No Mechanical Connection Between Steering Shaft And Steering Gear Patents (Class 180/402)
  • Patent number: 11964709
    Abstract: A steering control device controls a reaction motor that generates a steering reaction force applied to a steering wheel of which power transmission to and from turning wheels is cut off. the steering control device includes: a first processor configured to change a virtual operation range of the steering wheel according to a steering state or a vehicle state by controlling the reaction motor; and a second processor configured to change a degree of change of the virtual operation range of the steering wheel according to the steering state or the vehicle state when an operation position of the steering wheel reaches a position in a vicinity of a limit position of the virtual operation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kodera, Toru Takashima
  • Patent number: 11945518
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering device includes a first member, a second member, and stoppers. The first member is rotatable together with the input shaft, and includes a first protrusion protruding from the input shaft in the radial direction. The second member includes a second protrusion protruding on the trajectory of the first protrusion, and is rotatable together with the first member with the first protrusion being abutting the second protrusion. The stoppers are provided at respective positions capable of abutting on the trajectory of the second protrusion only when the second member is rotated by the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujita, Hirotoshi Uchibori
  • Patent number: 11866103
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering apparatus with a blocking device for limiting a steering angle of rotation, wherein the blocking device has a blocking element movable between a locking position and a release position, and with a shaft which is mounted rotatably about its centre longitudinal axis. When in the locking position, the blocking element interacts with a blocking contour in order to stop a rotational movement of the shaft. The blocking element is movable by the actuator for interaction with the blocking contour. The steering angle of rotation for the steering apparatus can be limited in two directions of rotation directed facing away from each other by the blocking element, wherein both a first end stop position in a first direction of rotation and a second end stop position in a second direction of rotation opposed to the first direction of rotation can be predefined by the blocking element and in interaction with the blocking contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Büker
  • Patent number: 11845333
    Abstract: A container holding mechanism is applied to a fuel cell vehicle including a driving mechanism capable of driving rear wheels and disposed on a side of the rear wheels. The container holding mechanism includes a first hydrogen gas, a second hydrogen gas, a third hydrogen gas container, and a moving unit. The first hydrogen gas container is disposed behind a rear drive shaft. The second hydrogen gas container is disposed in front of the rear drive shaft. The third hydrogen gas container disposed in parallel with the second hydrogen gas container in front of the rear drive shaft. The moving unit is configured to move the driving mechanism pushed out by the first hydrogen gas container in collision in such a manner that the driving mechanism avoids the second hydrogen gas container and the third hydrogen gas container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Aiko Hirawaki
  • Patent number: 11807314
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering unit steered by a driver; a drive unit rotating for imparting an auxiliary force to the steering unit; a first control unit calculating a load torque that corresponds to a reaction force from a road surface and is estimated based on a value measured in the steering unit and the drive unit, the first control unit also calculating a target steering torque for the steering unit based on the calculated load torque; and a second control unit calculating the auxiliary force of the drive unit to achieve the target steering torque calculated by the first control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stephan Klotzbach, Tobias Niermann
  • Patent number: 11807297
    Abstract: The autonomous LC control is started in response to receiving a start instruction of autonomous lane change. When the driver performs a steering intervention in a same direction as a direction of steering requested by the autonomous LC control, and establishment of a stop condition of lane change is not recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, the autonomous driving control is continued. When the steering intervention in the same direction is performed, and establishment of the stop condition is recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, termination of the autonomous driving control is announced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 11767056
    Abstract: The autonomous LC control is started in response to receiving a start instruction of autonomous lane change. When the driver performs a steering intervention in a same direction as a direction of steering requested by the autonomous LC control, and establishment of a stop condition of lane change is not recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, the autonomous driving control is continued. When the steering intervention in the same direction is performed, and establishment of the stop condition is recognized, during execution of the autonomous LC control, termination of the autonomous driving control is announced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenichiro Aoki
