US4848791A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining steering position of automotive steering mechanism
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
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Filing: 1988-01-06
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Granted: 1989-07-18
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Expires: 2008-01-06
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method for determining the steering position of a steering system installed in a vehicle uses a filtering device and technique which operates with a signal representative of the steering system's motion to derive the actual steering system position with respect to a center position.
Inventors
- 👤 Geoffrey F. Bridges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:02
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/015; B60G17/019; B62; B62D; B62D15/00; B62D15/02; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/40; B60G2202/41; B60G2202/412; B60G2400/00; B60G2400/10; B60G2400/106; B60G2400/20; B60G2400/204; B60G2400/25; B60G2400/252; B60G2400/40; B60G2400/41; B60G2400/412; B60G2401/00; B60G2401/14; B60G2600/00; B60G2600/60; B60G2600/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital bandpass filter having a fixed low pass pole and a movable high pass pole.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital bandpass filter having a fixed low pass pole and a movable high pass pole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the position of said high pass pole is a function of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein the position of said high pass pole is a function of the amount of time said system has been in operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein the amount of time said system has been in operation is set equal to zero whenever said vehicle remains idle for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital high pass filter having a movable pole combined with an analog filter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
70 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital high pass filter having a movable pole combined with an analog filter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein the position of said movable pole is a function of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the position of said pole is a function of the amount of time said system has been in operation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein the amount of time said system has been in operation is set equal to zero whenever said vehicle remains idle for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein the position of said pole is fixed after said system has been in operation for a predetermined amount of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 5 wherein said analog filter comprises an anti-aliasing filter.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism, with said signal means comprising a rotary device, operatively connected with a rotatable steering shaft, for generating repeating marker signals representing rotation of the steering shaft, with said marker signals corresponding to the direction and distance the steering mechanism has been moved from a starting position, and means for accumulating an arithmetic sum of said signals, with said sum steering system has moved during any period in which the sum is calculated, and with said signal means further comprising means for transmitting said sum as said first signal; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital high pass filter with a movable pole, combined with an analog low pass filter.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
160 words
A system for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising: signal means for generating a first signal related to the motion of said steering mechanism, with said signal means comprising a rotary device, operatively connected with a rotatable steering shaft, for generating repeating marker signals representing rotation of the steering shaft, with said marker signals corresponding to the direction and distance the steering mechanism has been moved from a starting position, and means for accumulating an arithmetic sum of said signals, with said sum steering system has moved during any period in which the sum is calculated, and with said signal means further comprising means for transmitting said sum as said first signal; and processor means for filtering said first signal so as to produce a second signal representative of the position of said steering system, with said processor means comprising a digital high pass filter with a movable pole, combined with an analog low pass filter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 11 wherein the position of said movable pole is a function of the amount of time said system has been in operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 12 wherein said movable pole is a function of the amount of time said system has been in operation at a vehicle speed above a predetermined threshold.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising the steps of: logging the number of steps the steering mechanism moves from a steering position; filtering said logged steering position data with a bandpass filter means to calculate the instantaneous position of said steering mechanism; and changing the position of at least one of the poles of said bandpass filter as a function of time.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for determining the steering position of an automotive steering mechanism, comprising the steps of: logging the number of steps the steering mechanism moves from a steering position; filtering said logged steering position data with a bandpass filter means to calculate the instantaneous position of said steering mechanism; and changing the position of at least one of the poles of said bandpass filter as a function of time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-07-17 | 1993-01-16 | 1993-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-07-17 | 1997-01-16 | 1997-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-07-17 | 2001-01-16 | 2001-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |