcohol sensor unit for detecting a presence of alcohol on the breath of a driver and providing a signal representative of the same; a vehicle operation interface for controlling operation of the vehicle; and a controller for (i) selectively causing the voice synthesizer unit to speak to the driver, (ii) operating the speech recognition unit to detect speech by the driver, (iii) receiving the signal from the breath alcohol sensor unit, and (iv) depending on the signal received from the breath alcohol sensor unit, providing a command to the vehicle operation interface to control operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kyle Bowers, Abdullatif Zaouk, Robert Strassburger, Michael Willis, Neeraj Dalal
  • Publication number: 20200101983
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus for early warning of vehicle offset. The method includes: acquiring collected road image to be detected; obtaining a corresponding grayscale image by performing grayscale processing on the road image to be detected; determining a target lane line within the grayscale image; and determining whether to issue an early warning of vehicle offset according to the target lane line and an early warning trigger condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Hangdong LIN
  • Publication number: 20200101984
    Abstract: Parking a vehicle at a location where parking is possible even when an obstacle is falsely detected. In a parking assistance device 1, an external environment recognition unit 11 recognizes road surface environment around an own vehicle on the basis of information detected by an external environment sensor 4 installed in the own vehicle. The display control unit 17 performs screen display using the HMI device 2 to present, to an occupant of the own vehicle, road surface information indicating the presence of an obstacle on the road surface around the own vehicle on the basis of the road surface environment recognized by the external environment recognition unit 11. The road surface information correction unit 16 corrects the road surface information and invalidates the obstacle. The parking route calculation unit 14 calculates a parking route for parking the own vehicle on the basis of the road surface information corrected by the road surface information correction unit 16.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: Koji TAKAHASHI
  • Publication number: 20200101985
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for driving automation control of a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a vehicle maneuver, such as a lane change, and provide a first kinesthetic cue to a supervisory driver or vehicle occupant indicating the start of a vehicle maneuver. The system and method are then operative to complete the vehicle maneuver and provide a second kinesthetic cue indicating the completion of the vehicle maneuver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Sami Ahmed, Charles A. Green, Kevin A. O'Dea, Daniel B. Cutler
  • Publication number: 20200101986
    Abstract: In order to be able to reliably prevent the departure of a vehicle without a locking of the closure device in a cableway with a locking monitor, a second receiving device is provided in the movement direction of the vehicle after the first receiving device. After the start of the vehicle in the first station, the transponder of the vehicle enters the effective range of the second receiving device, and the transponder transmits a signal with the locking state to the second receiving device. The cableway is stopped before the vehicle leaves the first station when the signal to the second receiving device indicates a faulty lock mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Clemens Mohr, Daniel Pfeifer
  • Publication number: 20200101987
    Abstract: A transverse trough coil car includes a plurality of transverse troughs, a pair of trucks, a center sill supported on the trucks, a pair of side walls extending the length of the car coupled to the center sill, and a plurality of trough forming assemblies. At least one trough includes integrated manually operated adjustable coil stops configured to prevent lateral shifting of coils carried within the trough. At least one trough includes a vertically adjustable trough height.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Michael H. Kress, Cloyd Wirick
  • Publication number: 20200101988
    Abstract: An underfloor double skin structure includes a first upper plate including a pair of first thin portions disposed on both end portions thereof and a first thick portion disposed inwardly with respect to the pair of first thin portions, a first lower plate disposed to be spaced apart downward of the first upper plate and including a pair of second thin portions disposed on both end portions thereof and a second thick portion disposed inwardly with respect to the pair of second thin portions, a first rib group integrally formed with the first upper plate and the first lower plate and connects the first upper plate and the first lower plate, a reinforcing body is formed of the first thick portion, the second thick portion, and a pair of thick ribs, and the second thick portion is disposed downward of the pair of second thin portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Koshi TANIMOTO, Ichiro JOREN, Hiroyuki KONO, Yoshinori KATO
  • Publication number: 20200101989
