IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,011,296
Granted Patent B2
US 10,011,296 · App. 15/358,386 · Granted Jul 3, 2018

Synchronizing vehicle steering

Inventors: Steven R. El Aile (Sterling Heights, MI); Darrel Alan Recker (Ypsilanti, MI); John P. Joyce (West Bloomfield, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B62D5/0478B62D5/0433B62D7/224B62D15/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,011,296
App. No.
15/358,386
Granted
Jul 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Vehicle steering can be synchronized by first, turning the steering rack from lock-to-lock to determine a steering rack midpoint, second, turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock to determine a steering wheel midpoint, third, synchronizing the steering rack with the steering wheel based on the steering rack midpoint and the steering wheel midpoint, and fourth, piloting a vehicle based on the synchronized steering rack and steering wheel; wherein the steering rack is mechanically decoupled from a steering wheel of the vehicle before turning the steering rack from lock-to-lock and before turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.

Claims (47)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

turn a steering gear from lock-to-lock to determine a steering gear midpoint;

turn a steering wheel from lock-to-lock to determine a steering wheel midpoint;

synchronize the steering gear with the steering wheel based on the steering gear midpoint and the steering wheel midpoint; and

pilot a vehicle based on the synchronized steering gear and steering wheel;

wherein the steering gear is mechanically decoupled from the steering wheel of the vehicle before turning the steering gear from lock-to-lock and before turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed by a clutch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed electronically by an active steering system.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein synchronize the steering gear with the steering wheel includes reposition one of the steering gear and the steering wheel to align with the other.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

turn the steering wheel from right lock to left lock and average measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering wheel midpoint.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

turn the steering gear from right lock to left lock and average measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering gear midpoint.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

de-synchronize the steering gear and the steering wheel by de-powering the steering gear, servicing the steering gear, or resetting the steering gear and the steering wheel.

8. A method, comprising:

turning a steering gear from lock-to-lock to determine a steering gear midpoint;

turning a steering wheel from lock-to-lock to determine a steering wheel midpoint;

synchronizing the steering gear with the steering wheel based on the steering gear midpoint and the steering wheel midpoint; and

piloting a vehicle based on the synchronized steering gear and steering wheel;

wherein the steering gear is mechanically decoupled from the steering wheel of the vehicle before turning the steering gear from lock-to-lock and before turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed by a clutch.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed electronically by an active steering system.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein synchronizing the steering gear with the steering wheel includes repositioning one of the steering gear and the steering wheel to align with the other.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

turning the steering wheel from right lock to left lock and averaging measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering wheel midpoint.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

turning the steering gear from right lock to left lock and averaging measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering gear midpoint.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

de-synchronizing the steering gear and the steering wheel by de-powering the steering gear, servicing the steering gear, or resetting the steering gear and the steering wheel.

15. A vehicle, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

turn a steering gear from lock-to-lock and to determine a steering gear midpoint;

turn a steering wheel from lock-to-lock to determine a steering wheel midpoint;

synchronize the steering gear with the steering wheel based on the steering gear midpoint and the steering wheel midpoint; and

pilot the vehicle based on the synchronized steering gear and steering wheel;

wherein the steering gear is mechanically decoupled from the steering wheel of the vehicle before turning the steering gear from lock-to-lock and before turning the steering wheel from lock-to-lock.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed by a clutch.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein mechanical decoupling is performed electronically by an active steering system.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein synchronize the steering gear with the steering wheel includes reposition one of the steering gear and the steering wheel to align with the other.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

turn the steering wheel from right lock to left lock and average measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering wheel midpoint.

20. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising:

turn the steering gear from right lock to left lock and average measurements of a relative angle sensor to determine the steering gear midpoint.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2016
From: EL AILE, STEVEN R.; JOYCE, JOHN P.; RECKER, DARREL ALAN
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 040665/0988 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180141584A1 · May 24, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,545,317