With Electric Power Assist Patents (Class 180/443)
  • Patent number: 11623691
    Abstract: To restrain a retracting stabilizer from interfering with an assist motor located rearward thereof and ensure energy absorption by a subframe, a vehicle front structure includes an engine; a steering rack disposed frontward of the engine; an assist motor for power steering disposed frontward of the steering rack; a suspension stabilizer disposed frontward of the assist motor; and a subframe mounted with the stabilizer. The stabilizer frontward of the assist motor is disposed offset from the assist motor in an up-down direction so as not to overlap the assist motor in vehicle front view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Okamoto, Fumihiro Kurohara, Ippei Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11623687
    Abstract: A technology of mechanically classifying a switching operation between a traveling mode and a special moving mode is provided to prevent a mode switching misoperation. A traveling mode switching mechanism of a four-wheel independent steering type vehicle includes a shift gate which is disposed by forming a moving path of a shift lever, and grouping a traveling mode and a special moving mode. Additionally, a mode switching differentiation devices differentiates a mode switching operation of a driver by configuring so that an operation of the shift lever switched between the traveling mode and the special moving mode is physically different from an operation of the shift lever switched between the traveling modes or between the special moving modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jeong Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 11618498
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an actuator and an actuator controller. The actuator is configured to generate an output for turning a steerable wheel of a vehicle. The actuator controller is configured to control the actuator in accordance with a steering input. The actuator controller includes a filtering processor configured to perform filtering processing for reducing or cutting a component in a predetermined frequency band from the steering input, and the actuator controller is configured to control the actuator in accordance with the steering input after the filtering processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryuma Mine
  • Patent number: 11618495
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a rack shaft; a rack housing; a pinion shaft that meshes with the rack shaft; a speed reducer having a worm wheel that is coupled to the pinion shaft and a worm shaft that meshes with the worm wheel; a speed reducer housing; a motor that drives the worm shaft; a plate-shaped cover that seals an opening of the speed reducer housing; and a breather valve that is mounted on the cover in a state of penetrating through the cover. An inner surface of the cover that faces the worm wheel has an entry restricting part that restricts entry of a lubricant into the breather valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akifumi Amano
  • Patent number: 11613303
    Abstract: A turning system includes a steering wheel, a turning actuator that has an electric motor incorporated thereinto and turns turning wheels, and a control device. The control device is configured to perform: a steering operation amount calculating process of calculating a steering operation amount; an angle command value calculating process of calculating an angle command value; an angle operation amount calculating process of calculating an angle operation amount; an operation process of operating a drive circuit of the electric motor; and a correction process of correcting a parameter upstream from the angle operation amount calculating process such that a drag force resisting an operation of the steering wheel for increasing magnitude of the turning angle is applied when the magnitude of the turning angle is equal to or greater than a turning angle threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terutaka Tamaizumi
  • Patent number: 11608089
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In particular, the method and apparatus are operative for detecting, by a sensor, an object within a first vehicle path, generating, by a processor, a second vehicle path in response to either the detection of the object such that the second vehicle path avoids the object, or a user initiated trajectory shift, generating, by the processor, an initial steering torque in response to the second vehicle path, performing, by the processor, an adaptation on the initial steering torque to generate an adapted steering torque in response to the initial steering torque exceeding a torque rate limit, and controlling, by a vehicle controller a host vehicle steering system to follow the second vehicle signal path in response to the adapted steering torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Amir Takhmar, Jayant Sachdev, Mohammed Raju Hossain, Nathan Fujimoto, Joshua M. Levin
  • Patent number: 11604473
