With Electric Power Assist Patents (Class 180/443)
  • 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: 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: 11180185
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling motor driven power steering are provided. The system includes a magnetic field generation detection module that detects generation of a magnetic field upon operating an electric part of a vehicle and a torque offset determination unit that determines whether a temporary torque offset has occurred in a torque to be applied to a motor based on a detection signal of the magnetic field generation detection module. A torque offset correction unit then corrects the torque offset to a normal torque range based on a torque offset correction logic in response to determining that the torque offset has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: In Kwon Choi
  • 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
  • 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: 11152841
    Abstract: A driving device includes a motor and a control unit for controlling of the motor. The motor includes a motor body and an end cap assembly disposed at one end of the motor body. The motor body comprises a stator, a rotor rotatable relative to the stator, and a motor shaft fixed to and rotated with the rotor. The end cap assembly is provided with two brushes. The control unit includes two connectors for connecting with an external power source. The two brushes are respectively electrically connected to the connectors through the control unit. Lengths of connecting routes of the two brushes to the corresponding connectors are substantially equal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Qingbin Luo, Guihong Tian, Xinpeng Wei, Binwei Li, Yueju Zhao
  • Patent number: 11142234
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a steering shaft, a shroud, a support bracket and a clamping mechanism which clamps the shroud to the bracket. When the clamping mechanism is unclamped, the clamping mechanism permits the shroud to pivot about the pivot assembly to enable the steering column assembly to be adjusted for rake. The pivot assembly further includes a sleeve, a ring shaped busing, and a set of circumferentially arranged spacer members. The ring-shaped bushing defines a set of circumferentially spaced resilient members that each define a contact surface that contacts one of the sleeve and the bore. The spacer members are arranged alternately with the resilient members around the whole or a substantial part of the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Phil Harvey
  • Patent number: 11139809
    Abstract: A driving apparatus includes a current output unit, a reference voltage output unit, a comparator, and a drive control unit. The current output unit is switchable to either a first ON resistance or a second ON resistance that is N times (N>1) the first ON resistance. The reference voltage output unit outputs a fist reference voltage during a large current time period, and outputs a second reference voltage that is M times (M>1) the first reference voltage during a small current time period. The drive control unit performs control to perform switching to the first ON resistance during the large current time period, and to perform switching to the second ON resistance during the small current time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akira Fujita
  • Patent number: 11097770
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus including a torque sensor to detect a steering torque and a motor control unit to control a motor that applies an assist torque to a steering system of a vehicle, including: a function to switch a control system of the motor between a torque control system to control a motor output torque and a position/speed control system to control a steering angle of a steering in accordance with a predetermined switching trigger. The fade processing time from the torque control system to the position/speed control system and the fade processing time from the position/speed control system to the torque control system are individually set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Ryo Minaki, Takayoshi Sugawara, Hideki Sawada
  • Patent number: 11091192
    Abstract: Cost of a precision farming guidance system is driven in part by the number of discrete system elements installed in a tractor including the steering actuator, guidance computer, user terminals, and the associated cable harnesses. An integrated guidance system arranges and integrates these separate elements into a base chassis and removable computer module to reduce cost and complexity while retaining flexibility to adapt to different vehicle configurations and to incorporate improved guidance computer technology into a common design platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: AGJUNCTION LLC
    Inventors: Michael Brett McMickell, Mark Alan Villela, Thomas R. Kreider, Jonathan L. Baker, Andreas F. Ramm
  • Patent number: 11091194
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has an electrically assisted steering system. A steering angle velocity of the motor vehicle, and a driver manual torque change applied by a driver of the motor vehicle are determined. At least the steering angle velocity and the driver manual torque change are analyzed to determine whether the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated. An error signal is output if the driver manual torque change and the steering angle velocity are not correlated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Simon Nolden, Jens Dornhege, Stephan Klein, Goetz-Philipp Wegner
  • Patent number: 11077876
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power steering system utilizes a vehicle having a motor, a controller coupled to the motor, and a steering assembly. The method includes detecting a steering rate using the controller and determining a vehicle speed. A base level steering damping is computed using the steering rate and the vehicle speed. At least one approximate vehicle acceleration is determined. A steering torque of the steering assembly is sensed through a torque sensor configured to sense the steering torque of the steering assembly. Moreover, a user torque is determined using the torque sensor. A damping boost is computed using the user torque and the at least one approximate vehicle acceleration. A final steering damping gain is determined using the base level steering damping and the damping boost. The final steering damping gain is applied to the steering assembly to minimize unwanted feedback to the steering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Kongsberg Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Gagné, Nicolas Girard, Simon Bédard, Alexandre Frigon
  • Patent number: 10994776
    Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus that obtains the appropriate steering torque to the steering angle without being affected by road surface state and changes of mechanical characteristics of the steering system due to aging. The steering apparatus includes a target steering torque generating section to generate a target steering torque, a converting section to convert the target steering torque into a target torsional angle, and a torsional angle control section to calculate a motor current command value so as to follow-up a torsional angle to the target torsional angle. The target steering torque generating section includes an offset correcting section to obtain the first torque signal from a characteristic depending on the set steering angle based on an offset value of the steering torque and outputs the first torque signal as a target steering torque. The steering apparatus drives and controls the motor based on the motor current command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsubaki, Hiroyasu Kumagai
  • Patent number: 10985628
    Abstract: Provided is an electric drive device capable of achieving redundant supply of power from outside and achieving downsizing. An electric drive device, including: a motor; a controller configured to control driving of the motor; and a power supply connector electrically connected to the controller, the power supply connector including: a power supply connector housing; and a first power supply terminal and a second power supply terminal, which are provided in the power supply connector housing and electrically connected to separate external power sources, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hideya Nishikawa, Yoshihito Asao
  • Patent number: 10974762
    Abstract: A damping control method of steering system may include determining, by a controller, a basic damping value based on a vehicle velocity, a steering angular velocity, and an output value of a steering motor when it is determined that steering for restoring a steering wheel to a steering angle neutral position is to be performed; determining, by the controller, whether a driver is in a hand-off state in which the driver takes its hands off the steering wheel according to signals reflecting a steering state and a behavior of a vehicle; compensating, by the controller, for the basic damping value so that the basic damping value is increased and determining a final damping value when it is determined that the driver is in the hand-off state; and controlling, by the controller, the steering motor with the final damping value obtained by the compensation, and restoring and steering the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Young Uk Park
  • Patent number: 10951147
    Abstract: A regulator may include an output element and an electric motor for driving the output element. The electric motor may have a rotor. A mechanical power transmission device may be located between the rotor of the electric motor and the output element. A rotor position sensor for determining a position of the rotor may be included. A multi-turn sensor may also be included, where the multi-turn sensor is configured to monitor rotation of at least one of the rotor and a rotating element of the mechanical power transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Herzog, Martin Herrmann
  • Patent number: 10946895
    Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided, which includes a steering angle detector configured to detect a steering angle of a steering wheel by the operator, the steering wheel is mounted on the vehicle, a speed detector configured to detect a traveling speed of the vehicle, a reaction-force generator configured to generate a reaction force of the steering wheel, and a controller. The controller includes a processor configured to execute a lateral acceleration calculating module to calculate a lateral acceleration based on the traveling speed and the steering angle, a rigidity characteristic setting module to set the reaction force so that a rigidity value that is a ratio of the reaction force to the steering angle increases as the lateral acceleration increases, and a reaction-force control module to control the reaction-force generator so that the reaction force becomes the reaction-force value set by the rigidity characteristic setting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Inoue, Naoki Yamada, Yoshihisa Okamoto, Kazuhiro Takemura
  • Patent number: 10933913
    Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a steering angle of MDPS including: a motor of an MDPS, corresponding to rotation of a steering wheel; an amplifier configured to amplify a specific level of counter electromotive force to a preset level and output the amplified voltage, the specific level of counter electromotive force being generated by the motor when the steering wheel is manually operated; a switch configured to be turned on by the amplified voltage outputted from the amplifier; a power supply configured to be turned on by the switch and supply power to the MDPS; and a control unit of the MDPS configured to be driven by the supplied power and estimate a steering angle of the steering wheel, which is manually operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ji Hoon Yoo
  • Patent number: 10924039
    Abstract: A motor control device for controlling a servomotor to axially move a movement target object includes: a speed detector for detecting the movement speed of the movement target object; an abnormality detector for detecting an abnormality of the speed detector; a motor controller for performing deceleration control on the servomotor to decelerate the movement target object, upon detection of the abnormality; a reference speed generator for generating a reference speed that decreases with passage of time, based on the movement speed when the movement target object decelerates and a predetermined deceleration; a speed monitor for monitoring the movement speed and determining whether or not the movement speed is equal to or greater than the reference speed; and a brake controller for actuating a brake for braking axial movement of the movement target object when the movement speed is determined to be equal to or greater than the reference speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoutarou Tsuneki, Satoshi Ikai
  • Patent number: 10908609
    Abstract: An apparatus for autonomous driving includes data collecting devices and processing circuitry. The data collecting devices collects initial data including first data related to a driving condition that includes a driving environment surrounding a vehicle and motion of the vehicle and second data related to driving the vehicle under the driving condition. The processing circuitry determines, based on the initial data, the driving environment and a vehicle driving mode including a first type of driving environment and a respective autonomous driving mode and an off-road driving environment and a respective non-autonomous driving mode. The data collecting devices collect additional data including first data related to the driving condition and second data related to driving the vehicle under the driving condition when the vehicle driving mode is the non-autonomous driving mode, and trains the vehicle to implement autonomous driving under the off-road driving environment based on the additional data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.
