Kevin L Mclaughlin

US Patent:

6448731, Sep 10, 2002

Filed:

Jul 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/601172

Inventors:

Joseph D. Miller - Farmington Hills MI
Kevin M. McLaughlin - Troy MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

G05B 400

US Classification:

318488

Abstract:

An electric assist steering system ( ) includes a torque sensor ( ) that provides an applied torque signal ( ) indicative of applied steering torque. A motor position sensor ( ) provides a motor position signal ( ) indicative of the relative position between the rotor and the stator of an AC permanent magnet electric assist motor ( ). A first controller ( ) controls energization of the electric assist motor and a second controller ( ) calculates a DQ vector value in response to applied steering torque and motor position. The second controller ( ) also transforms the monitored motor current and position into DQ values. The second controller ( ) compares the DQ values responsive to applied steering torque with the DQ value from monitored motor current and position. The electric assist motor ( ) is disabled if the comparison indicates inconsistent results.

US Patent:

6631781, Oct 14, 2003

Filed:

Feb 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/077594

Inventors:

Andrew James Stephen Williams - Solihull, GB
Russell Wilson Jones - Stratford-upon-Avon, GB
Anthony Walter Burton - Solihull, GB
Simon David Stevens - West Midlands, GB
Kevin McLaughlin - Troy MI

Assignee:

TRW Lucas Varity Electric Steering, Ltd.

International Classification:

H02P 700

US Classification:

180443, 180446, 318432

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for controlling an electric steering assist system, which system provides assist in response to a steering control signal, the apparatus comprising: torque sensing means ( ) operatively connected to a vehicle hand wheel ( ) for providing a torque signal (Ts) indicative of applied steering torque, blending filter means connected to the torque sensing means ( ) for providing a blended filtered torque signal having a first functional characteristic at torque frequencies less than a blending frequency and a second functional characteristic at torque frequencies greater than the blending frequency, the blending filter means including a low pass filter ( ) which passes all frequencies below the blending frequency and a high pass filter ( ) which passes all frequencies above the blending frequency, steering assist means for providing steering assist in response to a control signal, control means operatively connected to the blending filter means for providing said control signal to the steering assist means in response to the blended filtered torque signal, and means ( ) whereby high frequency gain of the steering assist system is arranged to be low for on-center operation of the hand wheel and relatively higher for off-center operation.

US Patent:

6789641, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Aug 14, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/219560

Inventors:

Kevin M McLaughlin - Troy MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B62D 509

US Classification:

180446, 701 42

Abstract:

A method for controlling an electric assist motor ( ) for providing steering assist in response to a sensed torque signal ( ) includes the step of filtering the sensed torque signal to provide a low frequency torque signal ( ) and a high frequency torque signal ( ). A low frequency assist torque signal ( ) is determined as a function of the low frequency torque signal ( ). A high frequency assist gain signal (K ) is determined as a function of the sensed torque signal ( ) and a sensed vehicle speed ( ). The high frequency assist gain signal (K ) is applied to the high frequency torque signal ( ) to determine a high frequency assist torque signal ( ) A torque command signal ( ) is determined as a function of the low frequency assist torque signal ( ) and the high frequency assist torque signal ( ) The electric assist motor ( ) is commanded to provide steering assist in accordance with the torque command signal ( ).

US Patent:

7483796, Jan 27, 2009

Filed:

Dec 8, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/007520

Inventors:

Kevin M. McLaughlin - Troy MI, US
Joseph D. Miller - Farmington Hills MI, US

Assignee:

TRW Automotive U.S. LLC - Livonia MI

International Classification:

G01R 31/00

US Classification:

702 58

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for determining a fault in an electric motor () determines a calculated star voltage (V) of the electric motor. The calculated star voltage (V) is compared to a measured star voltage (V) of the electric motor () to determine a star voltage error (V). The fault in the electric motor () is determined when the star voltage error (V) exceeds a predetermined maximum star voltage error (V).