    Abstract: A dynamic velocity planning method for an autonomous vehicle is performed to plan a best velocity curve of the autonomous vehicle. An information storing step is performed to store an obstacle information, a road information and a vehicle information. An acceleration limit calculating step is performed to calculate the vehicle information according to a calculating procedure to generate an acceleration limit value range. An acceleration combination generating step is performed to generate a plurality of acceleration combinations according to the obstacle information, the road information, and the acceleration limit value range. An acceleration filtering step is performed to filter the acceleration combinations according to a jerk threshold and a jerk switching frequency threshold to obtain a selected acceleration combination. An acceleration smoothing step is performed to execute a driving behavior procedure to adjust the selected acceleration combination to generate the best velocity curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Automotive Research & Testing Center
    Inventors: Zhi-Hao Zhang, Tsung-Ming Hsu, Bo-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 11603128
    Abstract: A steering control method controls the steering of a vehicle having a steer-by-wire steering mechanism. A steering reaction force is set that includes a restoration component for restoring a steering angle of the steering wheel to a reference angle, a viscous component corresponding to a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel, and a friction component corresponding to the steering angular velocity. An actuator is controlled to apply a rotational torque to the steering wheel for generating the steering reaction force. A turning angle of the steered wheel is controlled in accordance with the steering angle. A target travel path is set upon determining the driver is not operating the steering wheel. The actuator is controlled such that the steering angle becomes a target steering angle for causing the vehicle to travel along the target travel path to suppress the friction component of the steering reaction force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taku Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11591010
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism, an electric motor, a torque signal generator, a column angular position signal generator and a signal processing unit. The steering mechanism operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of the vehicle. The electric motor may be operatively connected to the steering mechanism. The torque signal generator may produce a torque signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism. The column angular position signal generator may produce a column angle signal indicative of the angular position of the steering wheel or steering column. The signal processing unit may receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and may produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive UK Limited
    Inventor: James Owen Patrick Farrelly
  • Patent number: 11588428
    Abstract: One form of a motor control device includes: a waveform generation unit and an amplifier that generate a drive voltage of a voice coil motor (VCM); a DC offset detection unit that detects a DC offset of the drive voltage; a stop control unit that stops application of the drive voltage to a motor coil when the detected DC offset exceeds an operation stop threshold; a temperature correction value setting unit that sets a temperature correction value corresponding to the DC offset when the detected DC offset is lower than the operation stop threshold; a thermistor that detects an ambient temperature; and a vibration level control unit that varies the drive voltage and controls an amplitude level based on the detected ambient temperature and the set temperature correction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuzo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11554762
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing vehicle steering support by differential wheel braking, the vehicle comprising: at least two axles with at least two wheels per axle; a braking system allowing individual braking of the wheels; and means for determining and/or estimating an operator input torque applied on a steering wheel, wherein the vehicle is configured with a positive scrub radius; the method comprising the steps of: identifying a need for steering support; determining a braking value required for achieving the needed steering support based on an integration of a function of at least one input value (Tinput) related to a determined or estimated operator input torque; and controlling the braking system based on the determined braking value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Scania CV AB
    Inventors: Malte Rothhämel, Per Back, Linus Flodin
  • Patent number: 11548545
    Abstract: A vehicle system including one or more sensors, a steering wheel including a rim and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a coefficient of friction between a surface of the rim and a driver's hand, and a controller configured to determine whether a deviation factor between a target path and an actual path based on the one or more sensors exceeds a threshold deviation, send a first signal to the adjusting mechanism for operating to a first state in response to determining that the deviation factor exceeds the threshold deviation, the coefficient of friction being decreased when the adjusting mechanism is in the first state, and send a second signal to the adjusting mechanism for operating to a second state in response to determining that the deviation factor does not exceed the threshold deviation, the coefficient of friction being increased when the adjusting mechanism is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Jaime Camhi
  • Patent number: 11529993
