With Electrical Control Patents (Class 180/415)
  • Patent number: 11912360
    Abstract: A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle including executing a front wheel and a rear wheel including: front wheel-only steering operation control for turning the front wheel without turning the rear wheel in response to a steering instruction from a driving entity; executing rear wheel-only steering operation control for turning the rear wheel without turning the front wheel in response to the steering instruction from the driving entity; and executing a specified control execution process for executing one type of steering operation control specified by the driving entity among a plurality of types of steering operation control including at least the front wheel-only steering operation control and the rear wheel-only steering operation control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Okano, Hisashi Somada
  • Patent number: 11840294
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a regulating device for regulating the steering angle for a vehicle, comprising a first controller unit with a controller superposed thereon, the controller having a feedback path and a prefilter. The feedback path provides a first adjustment variable based on actual steering angle information which is provided by the first controller unit as an output variable and the prefilter provides a second adjustment variable based on nominal steering angle information. The controller is configured to form input information for the first controller unit based on the first and the second adjustment variables, wherein the feedback path has a first correction element, the transfer behavior of which can be adjusted. The prefilter has a second correction element, the transfer behavior of which can be adjusted. The controller is configured such that at least the controller gain of the first controller unit can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Philipp Keßler, Stefan Feick, Michael Simon
  • Patent number: 11420675
    Abstract: A multidirectional transport vehicle includes a longitudinal axis which defines a longitudinal direction, a transverse axis which defines a transverse direction, a steering system, a driving direction switch, and a driving direction adjustment element. The steering system comprises at least three independently steerable wheels and a steering target value transmitter which steers the wheels. Each wheel has a wheel axle. A steering pole, on which each wheel axle is aligned when cornering, is moved along a steering pole axis by actuating the steering target value transmitter. The driving direction switch includes a limited number of separate switch positions, wherein exactly one switch position preselects exactly one respective rotational position of the steering pole axis relative to the multidirectional transport vehicle and preselects one of two driving directions facilitated thereby. The driving direction adjustment element changes a preselectable rotational position of the steering pole axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HUBTEX MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Keller
  • Patent number: 11180184
    Abstract: By using various feedback data on a sprayer system, such as sensed positions of power actuators for turning wheels, an onboard logic controller can be used to fine tune parameters of the steering system in an automatic calibration process. In one aspect, a controller can send an electrical signal to a coil of a hydraulic pump to fully extend a power actuator for turning a wheel in a first direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full extension of the power actuator. Similarly, the controller can change the signal to fully retract the power actuator for turning the wheel in a second direction, then incrementally adjust the signal until a change in position of the power actuator is determined, thereby obtaining a precise magnitude for commanding a full retraction of the power actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Nathan Brooks, Steven Winkel
  • Patent number: 11052905
    Abstract: A vehicle control system and a method for the same, which are configured for rapidly stabilizing a behavior of a vehicle when an unstable behavior of the vehicle occurs while the vehicle is turning, and, if excessive oversteering occurs, securing a driving characteristic of a vehicle by minimizing intervention of an electronic stability control (ESC) device of the vehicle, may include an ESC device, a steering control device, and a rear wheel steering device, and configured for immediately enhancing stability of a vehicle through cooperative control between the ESC device, the steering control device, and the rear wheel steering device even when excessive oversteering occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Kyun Sang Park
  • Patent number: 11001988
    Abstract: An automatic interlock system for a motor grader is disclosed. The automatic interlock system may include one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an operating mode for the motor grader based on one or more operating parameters of the motor grader. The one or more processors may be configured to determine an interlock configuration for the motor grader based on the operating mode. The one or more processors may be configured to selectively activate or deactivate one or more interlocks of the motor grader based on the interlock configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mike C. Gentle, Jeremy G. Valeck, Dustin J. Funk
  • Patent number: 10940837
    Abstract: When a vehicle experiences an instability event, an instability event trigger (e.g., a failed modulator, unexpected yaw or lateral acceleration, unexpected steering wheel position change, etc.) is monitored and the magnitude thereof is compared to a corresponding predetermined threshold above which corrective action is initiated. Depending on the magnitude and type of instability trigger, one or more wheel ends are identified as candidates for brake activation. Braking force at the identified wheel ends is gradually increased until the vehicle becomes stable or comes to a stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS LLC