    Abstract: A system for analyzing thermal properties of a railroad includes a thermal imaging device configured to generate thermal image data reproducible as a thermal image of a portion of the railroad, the thermal image data being associated with a location of the portion of the railroad, an electronic display device, a memory device configured to receive and store therein the generated thermal image data; and one or more processors configured to: determine a temperature metric of the portion of the railroad based at least in part on the thermal image data; and cause the electronic display device to display (i) a first graph indicative of the temperature metric of the portion of the railroad and (ii) a second graph indicative of a railroad track geometry metric associated with the location of the portion of the railroad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew Dick, Zhipeng Liu, Samson Yilma
  • Publication number: 20200101990
    Abstract: A system is provided that includes a detection circuit having a first and second sensor. The first sensor is configured to measure a rotational speed of a first wheel. The second sensor is coupled to a vehicle chassis and configured to measure a position over time of the vehicle chassis. The system further includes a controller circuit configured to determine a shock frequency based on the position of the vehicle chassis. The controller circuit is further configured to determine a condition (e.g., an anomalous condition) of the first wheel based on the shock frequency and the rotational speed, and may be further configured for vehicle control based on the determined condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: David Michael Peltz
  • Publication number: 20200101991
    Abstract: It makes it possible to track instrument information and to obtain an accurate history of the instrument information, even when a mounting position mounted with a railway vehicle instrument has been changed. Instrument information indicating an operation or a state of a railway vehicle instrument mounted to each mounting position included in a composition is collected. A serial number determined for each mounting position is updated. The instrument information is assigned with a temporary ID including position information specifying the each mounting position and a serial number. A combination of a new temporary ID and an old temporary ID included in the temporary ID group and assigned to new instrument information and old instrument information indicating an operation or a state of a same railway vehicle instrument is estimated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Tatsumi, Tokiko Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20200101992
    Abstract: A method operates a track-bound traffic system which carries out a determination that a first track section part lying between a track-bound vehicle and a second track section is free of vehicles. A track-side device disposed in a first track section at a distance to an adjacent second track section, transmits status information which characterizes the second track section as being free of track-bound vehicles, and the transmitted status information is received by a vehicle traversing the first track section. The distance is measured such that no other track-bound vehicle fits in a first track section part lying between the track-bound vehicle and the second track section when the track-bound vehicle receives the status information, and the first track section part lying between the track-bound vehicle and the second track section is identified as being free of other track-bound vehicles by the track-bound vehicle based on the received status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: PETER LUEHRS, KARSTEN RAHN, OSCAR ALONSO GARRIDO
  • Publication number: 20200101993
    Abstract: A method for assessing contamination of a rail, in particular for a railway vehicle, comprises the steps of imposing a first sliding value lower than a first threshold between the wheels of a first controlled axle and the rail, the first controlled axle being the head axle of the railway vehicle, imposing a second sliding value greater than a second threshold between the wheels of a second controlled axle and the rail, the second axle following the first axle and the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, and determining the trend of an adhesion curve between the wheels belonging to a plurality of controlled axles and the rail, based on a first adhesion value between the wheels of the first axle and the rail, and a second adhesion value between the wheels of the second axle and the rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Matteo FREA, Luc IMBERT
  • Publication number: 20200101994
    Abstract: A transportation dolly can have a frame, two axles pivotally coupled with the frame, each axle having two distal ends and a wheel assembly coupled at each distal end and a synchronous steering system. The synchronous steering system can include an intermediate link pivotally coupled with the frame, the intermediate link having a two distal ends, and a first push-pull rod coupling one of the two axles with the intermediate link, and a second push-pull rod coupling the other of the two axles with the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod is coupled to one distal end of the intermediate link and the second push-pull rod is coupled to the opposing distal end of the intermediate link. The first push-pull rod, the second push-pull rod, and the intermediate link provide counter phase synchronous pivoting of the two axles relative to the transportation dolly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Par-Kan Company, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Eckerley, George Donald Thomas Shoebridge, Elizabeth Claire Vinson
  • Publication number: 20200101995
