With Electric Power Assist Patents (Class 180/412)
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Patent number: 11897559Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATIONInventors: Hiroyuki Ishimura, Shuji Endo, Hanyu Sun
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Patent number: 11794804Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for controlling a motor driven power steering system. The apparatus for controlling a motor driven power steering system includes a steering angle position controller configured to control a steering angle by adjusting a gain value based on a steering angle error between a command steering angle inputted by an autonomous driving system and a current steering angle; a current controller configured to compensate for a current error between a second command current outputted from the steering angle position controller and a sensor current; and a disturbance estimator configured to estimate noise due to an external factor, to remove the estimated noise in advance from a third command current outputted from the current controller, and to apply the third command current with no noise to an MDPS.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
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Patent number: 11124230Abstract: A steering controller sets a steer angle ratio to a high value in a high angle ratio mode that is high relative to a reference value in a normal mode. A control section controls operation of a reaction force motor and a tire turning motor based on a steer angle ratio mode input to a switch. The control section controls an output of the reaction force motor provided for a driver based on (i) a “reaction force amount” based on road surface information calculated from output of the tire turning motor and (ii) a “viscosity compensation amount” negatively correlated with a steering speed of a steering device.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Takashi Suzuki
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Patent number: 11059516Abstract: Provided is a steering control apparatus capable of performing adjustment so as to suppress deterioration in a steering feel that is caused by a twist of a torsion bar. A torsional stiffness control circuit includes a torsion angle calculation circuit, a gain calculation circuit, multiplication circuits, and an addition circuit. The torsion angle calculation circuit calculates a torsion angle based on a steering torque. The gain calculation circuit calculates a gain having a positive or negative value based on a value obtained by multiplying the steering torque and a steering speed together by the multiplication circuit. The multiplication circuit calculates a compensation amount by multiplying the torsion angle and the gain together. The addition circuit calculates a target pinion angle having a compensated phase by adding the compensation amount to a target steering angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2019Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATIONInventor: Takashi Kodera
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Patent number: 11034383Abstract: A vehicle includes a first steered axle and a second steered axle behind the first steered axle. The second steered axle is steerable independently from the first steered axle. The vehicle includes wheels on the second steered axle. An electric steering motor is connected to the at least one of the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2018Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Renato Bernardinetti Slave
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Patent number: 10967902Abstract: A method and equipment for calibrating the steering angle sensor system of an electric steering system of a transportation vehicle during a software update, wherein the steering angle sensor system has a rotor position sensor for determining the rotor position of the electric motor of the electric steering system and the steering angle is derived from the rotor position. The method includes starting the software update, reading in and saving the present position data of the electric motor of the steering system, reading in and saving the memory values of the present calibration of the steering angle sensor system, cyclically monitoring the rotor position of the electric motor using the rotor position sensor, performing the software update, terminating the software update, and writing back the memory values of the calibration and releasing the software update.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Inventors: Ingo Swieter, Luis Alberto Cisterna
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Patent number: 10830320Abstract: Provided is an electric actuator, including: a motor part; a motion conversion mechanism part; an operation part; and a terminal part, wherein a hollow rotary shaft configured to support a rotor core of the motor part is supported by a rolling bearing so as to be rotatable, wherein the motion conversion mechanism part is coupled to the hollow rotary shaft, and includes a ball screw, wherein a ball screw nut of the ball screw is arranged inside the hollow rotary shaft, wherein the operation part is coupled to the motion conversion mechanism part, and wherein an inner raceway surface of the rolling bearing is formed on the hollow rotary shaft.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2016Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: NTN CORPORATIONInventors: Takushi Matsuto, Yoshinori Ikeda, Yuuki Naitou