    Inventor: Thomas S. Miller, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10899381
    Abstract: A steering device is provided to perform a safe transition from an automatic driving mode to a manual driving mode when necessary. When it is determined necessary to transition from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode during the automatic driving mode, a transition period before an end time point of the automatic driving mode is set, a driving operation reliability indicative of whether or not it is possible to perform the transition is determined, and the transition when it is determined that it is possible to perform the transition to the manual driving mode during the automatic driving mode. Consequently, the transition can be controlled so that transition is not performed instantly, such as, for example, in a case where a driver is not driving during the automatic driving mode and is not accustomed to manual driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Itou, Kazuya Yamano, Yasuhito Nakakuki
  • Patent number: 10829153
    Abstract: A steering/turning controller: inputs a target turning angle command created based on travel environment information; determines whether the target turning angle command is a corrective turning region, in which an angle is equal to or less than an angle threshold value and an angular velocity is equal to or greater than an angular velocity threshold value, or a non-corrective turning region other than the corrective turning region; when generating a steering command angle and a turning command angle based on the target turning angle command, sets a distribution of the steering command angle to “zero” and generates only the turning command angle in the case of the corrective turning region; and generates the steering command angle and the turning command angle in the case of the non-corrective turning region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroki Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 10745046
    Abstract: A steering assist apparatus is provided with a steering drive unit driving a steering apparatus, a steering control unit executing an automatic steering mode where a steering drive unit is controlled such that a turning angle is determined based on at least either a running state of the vehicle or road information to produce the determined turning angle, and a target differential angle control unit determining a target differential angle. The target differential angle control unit determines the target differential angle to be close to an automatic steering target differential angle used for the automatic steering mode, when input variation through a steering input apparatus is not detected during a transition period from a manual steering mode where the steering apparatus operates in response to the steering angle inputted through the steering input apparatus to the automatic steering mode or during an elapsed period after completing the transition period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yosuke Hirate, Daiji Watanabe, Hisaya Akatsuka, Toshiya Kabayama
  • Patent number: 10668808
    Abstract: A driving force control apparatus includes a first torque calculator configured to calculate turning radius correspondence torques indicating the magnitudes of the driving forces to be transmitted to a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel based on a turning radius, a second torque calculator configured to calculate steering velocity response torques based on a steering velocity of a steering wheel and a vehicle speed, a corrector configured to calculate a corrected torque by correcting a turning radius correspondence torque of at least one of wheels on an inner side of turning and on an outer side of turning in accordance with the steering velocity response torque, and a current controller configured to supply currents to torque couplings so that driving forces based on the corrected torque are transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Nagayama, Kotaro Sarai, Tetsuya Yamazaki, Ichiro Oda
  • Patent number: 10632849
    Abstract: A display device used for an electric vehicle including a motor, includes a first area indicating torque of the motor and a second area indicating a coil temperature of a coil included in the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidemasa Fujita
  • Patent number: 10549770
    Abstract: A method for steering a vehicle, wherein forces for steering wheels are generated by a steering torque. The steering torque is applied by a mechanical steering system and/or a steering actuator. The method includes in the automatic phase: automatic steering of the vehicle, where a control unit calculates an automatic torque and actuates the steering actuator so that the steering torque corresponds to the automatic torque. During the engagement phase when a manual torque applied to the steering wheel by the driver is detected, the method includes maintaining the calculated automatic torque as a steering torque by ignoring or compensating the manual torque until the manual torque has exceeded a defined threshold torque greater than zero. During a transfer phase, the method includes reducing the automatic torque after exceeding the threshold torque, wherein the steering torque corresponds to the sum of the manual torque and automatic torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johannes Albrecht, Matthias Schoelzel
  • Patent number: 10466064