    Abstract: To provide a motor controller and an electric power steering apparatus which can suppress torque fluctuation resulting from low detection resolution of angle, with simple calculation, even in condition where the rotational speed of motor is low. A motor controller estimates an angle error correlation value correlated with the angle detection error based on the current command value when a change frequency of the angle detection value is lower than a cutoff frequency of feedback control system which controls a rotation state; corrects the current command value or the angle detection value based on the estimation value of angle error correlation value; and changes the estimation value of angle error correlation value so that the absolute value of angle detection error increases with respect to increase in the current command value, and the absolute value of angle detection error decreases with respect to decrease in the current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Tanaka, Isao Kezobo, Akira Furukawa, Seiji Sawada
  • Patent number: 11524694
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus that comprises a first control unit and a second control unit each configured to perform travel control of a vehicle, a first communication line configured to connect the first control unit and the second control unit, a second communication line configured to connect the first control unit and an operation unit configured to operate based on a control signal transmitted from one of the first control unit and the second control unit, and a third communication line configured to connect the operation unit and the second control unit. The vehicle control apparatus further comprises a fourth communication line configured to connect the first control unit and the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Ibuka, Akira Shiogai, Jun Ochida, Kouhei Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 11519223
    Abstract: A moveable climbing system includes at least one step, a first set of legs, a second set of legs, a first set of wheels operatively connected to the first set of legs, a second set of wheels operatively connected to the second set of legs, and a motor operatively connected to the first set of wheels, configured to rotate the first set of wheels. The climbing system may further include a battery for providing electric supply for the motor. The at least one step may include a rung of a ladder. The at least one step may include a board of a scaffold. The climbing system may further include a motor box housing the electric motor, wherein the motor box may be configured to operatively connect to and disconnect from the at least one step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Moustafa M. Elnore
  • Patent number: 11511786
    Abstract: An electric power steering assembly for a steering column includes a lower assist shaft defining a first bore. The assembly also includes a needle bearing at least partially disposed within the first bore. The assembly further includes an upper assist shaft assembly defining a second bore and having a journal surface at an end thereof. The assembly yet further includes a torsion bar having a first end disposed in the first bore and a second end disposed in the second bore, the torsion bar having a torsion bar run-out that forces the journal surface to remain in contact with an inner surface of the needle bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: David F. Hammerbacher, John M. Andres
  • Patent number: 11505239
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steered shaft, a ball screw nut, balls, a housing, a rolling bearing, and a snap ring configured to prevent the rolling bearing from detaching from the ball screw nut. The rolling bearing includes double-row rolling element arrays, an outer ring, a first inner ring, and a second inner ring. The ball screw nut has a receiving portion. The snap ring contacts a side face of the second inner ring to push the second inner ring toward the receiving portion via the first inner ring. A resistance force received from the second outer peripheral fitting surface when the second inner ring moves in the axial direction in a state in which detachment of the rolling bearing is not prevented by the snap ring is smaller than a pushing force with which the snap ring pushes the second inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kunihiko Suzuki, Hiroki Yamahana, Ryuta Suzuki, Takayuki Suzuki, Daisuke Nishio
  • Patent number: 11498615
    Abstract: A steering torque feedback assembly for a vehicle steering column includes a housing, a first gear rotatably mounted within the housing about a first rotatable axis and being configured to rotate with, or being connected to, a vehicle steering column, first and second electric motors mounted within the housing, each having a rotatable output shaft, second and third gears rotatably mounted within the housing and engaged with the first gear, and first and second reduction gearing connecting the output of the first and second motors and a respective one of the second and third gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventors: Russell Wilson-Jones, Mark Anthony Wilkes
  • Patent number: 11502577
    Abstract: A rotary wing driving apparatus includes a motor, a rotary wing, and an electromagnetic brake. The rotary wing is attached to a shaft of the motor. The electromagnetic brake is attached to the shaft of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuaki Kotani
  • Patent number: 11498612
    Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of a vehicle, an electric motor operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a torque signal generator adapted to produce a torque signal, a column angular position signal generator for producing a column angle signal and a signal processing unit adapted to receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and to produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism. A torque demand signal generating circuit adapted to produce the torque demand signal is a function of both the friction compensating torque and the assistance torque signal, at least partially assists the driver in overcoming the effects of static and/or kinetic friction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: James Owen Patrick Farrelly
  • Patent number: 11502632
    Abstract: A motor can be controlled in a user-friendly manner so that a phase current based on an input command torque command value is caused to flow to at least one among U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase windings of the motor, so that a predetermined in-phase current is superimposed on the phase current and caused to flow to at least one among the windings. The motor is controlled such that energization to one winding corresponding to a predetermined energization stop phase is stopped, for example, so that energization to the U-phase winding is stopped, and so that a V-phase current, a W-phase current and an in-phase current are caused to flow to each winding corresponding to a phase other than the energization stop phase, for example, so that the V-phase current, the W-phase current and the in-phase current are caused to flow to the V-phase winding and the W-phase winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ASTEMO, LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Araki, Hideki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 11492039
    Abstract: Described herein are steer-by-wire systems and methods of operating these systems in vehicles. A steer-by-wire system comprises a steering wheel assembly, comprising a steering wheel, sensors, and a torque generator. The system comprises a rack assembly, comprising a steering rack, sensors, and a rack actuator. The steering wheel assembly and the rack assembly are communicatively coupled by a steer-by-wire system controller, without having any direct mechanical links between the assemblies. In some examples, the controller instructs the rack assembly to control the steering rack position based on the steering input, such as changes in the steering wheel position. A steering map is used to determine the desired steering rack position based on the current steering wheel position. In some examples, a steering map is selected from a steering map set based on, e.g., the vehicle speed, vehicle direction, driver preference, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canoo Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ganesh Narasimhan, Paolo E. Pucci
  • Patent number: 11492036
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling a motor driven steering system may selectively perform a motor current control of the motor driven steering system for reducing motor noise according to a present motor-applied current applied to a steering motor of the motor driven steering system when it is determined from vehicle speed information or wheel speed information detected by a first sensor that a vehicle is currently in a stopped state and it is determined from steering angle information detected by a second sensor that a steering wheel is currently in a steering wheel holding state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Gyeong Seop Gim
  • Patent number: 11485405
    Abstract: A method for controlling a steer-by-wire steering system for motor vehicles includes a steering actuator that acts on the steered wheels and is electronically controlled in accordance with a steering request. A feedback actuator transmits reactions of the road to a steering wheel. A control unit controls the feedback actuator. The method includes determining a basic motor torque; providing at least one steering function which is part of a first subgroup of steering functions; limiting the output value of the at least one steering function to reach a predefined safety level in a first limiter; adapting the basic motor torque by means of the limited output value of the at least one steering function in a summing element; and actuating the feedback actuator with the resulting motor torque which is output by the summing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Daniel Vizer, Peter Kakas
  • Patent number: 11459026
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an electric power steering system. The system includes an electric motor configured to provide a torque to a steering mechanism of a vehicle, a torsion bar torque sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a steering angle sensor. The system also includes an electronic controller configured to determine a failure of the torsion bar torque sensor, receive a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor and a steering angle from the steering angle sensor, calculate a steering assistance torque based on the vehicle speed and the steering angle, calculate a hysteresis torque based on the steering angle, sum the steering assistance torque and the hysteresis torque to determine a turning torque, calculate a return torque and sum the turning torque and return torque to obtain an output torque, and generate a command for the electric motor to provide the output torque to the steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Zheng Zhao, Duanxiang Zhang, Arnulf Heilig