    Inventors: Nikolaos Michalakis, Julian M. Mason
  • Patent number: 10901019
    Abstract: A battery pack monitoring apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a voltage measurement system configured to couple to opposed ends of each of a plurality of blocks of a battery pack and to measure voltages thereof, the blocks being coupled in series by interconnects each having an interconnect resistance. The voltage measurement system is configured to derive an internal resistance of each of the plurality of blocks based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon a measurement of current of the battery pack and derive the interconnect resistance of each of the interconnects based upon the voltages of the opposed ends of each of the plurality of blocks and based upon the measurement of current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Atieva, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Biskup, Sam Chang
  • Patent number: 10886865
    Abstract: A motor controller that controls a motor including two windings includes a calculator to compute a current instruction value to drive the motor, a first motor driver to supply a first current to one of the windings based on the current instruction value, a second motor driver to supply a second current to the other of the windings based on the current instruction value, a first current detector to detect the first current supplied to the motor from the first motor driver, and a second current detector to detect the second current supplied to the motor from the second motor driver. The calculator supplies a first forced current to the first motor driver, and a second forced current in opposite phase of the first forced current to the second motor driver to determine an abnormality of the first current detector and/or the second current detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NIDEC ELESYS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takeshi Arai
  • Patent number: 10873234
    Abstract: A closure system for a seat of an electric motor adapted for housing a rotor of the electric motor, which is allowed to provide a perfect and resistant sealing of the seat, without the need to apply a resin near the lid. when the lid is at least partially inserted into the seat of the rotor, an annular gasket is disposed in contact between the lid and the seat, one end of the main body of a retaining element, which faces the opening, elastically presses against the central portion of the lid, and an opposite radially protruding end of the tabs of the retaining element, elastically presses against the seat, to prevent the removal of the lid from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: JOHNSON ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Marco Mastrototaro, Valerio Baravalle, Luca Gallace
  • Patent number: 10864937
    Abstract: When detecting an abnormality in a portion related to control of an electric motor, a CPU that calculates a control amount for controlling the electric motor calculates a control amount different from a control amount at a normal time so as to continue the control of the electric motor and changes a threshold value for detecting the abnormality to a value different from a value at a normal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Munenori Yamamoto, Akihiko Mori, Jun Suzumura
  • Patent number: 10864941
    Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes: a current command value determining section that determines a current command value based on steering torque and vehicle speed; a vibration extracting filter that extracts a first vibration component having a predetermined amplitude and first predetermined frequency range depending on motor angular velocity; a vibration extracting section that extracts a second vibration component having a second predetermined frequency range depending on motor angular acceleration; a first compensation value calculating section that calculates a first vibration suppression compensation value based on the first vibration component extracted by the vibration extracting filter; and a second compensation value calculating section that calculates a second vibration suppression compensation value based on the second vibration component; and suppresses vibrations of the motor by feeding back the first vibration suppression compensation value and the second vibration suppression compens
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Takayoshi Sugawara, Yousuke Imamura, Masahiro Maeda
  • Patent number: 10858033
    Abstract: A retractable steering column assembly includes a retractable portion. The retractable steering column assembly also includes an electric actuator mechanism for moving the retractable portion throughout a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions comprising an unstowed region, a stowed region, and a transition region between the unstowed region and the stowed region. The retractable steering column assembly further includes a controller monitoring at least one positional property of the retractable portion during movement within the transition region to detect a potential driver intervention of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Keyur R. Patel, Edward A. Cana
  • Patent number: 10843337
    Abstract: A control system, method and computer program product cooperate to assist control for an autonomous robot. An interface receives recognition information from an autonomous robot, said recognition information including candidate target objects to interact with the autonomous robot. A display control unit causes a display image to be displayed on a display of candidate target objects, wherein at least two of the candidate target objects are displayed with an associated indication of a target object score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenta Kawamoto, Yoshiaki Iwai, Satoru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10821967
