With Electric Power Assist Patents (Class 180/443)
  • Patent number: 12103605
    Abstract: A power assistance drive for a steering column of a motor vehicle may include a belt drive arranged in a housing, with an input pulley that is coupled to the motor shaft of a motor so as to be rotationally drivable about an input axis and which is drivingly connected by means of a drive belt to an output pulley that is mounted in the housing so as to be rotatable about an output axis. To enable a repair-friendly design and easier replacement of the motor, the motor may be releasably attached to the housing and the motor shaft may be connected to the input pulley by means of a releasable coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Martin Keibach, Andreas Polzer
  • Patent number: 12097910
    Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system including a feedback actuator to simulate a steering feel to a steering device and including an electric motor connected to a steering shaft to transmit a torque, and a steering lock including a latch connected to the steering shaft in a torsion-resistant manner and a lock to engage with the latch at locking positions to block a rotation of the steering shaft. If an ignition is switched-off and a movement of the steering device is detected, a position of the steering shaft and a distance between the lock and a next locking position of the latch is determined. If the distance is greater than a predefined value, a counter-torque is transmitted to the steering shaft by the feedback-actuator opposite to the movement of the steering device until the locking position reaches the lock and the lock can engage with the latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kristof Polmans, Imre Szepessy, Yoshinobu Watanabe, Hayato Miyakawa, Yosuke Ojima, Munetsugu Hanji
  • Patent number: 12097885
    Abstract: Technologies and techniques for operating an assistance system of a motor vehicle for providing a shoulder function. Under a first condition, a motor vehicle is detected on a shoulder of a roadway via at least one detecting apparatus in accordance with at least one predetermined first criterion. Under a second condition, a steering behavior of a driver of the motor vehicle is determined in accordance with a second criterion, where a shoulder function is executed in accordance with which an automatic driving intervention. Under a third condition, an obstacle ahead of the motor vehicle in the direction of travel is detected by the at least one detecting apparatus in accordance with a specified third criterion, where a control signal influencing the execution of the shoulder function is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Arne Bartels, Timo Klingemann, Thomas Kolms
  • Patent number: 12091105
    Abstract: A method for operating a steering system includes the steps of: (1) acquiring a variable at least during the partially automated driving; (2) determining whether or not the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually using a variable; (3) ending the partially automated driving and converting steering movements applied by the driver into steering movements of the motor vehicle via a front-axle actuator unit irrespective of the current rotational angle of the steering wheel, if the driver wishes to control the vehicle manually. The variable acquired during partially automated driving may be any of the following: a driver gripping force applied to the steering wheel, a driver torque applied to the steering wheel, deflection of the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver gripping force to the steering wheel, a gradient of the driver torque applied to the steering wheel, and deflection gradient of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz-Dieter Heitzer
  • Patent number: 12084122
    Abstract: A steering apparatus for vehicles that assists and controls a steering system includes a torsional angle control section that calculates a motor current command value to make the torsional angle follow a target torsional angle; the torsional angle control section includes a steering angle disturbance compensating section that calculates a first compensation motor current command value by performing filter processing to the detected steering angle, and the torsional angle control section performs compensation by the first compensation motor current command value in calculation of the motor current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsubaki, Hiroyasu Kumagai
  • Patent number: 12088289
    Abstract: A system includes a sensor integrated circuit (IC), including a driver adapted to be coupled to an oscillator, the driver including first and second transistors. The sensor IC includes an amplitude control amplifier coupled to the first transistor. The sensor IC also includes a common mode control amplifier coupled to the second transistor. The sensor IC includes a handover control circuit coupled to the amplitude control amplifier and configured to hand off an operation from the sensor IC to a different sensor IC, the handover control circuit including a resistor network coupled to a switch network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Shanmuganand Chellamuthu, Qunying Li, Vikram Joseph Mani
  • Patent number: 12084124