  • Patent number: 11760406
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a steer-by-wire type steering apparatus. According to present embodiments, in the steer-by-wire type steering apparatus, when a driver generates a larger steering torque than a reaction torque of a reaction motor in a steering shaft, rotation of the steering shaft can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: InHwan Lee, Hyoung Woo Kim
  • Patent number: 11760407
    Abstract: Steer-by-wire steering systems for vehicles and related methods are described herein. An example steer-by-wire steering system includes a steering wheel angle sensor to detect a current steering wheel angle (?) of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering actuator to generate a variable steering torque on a steerable wheel of the motor vehicle, a steering angle sensor to detect a current steering angle (?) of the steerable wheel, and a steer-by-wire controller to process signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the steering angle sensor and control the steering actuator based on the signals. The steer-by-wire controller is configured to vary a transmission ratio between a change in the steering wheel angle (?) and a change in the steering angle (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Peter Engels, Oliver Nehls, Sergio Codonesu, Florian Rath
  • Patent number: 11745789
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator assembly includes a handwheel shaft configured for connection to a handwheel, the handwheel shaft extending longitudinally about an axis. The handwheel actuator assembly also includes a motor operatively coupled to the handwheel shaft. The handwheel actuator assembly further includes a planetary gear assembly disposed within the motor. The handwheel actuator assembly yet further includes an electronic control unit (ECU) in operative communication with the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Haiquan Li
  • Patent number: 11738798
    Abstract: A turning control system includes a controller. The controller is configured to perform a decrease process of decreasing a magnitude of an angle operation amount which is reflected in an operation process with respect to the magnitude of the angle operation amount calculated in an angle operation amount calculating process when a vehicle speed is equal to or lower than a prescribed speed and a magnitude of an input torque of a steering wheel is equal to or less than a prescribed value. The controller is configured to perform a correction process of correcting an input when the decrease process is performed such that a magnitude of the input decreases when an angle command value calculating process calculates an angle command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terutaka Tamaizumi
  • Patent number: 11673601
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Steve Bryan Amburgy, Taras Palczynski
  • Patent number: 11661099
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar extends into the column shaft past the second column shaft bearing and is operably coupled to the column shaft via a removable fastener disposed at a portion of the torsion bar that extends past the second column shaft bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Erik William Soderlind, Steven Bryan Amburgy, Taras Palczynski
  • Patent number: 11654987
    Abstract: A vehicle corner module (VCM) is provided for regulating motion of a host vehicle which comprises a vehicle-onboard vehicle-controller. The VCM comprises a sub-frame mountable to a reference frame of the host vehicle; a wheel-hub assembly comprising a wheel-hub; VCM-sub-systems mediating between the sub-frame and the wheel-hub assembly, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: REE AUTOMOTIVE LTD
    Inventors: Ahishay Sardes, Tomer Segev, Ran Dekel, Shmuel Chioclea, Neta Doron
  • Patent number: 11654957
    Abstract: A motor electric control unit (ECU) for an electromechanical power steering mechanism, which controls current through an electric assist motor in response to steering mechanism sensors' signals. The ECU may comprise at least two channels. Each channel has the steering mechanism sensors in a redundancy concept. At least one voter that is assigned to an actuator and is configured to vote on the correct steering mechanism sensors' outputs of the at least two channels. The steering mechanism sensors may include a steering column torque sensor and an RPS sensor for sensing a rotor angle of the electric assist motor. Each of the at least two channels may include processors that have different software to protect against systematic faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: András Balogh
  • Patent number: 11590977
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for operating a vehicle in a K-turn mode. The K-turn mode is engaged in response to determining that an amount that at least one of the front wheels of the vehicle is turned exceeds a turn threshold. While operating in the K-turn mode, forward torque is provided to the front wheels of the vehicle. Further, backward torque is provided to the rear wheels of the vehicle. Yet further, the rear wheels of the vehicle remain substantially in static contact with a ground while the front wheels slip in relation to the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Lucas Keller
  • Patent number: 11584429