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Patent number: 10689031Abstract: A tilting vehicle having a steering system actively steering a front axle and a rear axle having two wheels that can be deflected individually in a vertical manner with respect to a vehicle body and that are independent of the steering system. The wheels of the rear axle can be steered by passive steering device configured to generate a steering force because of a vertical deflection of the wheels as the vehicle body tilts to one side. The steering force causing wheels to steer towards the opposite side.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Marc Simon, Lutz Eckstein
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Patent number: 10661827Abstract: A motor vehicle for piloted driving including a front axle steering system and a rear axle steering system. In the active, trouble-free driving state with a piloted driving, the driving task for steering the front axle is performed by a front axle steering control which automatically controls the front axle steering system. A failure of the automatic front axle steering control is automatically recognized with a failure recognition device and the vehicle steering is taken over by the rear axle steering system. The motor vehicle is equipped with a device for controlled wheel-selective brake intervention. In case of a failure of the automatic front axle steering control, this device is controlled in such a way that an automatic centering of the front axle steering system is performed by wheel-selective braking interventions.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: AUDI AGInventors: Michael Redeker, Arne Minninger, Thomas Müller
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Patent number: 10633018Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus for assisting steering of a motor vehicle by conferring torque generated by an electric motor to a steering mechanism, includes a steering controller, which receives signals representative of at least the torque (TTS) applied to a steering wheel and determining a target motor torque (Td), with a microcontroller unit (MCU) and an electronic control unit (WD). A motor controller includes an inverter which transforms from target motor torque (Td) generated target voltages (U1) into motor currents (I1). The WD comprises a memory in which state variables of the MCU are stored and a timer which monitors a blackout time of the MCU, wherein the MCU and WD are linked via a communication bus and a reset line.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AGInventor: Zoltán Thimár
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Patent number: 10589782Abstract: A power steering apparatus includes: a first detection element arranged to sense a rotation angle of the first gear based on a variation of a magnetic field generated by the first magnetic member; a second detection element arranged to sense a rotation angle of the second gear based on a variation of a magnetic field generated by the second magnetic member; an absolute steering angle calculating circuit configured to calculate an absolute steering angle of the steering wheel from an neutral position of the steering wheel at which the steered wheel directs in a straight direction, by a combination between the rotation angle of the first gear and the rotation angle of the second gear; and a control section configured to drive and control the electric motor based on the absolute steering angle.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventor: Naoki Takayanagi
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Patent number: 10415962Abstract: A non-contact and optical measuring automation system, configured to electrically connect to a computer to measure the profile accuracy of a disk cam, includes a base, a rotating chuck, a moving stage module and a laser displacement meter. The rotating chuck is disposed for clamping the disk cam. The moving stage module includes a first linear motion stage movable relative to the base in a first direction and a second linear motion stage movable relative to the first linear motion stage in a second direction. The computer is able to control the rotation of the rotating chuck and the movement of the moving stage module, and is able to control a beam emitted from the laser displacement meter projecting onto a profile surface of the disk cam so as to obtain a profile deviation value of the disk cam by using the laser triangulation method.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: National Taiwan Ocean UniversityInventors: Wen-Tung Chang, Chun-Cheng Lu, Hsiang-Lun Kao
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Patent number: 10363787Abstract: An eccentric adjusting unit is disclosed, for example, for adjusting a connection point for a control arm of a wheel suspension. The unit may include an electric motor and an eccentric gear section. The eccentric gear section may have an input shaft and an output shaft, wherein the input shaft is configured to be driven by the electric motor and the output shaft rotates eccentrically with respect to an output axis of rotation and can be in operative connection with the connection point or forms this connection point. The eccentric gear section may have a star wheel gear stage.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2016Date of Patent: July 30, 2019Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KGInventor: Alexander Hausmann
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Patent number: 10266173Abstract: The vehicle behavior control device is designed to control a behavior of a vehicle having steerable front road wheels. The vehicle behavior control device comprises a PCM configured to perform control to reduce a driving force for the vehicle according to a steering speed of the vehicle, wherein the PCM is operable to reduce a change rate during increasing of a reduction amount of the driving force according to the steering speed of the vehicle, to a smaller value, as a steering wheel angle of the vehicle becomes larger.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Osamu Sunahara, Daisuke Umetsu