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus arranged in the vicinity of a heat source mounted on a vehicle includes: a rack shaft that turns a road wheel; an output shaft provided with a pinion gear engaged with a rack gear of the rack shaft; a worm wheel provided on the output shaft; a worm shaft engaged with the worm wheel; an electric motor that drives the worm shaft; and a controller that controls driving of the electric motor, and wherein at least a part of the controller is arranged on the opposite side of the heat source such that a rack housing is sandwiched between at least a part of the controller and the heat source, the rack housing accommodating the rack shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: KYB CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuhei Chiba
  • Patent number: 12065203
    Abstract: A method for controlling a steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle may involve determining a torque request signal with a position controller of an activation unit based at least on a desired steering angle and an actual steering angle, limiting the torque request signal in a signal limiting device of the activation unit such that the torque requested by the limited torque request signal is limited to a permissible torque range, and transmitting the limited torque request signal to an electronically controllable steering actuator. The signal limiting device may determine a reference torque signal by way of a reference controller based at least on the desired steering angle and the actual steering angle. The signal limiting device may define the permissible torque range by way of a selectable maximum deviation from the reference torque signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignees: thyssenkrupp Presta AG, thyssenkrupp AG
    Inventors: Peter Kakas, Àdám Varga, Daniel Vizer
  • Patent number: 12054202
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in turning steerable vehicle wheels includes a rotatable shaft that is rotatable relative to the vehicle to effect turning movement of the steerable vehicle wheels. A ball nut assembly is connected with an externally threaded portion of the rotatable shaft. The ball nut assembly moves axially relative to the rotatable shaft upon rotation of the rotatable shaft relative to the ball nut assembly. A steering member is connected to the ball nut assembly and at least one steerable vehicle wheel. The steering member moves with the ball nut assembly relative to the shaft. An electrical motor is connected with the rotatable shaft. The motor is operable to effect rotation of the rotatable shaft relative to the ball nut assembly to turn the steerable vehicle wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: ZF ACTIVE SAFETY AND ELECTRONICS US LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Boyle, Mark A. Cartwright, Paul E. Jacobson, Bruce C. Noah, Benjamin W. Schoon
  • Patent number: 12050135
    Abstract: A temperature-detecting device includes a frame, a temperature-detecting unit, a driving unit, a rotation-controlling unit, and a controller. The temperature-detecting unit includes a sensor, a sensor cap, and a sensor case. The rotation-controlling unit is configured to stop rotation of the sensor cap when the temperature-detecting unit reaches a target angle that is over 360 degrees from a reference position, with the sensor case being kept rotated by the driving unit such that the sensor is displaced from an opening and is covered by the sensor case. The controller is configured to correct a temperature detected while the sensor is exposed at the opening, with reference to a temperature detected while the sensor is covered by the sensor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yuta Aiba, Tatsuo Furuta, Naoya Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 12049256
    Abstract: In an embodiment a mobility vehicle platform includes a body part open toward an upper side and configured to receive a cabin at the upper side and a wheel part detachably connected to the body part, wherein the wheel part includes a steering member rotatable about an axis extending in an upward/downward direction, a wheel member connected to the steering member and configured to contact a ground surface, and a coupling member, into which the steering member is inserted, and detachably mounted to the body part, wherein the body part includes a body member configured to receive the cabin at an upper side thereof, and a protruding member coupled to the body member to protrude toward an outside of the body member, and to which the coupling member is coupled, and wherein the coupling member includes a first coupling part extending upwards and a second coupling part extending from an upper end of the first coupling part toward the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: Seok Ryung Kwon, Hyeon Sik Shin, Pan Keun Baek, Jun Hwan Park, Hun Keon Ko
  • Patent number: 12024220
    Abstract: According to the present embodiments, a torque applied to a torsion bar is attenuated to thus relatively increase the rigidity of the torsion bar, thereby improving the response performance to a driver's steering wheel operation, increasing a responsive torque range, securing the durability of components such as the torsion bar, and simplifying adjustment of the moving distance of a rack bar compared to the number of revolutions of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eungsu Kim, Daehee Jung
  • Patent number: 12013000