  • Patent number: 11452257
    Abstract: A method of mowing an area with an autonomous mowing robot comprises storing, in non-transient memory of the robot, a set of geospatially referenced perimeter data corresponding to positions of the mowing robot as the mowing robot is guided about a perimeter of an area to be mowed, removing from the set of perimeter data one or more data points thereby creating a redacted data set and controlling the mowing robot to autonomously mow an area bounded by a boundary corresponding to the redacted data set, including altering direction of the mowing robot at or near a position corresponding to data in the redacted data set so as to redirect the robot back into the bounded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: iRobot Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Yamauchi, Andrew Beaulieu, Paul C. Balutis
  • Patent number: 11453402
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for determining the fatigue of a driver of a motor vehicle, wherein the fatigue is determined while taking into account the steering behavior of the driver, characterized in that the method includes the following steps: determination of a hysteresis of the steering system or the fatigue detection system, and taking into account the detected hysteresis in the determination of the fatigue of the driver. Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a device that is set up to execute the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Benedikt Stiller, Matthias Rupp, Stefan Hoefle, Valentin Loeffelmann
  • Patent number: 11436925
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for monitoring one or more target objects in an environment external to a host vehicle by means of at least one sensor, the apparatus being arranged to trigger at least one action responsive to the detection of prescribed relative movement between the host vehicle and the one or more target objects, wherein the apparatus is arranged to monitor one or more control inputs of the vehicle and to over-ride triggering of the at least one action such that triggering of the at least one action is not performed in the event that a prescribed movement of one or more of the control inputs is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: JAGUAR LAND ROVER LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Cund, Simon Gilling, Paul Widdowson
  • Patent number: 11435474
    Abstract: A vehicle environment detection system (40) in an ego vehicle (1), including a sensor arrangement (4) and a main control unit (8) is arranged to detect and track at least one oncoming vehicle (9), and to determine whether the ego vehicle (1) has entered a curve (17). When this is the case. The main control unit (8) is arranged to, determine an ego direction (21) along which the ego vehicle (1) travels with a corresponding ego direction angle (?ego) with respect to a predetermined axis (xglob), determine a measured oncoming direction (18) of the tracked oncoming vehicle (9) with a corresponding oncoming angle (?track, glob) with respect to the predetermined axis (xglob) during a plurality of radar cycles, determine a difference angle (?) between the measured oncoming direction (18) and the ego direction (21), and compare the difference angle (?) with a threshold angle (?max), and to determine that the oncoming vehicle (9) is crossing if the difference angle (?) exceeds the threshold angle (?max).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Arriver Software AB
    Inventors: Michael Maas, Andreas Schmid, Christopher Unverdorben
  • Patent number: 11407443
    Abstract: An electric drive device includes a motor housing including a housing end face part opposite to an output part of a rotating shaft of an electric motor. The housing end face part includes a power conversion circuit part heat dissipation section and a power supply circuit part heat dissipation section formed to allow at least generated heat of the power conversion circuit part and the power supply circuit part to be transferred to the motor housing. A sensor magnet is fixed to an end part of the rotating shaft opposite to the output part of the rotating shaft and structured to constitute a rotation-sensing target part for sensing rotation of the rotating shaft. The power conversion circuit part heat dissipation section of the housing end face part is positioned closer to the electric motor than the sensor magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Astemo, Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiji Hamada
  • Patent number: 11411516
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine having a number of pole pairs, N, a position sensor having a number of pole pairs, M, that generates output indicative of a rotational position of the electric machine, and one or more controllers. The one or more controllers generate a remapped rotational position according to a product of the rotational position and L/N, generate a scaled position according to a product of the remapped rotational position and N/M, and command the electric machine to produce a specified torque or speed based on the scaled position. M is not equal to and not a factor of N, and L is a minimum common multiplier of N and M.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Silong Li, Jiyao Wang, Michael W. Degner
  • Patent number: 11390317