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Patent number: 10246084Abstract: A vehicle behavior control device comprises: a steer-by-wire type steering apparatus (6) having a steering wheel-side mechanism and a road wheel-side mechanism which are mechanically separated from each other; and a controller (8) performs a driving force reduction control when a steering speed in the steering apparatus (6) becomes equal to or greater than a given threshold. The steering apparatus (6) comprises a first steering angle sensor (14) provided in the steering wheel-side mechanism and a second steering angle sensor (19) provided in the road wheel-side mechanism. The controller (8) performs the driving force reduction control using the first steering angle sensor (14) when a yaw rate or a steering speed is equal to or greater than a given value, and performs the driving force reduction control using the second steering angle sensor (19) when the yaw rate or the steering speed is less than the given value.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Tomoji Izumi, Yasunori Takahara, Daisuke Umetsu, Osamu Sunahara, Masaki Chiba
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Patent number: 10202114Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electric vehicle and an active safety control system and method thereof. The system includes: a wheel speed detection module configured to detect a wheel speed to generate a wheel speed signal; a steering wheel rotation angle sensor and a yaw rate sensor module, configured to detect state information of the electric vehicle; a motor controller; and an active safety controller configured to receive the wheel speed signal and state information, obtain state information of a battery pack and state information of four motors, obtain a first side slip signal or a second side slip signal according to the wheel speed signal, the state information, the battery pack and the four motors, and according to the first side slip signal or the second side slip signal, control four hydraulic brakes of the electric vehicle and control the four motors by using the motor controller.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITEDInventors: Yubo Lian, Hongbin Luo, Jintao Zhang, Dongsheng Yang
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Patent number: 10189499Abstract: The present invention relates to a steering control apparatus comprising: a sensing unit configured to sense at least one among a vehicle speed, a steering angle, first lateral acceleration, and a steering angle speed; an estimation unit configured to estimate second lateral acceleration on the basis of the vehicle speed and the steering angle; and a controller configured to control a steering device so that a steering torque increases, on the basis of a slip gradient which indicates a difference between the first lateral acceleration and the second lateral acceleration, wherein the controlling of the steering device is released when the steering angle speed is inverted.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventor: Sung Gun Lee
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Patent number: 10137930Abstract: A method for controlling an actuator for steering a wheel of a motor vehicle including an electrical actuator controlling steering angle of the steering wheel and a mechanism determining temperature of the actuator. The method includes: completing deactivating the actuator; and a counter-steering operation triggered when the temperature of the actuator is higher than or equal to a determined prevention threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2013Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Gareth Pugsley, Jerome Utter, Sylvain Facchin, Sandrine Calixte
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Patent number: 10029571Abstract: An electric work vehicle includes a left motor which supplies rotating power to a left drive wheel, a right motor which supplies rotating power to a right drive wheel, a motor control unit which provides drive signals to the left motor and the right motor independently of each other in response to an operation relative to a steering operation unit, a yaw rate detector which detects an actual yaw rate of a vehicle body, an arithmetic yaw rate computing unit which derives an arithmetic yaw rate based on a rotating speed of the left motor or the left drive wheel and a rotating speed of the right motor or the right drive wheel, and a slip detection unit detecting occurrence of slipping based on the arithmetic yaw rate and an actual yaw rate.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2016Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Kubota CorporationInventors: Hirokazu Ito, Kazuaki Matsuda
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Patent number: 9994251Abstract: A method for controlling an output of a power steering system may include sensing at least one of a driving speed of a vehicle, a steering angle, a steering angular velocity, and a steering torque; obtaining a target steering torque by using at least one of the driving speed, the steering angle, the steering angular velocity, and the steering torque; and determining a motor assist output of the power steering system by using the target steering torque.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Sehyun Chang, Byung Rim Lee, Minjun Kim, Youngdae Park, Hyeonseok Cho