    Abstract: A temperature detection condition of a temperature detection unit used in a motor system is determined by: obtaining a phase current value flowing through a motor device and obtaining a temperature detection value; calculating, as an integrated phase current value, at least one of a first integrated phase current value, which is obtained by integrating an amount by which the phase current value exceeds a first phase current threshold, and a second integrated phase current value, which is obtained by integrating an amount by which the phase current value is smaller than a second phase current threshold that is equal to or smaller than the first phase current threshold; and determining an amount of variation in the temperature detection value detected by the temperature detection unit following the start of determination of the temperature detection condition and an amount of variation in the calculated integrated phase current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasukazu Murata, Keiichi Enoki, Masutaka Watanabe, Yoshimasa Nishijima, Shingo Harada
  • Patent number: 10823264
    Abstract: An actuator comprises a ball nut and a lock housing arranged radially outwardly of the ball nut and overlapping a proximal end of the ball nut when the ball nut is in a stowed position. The lock housing comprises a sleeve in which is located an aperture, and a locking element is retained within the aperture and can move in a radial direction through the aperture. When the ball nut is in the stowed position, the locking element engages with a locking projection on the ball nut, to retain the ball nut in the stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH ACTUATION SYSTEMS LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew Hawksworth, Antony Morgan
  • Patent number: 10822018
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for a steering apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing for a vehicle steering system, a motor, an actuator, and a rack disposed in the housing, the motor to provide a torque to the actuator via a belt to translate the rack relative to the housing, and a first gear disposed between the motor and the actuator, the first gear to transfer the torque from the motor to the actuator when the belt does not provide the torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Marcel Mrozek
  • Patent number: 10814910
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a steering wheel vibration reduction apparatus including: a vibration torque signal detector that detects a vibration torque signal according to a torque generated in accordance with vibrations of a steering wheel; a wheel frequency recognizer that detects a frequency of the vibration torque signal and, if the frequency corresponds to a wheel frequency condition set in advance and recognizes the frequency as the wheel frequency; and a vibration reduction torque signal generator that generates a vibration reduction torque signal using the wheel frequency and controls the motor such that a torque for reducing the vibrations of the steering wheel is generated by the motor and a steering wheel vibration reduction method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventor: SeongHoon Park
  • Patent number: 10807640
    Abstract: A motor control apparatus of a motor driven power steering (MDPS) system may include: a steering logic controller configured to calculate a current command value for motor control, and transmit the current command value; a current measurement sensor configured to measure a current applied to the motor; and a controller configured to calculate a motor position increment based on the current command value received from the steering logic controller, the measured current value received from the current measurement sensor, and previously stored motor parameters, estimate a current motor position by integrating the calculated motor position increments, and control the motor using the estimated current motor position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheon Kyu Kim, Ji Hoon Yoo
  • Patent number: 10800449
    Abstract: The invention relates to a computer architecture and functional architecture for the operation of electric power steering, to an electronic control unit, and to power steering, having a first group of modules with a high probability of failure and a second group of modules with a low probability of failure. In this case, the modules of the first group have a higher probability of failure than the modules of the second group. The first group of modules is maintained redundantly in this case and, as a result, divided into main modules and into the redundant implementation of what are known as secondary modules. The main modules are arranged on a main control path and the secondary modules are respectively arranged on a secondary control path. Each of these control paths ultimately produces a control signal, i.e., a main control signal and a secondary control signal. A multiplexer is used to decide which of these two control signals is forwarded to modules from the second group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Valerie Bernon-Enjalbert, Jerome Dietsch, Frank Galtie
  • Patent number: 10793187
    Abstract: A steering control apparatus of vehicle includes a target yaw rate calculator, a target torque calculator, and a target torque corrector. The target yaw rate calculator calculates a target yaw rate that allows a vehicle to travel along a traveling course. The target torque calculator calculates target torque that is torque of an electric motor and allows the target yaw rate to be generated. The target torque corrector performs a correction process that calculates a correction gain directed to the target torque and corrects, with the correction gain, the target torque to cause the target torque to be increased. The target torque corrector performs the correction process when an instruction value based on the target torque is varied at a constant rate and on a condition that an absolute value of a motor rotation angle variation amount becomes equal to or less than a set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuki Kitta
