Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Other

Jeffrey M Otto

Troy P Strieter

James J Shavrnoch

Conrad G Vorwerck

Tony M Dodak

Rangarajan Ramanujam

Michael A Eickholt

Bhuvanesh Sainath

Fred N Golda

Paul E Kern

Michael C Hallman

Jeffrey L Marr

Emily N Stilwell

Josiah G Ward

Robin G Otto

Wayne A Burns

One or more embodiments are provided for an inverter. The inverter includes a phase switch configured to supply AC power via an output terminal. The phase switch includes a high-side leg and a low-side leg. The high-side leg includes a high-side solid-state switch configured to selectively conduct current between a high-side conductor of a DC bus and the output terminal, and the low-side leg includes a low-side solid-state switch configured to selectively conduct current between the output terminal and a low-side conductor of the DC bus. The high-side solid-state switch has a first conducting-state resistance value, and the low-side solid-state switch has a second conducting-state resistance value different than the first conducting-state resistance value. A shunt resistor may be connected in series with a corresponding one of the high-side solid-state switch or the low-side solid-state switch, balancing the resistances of the high-side leg and the low-side leg.

Inverter phase switch with high side vs low side MOSFET resistance diversity

A method to determine, in real time, a use-life of a steering system includes tracking an attribute signal associated with the steering system. The method further includes, based on a determination that the attribute signal rises above an upper threshold and subsequently falls below a lower threshold, selecting a subset of categories based on a frequency content of the attribute signal. The method further includes selecting a category from the subset of categories based on a peak load occurring in sequence to the attribute signal via a secondary attribute signal. The method further includes incrementing a counter for the selected category. The method further includes computing the use-life based on a ratio of the counter for the selected category and a predetermined count for said selected category.

Steering systems use and failure monitoring

A steer by wire steering system for a vehicle includes at least one electrical communication component operatively connecting a handwheel actuator to a roadwheel actuator. Also included is that the at least one electrical communication component is switchable between a first polarity assignment and a second polarity assignment based on a detected driving condition of the vehicle, the first polarity assignment turning a roadwheel in a first direction in response to a first input rotational direction of the handwheel actuator, the second polarity assignment turning the roadwheel in a second direction in response to the first input rotational direction of the handwheel actuator.

Steer by wire steering system with adjustable polarity

A method of fabricating a ball nut assembly is provided. The method includes providing a ball nut having a keyway slot. The method also includes forming a polymer pulley having an inner surface defining a bore, a cut-out formed in the inner surface, and a torque member extending radially inward from the inner surface, wherein the keyway slot is configured to receive the torque member therein.

Nylon resin driven pulley

Technical solutions are described for lash detection diagnostic in a steering system. An example method includes sending, by a controller, an excitation motor command to a motor control system. The method further includes measuring, by the controller, a sensor signal generated in response to the excitation motor command. The method further includes determining, by the controller, a decay rate of a change in magnitude of the signal at a plurality of frequencies. The method further includes diagnosing, by the controller, that the steering system has a lash condition based on the decay rate exceeding a predetermined threshold.

Lash detection startup diagnostic

A torque transmitting assembly is provided. The assembly includes a ball nut having an outer diameter and keyway slot therein, and a pulley positioned on the ball nut. The pulley includes a cylindrical outer surface, a bore extending through the pulley such that the pulley includes an inner surface, and at least one torque member formed on the inner surface and projecting radially inward to be received by the keyway slot.

Ball nut and polymer pulley assembly

Technical solutions are described for facilitating an electric power steering (EPS) system to determine an operating mode of a vehicle that is equipped with the EPS, where the operating mode is indicative of a level of autonomous driving being used by the vehicle. The technical solutions further facilitate detecting a change in the operating mode of the vehicle, and facilitating a transition in computing an assist signal for the EPS system during the transition between the operating modes.

Electric power steering mode determination and transitioning

A pulley assembly for a road wheel actuator assembly includes a driven pulley assembly, a driven pulley, and a belt. The driven pulley assembly includes a driven pulley and a retainer. The driven pulley is at least partially disposed about a ball nut that is operatively connected to a rack bar. The retainer is received within the driven pulley. The belt is arranged to connect the driven pulley assembly to the drive pulley.

Road wheel actuator assembly

A unitary cap and collar construction for a bottle feeder having a nipple cap secured to a detachable collar which comprises a nipple, a single, flexible, integral tether line of sufficient length for an infant to feed from the nipple having one end engaged to a detachable collar having an opening for holding the feeder nipple which the collar is detachably connected to the bottle, and having an opposite end engaged to the cap for covering the nipple.

Growing community of inventors

Bay City, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey M Otto