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Patent number: 9956891Abstract: Provided is an electric vehicle, including: left and right rear wheels, which are suspended from a vehicle body by suspensions that elastically allow displacements in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body, the rear wheels being capable of being driven by corresponding motors independently of each other; and a control device configured to control driving forces of the rear wheels. Target driving forces Ti for the left and right rear wheels are calculated during traveling, a value ?G relevant to a difference between relative displacement amounts of the rear wheels in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body is calculated, and the target driving forces are corrected based on the value relevant to the difference between the relative displacement amounts so that a magnitude of the value relevant to the difference between the relative displacement amounts becomes smaller.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hideki Fukudome
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Patent number: 9950736Abstract: A method for characterizing a stick-slip condition in a steering system includes transmitting a periodic steering control signal to a rotary actuator to cause rotation of a steering shaft, through a torsion bar and inertia wheel, over a range of steering angles, and applying an axial force to a rack to resist rack displacement from a centered position. A steering torque output value is measured via a torque transducer. A control action is executed when a measured difference between a maximum value of a steering torque required to initiate rack motion/torque breakaway and a minimum value of the steering torque after breakaway for start-up or subsequent steering reversal exceeds a calibrated threshold. A system includes the rotary actuator, steering system, torque transducer, torsion bar, inertia wheel, linear actuator(s) providing an axial force along the rack axis to resist rack displacement from a centered position, and controller programmed as noted above.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2015Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Ian Y. Hwa
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Patent number: 9932068Abstract: A power steering system of a vehicle and a control method are provided. The system includes a main hydraulic motor that receives engine power and generates a hydraulic pressure and an auxiliary hydraulic motor that generates a hydraulic pressure. A front wheel steering cylinder receives hydraulic pressure and generates power for steering front wheels and auxiliary steering of a driver. A rear wheel steering cylinder receives hydraulic pressure and generates power for steering rear wheels. An integrated control valve connected to the hydraulic motors and the steering cylinders through hydraulic pressure pipelines, and adjusts the hydraulic pressure of a main hydraulic motor to supply the pressure to the front wheel steering cylinder and adjusts the hydraulic pressure generated of the auxiliary hydraulic motor to supply the pressure to the front or rear wheel steering cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Seung Hyun Oh
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Patent number: 9802596Abstract: A method for furnishing a sensor signal in a braking system, in which in the event of a failure of the brake control unit signal transfer is switched over and the signal is transmitted to a further control unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBHInventors: Helmut Binder, Peter Sautter, Wolfgang Peveling
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Patent number: 9550523Abstract: A system and a method of controlling a power steering system of a vehicle are provided. A control system includes a control module operable to receive sensor data and control the power steering system. The control module is configured to determine whether the vehicle is operating in a low surface friction condition based on a handwheel angle and one of a handwheel torque and a pinion torque. The control module generates a control signal based on the determination and sends the control signal to the power steering system.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATIONInventors: Mariam Swetha George, Shrenik P. Shah, Farhad Bolourchi
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Patent number: 9469339Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a rear wheel steering includes a sensor configured to detect a vehicle speed, a steering angle, yaw rate, and a lateral acceleration of a vehicle; a target yaw rate calculator configured to determine a target yaw rate from information detected by the sensor; a side slip angle estimator configured to estimate a side slip angle from information detected by the sensor; and a rear wheel steering angle control amount calculator configured to determine a rear wheel steering angle control amount by using the yaw rate information detected by the sensor, the target yaw rate calculated by the target yaw rate calculator, and the side slip angle estimated by the side slip angle estimator. The determined rear wheel steering angle control amount is implemented to control the vehicle yaw rate to follow the target yaw rate and the side slip angle to follow 0.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Rae Wook Chung, Jun Wook Oh, Yang Soo Noh