US Patent:

55044034, Apr 2, 1996

Filed:

May 20, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/246947

Inventors:

Kevin M. McLaughlin - Troy MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

H02P 700

US Classification:

318432

Abstract:

A steering assist system (10) providing assist in response to a steering control signal includes a vehicle speed sensor (56) for sensing vehicle speed and for providing a speed signal having a value indicative of the sensed vehicle speed and a torque sensor (44) operatively connected to a vehicle hand wheel (12) for providing a torque signal indicative of applied steering torque. A blending filter (70, 71) is connected to the torque sensor and provides a blended filtered torque signal having a non-linear characteristic at torque frequencies less than a blending frequency and a linear characteristic at torque frequencies greater than the blending frequency. The blending filter establishing the blending frequency at a value functionally related to vehicle speed. Steering assist motor (28) provides steering assist in response to a control signal. The control signal is provided in response to the blended filtered torque signal.

US Patent:

59989521, Dec 7, 1999

Filed:

Apr 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/835630

Inventors:

Kevin Michael McLaughlin - Troy MI
Stuart Walter Parker - Redondo Beach CA

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

H02P 700

US Classification:

318432

Abstract:

Current control values are established for an electric motor including providing a table of motor current control values as a function of motor operating angle, providing a torque request signal indicative of the desired amount of torque to be supplied by the motor, and providing a torque command signal having a value functionally related to the torque request signal and a feed-forward torque signal. The motor operating angle is monitored and the motor is energized using current control values from the table in response to the torque command signal. The amount of torque ripple experienced by the motor is measured when the motor is energized. The measured torque ripple is filtered using a time domain filter and a time domain filtered torque ripple signal is provided. The time domain filtered torque ripple signal is then averaged and the averaged time domain filtered torque ripple signal is then filtered using a spatial domain filter, the spatially filtered averaged time domain filtered torque ripple signal is the used as the feed-forward torque signal. The current control values output to the motor is stored as a function of motor operating angle for the provided torque request value when the torque ripple value is less than a predetermined value.

US Patent:

54752892, Dec 12, 1995

Filed:

Nov 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/334243

Inventors:

Kevin M. McLaughlin - Troy MI
Mark W. Gluch - Grosse Ile MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

H02P 700

US Classification:

318432

Abstract:

A control arrangement for an electric assist steering system having a variable reluctance motor (26) includes sensing (54) motor position and sensing (110) applied steering torque. A controller determines a desired motor torque assist value in response to the applied steering torque. A plurality of look-up tables are provided having a plurality of motor current values versus motor position values stored therein. The stored motor current values are functionally related to motor position values. The controller selects a first (T1) and second (T2) torque look-up table from the plurality of look-up tables. The first look-up table corresponds to a torque value less than the desired motor torque assist value. The second look-up table corresponds to a torque value greater than the desired motor torque assist value. A first motor current value (I1) is determined by interpolating between two current values corresponding to two motor positions stored in the first look-up table closest to the sensed motor position.

US Patent:

55683894, Oct 22, 1996

Filed:

Mar 11, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/212112

Inventors:

Kevin M. McLaughlin - Troy MI
Joseph D. Miller - Farmington Hills MI

Assignee:

TRW Inc. - Lyndhurst OH

International Classification:

B62D 504

US Classification:

36442405

Abstract:

A steering assist system (10) providing assist in response to a steering control signal includes a vehicle speed sensor (150) for sensing vehicle speed and for providing a speed signal having a value indicative of the sensed vehicle speed and a torque sensor (110) operatively connected to a vehicle hand wheel (12) for providing a torque signal indicative of applied steering torque. A controller (120) is connected to the vehicle speed sensor (150) and to the torque sensor (110). The controller (120) includes a first set of torque-in vs. torque-out assist values (132) associated with a first vehicle speed and a second set of torque-in vs. torque-out assist values (130) associated with a second vehicle speed. The controller (120) provides the steering control signal in response to applied steering torque and having a value functionally related to (i) the vehicle speed signal and (ii) both the first set and second set of torque-in vs. torque-out assist values.