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system and a vehicle are provided. The vehicle steering system includes a steering shaft and a steering transmission shaft. The steering shaft or the steering transmission shaft includes a first shaft section and a second shaft section. A clutch mechanism is arranged between the first shaft section and the second shaft section. In an engaging state, a transmission connection is established between the first shaft section and the second shaft section, and in this case, a controller determines that the vehicle enters a driving mode. In a disengaging state, the transmission connection between the first shaft section and the second shaft section is disconnected, and in this case, the controller determines that the vehicle enters a game mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: BYD COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Peng Zhang
  • Patent number: 12005896
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, and other techniques for damping oscillations of an implement of a vehicle while the vehicle is moving. Sensor data is captured using one or more sensors that are attached to the vehicle. The sensor data is analyzed to extract one or both of symmetric oscillation information or asymmetric oscillation information. One or both of a speed damping signal or a steering damping signal are generated based on analyzing the sensor data. The speed damping signal is generated in response to extracting the symmetric oscillation information and the steering damping signal is generated in response to extracting the asymmetric oscillation information. A movement of the vehicle is modified using one or both of the speed damping signal or the steering damping signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Trimble Inc
    Inventors: Justin Creaby, Joshua Rands
  • Patent number: 11999369
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a system and method for determining vehicle operator preparedness for vehicles that support both autonomous operation and manual operation. The system includes sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to vehicles and their operation. During autonomous vehicle operation, the system gauges the level of responsiveness of an individual vehicle operator through challenges and corresponding responses. Based on the level of responsiveness, a preparedness metric is determined for each vehicle operator individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, David Forney, Slaven Sljivar, Alekh Vaidya, Jeffrey Griswold
  • Patent number: 11993250
    Abstract: A drive force control system for a vehicle configured to accurately imitate a change in a drive force in a model vehicle. A drive torque simulator computes a virtual drive torque supposed to be delivered to drive wheels of the model vehicle in response to a manual operation to manipulate the vehicle, based on torque changing factors of a powertrain of the model vehicle. An actual torque calculator computes a target torque of a motor that is practically delivered to the drive wheels in the vehicle based on the virtual drive torque computed by the drive torque simulator, taking account of torque changing factors of the powertrain of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Imamura, Yoichiro Isami, Yoshio Itou, Hiroyuki Amano, Akiko Nishimine, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroaki Kodera
  • Patent number: 11993327
    Abstract: Method for determining a friction to be adjusted in a power steering system or for modifying a hysteresis of a steering wheel torque applied to a steering wheel of the power steering system, the method including the following steps of: determining a speed, from a measurement of a speed of a part of the power steering system and/or a measurement of the steering wheel torque; determining the friction to be adjusted on the basis of a modified LuGre model, said modified LuGre model determining the friction to be adjusted as a function of a state of the system, a time derivative of the state being determined as a function of said state of the system, the speed, a first gain, and a coulomb friction, according to an equation of the form: z . = v ? ( 1 - ? ? ( z , v ) ? ? 0 ? z F c ? sign ? ( v ) ) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT EUROPE
    Inventors: Nicolas Baudouin, Pierre Larminy
  • Patent number: 11987233
    Abstract: A route generation device includes: a steering loaded state input unit to which a steering loaded state of a vehicle is inputted; a parking slot position input unit to which a position of a parking slot near the vehicle is inputted; a vehicle position input unit to which a position of the vehicle is inputted; a number-of-times-of-static-steering upper limit calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the steering loaded state, a number-of-times-of-static-steering upper limit value up to which static steering of the vehicle can be performed between the position of the vehicle and the position of the parking slot; and a guidance route generation unit configured to generate a guidance route for guiding the vehicle to the parking slot, on the basis of the position of the vehicle, the position of the parking slot, and the number-of-times-of-static-steering upper limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Katsu, Takashi Matsumoto, Takahisa Aoyagi, Masataka Shirozono, Hiroshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 11987296