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Patent number: 9452779Abstract: A power steering system includes a first steering device which controls the steering of the first wheels of the vehicle according to a first steering angle ?1 and includes a first actuator capable of providing a steering assistance effort, a second steering device including a second actuator controlled by a controller as a function of a parameter related to the steering wheel movement, and controlling the steering of the second wheels, according to a second steering angle ?2. In normal operation of the power steering system, ?2 is set according to a first rule depending on the first steering angle ?1. In case the steering wheel torque is greater than a predetermined threshold, the second steering device is operated in a forced mode by setting the second steering angle according to a rule depending on the first steering angle and taking into account at least one different or additional data, in order to cause an offset-oversteering of the second wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Volvo Truck CorporationInventors: Jean-Marc Blond, Jean-Baptiste Doray
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Patent number: 9376006Abstract: Provided is a vehicle provided with left and right electric motors electrically connected to a battery and mechanically connected respectively to left and right vehicle wheels, a power generator mechanically connected to an internal combustion engine being electrically connected to the battery, wherein the battery is reliably protected during traction control and at other such times. Two electric motors, specifically first and second electric motors, are temporarily handled integrally to determine a torque down amount (TD), which is the total allowable power variation width (?) of the two electric motors, on the basis of left and right total power (Y), and the respective motive powers of the first and second electric motors are controlled while being limited by values obtained by simply dividing the determined torque down amount (TD) equally, whereby the allowable input/output power (allowable input power (Z)) of the battery is reliably protected.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2014Date of Patent: June 28, 2016Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshito Terayama, Yoshinori Ando, Toshinori Tsukamoto, Masaki Negoro, Yoshikazu Fujimoto, Masatoshi Noguchi, Yusuke Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 9296416Abstract: A method for operating a steering apparatus of a motor vehicle includes detecting interference-induced vibrations which act on a torsion bar of the steering apparatus and analyzing a frequency and amplitude of the interference-induced vibrations. A steering-stabilization function of the steering-assistance device is activated when a limit value for the amplitude of the interference-induced vibrations is exceeded. A drive signal is provided, with the steering stabilization function, for an electric motor of the steering-assistance device, so that the electric motor generates a compensation torque Mbar which acts on the torsion bar and at least partially counteracts the interference-induced vibrations. An indicator is formed from the frequency and the amplitude of the interference-induced vibrations and the carriageway induced vibrations are distinguished from vibrations caused by instabilities in the steering apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2014Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFTInventor: Kim Michael Krueger
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Patent number: 9272732Abstract: A method for determining a rack force for a steering apparatus of a vehicle, in which the rack force is determined as a function of a steering angle variable which characterizes an actual wheel steering angle or a set point of the wheel steering angle. In order to specify a method for determining a rack force, with which a target steering torque can be generated such that a comfortable steering feel is imparted to the driver and the steering apparatus nevertheless gives the driver feedback that is as realistic as possible regarding the motion state of the vehicle, the method comprises: determining a variable which characterizes a lateral force on a shaft of the steering apparatus, and determining the rack force as a function of the lateral force, wherein the determination of the rack force comprises a filtering by means of a signal processing element having a proportional-differential transfer function.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2012Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbHInventors: Roland Greul, Thomas Werner, Joerg Strecker
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Patent number: 9272729Abstract: Front wheels (6L, 6R) a steering operation of which is possible by a steering mechanism (12) are mounted on a vehicle body (2). Steering cylinders (22L, 22R) of the steering mechanism (12) extend and contract in response to an operation of a steering handle (27) provided in a cab (5) to perform the steering operation of the front wheels (6L, 6R). The steering mechanism (12) is provided with a rotation angle sensor (28) for detecting a steering angle ? of the left front wheel (6L) and a proximity switch (29) for detecting whether or not the front wheel (6L) is in a straight-ahead state. A controller (30) determines that the rotation angle sensor (28) or the proximity switch (29) is abnormal when the steering angle (?) detected by the rotation angle sensor (28) is different from the detection result by the proximity switch (29).Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.Inventors: Toshikazu Minoshima, Yuusuke Shibue, Yohei Nakate, Takanobu Ikari