    Abstract: A disclosed method can control an electric motor for an electromechanical power steering mechanism for assisting steering for a motor vehicle. The electromechanical power steering mechanism may include a steering column with an upper steering shaft linked to a lower steering shaft by a torsion bar. A torsion angle between the upper steering shaft and the lower steering shaft is configured to be measured or estimated, and an electric motor is configured to apply an assistance torque. The method may involve calculating a desired rotor position with an assist algorithm based on the torsion angle and calculating a PWM pattern by a PWM control unit such that the calculated PWM pattern adjusts a rotor of an electric motor angle such that the torsion angle is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Ádám Varga, Gábor Kalapos, Márton Helli, Csaba Fazekas
  • Patent number: 11370478
    Abstract: A drive part, in particular, a steering system for a transportation vehicle, having an electric motor and at least one control device, wherein the electric motor has at least one winding, wherein the winding has connection points for a power electronics system of the at least one control device, wherein the drive component has at least one sensor system for detecting fluid, wherein the sensor system has an evaluation and control unit connected to the connection points of the at least one winding, wherein the evaluation and control unit generates a test signal and detects a change in impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Dirk Dreyer
  • Patent number: 11374462
    Abstract: A Brushless Direct-Current (BLDC) motor is provided for a power tool, including a stator comprising a coil, a rotor configured to rotate with respect to the stator, terminals secured to the stator, and a sensor circuit mount attached to the stator. The sensor circuit mount defines a plane having a first side and a second side, the sensor circuit mount including Hall sensors mounted on the first side of the plane of the sensor circuit mount facing the stator. Power-supply lines are secured to the terminals to supply electric current to the coil, the power-supply lines being routed from the terminals without traversing the second side of the plane of the sensor circuit mount. The sensor circuit mount is attached to the stator by at least one fastener that extends through an opening of the sensor circuit mount and a receptacle of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Hatfield, Earl M. Ortt
  • Patent number: 11358628
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling an MDPS system may include: a column torque sensor configured to sense column torque applied to a steering column of a vehicle; a vehicle velocity sensor configured to sense vehicle velocity of the vehicle; an MDPS basic logic unit configured to decide a first assist command current for driving an MDPS motor in a manual driving mode of a driver; an autonomous driving control unit configured to decide a second assist command current for driving the MDPS motor in an autonomous driving mode of the vehicle; and a mode switching control unit configured to decide a weight into which the driver's steering intention is reflected, and apply the decided weight to the first and second assist command currents to decide a final assist command current for driving the MDPS motor when the vehicle is switched from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 11355989
    Abstract: An embodiment relates to a bus bar comprising a main body; an upper terminal which is disposed on an upper surface of the main body; and a lower terminal which is disposed on a lower surface of the main body, wherein the upper terminal includes a first upper terminal and a second upper terminal, the lower terminal includes a first lower terminal, the main body includes a first hole and a second hole which penetrate the main body, and the first lower terminal has one end which is connected to the first upper terminal through the first hole and the other end which is connected to the second upper terminal through the second hole and to a motor comprising the same. According to this, space utilization inside the motor can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Il Hwan An, Beom Seok Kang
  • Patent number: 11345399
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a steering control method and a steering control system for self-driving of a vehicle. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining information about an expected steering angle of a vehicle based on an automatic planning control operation; detecting whether an effective torque is applied to a steering wheel by a driver; and when it is detected that the driver has applied the effective torque to the steering wheel, computing a difference between a turning angle of the steering wheel controlled by the driver and the expected steering angle of a vehicle, and determining a self-driving intent prompt torque according to the difference between the two, wherein the self-driving intent prompt torque is to be applied to a steering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: UISEE TECHNOLOGIES (BEIJING) LTD
    Inventors: Yan Jiang, Jinzhan Peng, Xin Zhou, Dan Zhang, Xiaocheng Zhou, Sai Luo
  • Patent number: 11349379