    Abstract: A control device of a steering device, for a vehicle, which includes left and right steering mechanisms not mechanically coupled to each other, and which steers left and right steered wheels individually by driving force of steering actuators, includes: a steered angle determining unit that determines a target steered angle for each of the left and right steering mechanisms; and a steering command unit that generates drive signals corresponding to the target steered angles, and outputs the drive signals to each of the actuators. When an anomaly occurs in one of the left and right steering mechanisms, the steered angle determining unit sets the target steered angle for the steering mechanisms that is normal to be different from the target steered angle when both the left and right steering mechanisms are normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Miura, Takashi Kojima
  • Patent number: 11577781
    Abstract: A vehicle control system includes: an electric power steering device that generates an assist torque that assists turning of a wheel caused by a steering wheel rotation; a controller that controls the electric power steering device to generate the assist torque according to the steering wheel rotation in a normal mode; and a state sensor that detects a vehicle travel state and a state of an occupant at a driver's seat. When the occupant at the driver's seat performs a getting-on action or a getting-off action when the vehicle is in an ignition-ON state, the controller controls the electric power steering device in a temporal mode. In the temporal mode, the controller changes a method of controlling the electric power steering device such that the steering wheel rotation is suppressed as compared with a case of the normal mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomomichi Nakamura, Yoji Kunihiro
  • Patent number: 11485406
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle according to an example in the present disclosure includes a steering mechanism that is mechanically disconnected from a steering wheel to cause a driving wheel to be turned by a turning motor, and a control device that provides a motor command value to the turning motor. The control device has a two-degree-of-freedom control system including a feed-forward model for converting a target turning angle into a feed-forward value of the motor command value, and a feedback model for converting a difference between the target turning angle and an actual turning angle into a feedback value of the motor command value. A transfer function describing the feed-forward model contains a variable coefficient. The control device changes the variable coefficient of the transfer function based on information about road surface reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiro Okano, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11485404
    Abstract: In a controller for a steering device, the steering device includes a structure where motive power transmission between a steering unit and a turning unit is separated. The controller includes a control circuit configured to control operation of a steering-side motor that is provided in the steering unit to give steering reaction force that is force against the steering input into the steering unit. In a case where turning of the turning wheels to one direction is restricted, the control circuit is configured to calculate restriction reaction force for restricting steering that is to turn the turning wheels to the one direction. The control circuit is configured to calculate the restriction reaction force based on information on the steering unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Anraku, Isao Namikawa, Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshio Kudo, Tetsuya Morino
  • Patent number: 11479290
    Abstract: A steering system for motor vehicles, including a steering actuator which acts on the steered wheels, is electronically controlled based on a steering request and acts on the steered wheels via a steering gear, and an actuator device which transmits reactions to a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel. The steer-by-wire steering system has a holding brake which can be activated electrically and has two positions; a holding position and an open position. The holding brake is configured to block rotation of the steering shaft in the holding position when a predefined rotational angle of the steering shaft is exceeded, and to release rotation of the steering shaft in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Robert Galehr, Arne Schacht
  • Patent number: 11480936
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for transmitting and receiving safety information, which generates first safety information about a control target and second safety information representing the occurrence or not of an error in the control target by using one microcontroller. The system includes a first slave controller generating first safety information and second safety information by using sensing data obtained from a control target and a master controller receiving the first safety information and the second safety information from the first slave controller through a wireless channel. When an error occurs in the first slave controller, the first slave controller transmits the second safety information to a second slave controller, and the second slave controller transmits the second safety information, received from the first slave controller, to the master controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SILICON WORKS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Myoung Su Song, Jae Wan Kim, Il Kwon Kim
  • Patent number: 11465668
    Abstract: A handwheel actuator assembly includes a handwheel shaft configured to receive a handwheel; a feedback device operable to provide a variable level of resistance to rotation of the handwheel shaft; and a handwheel shaft position sensor operable to sense an angular position of the handwheel shaft. The handwheel shaft position sensor may be mounted on a circuit board. The circuit may comprise a controller that is configured to receive signals from the handwheel shaft position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Russell Wilson-Jones