  • Patent number: 10778084
    Abstract: A power conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first inverter to which one end of each of n phase windings (n is an integer of three or more) included in an electric motor is coupled, a second inverter to which the other end of each phase winding is coupled, and a switch circuit having at least one of: a first switch element that switches between connection and disconnection of the first inverter and ground, and a second switch element that switches between connection and disconnection of the second inverter and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Eiji Wada
  • Patent number: 10773750
    Abstract: A device (1) and a method for detecting manual guidance of a steering wheel by a driver, have a torque sensor (3) for measuring a steering wheel torque (Ts) of the steering wheel; an angular speed sensor (4) for measuring an angular speed (?c) of a steering wheel column connected to the steering wheel; and a calculation unit (5) for calculating a driver torque (Td) exerted by the driver on the steering wheel as a function of the measured steering wheel torque (Ts) and the measured angular speed (?c) of the steering wheel column, and for filtering the calculated driver torque (Td) to determine a steering angle component (?cT) which is compared with a threshold (?tol) to recognize manual guidance of the steering wheel by the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Razvan Rafaila, Marian George Grosu
  • Patent number: 10752285
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for controlling rotation of a vehicle in consideration of slip. The apparatus includes a radius of curvature setting unit that sets a target radius of curvature of rotation of the vehicle while the vehicle is being driven and a radius of curvature calculation unit that estimates an actual radius of curvature of a traveling vehicle based on forward speed and lateral acceleration of the vehicle. Additionally, a radius of curvature adjustment unit adjusts a yaw direction rotation moment of the vehicle based on a difference between the target radius of curvature set by the radius of curvature setting unit and the estimated radius of curvature estimated by the radius of curvature calculation unit to adjust the radius of curvature of rotation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Young Jin Jang, Hyung Souk Kang, Soung Han Noh
  • Patent number: 10756619
    Abstract: A method for dead time optimization of MOSFETs in an inverter of an motor controller of an electric motor in an electromechanical motor vehicle power steering mechanism or a steer-by-wire system. The inverter includes at least two MOSFETs comprising a high side MOSFET and a low side MOSFET, and wherein the motor controller controls the at least two MOSFETS with gate driver signals with a dead time. The dead time represents a time of the MOSFETs for switching over from one MOSFET to another MOSFET connected in series. The method includes the steps of measuring a cross conduction between the high side MOSFET and the low side MOSFET in a current measurement unit, and when a cross conduction occurs the dead time is increased, otherwise the dead time is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventor: Gabor Ordasi
  • Patent number: 10747220
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to switch driving modes smoothly and ensure that a passenger understands driving operations controlled in the relevant driving mode and necessary driving operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naokazu Uchida, Taisetsu Tanimichi
  • Patent number: 10703408
    Abstract: A method of assisting a steering effort in a hydraulic steering system is provided. The method includes measuring a pressure with a pressure sensor assembly. The method also includes calculating an input torque with a controller. The method further includes measuring at least one vehicle condition with at least one vehicle sensor and sending a vehicle condition signal to the controller. The method yet further includes determining a current required to operate an actuator with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Joel E. Birsching, Martin P. Sheridan, John T. Sigelko
  • Patent number: 10679436
    Abstract: Examples of techniques for vehicle suspension system alignment monitoring are disclosed. In one example implementation, a method includes receiving vehicle data and environmental data including, inertial measurement unit (IMU) acceleration data and global positioning system (GPS) velocity data from a GPS associated with the vehicle, and steering wheel angle data, driver applied torque data, and electronic power steering (EPS) applied torque data associated with the steering system. The method further includes mitigating for at least one of a vehicle effect and an environmental effect based on the vehicle data and environmental data. The method further includes detecting a misalignment based at least in part on one or more of the IMU acceleration data, the GPS velocity data, acceleration data, a steering wheel angle, and a self-aligning torque. The method further includes reporting the misalignment of the vehicle based at least in part on detecting the misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fahim Javid, Hojjat Izadi, Joseph K. Moore
  • Patent number: 10647353
    Abstract: A device and a method may be used to determine a highly accurate absolute angle of rotation Xt of the rotational position of a rotatably supported steering shaft. Rotation of a rotor of an electric motor with a gearing with a gearing transmission factor K for power assistance may be coupled into rotation of the steering shaft. A rotational position of rotation of the rotor can be measured by means of a rotor position sensor and by using a number of revolutions of the rotor that have occurred. This value is used directly to determine the highly accurate absolute angle of rotation Xt of the steering shaft. Calibration methods involve determining initial values from which the counting of revolutions or the calculations occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Gernot Ernstson, Tivadar Toth, Konstantin Schwarzkopf, Peter Knoll, Sedat Sen