    Abstract: A method for determining a location of a motor vehicle, wherein a respective rotational position signal is received from a respective wheel sensor of at least one wheel, and a steering angle signal is received from a steering angle sensor of a steering device, and a wheel-based location estimation is determined, the respective rotational position signal and geometric data of the at least one wheel. A respective relative location of the motor vehicle with respect to at least one object arranged in the surroundings is detected, and a respective relative change in location with respect to the at least one object is determined during a movement of the motor vehicle, and a surroundings-based location estimation is determined, and a combined location estimation of the location is determined from the wheel-based and the surroundings-based location estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Max, Kristian Weiß, Sascha Bauer, Mehmet Eylem Kirlangic, Andreas Wege, Robert Konnopka, Lars Krüger, Jesko Klandt, Christian Tendyck
  • Patent number: 10351173
    Abstract: A wheel carrier for a two-track motor vehicle including a wheel-side carrier part, which carries a vehicle wheel; an axle-side guide part; axle-side rotary parts arranged between the wheel-side carrier part and the axle-side guide part and supported on a common bearing site for rotation relative to each other about a rotation axis by respective rotation angles, wherein the carrier part is pivotable about the rotation axis about a pivot point for toe and/or camber adjustment of the vehicle wheel by rotation of at least one of the rotary parts by the respective rotation angle into a rotary position, which correlates with a toe and/or camber angle of the vehicle wheel, wherein the toe and/or camber angle being arbitrarily adjustable within a toe and/or camber angular range. The wheel carrier further includes at least one movement stop adapted for limiting the toe and/or camber angular range of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmid, Thomas Klinger, Ulrich Voll, Michael Braumandl, Heinrich Beringer, Achim Glas
  • Patent number: 10221528
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine includes a plurality of swing legs, each swing leg being supported from a ground surface by an associated crawler track steerably connected to an outer end of its associated swing leg. Pivotal movement of a swing leg may be accomplished by steering the associated crawler track through a non-zero steering angle until the lateral movement of the crawler track achieves the desired pivoting movement of the associated swing leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Dahm, Ralf Schug, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 10196242
    Abstract: A method of transferring a load is disclosed. The method includes the steps of enabling synchronization of first and second hoists and first and second trolleys and choosing a hoist function or a trolley function. The first and second hoists are a first mover and second mover, if the hoist function is selected. The first and second trolleys are the first and second movers, if the trolley function is selected. The method includes the steps of commanding one of the first mover and second mover to be the master and the other to be the slave and actuating a master control associated with the master. The method further includes the step of outputting signals to the first and second actuators such that the master and the slave are moved in a direction indicated by the master control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mi-Jack Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew M. Moran, Steven Pfeifenroth
  • Patent number: 10124828
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for steering a vehicle, for example, during autonomous operation. One exemplary method involves operating a locking system associated with a first set of one or more wheels of the vehicle to lock an angle of the wheel(s) and detecting a steering adjustment condition based on the angle during subsequent operation of the vehicle. In response to the steering adjustment condition, the locking system is operated in an intermediate mode, and then thereafter operated to relock the angle of the wheel(s) based on monitoring the angle of the wheel(s) during operation in the intermediate mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Pinaki Gupta, Nikhil L. Hoskeri
  • Patent number: 10065843
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a scissors lift vehicle are provided. The system includes a main computer including one or more processors and one or more memory devices communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, a steer controller configured to receive commands from the main computer to control a plurality of independently steerable wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly including a steer angle sensor, a steer angle actuator, and a drive motor, and a scissors lift controller configured to control a hydraulic piston assembly including a hydraulic fluid reservoir internal to a piston rod assembly. The system also includes a tilt sensor configured to determine an angle of incline the scissors lift vehicle, a variable-speed steer actuator configured to rotate a wheel assembly about the steer axis of rotation at a selectable rate, and a wheel including a respective drive axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Xtreme Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Don Francis Ahern, Ronald Lee Fifield
  • Patent number: 10023227
    Abstract: A steering assistance control apparatus includes a positional deviation calculator, a relative yaw angle calculator, a target value calculator, and a steering driver. The positional deviation calculator calculates a lateral positional deviation between an own vehicle and a preceding vehicle, based on a detection signal by a sensor. The relative yaw angle calculator calculates a relative yaw angle, in which the relative yaw angle is an angle formed by a traveling direction of the own vehicle and a traveling direction of the preceding vehicle. The target value calculator calculates a steering-related control target value, based on the lateral positional deviation and the relative yaw angle. The steering driver that drives a steering mechanism, based on the control target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kubo
  • Patent number: 9994217
    Abstract: A vehicle rear wheel steering assist control system is provided where a wheel deflection angle measuring instrument is mounted at a front wheel for measuring a steering angle of the front wheel, a rotational velocity measuring instrument is also mounted at the front wheel for testing a velocity of the front wheel, output ends of the wheel deflection angle measuring instrument and the rotational velocity measuring instrument are electrically connected to the data acquisition module, the data acquisition module is electrically connected to the controller, the controller is electrically connected to a data execution module, the rear wheel active steering device is mounted at a rear wheel of the automobile, the rear wheel active steering device is electrically connected to the data execution module, the controller is electrically connected to an ECU of the automobile, each automobile seat is provided with a weight sensor, which are electrically connected to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Yancheng Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Fuhao Liu
  • Patent number: 9969425
    Abstract: A rear wheel steering system in a vehicle. The system includes a rear wheel steering actuator, a vehicle speed sensor, and an electronic control unit. The rear wheel steering actuator is coupled to a rear wheel of the vehicle and controls a steering angle of the rear wheel. The electronic control unit is coupled to the rear wheel steering actuator and the vehicle speed sensor and is configured to determine a speed of the vehicle and to limit the steering angle of the rear wheel based on the speed of the vehicle and a fault tolerant time of the rear wheel steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jeorg Zeller, Lance Bredthauer, Celeste Cauley, Michael Feldker, Lars Koenig
  • Patent number: 9950737
    Abstract: A hydraulic steering system (1) is described comprising a first steering circuit (2a) and a second steering circuit (2b), each of said steering circuits (2a, 2b) comprising a steering device (3a, 3b) and a steering motor (4a, 4b) connected to said steering device (3a, 3b), each of said steering devices (3a, 3b) comprising a supply port arrangement having a high pressure port (Pa, Pb) and a low pressure port (Ta, Tb), a working port arrangement having two working ports (La, Ra; Lb, Rb) connected to said steering motor (4a, 4b), a control valve (5a, 5b), and a measuring motor (6a, 6b). Such a steering system should have a comfortable steering behavior. To this end in each of said steering devices (3a, 3b) said measuring motor (6a, 6b) is arranged in a working line (19a, 20b) between said control valve (5a, 5b) and one of said working ports (La, Ra; Lb, Rb).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions ApS
    Inventors: Soeren Liljenberg, Tom Rudolph, Tom Tychsen, Jens Vester, Poul Ennemark
  • Patent number: 9908380
    Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle having at least a first axle and at least a second axle, wherein the motor vehicle has a chassis that can be adjusted by the user, and which is operable at least in a first mode and at least in a second mode, which is more comfortable than the first mode. When the user activates the more comfortable second mode, a loading state of the motor vehicle is checked. The chassis is not shifted from the first mode into the second mode for at least axle, or is changed from the second mode into the first mode of the chassis if a limit load is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Marcus-Andre Reul, Mathias Molitor
  • Patent number: 9868462
    Abstract: A “Torsional Suspensioned, Steerable, Oscillating and Propelling Axle Assembly” utilized in the individual track units of a multi track unit all-terrain vehicle or machine with axle assemblies providing/enabling suspension, steering, oscillation and propelling functions of the track units of the all-terrain vehicle or machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Shane Mannering
  • Patent number: 9771101
    Abstract: A vehicular steering control device 10 comprises a rudder angle variable device 14 which alters relationship between an operating position of a steering wheel 20 and an operating position of the steering wheel found from a rudder angle of steered wheels 18FL and 18FR, and a rudder angle control device 16 which performs an automatic steering control which controls the rudder angle of the steered wheels by controlling the rudder angle variable device. When a steering mode is switched from an automatic steering mode to a manual steering mode (S150), the rudder angle control device gradually reduces a control gain Klka of the automatic steering mode (S600), and reduces by degrees a size of a deviation between the two operating positions (S400, 500, 800˜1000), only when the steering operation is performed by a driver (S350).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hisanori Mitsumoto
  • Patent number: 9744991
    Abstract: An operating method for a hydraulic servo steering system of a motor vehicle includes a steering cylinder that applies the supporting force to a steering gearing is integrated into a hydraulic circuit by means of a steering valve. The steering valve opening specifies the supporting force, wherein the supporting force is set by the steering valve in accordance with a steering torque applied to a steering wheel, by means of a gearing having play. The steering system further includes an actuator that acts on the gearing in order to cause relative adjustment of the gearing. The opening method provides for a compensation step in which, provided that a steering direction reversal is detected, the gearing is relatively adjusted by means of the actuator in a direction opposite the prior engagement direction of the gearing for a predefined duration or a predefined adjustment distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Tedrive Steering Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Kirschbaum, Olaf Schulte