  • Patent number: 11465682
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a steering system, in particular a steer-by-wire steering system, includes a component to be monitored and having a multifunctional position sensor, which has at least one spring element and at least one piezoelectric sensor, which is associated with the spring element and is provided at a first end of the spring element. The spring element is associated with the component to be monitored via a second end opposite to the first end. A steering wheel subassembly, a rack subassembly and a steering system are furthermore described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Germany GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Walentowski
  • Patent number: 11459021
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle may include a steering wheel and a feedback actuator connected to the steering wheel for providing road feedback to a driver. The feedback actuator may include an electric motor and an electronic control unit. The feedback actuator may further include at least two redundant rotor position sensors. The electronic control unit may be equipped with sleep-mode functionality, which in case an ignition is off awakens the at least two redundant rotor position sensors periodically or upon movement of a rotor of the electric motor to detect and measure rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Gergely Horváth
  • Patent number: 11447173
    Abstract: A steering torque feedback assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a housing, a crown wheel of a hypoid gear assembly rotatably mounted in the housing and being configured to rotate with, or being connected to, a vehicle steering column, and first and second electric motors within the housing, each having a rotatable output shaft, wherein the output shaft of each of the first and second motors comprises a hypoid pinion gear engaged with the hypoid crown wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 11440584
    Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes: a steering device configured to automatically control a steering angle of tires according to a traveling condition, the steering device being provided in an accommodating room that is separated from a passenger compartment by a partition member, and the steering device including a steered shaft, an actuator, and a gear mechanism; and a joint device provided in the accommodating room, the joint device being configured to mechanically connect an input shaft and a member including a rod-shaped body that is inserted from the passenger compartment into the accommodating room through an opening and closing portion formed in the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Nagaya, Kazunori Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11407446
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, which steering system has, on the one hand, a steering handle which can be operated by a driver of the motor vehicle, and a hand torque adjuster which is assigned to the steering handle and is designed to apply a damper force, counteracting the operation by the driver, to the steering handle, and, on the other hand, a wheel angle adjuster which is coupled to at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle and which is electrically actuated as a function of operation of the steering handle in order to set a steering angle of the at least one wheel. There is provision that the damper force is generated by the manual torque adjuster as a function of a current performance of the wheel angle adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Strecker, Roland Greul, Alexander Sauter
  • Patent number: 11400970
    Abstract: A steering system includes a mechanism configured to turn a steer wheel of a vehicle, a motor configured to generate driving force that is applied to the mechanism, and a controller configured to control the motor according to a steering status. The controller includes a limiting control circuit configured to limit a current that is supplied to the motor to a limiting value, a determining circuit configured to determine whether the steer wheel is in contact with an obstacle by using at least a comparison between a value of the current that is supplied to the motor and a threshold, and a threshold computing circuit configured to compute the threshold that is used by the determining circuit, the threshold computing circuit being configured to compute a value less than the limiting value according to the limiting value as the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Namikawa, Koji Anraku, Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11390318
    Abstract: A motor controller for controlling a motor includes first and second angle sensors detecting motor rotation, and first and second detection circuits detecting rotation number information based on sensor output from the angle sensors. Further, the motor controller includes a steer angle information obtainer obtaining steer angle information involving steering of a vehicle from an external sensor, which is different from the angle sensors, and an abnormality determiner determining abnormality of information that has a matching degree of lower than a preset value when post-conversion information, or value measured by the same characteristics. This information is compared with each other after conversion from the rotation number information and from the steer angle information, and is used by a control amount calculator to calculate a control amount of the motor based on the information determined as having no abnormality by the abnormality determiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Nakamura, Nobuyori Nakajima, Go Endoh, Yosuke Ogi, Atsuko Oka, Shuji Kuramitsu, Takashi Suzuki, Haruo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11383749
