Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Other

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Nexteer (beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellsha

Scott Alan Millsap

Farhad Bolourchi

Robert J Disser

Ashok Chandy

Patrick Allen Mescher

Timothy Wesley Kaufmann

Jon Dee Demerly

Joseph Gerard D'Ambrosio

Sanket S Amberkar

Brian Thomas Murray

Stephen Vincent Gillman

Michael D Byers

James M Petrowski

Jeffrey Heinrichs

Jeff Allan Foust

Joseph A Labarbera

Omkar Karve

Hendrikus T Smakman

Kevin L Derry

Hans-Peter Hank

Kristian Vetter

Craig A Hennings

Caroline Dannöhl

Jens Schotte

Ratko Menjak

Frederick J Berg

Karen Ann Boswell

Christian Ebner

Steven L Tracht

Jon Tomas Zumberge

James Myrl Card

Michael S Wyciechowski

Robert Allan Perisho, Jr

Michael James Cole

Kevin Michael Deasy

Chad David Bauer

Michael Graef

Juergen Guldner

Detlef Krukenkamp

Gustavo M Nunes

Markus Krug

J&uuml;rgen Guldner

Martin Woltereck

Darryl L Greathouse

Steve Matz

Stephen E Ewbank

Christoph Jung

Joseph G A'Dmbrosio

Timothy W Kauffman

Chris E McHugh

Schedl Anton

Michael Gr&auml;f

Kai-Uwe Balszuweit

Slawomir Bakaus

A number of variations may include a vehicle, system and method of modulating power steering or torque from a lane keep assist system based on driver attentiveness to avoid accidental land changes.

Driver attention based steering effort modulation to prevent accidental lane changes

A system and method of hands-off signature detection may include applying a unique sinusoidal motor command to an EPS or handwheel actuator of a vehicle and monitoring attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command to determine if a user's hands are on or off of a handwheel of a vehicle. Attenuation of the unique sinusoidal motor command may occur due to the physical presence of a driver's hand(s) on the steering wheel.

Hands-off signature detection

A number of illustrative variations may include a method of communication between a driver and an autonomous steering system.

Lane change assistant

An embodiment of a system of a vehicle includes a power steering system that operates as commanded by control commands, and a control module configured to receive a first control command. The control module is also configured to generate a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals, generate a second control command based on a subset of the plurality of input signals, determine whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time, and send the second control command to the power steering system in response to determining the first control command is out of the range for longer than the predetermined duration of time.

Systematic abnormality detection in control commands for controlling power steering system

A method of mitigating abnormalities in a first control command for controlling a power steering system is provided. The method generates a range signal indicative of a range of command values based on a plurality of input signals. The method determines whether the first control command is out of the range for longer than a predetermined duration of time. The method limits the first control command to the range and sends the limited first control command to the power steering system in response to determining that the first control command is out of the range for shorter than or equal to the duration of time.

A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a lateral position module and a torque command module. The lateral position module determines a lateral position command based on a curvature of a lane and a near field heading angle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the lateral position command.

System for providing steering assist torque based on a lateral position command

A steering system providing an assist torque to a handwheel is provided, and includes a proportional gain module and a torque command module. The proportional gain module determines a proportional gain value. The proportional gain value is scheduled as a function of a lateral position error and at least one of the following: a near field heading angle, a far field heading angle, a curvature of the lane, and a lateral position of the vehicle. The torque command module determines the torque assist based on the proportional gain value.

System for providing steering assist torque based on a proportional gain value

A method for generating and verifying an output command for using in a power steering system is provided. The method receives, by a module having at least a primary processing path and a secondary processing path that is in parallel with the primary processing path, a set of input signals. In the primary processing path, the method generates a primary output command based on the set of input signals and sends the primary output command out of the module. In the secondary processing path, the method generates a first range of command values based on the set of input signals, determines whether the primary output command falls within the range of command values, and generates a fault signal based on determining that the primary output command does not fall within the first range of command values.

Cross check strategy for systematic error protection

Systems and methods for determining an absolute position of a motor of an active front steering system of the vehicle are provided. In particular, the systems and methods accurately determine an absolute position of the motor upon startup of the active front steering system.

Systems and methods for determining an absolute position of a motor in an active front steering system of a vehicle

Disclosed is a method for assisting the parking of a vehicle. The method includes determining a vehicle position relative to an obstacle. When the relative position meets a first set of criteria, a first torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the first direction to cue an operator of the vehicle to turn the steering wheel in the first direction. When the relative position meets a second set of criteria, a second torque pulse is delivered to the steering wheel in the second direction, opposite to the first direction to cue the operator to turn the steering wheel in the second direction. A system for assisting the parking of a vehicle is also disclosed.

Parking assist system with steering cues

An electrical system comprised of at least two control modules as well as at least one power supply module. The present invention improves functional reliability of electrical systems by configuring a power supply module as a smart device and connecting it to at least one of the control modules for the purpose of data exchange and, in case of a malfunction, transforming the control module(s) to one of a stand-alone operating mode and a cut-off state.

Electrical system, and control module and smart power supply for electrical system

A method for synchronizing data utilized in a redundant, closed-loop feedback control system is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes configuring a plurality of control nodes within the control system, with each of the plurality of control nodes transmitting and receiving data through a common communication bus. At each of the plurality of control nodes during a given control loop time T=N, the receipt of externally generated data with respect to each control node is verified, the externally generated data having been generated during a preceding control loop time T=N&#x2212;1. At each of the plurality of control nodes during the given control loop time T=N, output control data is calculated using the externally generated data. During the given control loop time T=N, the calculated output control data from each individual control node is further transmitted over the communication bus to be later utilized by other control nodes during a subsequent control loop time T=N+1.

Method for synchronizing data utilized in redundant, closed loop control systems

A watercraft steer-by-wire control system for watercraft comprising: a direction control system including a rudder position sensor; a helm control system including at least one of; a helm position sensor to produce and transmit a helm position signal and an optional torque sensor to produce and transmit a helm torque sensor signal. The system optionally including a watercraft speed sensor and a master control unit in operable communication with the watercraft speed sensor, the helm control system, and the direction control system. The master control unit includes a position control process for generating the directional command signal in response to the watercraft speed signal, the helm torque sensor signal and the helm position signal. The master control unit includes a torque control process for generating the helm command signal, based on the helm torque sensor signal, the helm position signal and the watercraft speed signal.

Watercraft steer-by-wire system

An electric power assist steering system is controlled by sensing torque in a steering shaft at a point along said steering shaft between a hand wheel and a mechanical connection to an electric motor, wherein the sensing includes sensing a magnetic field direction and intensity.

Method for controlling an electric power assist steering system with low hysteresis and torque ripple

In an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for steering a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes a back-drivable steer-by-wire system including a road wheel actuator assembly coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The road wheel actuator assembly defines a steering axis and the steering axis is off-set from a longitudinal axis of the wheel by a positive scrub radius. In an embodiment for a method in accordance with the present invention, a method to steer a vehicle after failure of a road wheel actuator assembly in a back-drivable steer-by-wire steering system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of applying a braking force to the wheel and generating a torque on the road wheel actuator assembly by the applied braking force acting through a positive scrub radius.

Back-drivable steer-by-wire system with positive scrub radius

Growing community of inventors

Grand Blanc, MI, United States of America

Scott Alan Millsap