  • Patent number: 9718492
    Abstract: An end determination unit determines that a steering apparatus is in an end touching state when an angle deviation, which is a difference between an actual turning angle and a target turning angle, exceeds a threshold. This angle deviation exceeds the threshold before a large axial force is generated in a steering shaft. Accordingly, is it possible to determine that the steering apparatus is in the end touching state more quickly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Terutaka Tamaizumi, Hirozumi Eki, Masayuki Kita, Isao Namikawa
  • Patent number: 9701518
    Abstract: The invention relates to container carriers that are used in ports and terminals. The invention comprises a method, an apparatus and a computer program product for moving a container carrier. The method comprises the steps of lowering the container, causing to disengage the weight of the container and the spreader off the wheels, tuning the wheels to an orientation suitable for a carousel or skew maneuver, lifting the container and starting a carousel or skew maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Cargotec Finland OY
    Inventors: Jussi Rosenström, Jeroka Alanko, Esa Parta, Jouni Vesala
  • Patent number: 9598075
    Abstract: A vehicle-behavior control apparatus according to an embodiment includes a collision determining unit that determines whether a vehicle collides with an obstacle when the vehicle is decelerated while going straight based on at least a detection result of the obstacle in front of the vehicle and a detection result of a running state of the vehicle in a condition in which wheels are being braked, and a vehicle-behavior control unit that performs at least one of the control of steering rear wheels and the control of giving a difference in braking conditions between the left and right wheels such that the vehicle is decelerated while detouring around the obstacle without steering front wheels when it is determined to collide with the obstacle by the collision determining unit, as one example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takafumi Makino, Yoshiaki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9586620
    Abstract: A travel control apparatus for a vehicle includes a frontward environment recognition unit, a map information storage unit, a vehicle position information obtaining unit, a traveling road information obtaining unit, a rut information detector, a first course setting unit, a second course setting unit, and a target course setting unit. A target course over a road surface on which a vehicle is to travel is set as a first course on the basis of map information, the target course over the road surface on which the vehicle is to travel is set as a second course or a third course on the basis of rut information, the first course is compared with the second and third courses, and the target course over the road surface on which the vehicle is to travel is set on the basis of traveling road information and the rut information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Matsuno, Harunobu Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9266432
    Abstract: An operating system for driver assistance systems of a motor vehicle, has a plurality of operating elements which can be assigned to at least one operating group and which are disposed solely for operating driver assistance systems that can be assigned to at least one group. A corresponding function for operating the driver assistance systems can be assigned to each of the operating elements on the basis of adjustable combinations of operating modes of the driver assistance systems. The operating elements are disposed in order to operate an adaptive cruise control system, and in order to operate a lane departure warning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Werner Wilding, Benjamin Schulz, Tobias Muhr
  • Patent number: 9254866
    Abstract: A method of controlling steering of a vehicle through setting wheel angles of a plurality of modular electronic corner assemblies (eModules) is provided. The method includes receiving a driving mode selected from a mode selection menu. A position of a steering input device is determined in a master controller. A velocity of the vehicle is determined, in the master controller, when the determined position of the steering input device is near center. A drive mode request corresponding to the selected driving mode to the plurality of steering controllers is transmitted to the master controller. A required steering angle of each of the plurality of eModules is determined, in the master controller, as a function of the determined position of the steering input device, the determined velocity of the vehicle, and the selected first driving mode. The eModules are set to the respective determined steering angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Andrew D. Dawson, William J. Bluethmann, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert L. Vitale, Raymond Guo, Venkata Prasad Atluri
  • Patent number: 9238481
    Abstract: A steering system for turning multiple sets of steerable wheels comprises three steering gears operatively connected to the steerable wheels. Each steering gear includes a control valve assembly and has an associated hydraulic motor. The first control valve assembly directs pressurized fluid to a first hydraulic motor and also directs pressurized fluid to a second hydraulic motor. The third control valve assembly directs pressurized fluid to a third hydraulic motor. When a torque below a predetermined value is applied to an output shaft of the second steering gear, the output shaft rotates in response to movement of the first control valve assembly, and the second control valve assembly remains in a neutral condition. When a torque above the predetermined value is applied to the output shaft of the second steering gear, the output shaft rotates to cause the second control valve assembly to assume an actuated condition to direct pressurized fluid away from the second hydraulic motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TRW Automotive U.S. LLC