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Patent number: 9199666Abstract: A method for securing control of rear wheels of a motor vehicle including an electric power steering system, the method including: measuring or calculating, using a motor-angle sensor, at least angular position of the electric power steering motor, and measuring or calculating, using a steering-wheel angle sensor, at least angular position of the steering wheel; calculating, using the motor-angle sensor, at least the angular position of the steering wheel; comparing at least the angular position of the steering wheel measured using the steering-wheel angle sensor to the angular position of the steering wheel measured using the motor-angle sensor; and transmitting an alarm signal if the result of the comparison is greater than a predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.Inventors: Gareth Pugsley, Alfred Brunou, Sylvain Facchin, Sandrine Calixte, Jerome Utter
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Patent number: 9193378Abstract: Disclosed is an electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle. The electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle has a structure in which a motor shaft, an input shaft, a pinion shaft, and the like are coaxially disposed to improve a structure of a conventional art in which an electric motor is essentially exposed, so as to prevent interference with other structures, thereby forming a layout of the steering apparatus to be compact.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: MANDO CORPORATIONInventors: Han Sang Chae, Seong Ho Choi, Jung Sik Park
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Patent number: 9140535Abstract: A device for determining a position of a movable, magnetizable and/or conductive body relative to a stator that has at least one pole winding. Apparatuses are provided for detecting a measurement signal that depends on the inductance of the pole winding, wherein the inductance is influenced by the position of the body.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Inventor: Rolf Strothmann
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Patent number: 9050999Abstract: A steering system and method for providing a force feedback to an operator input device are disclosed. The method may determine an actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine a desired steering mechanism position of a steering mechanism based on the actual position of the operator input device. The method may determine an actual steering mechanism position of the steering mechanism. The method may compare the actual steering mechanism position to the desired steering mechanism position and to a previous desired steering mechanism position. The method may generate a command that selectively activates force feedback to the operator input device based on the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Beau Daniel Kuipers, Edward William Mate, David Arthur Mork
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Patent number: 8960037Abstract: A ball screw device has a plurality of spiral raceways. One end and the other end of each raceway is connected via a bridge. An annular flange of a ball nut has a plurality of mounting portions at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. A fixing screw is fitted to each mounting portion. The bridges arranged so as to overlap with the annular flange in position in an axial direction are arranged at positions different in the circumferential direction from positions at which the mounting portions are arranged, and are arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventor: Kosuke Yamanaka
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Patent number: 8948973Abstract: A method comprising the steps: a manually applied driver steering moment is detected; a requested superposition moment is detected; the driver steering and superposition moments are combined to form an intermediate moment from which an assistance moment is generated by means of a predefined, non-linear amplification function; starting from detected values of the driver steering and superposition moments, a modified superposition moment compensating for friction in the electric steering system at least in part is determined such that the amount of the modified superposition moment is larger than the amount of the superposition moment at least for some pairs of variates comprised of driver steering and superposition moments; the assistance and modified superposition moments are combined to form a motor moment from which a corresponding input signal for a servo motor is established; the servo motor is controlled with the established input signal to provide the motor moment.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventors: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer, Dirk Zimmermann
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Patent number: 8935051Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for improving a steering feeling of a driver while preventing a heavy feeling of a steering wheel or a kickback phenomenon during an eco-roll operation for improving a fuel ratio of the vehicle. The method includes determining, by a controller, an eco-roll operation condition in which a brake is disengaged, an accelerator pedal is disengaged, and a speed of the vehicle is a reference speed or higher. Furthermore, when the eco-roll operation condition is determined, the controller coverts a gear state of a transmission into a neutral gear state. The controller also controls an engine RPM to an idle RPM to start the eco-roll mode and an operation of an emergency steering system to assist steering power according to a steering input due to a driver manipulation of a steering wheel while the traveling in a neutral gear state of an eco-roll mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Jin Han Kim