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a plurality of electric motors 10 configured to be driven to turn wheels of a vehicle; and three or more drive systems 20 each configured to output a driving force for driving a corresponding one of the electric motors 10 to the corresponding one of the electric motors 10. A total of maximum driving forces each of which is a maximum value of a driving force of each drive system 20 of the steering device is set larger than a required driving force required to turn the wheels with the vehicle stationary, and in an event of a failure occurring in one of the three or more drive systems 20, a total of the maximum driving forces of other properly working drive systems 20 out of the three or more drive systems 20 amounts to the required driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Shingo Ishige, Yusuke Anma
  • Patent number: 11990870
    Abstract: A class-D driver circuit includes a feedback loop including an input integrator stage, a switched modulator, and an output driver stage. A feedback resistor connects an output terminal of the output driver stage with an input node of the input integrator stage to provide a feedback current. The class-D driver circuit also includes a compensation circuit configured to provide a compensation current to an output node of the input integrator stage to relieve a slew rate limitation of the feedback loop, the compensation current having a magnitude based on the magnitude of the feedback current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Peter J. Holzmann
  • Patent number: 11989761
    Abstract: A vehicle usage fee determination system includes a reception unit that receives a usage application by a user who has an intention to drive a vehicle, a wakefulness level estimation unit that estimates a wakefulness level of the user, and a fee determination unit that sets a usage fee of the vehicle when a target wakefulness level that is the wakefulness level at a time a first predetermined time before a scheduled driving start time of the vehicle by the user is a predetermined value to be equal to or less than a usage fee of the vehicle when the target wakefulness level is lower than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Reiko Yamamoto, Gen Fukuyama, Masao Tajima, Mikio Inoue
  • Patent number: 11975771
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device includes a reaction force device, a drive device, a first ECU configured to control the reaction force device, a second ECU configured to control the drive device, a first rudder angle sensor and a second rudder angle sensor each configured to detect a steering angle of a wheel and output the detected steering angle to the second ECU, and a communication line that transmits at least one of steering angles of the wheel as detected values of the first rudder angle sensor and the second rudder angle sensor from the second ECU to the first ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Sakiya Watanabe, Kenji Mori
  • Patent number: 11975777
    Abstract: A method for providing over learn protection for torque steer mitigation includes receiving a compensation torque value corresponding to a torque offset associated with a transmission torque and receiving a handwheel torque value associated with a handwheel of a steering system. The method also includes detecting a mathematical sign of the compensation torque value, detecting a mathematical sign of the handwheel torque value, and determining whether the mathematical sign of the compensation torque value is the same as the mathematical sign of the handwheel torque value. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the mathematical sign of the compensation torque value is not the same as the mathematical sign of the handwheel torque value, adjusting one or more learned gains, and generating an inverted compensation torque value by inverting the mathematical sign of the compensation torque value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce E. Lowrie
  • Patent number: 11964714
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus controls a motor used to turn a steered wheel of a vehicle, which synchronizes with a steering wheel, based on a command value. The steering control apparatus includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to compute a feedback control torque to be reflected in the command value. The electronic control unit is configured to compute a disturbance torque based on the feedback control torque and a predetermined angle. The electronic control unit is configured to correct the feedback control torque by using the disturbance torque. The electronic control unit is configured to correct the command value reflecting the corrected feedback control torque, based on an applied torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Inden, Terutaka Tamaizumi
  • Patent number: 11958544
    Abstract: A control device for an electric power steering device includes an inverter converting direct current voltage into alternating current voltage, and apply to a synchronous motor; and a controller for converting three-phase current flowing in the synchronous motor into d-axis and q-axis currents, performing proportional integral control for a deviation between q-axis current command and the q-axis current so that the q-axis current follows the q-axis current command, to calculate q-axis voltage command, performing proportional integral control to calculate d-axis voltage command, converting the d-axis and q-axis voltage commands into three-phase voltage command, and controlling the inverter based on the three-phase voltage command. A q-axis proportional gain used in the proportional integral control for the q-axis current is obtained using a time constant of a q-axis current control system, a q-axis or d-axis inductance, and a constant greater than zero and less than one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mori, Yu Hirotani