    Abstract: A multi-part steering apparatus includes an outer rim and an inner hub. The outer rim rotates relative to the inner hub with an adjustable rotation resistance. A rotatable mechanical interface connected the outer rim to the inner hub, and a damper connects to the rotatable mechanical interface. The damper is configured to change the rotation resistance between the outer rim and inner hub. The rotatable mechanical interface may include a gear track disposed on an inside portion of the outer rim and a gear system attached to the inner hub and positioned to mesh with the gear track. The damper may include an electric motor connected to the rotatable mechanical interface and an adjustable load connected to terminals of the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventor: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner
  • Patent number: 11383760
    Abstract: A steering system includes: a steering member; a steering operation mechanism; a reaction force motor; a steering motor; a steering torque sensor; a command value setting circuit; a reaction force command value calculation circuit configured to calculate a reaction force command value; a steering operation command value calculation circuit configured to calculate a steering operation command value based on a steering operation steering angle command value and a manual steering angle command value; a reaction force control circuit configured to cause a rotation angle of the reaction force motor to follow the reaction force command value; and a steered angle control circuit configured to cause a rotation angle of the steering motor to follow the steering operation command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakade, Yuta Sakai, Robert Fuchs, Naoki Shoji
  • Patent number: 11364949
    Abstract: A steering-angle-limiting device of a steer-by-wire system selectively restricts turning of a steering wheel in a forward direction or in a reverse direction and permits turning of the steering wheel in order to inhibit locking of the steering wheel when the steering-angle-limiting device operates abnormally. Rotation of a stopping gear, which is coupled to a steering shaft, is selectively restricted depending on a change in a rotation angle of a cam, whereby the direction in which the steering wheel turns is selectively limited. In addition, when a stopper operates abnormally, the stopper is moved to a position apart from an end of the radius of rotation of the stopping gear, thereby enabling turning of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sang Woo Hwang, Young Dae Park, Byung Rim Lee, Min Jun Kim, Se Hyun Chang, Hyeon Seok Cho
  • Patent number: 11324649
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobility scooter for individual mobility of a person, comprising a chassis, two front wheels aside the chassis and at least one rear wheel, a seat with a seat base and armrests for the person, a footrest on the chassis that extends between the seat and the front wheels, and an electronic controller assembly, wherein the mobility scooter has a driving mode and a boarding mode, wherein in the driving mode the seat base and the armrests are in the driving position, and wherein in the boarding mode the seat base or at least one of the armrests is in the boarding position, wherein the electronic controller is configured to steer the front wheels in the boarding mode into the sideward steering direction that is opposite to the side to which the seat base or the armrest is swung in the boarding position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SCOOZY B.V.
    Inventors: Job Van De Kieft, Jan Willem Van Gent
  • Patent number: 11318995
    Abstract: A vehicle platform with a variety of impact safety features including front and rear impact features as well as side impact features designed to protect the passenger compartment as well as the battery compartment and vehicle chassis components. Some features may include crumple zone components, deflectors and modular energy absorption units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Alexi Charbonneau, Naesung Lyu, Mahesh Chinchani, Salman Khan, Yufeng Long, Morteza Kiani, Daniel McCarron, William Rohr, Aniruddha Ranade
  • Patent number: 11312413
    Abstract: An operating method for a steer-by-wire steering system having a steering gear module, a steering wheel module, and a bus connecting the steering gear module and the steering wheel module, wherein an actual position in the steering gear module is sensed and a setpoint position in the steering wheel module is adjusted in relation to the actual position in the steering gear module by using an association specification. Also disclosed is a control unit for a steer-by-wire steering system, a steer-by-wire steering system, and a transportation vehicle having a steer-by-wire steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventors: Timo Dobberphul, Christopher Kreis, Tobias Rüger
  • Patent number: 11292510
