The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2007
Timothy W. Kaufmann, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Joel E. Birsching, Vassar, MI (US);
Timothy W. Kaufmann, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Joel E. Birsching, Vassar, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A method of determining a direction of a power boost applied to a power cylinder of a variable effort power steering system includes measuring a pressure of a hydraulic fluid between a pump and a control valve. A first position of the hand wheel is detected and initialized when the pressure is within a pre-defined equilibrium pressure range. A second position of the hand wheel is detected in response to rotational movement of the hand wheel. The first position and the second position of the hand wheel are measured in cumulative degrees rotated left or right of a on-center orientation of the hand wheel. The second position is subtracted from the first position to obtain a differential value representing the direction of the power boost. A negative differential value represents a first direction and a positive differential value represents a second direction of the power boost.