  • Patent number: 11955874
    Abstract: An electric powered work machine includes an inverter circuit, a power-source-side switching element, a power-source-side resistor, at least one circuit-side resistor, and a fault determiner. The power-source-side switching element is arranged between a direct-current power source and the inverter circuit. The power-source-side resistor is connected in parallel to the power-source-side switching element. The circuit-side resistor is connected to the inverter circuit in such a state that electrical conduction is possible between a positive side and a negative side of the direct-current power source in the inverter circuit in a case where semiconductor switching elements in the inverter circuit are all OFF. The fault determiner determines whether the switching elements are short-circuited based on a voltage at a connection point between the power-source-side switching element and the inverter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11945496
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a housing, a shaft, a first gear, first and second motors. The shaft is rotatably mounted with respect to the housing and is configured for attachment of a steering wheel at one end. The first gear is connected to and configured to rotate with the shaft. Each of the first and second motors have an output driving a respective output gear. The output gears are engaged with the first gear, and there being control means configured to operate the motors in a first mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in opposite directions and a second mode in which the motors apply torque to the first gear in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 11945520
    Abstract: A steering system has a steering rod longitudinally displaceable in a housing and a steering motor acting on the steering rod via a ball screw drive. The steering rod has a recirculating ball thread interacting via spherical transmission elements with a transmission nut driven by the steering motor and that is rotatably mounted by a bearing arrangement with a pivot bearing having an inner ring to which a mechanism wheel is fixedly attached. The transmission nut is pivotably mounted on the mechanism wheel about a pivot axis oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the steering rod, and has a curved joint section which interacts with a curved joint section of the mechanism wheel to form a pivoting bearing. In order to realize low-friction movement capability of the pivoting bearing, at least one of the joint sections has a sliding coating, and/or a lubricant is arranged between the joint sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Frederik Schubert, Thomas Poetzl
  • Patent number: 11939013
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a steering control device capable of reducing a steering amount while securing operability of a driver according to a traveling condition. A steering control device 61 forming a steer-by-wire system, which has no physical connection between a steering shaft by a driver and an actual steered angle of a vehicle wheel, the steering control device including an actual steered angle calculation unit 74 that determines the actual steered angle based on a steering angle and a steering torque generated on the steering shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd
    Inventors: Shinya Kasai, Kotaro Shiino, Junya Takahashi, Masaru Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11939010
    Abstract: A method for vehicle stabilization includes, in response to a determination that a fault occurred in a rear steering mechanism, identifying a fault type associated with the fault. The method also includes determining whether a position of a rack of the rear steering mechanism is controllable based on the fault type. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is controllable, selectively positioning the rack to a center position and holding, using a motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in the center position. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the position of the rack is not controllable, holding, using the motor control system of the rear steering mechanism, the rack in a current position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Prerit Pramod, Michael A Eickholt, David P. Holm, Rakesh Mitra
  • Patent number: 11919582
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicle apparatuses are provided. A method for lateral control of a steering system includes identifying at least one parameter of at least one lateral control feature that results in an optimized value in an outcome of control for a lateral control feature enabling robustness to an uncertainty; adaptively adjusting an output control signal generated by a vehicle trajectory controller coupled to the steering controller, by quantifying the uncertainty of an uncertain value in a lateral control feature; and sending a control command including at least a torque control or a wheel angle control to compensate for the uncertainty of the at least one uncertain value in the configuration of components of an electronic power steering (EPS) system associated with the vehicle variant by correcting at least one parameter of the at least one lateral control feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATION LLC