    Abstract: A horn for a shopping cart includes a base plate and a pair of legs extending downwardly away from the base plate and opposed to one another. Each leg includes a first end connected to the base plate, an opposed second end, a central portion positioned between the first end and the second end, a first aperture, and a second aperture, with the first and second apertures being vertically aligned with one another and positioned proximate the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Phillip Leon Tosh
  • Publication number: 20200101996
    Abstract: A safety lock includes a releasing component and a locking component. The locking component is movably disposed on a frame releasing component or a stroller frame. The locking component is driven by the releasing component to move relative to the frame releasing component or the stroller frame between a blocking position and a releasing position. The locking component engages with the frame releasing component to restrain the frame releasing component from unlocking the stroller frame or engages with the stroller frame to restrain the stroller frame from being folded when the locking component is located at the blocking position, and the locking component disengages from the frame releasing component to allow the frame releasing component to unlock the stroller frame or disengages from the stroller frame to allow the stroller frame to be folded when the locking component is located at the releasing position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Xiaosong Duan, Jialiang Yuan, Wei-Huan Liu
  • Publication number: 20200101997
    Abstract: A damper structure provided in a steering wheel of a vehicle to be able to achieve an improved effect of reducing vibration in a low frequency region and structurally prevent noise generation. The damper structure includes a plate member which faces the steering wheel and to which an airbag module is to be attached, an insulator attached to the plate member, a connector inserted into the insulator and having one end fixed to the steering wheel to be oscillated by vibration of the steering wheel, an elastic member surrounding the connector in the insulator, a ring provided with the elastic member to transmit the oscillation of the connector to the elastic member, a stopper provided around another end of the connector to face the elastic member, and a coil spring which brings the elastic member of the insulator into pressure contact with the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TAKANORI IKEDA, SHOMA FUSHIMI, EISUKE KURATA, YOSUKE IWASAKI
  • Publication number: 20200101998
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering wheel that rotates about a first rotation axis, a folding mechanism that folds the steering wheel along the first rotation axis, a moving mechanism that moves the steering wheel between a protruding position in which the steering wheel protrudes from a dashboard of the vehicle and a stored position closer to the dashboard than the protruding position, and an electronic control unit that drives the folding mechanism and the moving mechanism. When the folded steering wheel is moved from the protruding position to the stored position, the electronic control unit drives, in advance, a drive member mounted on the vehicle so that the steering wheel is retracted relative to a body of a driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yousuke NISHIMURA, Norihiro OCHI, Takeshi WATANABE, Yasuyuki NOZAWA, Kei KITAHARA
  • Publication number: 20200101999
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Helmut Kirmsze, Sascha Fricke, Thomas Raich
  • Publication number: 20200102000
    Abstract: A travel stop support bushing includes a body and an extension. The body has a first outer surface that extends between a first body face and a second body face along an axis. The body defines a plurality of fins that are at least partially defined between the first outer surface and the second body face. The extension has a second outer surface that extends between the first body face and an end face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Dale Wawrzyniec, Joseph B. Rombach, George Arlt
  • Publication number: 20200102001
    Abstract: A rotation detection device includes a rotation detection circuit, a step-up power supply circuit, a step-down power supply circuit, a first power supply path, and a second power supply path. The rotation detection circuit is configured to detect a rotation number of a motor that generates a torque applied to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, based on an electric signal. The electric signal is generated according to a rotation angle of the motor that is acquired through an in-vehicle sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: JTEKT CORPORATION, RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi KOZUKA, Masato ODA, Tadashi KAWAHARA, Masashi OKI
  • Publication number: 20200102002
    Abstract: An electric power steering system with a worm gear includes a worm shaft and a worm wheel, wherein an electric motor is associated with the worm shaft, which is connected to the worm shaft in a force-transmitting manner. A bearing element, arranged on the worm shaft at the end of the worm shaft facing away from the electric motor, is received in a guide bush, wherein the guide bush has, on its circumferential side, a passage opening. It is provided a pre-tensioning device comprising a spring-loaded actuator element extending through the passage opening of the guide bush and acting on the worm shaft in the direction of the worm wheel with a defined pre-tensioning force (K), wherein the pre-tensioning device comprises a limiting device which is adapted to limit a pivoting movement that displaces the worm wheel away from the worm shaft. Furthermore, it is proposed a method for the production of steering systems and a test system for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kirschstein, Toni Müller
