The present invention is directed to a video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots. An embodiment of the present invention includes a set top box having an internal storage device, such as a hard drive where broadcasts are transferred from a broadcast input source to the storage device. The set top box is connected to an output device such as a television, which displays a graphical user interface (GUI) and an interactive program guide (IPG). The user has the option to extend a chosen time slot, in which a show is scheduled to be transferred to the storage device. The time slot may be extended before the show, after the show, or both. The system also implements an automatic extension of the time slot by default, which is used to ensure that the data is completely captured to the system, in case the broadcast and the set top box are slightly out of sync, the broadcaster unexpectedly begins a show's broadcast slightly early or late, or the show unexpectedly runs longer than the IPG indicates.

Video recorder having user extended and automatically extended time slots

The stability analysis of articulated frame steer vehicle models is presented. To reveal the relationship between the 'oversteer' and 'jack-knife' motion modes based on a 2 degree of freedom (DOF) and 3 DOF vehicle models, respectively, the results derived from these models are investigated and compared. To identify the effects of design variables on the lateral stability of the vehicle, a more realistic model with a hydraulic rotary valve and dynamic tyre models is generated on the basis of the 3 DOF model and the results derived from these models are examined and compared. Similar to traditional articulated vehicles, the jack-knife and 'snaking' modes were identified from practical operations of the articulated frame steer vehicles. Results demonstrate that, with the decrease of the angular spring (representing the hydraulic cylinder between the front and rear sections of the vehicle) stiffness coefficient, the oversteer mode evolves into the jack-knife mode. Compared with the static tyre model, the effects of dynamic transient lateral tyre force degrades the stability of the vehicle over the lower speed range. Results also illustrate that, with the fluid leakage either in the rotary valve or in the hydraulic cylinder, the stability of the oversteer mode dominated motion degrades. On the contrary, in the case of snaking mode dominated motion, the introduction of the fluid leakage will improve the stability of the vehicles.

Dynamic modelling and stability analysis of articulated frame steer vehicles

Demands for including more functions such as haptic guiding in power steering systems in road vehicles have increased with requirements on new active safety and comfort systems. Active safety syste ...

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Hydraulic power steering system design in road vehicles: analysis, testing and enhanced functionality

An electrically actuated, hydraulic power steering system is provided. The steering system includes a hydraulic pump for generating hydraulic pressure, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, a hydraulic cylinder, and a control valve arrangement that selectively connects the hydraulic cylinder to the pump and the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The control valve arrangement is characterized during the on-center position by a first and a second chamber of the hydraulic cylinder being in fluid communication with each other but not with the fluid reservoir. In one embodiment, the steering system has a steering sensor, a control box, and two pressure accumulators for providing at least two levels of steering assist.

Electrically actuated, hydraulic power steering system

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a steering system of a vehicle is provided. A detection unit is configured to obtain one or more of the following values: a compass heading, a global positioning system (GPS) heading, a yaw velocity, and a difference in tire angular velocities. A processor is coupled to the detection unit, and is configured to determine whether a vehicle is on a straight line path using one or more of the compass heading, the GPS heading, the yaw velocity, and the difference in tire angular velocities, activate the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is on a straight line path, and disable the feature of the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is not on a straight line path.

Methods and systems for controlling steering systems of vehicles

A power assist steering system including a valve housing and a proportional control valve supported within the valve housing, further includes a pressure transducer arranged with respect to the proportional control valve for determining an amount of actuation of the proportional control valve. A pressure signal is sent from the pressure transducer to a control for determining an amount of current to be sent to an electromagnetic apparatus within the power assist steering system for overcoming a pull force.

Steering system with leads and pulls compensation

Two Dimensional Modeling of a Rotary Power Steering Valve

An electric power steering assist mechanism with an isolated output shaft for a motor vehicle. An output shaft has a steering hand wheel disposed on an upper end and has an opposing lower end ultimately operably connected to the steerable wheels of the motor vehicle. The output shaft is concentrically received and rotatably supported within a tubular speed reducing gear, which is driven by a worm gear connected to an electric motor. An elastomeric isolator is disposed within an annular space between the speed reducing gear and the output shaft to provide compliance in the steering assist mechanism between the gears and the output shaft thereby reducing vibrations.

Electric power steering assist mechanism with isolated output shaft

A steering system with magnetic torque overlay of a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a hydraulic valve and differential-pressure transducer that monitors pressure created by the valve due to torque exerted by a driver of the vehicle in various directions on a steering wheel thereof. The transducer is fastened to a recirculating ball steering gear. A magnetic actuator generates an output of torque required from the steering gear for a maneuver of the steering wheel and applies the torque to the valve independently of input by the driver. A permanent magnet is located proximate the actuator. A control module calculates an appropriate amount of electric current and sends it to the actuator to generate the output torque. The torque is added to or subtracted from the system in any of the directions independently of the driver input by the pressure-monitoring and inputs from the vehicle into the control module.

Steering system with magnetic torque overlay

The invention provides a method for controlling valve stiffness in a power steering system. The method includes the step of engaging a pinion and a spool shaft with respect to one another for turning at least two wheels of a vehicle in response to rotation of a steering wheel from an on-center orientation. The method also includes the step of variably assisting movement of the pinion with a hydraulic power steering device having a valve movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The method also includes the step of moving the valve from the open configuration to the closed configuration in response to rotation of the spool shaft relative to the pinion from an on-center orientation to assist the pinion in rotation for turning the at least two wheels. The method also includes the step of first disposing a torsion rod having a first stiffness between the pinion and spool shaft to resist rotation of the spool shaft relative to the pinion from the on-center orientation and resist movement of the valve from the open configuration to the closed configuration. The method also includes the step of second disposing a magnetic coupling having a variable second stiffness in parallel with the torsion rod to resist rotation of the spool shaft relative to the pinion from the on-center orientation and resist movement of the valve from the open configuration to the closed configuration. The first stiffness and the variable second stiffness cooperate to define an overall valve stiffness. The method also includes the step of varying the variable second stiffness generated by the magnetic coupling with an electric coil to vary the overall valve stiffness. The method also includes the step of maximizing the variable second stiffness generated by the magnetic coupling when the spool shaft and the pinion are on-center with respect to one another.

Joel E. Birsching

Papers

Steering system with leads and pulls compensation

Two Dimensional Modeling of a Rotary Power Steering Valve

Electric power steering assist mechanism with isolated output shaft

Steering system with magnetic torque overlay

Electric preload for variable effort steering system