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Patent number: 8924083Abstract: In a power steering system, a torque sensor obtains first and second rotation angles, and a steering angle sensor obtains third and fourth rotation angles. A controller includes a first absolute rotation angle calculation section, a second absolute rotation angle calculation section, and an abnormality detection section. The first absolute rotation angle calculation section calculates a first absolute rotation angle as a first estimate of an absolute rotation angle of a steering wheel based on the first and third rotation angles. The second absolute rotation angle calculation section calculates a second absolute rotation angle as a second estimate of the absolute rotation angle of the steering wheel based on the third and fourth rotation angles. The abnormality detection section detects an abnormality by comparison between the first absolute rotation angle and the second absolute rotation angle.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Yoshitake, Kohtaro Shiino, Hiroshi Sato
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Patent number: 8892296Abstract: [Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide a power state diagnosis method and a power state diagnosis apparatus that pass and increase not only a d-axis current but also a q-axis current to a current value that a steering behavior does not occur to perform a diagnosis in the vector control of a motor, and determine that a power supply degraded, that the power supply is normal and that the diagnosis is not completed without giving an uncomfortable feeling to a driver, detecting a timing that there is not a driver, and needing to comprise a plurality of actuators.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2011Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Hirokazu Abe, Yoshiki Ninomiya, Toru Sakaguchi
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Patent number: 8868297Abstract: In a power steering system and a control apparatus for the power steering system, an abnormality detection process section (27) installed in a second ECU, the second ECU, the second ECU having a multi-core microcomputer in which a plurality of processor cores are mounted within a single processor package, to detect an abnormality of a first angle calculation process section of a first ECU, the first ECU having a single core microcomputer in which a single processor core is mounted within another single processor package and the first angle calculation process section a first angle calculation process section (21) installed in the first ECU to calculate rotation angles of the input axle and output axle on a basis of sinusoidal wave signals and cosine wave signals derived from a steering angle sensor and a torque sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems Steering, Ltd.Inventors: Atsushi Yoshitake, Kohtaro Shiino, Hiroshi Sato
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Patent number: 8833504Abstract: An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels upon manual rotation of a hand wheel includes a torque sensor connected with a torque sensor and a rear steering gear. The controller selectively controls the rear steering gear in response to an output from the torque sensor upon manual application of at least a predetermined torque to the hand wheel. The controller selectively controls the rear steering gear in response to the output from the torque sensor through a first range of turning movement of the front wheels so that the steering angle of the rear wheels has a first relationship to the steering angle of the front wheels and through a second range of turning movement of the front wheels so that the steering angle of the rear wheels has a second relationship different from the first relationship.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2009Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLCInventors: Daniel E. Williams, Kenneth A. Sherwin
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Patent number: 8831841Abstract: An automatic steering device for self-propelled straddle carriers for lifting and transporting manufactures, includes a spatial portal structure (1) resting on the ground on a plurality of steering wheel units (4) connected by a fifth wheel (14) to the structure above, where each wheel unit (4) includes two tyred wheels (8, 8?) each of which is associated with its own electric motor unit (10, 10?) independently with respect to the other; each electric motor is supplied by its own vector frequency converter controlled by a control unit provided with a control microprocessor; angular rotation of each wheel unit (4) is measured by an incremental encoder integral with the upper structure and with the fifth wheel (14) and connected to the microprocessor.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Eden Technology SRLInventor: Bruno Mognon
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Patent number: 8825297Abstract: A travel control device for a vehicle provided with: a steering angle control device that alters the relationship between the amount of steering operation of a driver and the steering angle of steerable wheels; a trajectory control device that controls the travel trajectory of the vehicle by means of controlling the steering angle of the steerable wheels; and a turning condition control device that determines a target turning condition control level for causing the turning condition of the vehicle to be a target turning condition, and controls the turning condition of the vehicle on the basis of the target turning condition control level. A turning condition control device calculates the target turning condition control level on the basis of the amount of steering operation of the driver and the control level of the trajectory control device, and thereby reflects in the target turning condition control level changes to the steering angle resulting from the control of the traveling trajectory.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsutaka Tanimoto, Theerawat Limpibunterng