    Inventors: Mohammadali Shahriari, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Ashraf Abualfellat, Brian Porto
  • Patent number: 11921484
    Abstract: A safety rated robotic motor control system may be configured to receive sensor data from sensors positioned on a motor. The data can be received by a programmable logic device and processed to generate a fault message based on a first set of characteristics. The fault message and the data can be transmitted to a safety controller that determines a second set of characteristics and generates operating instructions based on the fault message and the second set of characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Croyle, Sean Garcen, Craig Ropi, Joshua Zarr
  • Patent number: 11919568
    Abstract: A system and strategy for reducing rapid steering wheel movement at the end of an autopark maneuver. The strategy includes maintaining or ramping-out power-steering motor torque to reduce steering wheel movement that may occur due to tire windup that has occurred up to that point in the autopark maneuver. The strategy may include the stopping of an autopark maneuver at any time during the maneuver, or functioning at the end of an autopark maneuver. The autopark event may be a park-out maneuver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Erick Michael Lavoie, Nathaniel Abram Rolfes
  • Patent number: 11913523
    Abstract: The precessional gear transmission comprises a body, a satellite wheel with two bevel gear rings driven by a crankshaft in sphero-spatial motion around a fixed point, two central bevel wheels, one immobile fixed in the body and the other mobile mounted on a driven shaft. The teeth of the gear rings have a circular arc flank profile, those of the central bevel wheels are variable curvilinear. The configuration of the parameters of angles, the number of teeth, the ratio of the numbers of teeth of the mating wheels in the gears and the radius of the circular arc of the teeth profile of the gear rings determines the geometry and the kinematics of the contact of the teeth, the degree of frontal overlap, expressed by the number of simultaneously engaged pairs of teeth and defines the pressure angle between the mating flanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Viorel Bostan, Ion Bostan, Maxim Vaculenco
  • Patent number: 11897555
    Abstract: A steering control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to detect an absolute steering angle, to calculate a current command value, to control driving of a motor such that an actual current value which is supplied to the motor reaches the current command value, to store an end-position-corresponding angle which is correlated with the absolute steering angle, to perform end contact relaxation control for correcting the current command value such that a decrease of an end separation angle is regulated when the end separation angle is equal to or less than a predetermined angle, and to calculate the current command value such that an increase of the end separation angle is not regulated by the end contact relaxation control when the end separation angle is equal to or less than the predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Toko, Nobuaki Kataoka, Takafumi Yamaguchi, Yukinobu Ezaki
  • Patent number: 11897553
    Abstract: The present invention relates to steering apparatuses, and more specifically, to torque estimation apparatuses, and steering assist apparatuses and methods. The torque estimation apparatus can include a first estimator for estimating an eccentric mass of a steering wheel, and a second estimator for estimating an eccentric torque of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Donghoon Shin
  • Patent number: 11891130
    Abstract: Provided is a feature which allows an electric power steering device to improve the steering feel. The electric power steering device includes: a basic control amount calculating section configured to calculate a basic control amount corresponding to steering by a driver; a frictional force calculating section configured to calculate, by using a friction model, a frictional force corresponding to a wheel angle-related value, which is a value relating to a wheel angle of a steering device, and calculate a friction-originated control amount, which originates from the calculated frictional force; and a control amount calculating section configured to calculate a steering control amount in accordance with the basic control amount and the friction-originated control amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Minakawa, Miki Kohso
  • Patent number: 11891074
    Abstract: A remote driving device configured to remotely operate a vehicle includes a remote operation device, a reaction force unit, a receiver, and a processor. The remote operation device is operated by an operator in order to remotely operate the vehicle. The reaction force unit is configured to generate an operation reaction force to be applied to the remote operation device. The receiver is configured to receive a parameter affecting vehicle characteristics of the vehicle from the vehicle. The processor is configured to control the reaction force unit so as to generate a magnitude of the operation reaction force according to the received parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kosuke Akatsuka, Toru Takashima, Satoru Niwa, Takashi Suzuki, Rio Suda, Hiromitsu Urano, Sho Otaki, Hiromitsu Kobayashi, Hojung Jung