    Inventors: James R. Johnson, Kevin E. Boyle
  • Patent number: 9145165
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control system is capable of defining clear guidelines on more specific control timing associated with accelerating, steering, and braking operations, and conducting motion control based on the defined guidelines. An ideal motion control unit within a central controller uses longitudinal jerk information of a vehicle to control the steering of the vehicle. Information for determining the initiation timing of steering is presented from a human-vehicle interface (HVI) to a driver. In accordance with the information presented from the HVI, the driver controls the initiation timing of steering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Atsushi Yokoyama, Masato Abe
  • Patent number: 9132730
    Abstract: A method for the distribution of drive torque to the wheels of a driven axle of a motor vehicle. The bend slip between a bend-inside and a bend-outside wheel of an axle of the motor vehicle during cornering is calculated. The inner drive slip between the bend-inside driven wheel and the bend-inside nondriven wheel is calculated. The drive torque is distributed as a function of a difference between the inner drive slip and the bend slip, multiplied by a scaling factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: GETRAG Driveline Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Hoeck, Harwin Niessen
  • Patent number: 9073576
    Abstract: Vehicle steering measurements of a vehicle may be measured. Expected vehicle steering measurements may be calculated, each calculated expected vehicle steering measurement corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements. At least one difference between one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement may be calculated. A lower boundary and an upper boundary of at least one override transition zone, each of the override transition zones corresponding to one of the measured vehicle steering measurements and its corresponding calculated expected vehicle steering measurement, may be calculated. Steering control of the vehicle may be gradually transferred from an automatic vehicle control system to a driver of the vehicle over a predetermined period of time when one or more of the calculated differences lie between the calculated lower boundary and the calculated upper boundary of the corresponding override transition zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jin-Woo Lee, Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi
  • Patent number: 8960037
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 8925672
    Abstract: An integrated steering control system includes a primary, automatic and rear control valves. A steering wheel operates the primary steering control valve and is of a type which includes a leakage characteristic. Steering wheel movement is sensed and a signal is sent which results in the automatic steering control valve being operated for adding fluid that supplied to a steering cylinder by the primary steering control valve in order to compensate for leakage, the amount of added fluid being a function of vehicle ground speed. An electric actuator with position feedback is used for ground speed control. Whenever the actuator position shows that the ground speed is set to zero and a switch in the hydro-handle slot shows that the handle is in the Park position, the automatic steering control valve is activated to move the steering cylinder to a neutral, straight ahead position, as determined by a sensor in a mechanical linkage of the steering control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Thomas D. Bebernes, Stephen E. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8930082
    Abstract: A steering method for an industrial truck includes manually steering at least one steerable wheel with a steering transducer. The at least one steerable wheel is hydraulically connected or mechanically connected with the steering transducer. An angular position of the at least one steerable wheel is detected. At least one additional steerable wheel is motor-steered as a function of the detected angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hubtex Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Juergen Keller
  • Patent number: 8744682
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Oblizajek, John D. Sopoci, R. Larry Arbanas, Lin Wang
  • Patent number: 8666600
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sekiya, David A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8584791
    Abstract: A hydraulic power steering apparatus assists in steering of a vehicle with a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic power steering apparatus includes a flow control valve, a steering torque sensor, a steering angle sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an ECU. The flow control valve changes the supply/drainage amount of hydraulic fluid for the hydraulic cylinder. The ECU sets a supply/drainage mode for supplying/draining the hydraulic fluid with respect to the hydraulic cylinder based on detection results from the aforementioned sensors and controls the flow control valve in accordance with the supply/drainage mode of the hydraulic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sakamaki, Yasuhiro Tomagou, Akihiko Shiina, Tetsuya Ozaki, Ryouichi Kubo
  • Patent number: 8548681
    Abstract: A power steering device is mounted on a vehicle and includes a torque applying unit and an applied friction torque changing unit. The torque applying unit sets an applied friction torque applied to a steering wheel based on a real steering angle and a target steering angle, and performs a control of applying the applied friction torque to the steering wheel. The applied friction torque changing unit changes the applied friction torque based on a load condition of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuo Kushiro, Kimiaki Ono