  • Patent number: 10637024
    Abstract: An arrangement structure of electrical components can efficiently place a plurality of harnesses while a plurality of electrical components are disposed near a vehicle-mounted battery. The arrangement structure is applied to a saddled vehicle having an electrical component box that is disposed between main frames and an engine and houses at least an approximately rectangular shape battery. The electrical component box includes: a battery tray that covers at least a body front surface and a body upper surface of the battery; a lower half that houses the battery and the battery tray; and an upper half that covers the lower half from above. A first electrical component and a first harness group are arranged in housing spaces formed between the battery tray and the electrical component box. A second electrical component and a second harness group are arranged on the upper side of the upper half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shota Suzuki, Haruka Tsuda, Kunihiro Kai
  • Patent number: 10618549
    Abstract: A damping control apparatus of a MDPS system including a column torque sensor configured to detect a column torque applied to a steering shaft and output a column torque signal; a steering angle sensor configured to detect a steering angular velocity of a steering wheel; a vehicle speed sensor configured to detect a travel speed of a vehicle; and a controller configured to receive the column torque signal, the travel speed and the steering angular velocity from the column torque sensor, the vehicle speed sensor and the steering angle sensor, calculate a required damping torque based on the steering angular velocity depending on the travel speed, calculate a damping torque compensation based on a boost torque, detect an oscillation depending on the travel speed from the column torque signal in order to calculate an additional damping gain, and compensate for the required damping torque using the additional damping gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 10611400
    Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering device capable of continuing control while ensuring a satisfactory level of a steering feeling of a driver at a time of occurrence of failure of one motor winding set. A control part is configured to detect a failure of each component of the electric power steering device, and when control is continued with field-weakening control by a normal motor winding and an inverter circuit depending on the detected failure, restrict a d-axis current based on a torque ripple that occurs in a steering wheel of a vehicle with respect to the field-weakening control of a state in which the failure has not occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Furukawa, Yu Kawano
  • Patent number: 10607622
    Abstract: A method of processing an audio signal, according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the technical problem, further includes: receiving a signal for one channel pair element (CPE) to which internal channel gains (ICGs) have been pre-applied; when a reproduction channel configuration is not stereo, acquiring inverse ICGs for the one CPE based on Motion Picture Experts Group surround 212 (MPS212) parameters and on rendering parameters corresponding to MPS212 output channels defined in a format converter; and generating output signals based on the received signal for the one CPE and the acquired inverse ICGs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun-min Kim, Sang-bae Chon
  • Patent number: 10604176
    Abstract: Provided are a motor driving control apparatus and a steering system. The motor driving control apparatus includes an inverter circuit configured to supply a motor driving power to a motor for steering assist, a motor control circuit configured to control operation of the inverter circuit according to whether a control power is input, and a switch circuit configured to control whether to input the control power to the motor control circuit in response to a control signal. When a failure occurs inside or outside the steering system, the apparatus and steering system can immediately stop motor driving for steering assist and thereby prevent a vehicle accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: MANDO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyu Yeong Je, YoungHoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10589750
    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: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: SmartDrive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Palmer, Mark Freitas, Daniel A. Deninger, David Forney, Slaven Sljivar, Alekh Vaidya, Jeffrey Griswold
  • Patent number: 10591913
    Abstract: A method for transmitting, receiving and processing data values, including detecting first data values, which represent at least one first transition from an automated operation of at least one first automated vehicle to a manual operation of the at least one first automated vehicle. The method also includes transmitting the first data values, receiving the first data values and a step of processing the first data values, and a transmission device and a receiving device for carrying out the method for transmitting, receiving and processing data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Moritz Michael Knorr, Alexander Geraldy, Christian Skupin, Daniel Zaum, Emre Cakar, Hanno Homann, Holger Mielenz, Isabella Hinterleitner, Jochen Marx, Lukas Klejnowski, Markus Langenberg, Michael Pagel