  • Patent number: 11878733
    Abstract: A steering control device according to the present invention is configured to obtain information on a parking position of a vehicle obtained by an external world recognition unit, and to output, based on the obtained information on the parking position, an instruction for moving a rear portion of the vehicle to a set position in a parking width direction to a rear-wheel steering device configured to control a steered angle of rear wheels of the vehicle. With this configuration, even when a timing or an angle for operating a steering wheel by a driver is not appropriate, or even when a steered angle of front wheels is limited, parking of the vehicle at the predetermined position in the parking width direction is facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakano, Tomoaki Fujibayashi, Kazuya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11872996
    Abstract: A control system for a motor vehicle having a first control unit and having a first power electronics unit connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the first control unit for supplying power to a first actuator in normal operation of the control system. In order to ensure proper operation of a control system for a motor vehicle, even in the event of a fault, the control system has a backup control unit and a backup power electronics unit connected in a signal-transmitting manner to the backup control unit for supplying power to the first actuator in a first backup operation of the control system. The backup control unit is connected to the first control unit in a signal-transmitting manner. The control system is transferred from normal operation to the first backup operation as a function of the arrival in the backup control unit of a fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & CO. KGaA
    Inventors: Nikolaus Decius, Julian Eckstein, Sergey Orlov, Peter Grabs, Matthias Korte, Pascal Vollmer, Heiko Lerch, Michael Claus, Fridolin Bauer, Juergen Gebert, Florian Oszwald
  • Patent number: 11866106
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to determine rack force are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a rack to couple to a steering knuckle of a vehicle, a ball nut engaged with the rack, a first ring gear coupled to the ball nut, a first pinion fixed to a motor, the first pinion engaged with the first ring gear, the motor to rotate the ball nut to move the rack, a motor encoder to detect a rotation of the first pinion, a second ring gear coupled to the ball nut, and a sensor fixed to a second pinion, the second pinion engaged with the second ring gear, the second pinion to rotate as the second ring gear rotates, the sensor to detect a rotation of the second pinion, the rotation of the second pinion and the rotation of the first pinion corresponding to a force on the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Washnock
  • Patent number: 11861054
    Abstract: A robot and a method for controlling the robot detects a theft of the robot based on posture information for a main body of the robot and position information of the robot. Operation of the robot is restricted depending on whether a theft of the robot is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyungman Yu, Jongil Park, Seungin Shin
  • Patent number: 11851121
    Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vibration of a steering wheel may include: a judder compensation logic unit configured to calculate judder compensation torque for removing a judder which occurs in a steering wheel of a vehicle, based on one or more of a motor current, vehicle speed and vehicle wheel speed; and a judder compensation diagnosis unit configured to determine an operation state of the judder compensation logic unit based on one or more of the vehicle wheel speed, steering torque and a brake state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Hyuk Kim, Pil Woo Lee, Kwang Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 11851101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power assisting steering system for a vehicle having at least a first and a second steered wheel, the system comprising a control unit configured to receive input on a desired change of steering angle, a first and a second power generating device configured to provide power assisted steering for turning the first and the steered wheel, respectively. The control unit, in response to the received input, is configured to alternatingly activate and deactivate the first and second power generating device, respectively, so as to repeatedly and alternatingly provide power assistance to the first and the second steered wheel as the first and second steered wheels are turned to achieve the desired change of steering angle. The invention also relates to a method of operating a power assisting steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Jesper Blomstrand, Anders Petersson, Ahmed Abbas
  • Patent number: 11842225