    Abstract: A steering control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit controls operation of a steering-side motor so as to apply a steering reaction force that resists a steering operation input to the steering wheel. The electronic control unit computes an obstruction strike reaction force for regulating a steering operation that steers a steered wheel toward an obstruction. The electronic control unit generates determination information indicating that the steered wheel is struck by an obstruction. The determination information includes first determination information indicating that the left side of the steered wheel is struck by an obstruction, and second determination information indicating that the right side of the steered wheel is struck by an obstruction. The electronic control unit sets a direction in which the obstruction strike reaction force is applied based on the generated determination information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: JTKEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Anraku, Isao Namikawa, Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11279401
    Abstract: The steer-by-wire system includes a steering device, a reaction force device, and a controller. The steering device turns wheels of a vehicle. The reaction force device applies a steering reaction force to a steering wheel. The controller is configured to control the steering reaction force by drive control of the reaction force device in response to an operation of the steering wheel. The controller is further configured to: obtain a signal including a component due to a reaction force which acts on the wheels from a road surface; extract a signal being greater than or equal to a predetermined frequency from the signal including the component due to the reaction force; and calculate a control amount of the reaction force device based on the extracted signal equal to or greater than the predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshio Kudo
  • Patent number: 11273863
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a steering system for steering at least one wheel of the motor vehicle by means of a drive. In doing so, it is provided that a time span is determined for at least one countermeasure limiting a hazard to a vehicle occupant upon an at least partial failure of the steering system, within which time span the countermeasure deploys an effect, and that a state variable (T) influencing the operating capacity of the steering system is determined and extrapolated over time and a point in time (t1) is calculated in which the state variable (T) exceeds a limit value (T1), wherein the countermeasure is introduced when the point in time (t1) is less than the time span in the future.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: André Wesenberg, Michael Redeker, Michael Käßmeyer
  • Patent number: 11254350
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering apparatus comprises a plurality of locking projections that project radially outward of a upper shaft; a rotation range limiting projection that is fixed to the upper shaft and has an engaged portion located on the radially outer side of outer peripheral ends of the locking projections; a radially movable lock member that is located on the radially outer side than the locking projections when a drive source switch is ON, and has at least a part located at the same radial position as the locking projections when the switch is OFF; and a rotation range limiting member that has at least a part located at the same radial position as the engaged portion regardless of whether or not a steering actuator that changes steered angle of steered wheels is in an operable state when the switch is at least ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Ashida
  • Patent number: 11220287
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering apparatus comprises a plurality of locking projections that project radially outward of a upper shaft; a rotation range limiting projection that is fixed to the upper shaft and has an engaged portion located on the radially outer side of outer peripheral ends of the locking projections; a radially movable lock member that is located on the radially outer side than the locking projections when a drive source switch is ON, and has at least a part located at the same radial position as the locking projections when the switch is OFF; and a rotation range limiting member that has at least a part located at the same radial position as the engaged portion regardless of whether or not a steering actuator that changes steered angle of steered wheels is in an operable state when the switch is at least ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Manabu Ashida
  • Patent number: 11214303
    Abstract: A vehicle of a steer-by-wire type includes: a turning device that turns a wheel by actuating a turning motor; and a reaction torque generation device that applies a reaction torque to a steering wheel by actuating a reaction motor. A control device for the vehicle is configured to control turning of the wheel by controlling the turning motor and to control the reaction torque by controlling the reaction motor, according to rotation of the steering wheel. When a power output limiting condition is satisfied, the control device executes not only power output limiting processing that limits a power output of the turning motor but also reaction torque increasing processing. In the reaction torque increasing processing, the control device controls the reaction torque to make the steering wheel harder to rotate as compared with a case where the power output limiting processing is not executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Shibata, Koichi Itoh, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11203445
    Abstract: Pre-flight and episodic aircraft inspections to ensure operational safety and effectiveness are made faster, less costly and more effective by utilizing mobile model and data-driven sensor platforms inspecting known-state target vehicles. For autonomous aircraft, an inspection unmanned aerial vehicle (I-UAV) containing sensors inspects a utility unmanned aerial vehicle (U-UAV). Failure and system models of the U-UAV and the flight history of the U-UAV carried in the sensor data captured by the U-UAV's aircraft health management system are combined to guide the I-UAV to appropriately attend to the systems of the U-UAV and to drive the U-UAV systems into target states that will reveal otherwise hidden or latent failures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Gregory A. Kimberly, Brian J. Tillotson