  • Patent number: 8478483
    Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a skid occurred on a four-wheel drive vehicle having a prime mover and a transmission, an actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio between the rear right/left wheel speeds is calculated based on detected front and rear wheel rotational speeds, a front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving is calculated by retrieving characteristics of a front/rear wheel slip ratio set with respect to a rear right/left wheel speed ratio using the calculated actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio, an actual front/rear wheel slip ratio is calculated based on the detected front wheel rotational speed and the rear wheel rotational speed, and occurrence of skid is then determined based on a difference between the calculated front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving and the calculated actual front/rear wheel slip ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Takemori, Masatoshi Noguchi, Yuzo Okubo
  • Patent number: 8200393
    Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus 1 includes a variable gear ratio actuator 7, an IFS ECU 8, which controls the actuator 7, an EPS actuator 17, and an EPS ECU 18, which controls the EPS actuator 17. The variable gear ratio actuator 7 varies the transmission ratio between a steering wheel and steered wheels. The EPS actuator 17 applies an assist force that assists a steering operation. A microcomputer 43 of the EPS actuator 17 increases an inertia compensation current command Iti* (Iti**), which is a compensation component based on the differential value of a steering torque, during actuation of the variable gear ratio actuator 7, that is, when an ACT angle ?ta is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kato, Satoru Mikamo
  • Patent number: 8116942
    Abstract: A steering angle control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating means calculating a longitudinal force, a second calculating device calculating a longitudinal force difference between at least one of right side wheels and at least one of left side wheels based on the longitudinal force, a third calculating device calculating a contribution rate of front wheels at a steering angle control and a contribution rate of rear wheels at the steering angle control, a fourth calculating device calculating a front wheel correction steering angle and a rear wheel correction steering angle based on the contribution rate of the front wheel, the contribution rate of the rear wheel, and a state quantity including the longitudinal force difference, and a driving device outputting a control command value based on the front wheel correction steering angle and the rear wheel correction steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroaki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8061469
    Abstract: The disclosed device controls the steering of a commercial vehicle and comprises front wheels that can be oriented according to a first turning angle by a first actuator, rear wheels oriented according to a second turning angle by a second actuator, and a power circuit with a pressurized fluid source and power components that transmit hydraulic power to the actuators. The power components are controllable to configure the power circuit according to coupling modes between the front and rear wheels. The device includes a control circuit containing a power source and control components that are electrically controlled by an electrical control unit and transmit hydraulic commands relating to one of the determined coupling modes to the power components. The control components are hydraulically connected such that in the event of a fault in the electrical control, the commands permanently maintain the power circuit in the current coupling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Volvo Compact Equipment SAS
    Inventor: Gilles Florean
  • Patent number: 8046132
    Abstract: A vehicle steering control system includes a controller for determining control angles for actuators used for steering the vehicle based on at least a speed of the vehicle and a steering signal. The controller includes a unit, a module, and a block. The unit determines an equivalent steering angle of a steered wheel of an equivalent bicycle model according to the steering signal, and also determines a transverse coordinate of an instantaneous center of rotation of the vehicle. The module controls a steering behaviour of the vehicle to enable a longitudinal coordinate of the instantaneous center of rotation of the vehicle to be determined from the speed of the vehicle and a maximum transverse acceleration parameter of the vehicle. The block determines the control angles from the longitudinal coordinate and the transverse coordinate. The maximum transverse acceleration parameter of the vehicle is fixed for the vehicle or is variable based on conditions of operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Thierry Auguet, Marc Sebe
  • Patent number: 7954583
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester rear axle arrangement for an agricultural harvester (10) having a body (12), the arrangement comprising left and right rear wheels (18, 20); means for supporting the wheels for rotation about a generally vertical steering axis (38, 40, 78, 94) and for supporting the wheels for extension and retraction from the body of the combine (26, 28, 30, 90); actuator means for steering the wheels (38, 40, 70, 72, 94) and for extending and retracting the wheels (34, 36, 70, 72); an electronic controller (50) coupled to the actuator means to steer, extend and retract the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Coers, Daniel James Burke, Ryan Patrick Mackin