  • Publication number: 20200102003
    Abstract: A steering control device for controlling a rotation angle of a motor that drives a steering mechanism according to a rotation angle of a steering wheel, includes a torque controller to control torque of the motor with the rotation angle of the steering wheel as a command value, and a phase advance processor to perform feedback control on the torque of the motor with at least one of the rotation angle and angular velocity of the motor as a command value, and advance a phase of a signal waveform to be fed back for a partial frequency range that includes a resonance frequency of the motor and the steering mechanism in an entire frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHIMURA, Shuji ENDO, Hanyu SUN
  • Publication number: 20200102004
    Abstract: A four wheel steering vehicle (1), in which front wheels (2f) and rear wheels (2r) can be steered in response to a steering input from a steering wheel (11), includes a rear wheel steering control unit (50) that variably controls a rear wheel steering device such that the rear wheels are steered in a prescribed relation to a steered angle of the front wheels. When the steering input is determined while the front wheel brake and the rear wheel brake are engaged, the rear wheel steering control unit disengages the rear wheel brake and steers the rear wheels. When the fore and aft inclination angle detected by an inclination sensor (40) provided on the vehicle is greater than a threshold value, the rear wheel steering control unit prohibits a steering of the rear wheels and keeps the rear wheel brake engaged even if the steering input is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ryosuke YAMAZAKI, Takumi INAGAKI
  • Publication number: 20200102005
    Abstract: A steering control device for controlling drive of a motor that drives a steering mechanism according to an operation amount of a steering wheel, includes a first torque command controller that instructs the motor on motor torque according to the operation amount of the steering wheel, and a second torque command controller that instructs the motor on the motor torque according to the operation amount of the steering wheel in parallel with the first torque command controller. The second torque command controller suppresses a frequency region corresponding to disturbance added to the steering mechanism with respect to the operation amount of the steering wheel with a filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Hiroyuki ISHIMURA, Shuji ENDO, Hanyu SUN
  • Publication number: 20200102006
    Abstract: A method estimates a track rod force which is exerted, in a power steering system with which a vehicle is equipped, on a track rod belonging to a steering mechanism which connects an actuator to a steered wheel which is orientable in the yaw direction and which bears a tyre of which the tread is in contact with the ground, the value of the estimated track rod force being corrected as a function of the longitudinal speed of the vehicle by a force component that models the release of the elastic torsion of the tyre so as to reduce, the estimated track rod force according to the longitudinal speed of the vehicle, when the vehicle transitions from a park situation in which the longitudinal speed of the vehicle is zero to a drive situation in which the longitudinal speed of the vehicle is non-zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Sébastien BOURDREZ, Pierre DUPRAZ, Serge GAUDIN, Pascal MOULAIRE, Kazusa YAMAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200102007
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus having independent turning mechanisms for respective four wheels of a vehicle, has a problem in that, when a turning motor fails, a turning mechanism for a corresponding wheel stops functioning, resulting in reduction in the maneuverability and the stability of the vehicle. Turning motors of turning mechanisms independently disposed for respective four wheels of a vehicle, each have a redundant configuration. Specifically, each turning motor is configured as three-phase duplexing motors having two three-phase windings and two inverters for separately driving the three-phase windings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru AKUTSU
  • Publication number: 20200102008
    Abstract: A motorised vehicle comprises a first wheel located laterally on a first side of the vehicle, and a second wheel located laterally on a second side of the vehicle opposite the first side. The vehicle comprises a steering system configured to modify the orientation of the wheels and to turn the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a trajectory modifier configured to vary the speed of rotation of the first wheel and to modify the trajectory of the vehicle in the event of failure of the steering system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Thierry PASQUET
  • Publication number: 20200102009
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein that determine a vehicle backup position for launching and loading a boat using trailer hitch load. An example apparatus includes a data analyzer to determine, based on a trailer hitch load of a vehicle coupled to a trailer, a vehicle backup position for launching the boat at which a boat coupled to the trailer is floating on a body of water and an instruction generator to instruct a braking system of the vehicle to stop the vehicle at the vehicle backup position for launching the boat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Elizabeth G. Owen, Andrew Niedert, Kevin Stanton Giaier, Peter Simeon Lazarevski
  • Publication number: 20200102010