    Abstract: A motor comprises: a shaft; a rotor coupled to the shaft and including a magnet; a stator disposed outside the rotor and including a coil and a stator core; a cover disposed on an upper side of the rotor; and a magnetic sensor disposed between the cover and the rotor, wherein the magnetic sensor is disposed on an upper side of the magnet, a surface of the magnetic sensor facing the rotor is disposed below the uppermost end of the coil, and the length of the rotor in the shaft direction is longer than the length of the stator core in the shaft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun Shik Cho, Hye Yeong Byeon
  • Patent number: 11312412
    Abstract: Provided is an electric assisted power steering apparatus having a structure able to disconnect a worm shaft from any malfunctioning motor of motors connected to opposite end portions of the worm shaft, thereby preventing the worm shaft from rotating heavily or failing to rotate. Even in the case in which the worm shaft is disconnected from the malfunctioning motor, a target rotation speed of the properly-operating motor is increased to prevent sudden changes in auxiliary torque occurring on a steering shaft, thereby promoting the safety of a driver. Torque required for the worm shaft is distributed to the two motors, thereby increasing the rotation speeds of the motors and reducing the size and fabrication costs of the motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tae Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 11292506
    Abstract: A vehicle steering assembly comprises a steering member with a rack portion having rack teeth, a pinion gear having pinion teeth configured to be engaged with the rack teeth, a yoke support assembly supporting the steering member in a housing, and a ball nut operatively connected to the steering member. The pinion gear divides the steering member into a first side having the yoke support assembly outboard of an area of engagement of the rack and pinion teeth and a second side having the ball nut. The yoke support assembly includes complementary convex and concave bearing surfaces configured to provide relative rotation between the convex and concave bearing surfaces. The yoke assembly also includes a spring member configured to produce a variable rate spring force to maintain an engagement between the rack and pinion teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Active Safety and Electronics US LLC
    Inventors: Mark Bugosh, Brian A. Urbach
  • Patent number: 11285991
    Abstract: An electromagnetic damping system for a steering system includes a pinion gear having a pinion shaft and engaged with a steering rack. The electromagnetic damping system also includes a friction disk operatively coupled to the pinion shaft. The electromagnetic damping system further includes an electromagnetic clutch located adjacent the friction disk, the electromagnetic clutch disposed in a spaced position relative to the friction disk in a first condition of the electromagnetic clutch, the electromagnetic clutch disposed in a contact position relative to the friction disk in a second condition of the electromagnetic clutch to damp the rate of movement of the steering rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Holm
  • Patent number: 11260898
    Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle includes a drive motor having a motor shaft. The steering system also includes a first gear reduction stage for receiving a first rotational input from the motor shaft and providing a first rotational output. The steering system further includes a second gear reduction stage for receiving the first rotational output from the first gear reduction stage and providing a second rotational output. The second gear reduction stage may include at least one of a strain wave gearing, a worm drive, and a planetary gearing. The steering system includes an output shaft for receiving the second rotational output from the second gear reduction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Kaufman
  • Patent number: 11247718
    Abstract: An electric steering column device includes a column housing, and a first shaft, a connection shaft and a second shaft provided in the column housing. The connection shaft is movable in an axial direction of the first shaft and the second shaft and is connected to the first shaft and the second shaft so as to rotate together with the first shaft and the second shaft. The first and second shaft are connected to the connection shaft so that the first shaft always rotates at the same rotation speed and that a rotation speed of the second shaft is varied depending on whether or not the connection shaft moves in the axial direction. The device is capable of securing an optimized steering performance by adjusting steering responsibility of a steering wheel depending on a driving state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Woock Ryu
  • Patent number: 11214299
    Abstract: An automatic steering control device for a vehicle includes: a steering angle change amount detector; a vehicle behavior detector; a disturbance determinator; and a counter torque applying processor. The steering angle change amount detector detects a steering angle change amount that acts on a steered wheel; the vehicle behavior detector detects a yaw change amount that acts on the vehicle; the disturbance determinator determines a disturbance that acts on the vehicle, based on the steering angle change amount and the yaw change amount; and the counter torque applying processor applies a counter torque for suppressing the yaw change amount on the electric power steering motor, when it is determined by the disturbance determinator that the steering angle change amount is within an allowable steering angle change range and the yaw change amount is outside an allowable yaw change range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eiichi Shiraishi, Satoru Akiyama