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Patent number: 8825301Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus that compensates both a static friction and a dynamic friction, performs the switching between a static friction compensation and a dynamic friction compensation smoothly and without unpleasant sensation in order to achieve a natural comfortable steering feeling. In an electric power steering apparatus wherein a current command value is calculated based on at least a steering torque, and a motor is controlled by a current control value calculated based on said current command value to provide a steering assist force to a steering mechanism, wherein: there is provided a friction compensator calculating a friction compensation value for compensating friction to said steering mechanism on the basis of said steering torque, and said current command value is corrected by said friction compensation value.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: NSK Ltd.Inventors: Takayoshi Sugawara, Masahiro Maeda, Yong Wei
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Patent number: 8788150Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for controlling a vehicle using an in-wheel system which controls a motor mounted in each wheel of the vehicle independently. More specifically, a control unit is configured to determine a turning mode of the vehicle based on vehicle driving information, calculate a present Ackerman rate of the vehicle based on the determined turning mode, generate a control command based on the present Ackerman rate, and control the motor of each wheel using the control command, independently.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventor: Sungwook Hwang
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Patent number: 8744682Abstract: The system and method described herein can be used to reduce the effects of periodic vibrations in an electric power steering (EPS) system for a vehicle, particularly, those that can lead to smooth road shake (SRS), torsional nibble, and/or other undesirable conditions. According to an exemplary embodiment, an electric motor is used to purposely generate counter-acting vibrations in the EPS system to cancel out the periodic vibrations generated by the wheel assemblies or corners.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Kenneth L. Oblizajek, John D. Sopoci, R. Larry Arbanas, Lin Wang
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Patent number: 8666600Abstract: A rear toe control (RTC) system and method for a vehicle includes rear actuators for applying rear steering to rear wheels of the vehicle and rear sensors for measuring individual toe angles of the rear wheels. The system further includes a RTC failure module that determines when the RTC system has failed and a road condition determining module that determines whether the vehicle is encountering a poor road surface condition. An electronic control unit (ECU) is disposed on the vehicle and is configured to impose a speed limit for the vehicle when the RTC failure module determines that the RTC system has failed and the road condition determining module determines that the vehicle encountering a poor road surface condition.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigenobu Sekiya, David A. Thompson
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Patent number: 8626427Abstract: A user interface method for a terminal for a vehicle is provided. The terminal obtains position information to detect a point of a road. A road image of a driving direction is obtained, a lanes of the road represented on the obtained road image is recognized, and a point of a road and lane in which the vehicle having the terminal arranged therein is detected. A virtual road image regarding the recognized lanes is generated, and the generated virtual lanes are added to the road image of the driving direction of the vehicle, and displayed. Traffic information for each lane and surrounding information (i.e. lane closure, construction, accident, etc.) at the detected point of the relevant road are obtained, and the obtained information is displayed for each virtual lane.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2012Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hyung-Kil Park, Chang-Soo Kim, Jun-Yong Choi
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Patent number: 8607920Abstract: A steering device for adjusting a wheel turning angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle, in particular of a rear wheel, includes a wheel guide member via which a wheel carrier of the wheel is connected to a vehicle body, the wheel carrier being swivellable about an axis of rotation disposed parallel to the wheel plane and the wheel guide member being articulated to the wheel carrier at a distance from the axis of rotation and being adjustable in length by an electromechanical drive unit, the electromechanical drive unit being connected, on the one hand, via a push rod to a joint at the wheel carrier end in order to form a swivel bearing to establish a connection to the wheel carrier, and, on the other hand, to a joint at the vehicle body end to form a further swivel bearing to establish a connection to the vehicle body.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Johann Jungbecker, Marco Besier, Steffen Linkenbach, Roland Dutoya, Pierre-Philippe Thomy, Frederice Laure