Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

William James Bouse

Kirk Pebley

Alex Parker

Zhongzhou Yang

Justin Sekula

Sangeetha Sangameswaran

Kirt Eschtruth

Daniel Nichols

Bo Lin

Zheng Tan

John Michael Jakupco

Erick Michael Lavoie

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Darrel Alan Recker

Zeljko Deljevic

Kevin Roy Harpenau

Bradley George Hochrein

Nathaniel Abram Rolfes

Timothy Panagis

Eric She

Miguel A Bahena

Brad G Hochrein

Michael Puleri

Andrew Brown

Chester Gordon Hearn

Andrew Brow

Rachel Dockstader

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed a vehicle comprising a steering assist system, a steering wheel, a user interface, and a steering controller to detect, via the user interface, a request to move the steering wheel of a vehicle to a first rotational position, the steering wheel having a second rotational position, determine, based the first rotational position and a first parameter, a third rotational position having a first offset from the second rotational position, actuate, via the steering assist system, the steering wheel to the third rotational position, disengage the steering assist system, the disengagement causing the steering wheel to rotate to a fourth rotational position, and compare the first rotational position to the fourth rotational position to determine if the request has been satisfied.

Methods and apparatus to correct for steering wheel rotation

Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein to center a steering wheel. An example vehicle includes a steering assistance system, an axle including a wheel, memory, and a processor to execute instructions to identify a first position of the wheel, detect a request to move the wheel to a second position, adjust the wheel from the first position to the second position via the steering assistance system, disengage the steering assistance system, the disengagement of the steering assistance system to cause the wheel to move to a third position, the third position offset from the second position by an angular offset in a first direction, adjust the wheel to a fourth position, the fourth position offset from the second position by the angular offset in a second direction different than the first direction, and disengage the steering assistance system, the disengagement of the steering assistance system to cause the wheel to move to the second position.

Methods and apparatus to center a steering wheel and move road wheels to a straightly forward position

Methods and apparatus are disclosed herein to center a steering wheel. An example vehicle includes a steering position sensor to identify a steering wheel position, a pinion angle identifier to compare a first steering position angle to a second steering position angle, the second steering position angle corresponding to a centered steering wheel position, and an angle modifier to adjust the first steering position angle to match the second steering position angle.

Methods and apparatus to center a steering wheel

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example vehicle disclosed herein includes a steering assist system, a steering wheel, and a steering controller to detect a request to move the steering wheel of the vehicle to a first rotational position, the steering wheel having a second rotational position, actuate, via the steering assist system, the steering wheel towards the first rotational position, determine, based on a relationship between a first parameter and a second parameter, a third rotational position, the third rotational position having an angular offset from the first rotational position, the first parameter corresponding to a position of the steering system, the second parameter corresponding to a load on the steering system, and in response to reaching the third rotational position, disengage the steering assist system, the disengagement causing the steering wheel to rotate to the first rotational position.

Methods and apparatus to move a steering wheel

An operation mode of a first actuator engaged with a steering rack is determined. An operation mode of a second actuator engaged with a steering column is determined. The operation mode of one of the first and second actuators is adjusted upon detecting a failure in the other of the first and second actuators. At least one of the steering rack and the steering column is actuated based on the operation mode. In an angle control mode, a predetermined steering angle is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering angle. In a torque control mode, a steering column torque from a torsion sensor disposed on the steering column is provided to the first and second actuators to adjust the steering rack according to the steering column torque.

Enhanced steering operation

An automotive vehicle may include an engine, an electric power steering system and at least one controller. The at least one controller may, during an auto stop event of the engine, reduce at a first rate an available electric power steering system current to a non-zero threshold value before fuel to the engine is shut off and reduce at a second rate different than the first rate the available electric power steering system current from the non-zero threshold value to 0 after fuel to the engine is shut off.

System and method for controlling electric power steering assist

An auto stop-start equipped vehicle power management system includes a primary power source supplying energy to an electrical starter to crank a vehicle engine and a secondary power source coupled in parallel to the primary power source. The secondary power source supplies energy to electric loads during an engine auto stop-start operation. The electrical loads maintain vehicle subsystem functionality during the engine auto stop-start operation. The energy supplied to the electrical loads is current limited during the engine auto stop-start operation. A controllable switch decouples the secondary power source from the primary power source and starter motor during the engine auto stop-start operation. Operating parameters of the electrical loads are monitored during the engine auto stop-start operation. If a respective operating parameter threshold associated with the electrical loads is exceeded during the engine auto stop-start operation, then the vehicle engine is automatically restarted and the controllable switch is subsequently closed.

Apparatus and method to maximize vehicle functionality and fuel economy with improved drivability during engine auto stop-start operations

An autonomous steering system for a vehicle includes a park assist steering module configured to generate a first steering angle command across a communication network of the vehicle. A backup assist steering module is also configured to generate a second steering angle command across the communication network of the vehicle. A steering angle controller is configured to receive the first and second steering angle commands and generate a third steering angle command for controlling a steered wheel of the vehicle based on acceptable steering column torque conditions for the respective steering module.

Steering angle control for multiple features

An electric power assist steering motor sensor redundancy system is disclosed comprising a brushless motor selectively providing a first predetermined level of steering assistance for a vehicle. A first sensor and second sensor provide position information of the brushless motor to a motor controller. An alternative sensing system for the brushless motor may be selectively utilized to provide position information of the brushless motor to the controller when at least one of the first sensor or the second sensor fails.

Electric power assist steering motor sensor redundancy

An automotive vehicle includes an engine and at least one controller. The at least one controller receives information about steering angle velocity or steering input torque during an engine auto stop event, and determines whether to allow the engine to auto stop based on the received information.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

William James Bouse