  • Patent number: 11180183
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire apparatus may include: a first rotating part rotated with a steering wheel; a second rotating part installed so as to be isolated from the first rotating part, and engaged with a first rack gear provided on a side surface of a gear bar; a sensor installed on each of the first and second rotating parts, and configured to measure at least any one of a rotation angle of the first rotating part, a rotation angle of the second rotating part and a torque value of the first rotating part; a controller configured to receive the measured value of the sensor; and a clutch configured to operate according to a control signal of the controller and synchronize rotations of the first and second rotating parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Won Hyok Choi
  • Patent number: 11105394
    Abstract: According to electric power steering apparatuses of these embodiments, power of a motor is secondarily reduced and a torque is amplified by connecting a worm wheel and a steering shaft using a cycloid gear, a weight and a cost of the motor can be reduced, and various reduction ratios can be realized, and a secondary deduction structure can be realized while minimizing a change in the structure of an existing reducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyung Tack Lee
  • Patent number: 11097769
    Abstract: A steering control device includes a control unit, and the control unit includes a target steering angle calculating unit configured to calculate a target steering angle based on a steering torque and is configured to calculate a target reaction torque based on execution of feedback control for causing the steering angle to match the target steering angle. The control unit includes a plurality of axial force calculating units configured to calculate a plurality of kinds of axial forces acting on a turning shaft based on different state quantities and a grip state quantity calculating unit configured to calculate a grip state quantity based on the plurality of kinds of axial forces. The target steering angle calculating unit is configured to calculate the target steering angle in consideration of the grip state quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kodera
  • Patent number: 11097777
    Abstract: A lane-change assistance system for a motor vehicle performs a plurality of lane changes from the current lane to a target lane, which are required in order to follow a navigation system outputted route. The plurality of lane changes is performed in response to the lane-change assistance system ascertaining a triggering operation action by the driver, which indicates that the driver wants the lane-change assistance system to perform the plurality of lane changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christoph Resch
  • Patent number: 11072366
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system may include an actuation control system to actuate road wheels via a rack and pinion steering gear and a steering wheel control system to simulate a steering feel of a mechanically linked steering system to a steering device. The actuation control system may have a second control unit, and the steering wheel control system may have a first control unit and an actuator. An automatic driving electronic control unit may decide if a drive mode is vehicle-controlled or driver-controlled. If driver-controlled, the first control unit may rotate the steering wheel by a turning angle by activating the actuator according to a pre-set function depending on a rotation angle of a pinion to simulate the steering feel. If vehicle-controlled, the first control unit may rotate the steering wheel by a reduced turning angle by activating the actuator according to a fraction of the pre-set function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventor: Imre Szepessy
  • Patent number: 11050327
    Abstract: A motor assembly includes a motor, an outward electronic control unit (ECU), an inward ECU, and a motor sensor board unit. The inward ECU is disposed between the motor and the outward ECU. The motor sensor board unit is disposed between the motor and the inward ECU, and is attached to the inward ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Klenk, Michael J. Srda, Ryan D. Yaklin, Chuck Worner, Neal R. Roller
  • Patent number: 11046358
    Abstract: An estimated axial force computation circuit of a control device has an axial force computation circuit that computes an axial force that acts on a steered shaft on the basis of a current value of a steering motor. The estimated axial force computation circuit has a friction compensation circuit, an efficiency compensation circuit, and a gradient compensation circuit as static characteristic computation circuits that compensate for an effect of the static characteristics of a steering mechanism on the axial force computed. The estimated axial force computation circuit has a filter as a dynamic characteristic computation circuit that compensates for an effect of the dynamic characteristics of the steering mechanism. The filter removes, from the axial force, an effect of the viscosity and the inertia of the steering motor. The axial force after compensation is used to control a reaction force motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Kodera, Masayuki Kita