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for lane change control. The apparatus includes: a determination device to determine whether a plurality of predetermined operation conditions are met when a vehicle enters a lane change control section and to determine an intention for a driver of the vehicle to use a lane change control function; a guide device to configure an information screen for the lane change control function based on the determined intention of the driver; and an interface to display the configured information screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hoi Won KIM, Chan Il PARK, Beom Jun KIM, Hyun Jae YOO
  • Publication number: 20200102011
    Abstract: A rear subframe structure including a rear subframe disposed on a rear side of a vehicle is provided. The rear subframe includes: a pair of right and left longitudinal members extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and a front cross member extending in a vehicle width direction between the pair of right and left longitudinal members, and a rear cross member extending in the vehicle width direction between the pair of right and left longitudinal members. The front cross member and the rear cross member are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction by a predetermined distance. Each of the pair of right and left longitudinal members has a protruding portion between the front cross member and the rear cross member; the protruding portion protrudes in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventor: Satoru NOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20200102012
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a front subframe; left and right suspension lower arms swingably supported by the front subframe; and a steering gearbox supported by the front subframe. The front subframe includes left and right longitudinal members extending in a fore-and-aft direction, a cross member extending laterally and joined to the longitudinal members, and front and rear lower arm supports provided on each longitudinal member to be spaced from each other in the fore-and-aft direction and swingably supporting the corresponding lower arm. The steering gearbox includes a laterally extending rack shaft and a pair of joints provided at either end of the rack shaft and joined to ends of respective tie rods. The longitudinal members extend obliquely to approach each other toward rear, and the rear lower arm supports are positioned more laterally inward than the respective joints when the rack shaft is in a neutral position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAKAI, Kosuke MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi IMANISHI
  • Publication number: 20200102013
    Abstract: A vehicle body front structure includes: a front subframe; left and right suspension lower arms swingably supported by the front subframe; and a steering gearbox supported by the front subframe. The front subframe includes left and right longitudinal members extending in a fore-and-aft direction, a cross member extending laterally and joined to the longitudinal members, and a front lower arm support and a rear lower arm support provided on each longitudinal member to be spaced from each other in the fore-and-aft direction and swingably supporting the corresponding lower arm. The steering gearbox includes a laterally extending rack shaft and a pair of joints provided at either end of the rack shaft and joined to ends of respective tie rods. The longitudinal members extend obliquely so as to approach each other toward rear, and each front lower arm support is positioned more rearward than the steering gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAKAI, Kosuke MATSUSHITA, Hiroshi IMANISHI, Takehiko KOSHIISHI
  • Publication number: 20200102014
    Abstract: A vehicle body rear structure includes: left and right rear side frames extending in a fore-and-aft direction in a rear part of a vehicle; a rear subframe attached to the rear side frames; left and right rear wheels supported by the rear subframe via respective suspensions; and a driving source mounted to the rear subframe. The driving source is arranged such that a center of gravity thereof is positioned more rearward than a rotation axis of the rear wheels. The rear subframe includes left and right rear subframe longitudinal members extending in the fore-and-aft direction and a rear subframe cross member extending laterally and joined to the rear subframe longitudinal members. The rear subframe cross member includes a protrusion that protrudes rearward at a laterally central part thereof. A rear end of the protrusion is positioned more rearward than a rear end of the driving source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Kazuhiro SAKAI, Kanji KANEKO, Takashi YAMADA, Tadashi HIRAKAWA, Seiichi KATO
  • Publication number: 20200102015
    Abstract: In a vehicle frame structure, upper ends of a front frame and a rear frame, which connect a lower frame and an upper frame vertically, are connected to each other above the upper frame, and a front portion frame assembly is connected to a main frame assembly via the lower frame and the upper ends of the front and rear frames. A bumper includes a front-rear frame portion extending forward from the front frame, and an inclined frame portion arranged between an intermediate portion of the front frame and an end portion of the front-rear frame portion. The bumper includes a sub-bumper, the sub-bumper including a front sub-frame extending upward from a front end of the bumper, and a front-rear sub-frame connected between an end portion of the front sub-frame and an intermediate portion of the front frame above the upper frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Takeyuki Kariyasu, Takeshi Kamiyama, Masayuki Hirukawa, Yuji Maki, Ryota Yamagishi