  • Patent number: 11208142
    Abstract: A steering feel control apparatus of an MDPS may include: a release steering detection unit configured to detect release steering using column torque or motor current; a reverse steering detection unit configured to detect reverse steering using a steering angular velocity or motor angular velocity; a compensation gain detection unit configured to detect a compensation gain using the steering angular velocity or the motor angular velocity; a high frequency input unit configured to filter the column torque or the motor current and input a high frequency; and a compensation gain compensation unit configured to apply the compensation gain detected by the compensation gain detection unit to the high frequency inputted by the high frequency input unit, when release steering is detected by the release steering detection unit or reverse steering is detected by the reverse steering detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 11193793
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor system (1), and a method for determining an absolute rotation angle (?) of a shaft (10) with a rotation angle range of more than one revolution and to a vehicle fitted with a sensor system (1), wherein the sensor system (1) has a main rotor (2) that can be connected rotationally synchronously to the shaft (10), a first auxiliary rotor (3) which is mechanically coupled to the main rotor (2), a second auxiliary rotor (4) mechanically coupled to the main rotor (2), a first sensor device (SE1) which is assigned to the first auxiliary rotor (3) for generating a first sensor signal dependent on a rotation angle of the first auxiliary rotor (3), a second sensor device (SE2) which is assigned to the second auxiliary rotor (4) for generating a second sensor signal dependent on a rotation angle of the second auxiliary rotor (4), a third sensor device (SE3) which is assigned to the main rotor (2) and which is used for generating a third sensor signal dependent on a relative rotation ang
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Landry Tandjeu-Tchuissi, Onofrio Intini
  • Patent number: 11192581
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a steering actuator which acts on steered wheels, an actuation unit, a feedback actuator to which a user request for a steering angle can be applied using a steering input means, which outputs a feedback signal to the steering input means in response to the request and a driving state of the vehicle. A signal transmission transfers the request to the actuation unit. The actuation unit actuates the steering actuator to deflect the wheels. When a monitor detects a malfunction of the feedback actuator as a fault situation, the feedback signal and the signal transmission is modified or generated according to multiple options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Kristof Polmans
  • Patent number: 11192416
    Abstract: An adjustment device (1) for a chassis of a motor vehicle. The adjustment device has an actuator (2) with a housing (5) and a spindle drive, which has an axially displaceable spindle (10), with a fixed mounting (7) on the vehicle side and a connecting element (4) on the chassis side. The spindle (10) is extended in a direction of its longitudinal axis by an extension piece (11), and the connecting element (4) is attached to the outer end (11b) of the extension piece (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
    Inventors: Jochen Spiegelberg, Marc Maroncelli, Sören Bökelheide, Carina Nieberding, Mark Rotary
  • Patent number: 11180191
    Abstract: A method for unintended steering mitigation includes receiving at least one hand wheel measurement correspond to a hand wheel of a vehicle. The method also includes determining a hand wheel return value corresponding to the at least one hand wheel measurement. The method also includes receiving a torque value corresponding to propulsion of the vehicle. The method also includes determining whether the torque value is above a threshold. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the torque value is above the threshold adjusting the hand wheel return value based on the torque value and selectively controlling return of the hand wheel based on the adjusted hand wheel return value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Xinfu (Kaiser) Xu, Young Jaepil Chang
  • Patent number: 11180132
    Abstract: A control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to perform autonomous driving of a vehicle to autonomously control at least a vehicle speed so that the vehicle speed follows a preset target vehicle speed; store a relationship between the vehicle speed and noise that is generated by a vehicle part rotated in association with running of the vehicle; determine, based on the relationship, whether the noise is equal to or larger than a preset determination threshold when the vehicle runs at the target vehicle speed; and when the electronic control unit determines that the noise is equal to or larger than the determination threshold, determine a vehicle speed at which the noise is lower than the determination threshold, and change the target vehicle speed to the vehicle speed at which the noise is lower than the determination threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Katsushi Nakayama, Satoru Takahashi, Hiroyuki Tateno