    Abstract: A method for distributed processing includes receiving an idle time and at least one task execution characteristic corresponding to each respective processor of a plurality of processors, wherein at least one processor of the plurality of processors is remotely located from other processors of the plurality of processors. The method also includes identifying a target processor of the plurality of processors to execute a task based on the idle time and the at least one task execution characteristic of the target processor. The method also includes communicating, to the target processor, a task request requesting the target processor execute the task and, in response to receiving a communication from the target processor indicating acceptance of the task, communicating, to the target processor, instructions for executing the task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Story, Keyur R. Patel, Farhad Bolourchi, Joachim J. Klesing, Mariam S. George, Peter D. Schmitt, Larry J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11840295
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft; a motor configured to generate a torque applied to the steering shaft; and a control unit configured to control the motor. The control unit has a function of performing steering angle feedback control for causing a steering angle that is a rotation angle of a steering wheel to reach a target steering angle that is set based on a point of view of adjusting a rotational position of the steering wheel, as an adjustment process of adjusting the rotational position of the steering wheel. The control unit is configured to set a limit value for limiting a change range of the target steering angle with respect to the steering angle at each moment in a period in which automatic rotation of the steering wheel is hindered in a case where the automatic rotation is hindered while the adjustment process is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Uchino, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11840296
    Abstract: A steering control device includes a control unit configured to control at least an operation of a steering-side motor. The control unit is configured to calculate a target reaction torque; calculate a difference axial force that is used to limit steering for turning the turning wheels in a predetermined direction, the difference axial force being reflected in the target reaction torque; and set a reference angle to one of a steering angle and a turning angle, set a converted angle to an angle obtained by converting another of the steering angle and the turning angle according to a steering angle ratio, and calculate the difference axial force based on a difference between the reference angle and the converted angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Namikawa, Satoshi Matsuda, Tomoyuki Iida, Yoshio Kudo, Masaharu Yamashita, Kenji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11834115
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering shaft; a reaction motor; and a control unit configured to control the reaction motor. The control unit has a function of performing a correction process of rotating the steering wheel using the reaction motor such that a displacement in a rotational position of the steering wheel with respect to a correct rotational position corresponding to a turning position of the turning wheels decreases when a power supply of the vehicle is turned on and the rotational position of the steering wheel is different from the correct rotational position. The control unit is configured to perform the correction process when the displacement is equal to or greater than a predetermined permissible value and not to perform the correction process when the displacement is less than the permissible value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Kakimoto, Yoshiyuki Uchino, Kenji Shibata, Takafumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11827231
    Abstract: A system according to the present disclosure includes an actuator control module and a damping ratio module. The actuator control module is configured to control an actuator of a vehicle to cause the vehicle to perform a yaw maneuver by rotating about its yaw axis. The damping ratio module is configured to determine a damping ratio based on an operating parameter measured during the yaw maneuver. The operating parameter includes at least one of a yaw rate of the vehicle, a yaw rate of a trailer connected to the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, a lateral acceleration of the trailer, a heading angle of the vehicle, and a hitch angle between a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a longitudinal axis of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Wen-Chiao Lin, Bo Yu
  • Patent number: 11828623
    Abstract: The present embodiments provide a steering apparatus including a sliding shaft that is built into a shaft housing and linearly moves in the axial direction, a shaft coupling member coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the sliding shaft and axially sliding together with the sliding shaft inside the shaft housing, a magnet coupling member having a built-in magnet inside, coupled to the shaft coupling member, and axially sliding together with the sliding shaft inside the shaft housing, a sliding support member fixed to the shaft housing and slidably coupled to the magnet coupling member at a lower end thereof, and a sensor member coupled to the sliding support member and to which a sensor for detecting a magnetic field change of the magnet and a circuit board are mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: HL MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyungsub Shin, Han Sang Chae