The invention relates to a rotary control device (1) for steering a vehicle comprising a user interface surface (3), in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing (5) of the device (1) around a rotational axis (7) of the device (1), further comprising a sensor unit (9) for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface (3) with respect to the housing (5), a processing unit (11), and a communications interface (13) for transmitting control signals (Ts) according to an output (Op) from the processing unit (11), said output (Op) being generated by the processing unit (11) on the basis of sensor data (Ds) from the sensor unit (9).

A steer-by-wire steering system includes a controller configured to execute a steering control process and a determining process of determining a converted operation amount by converting an actual wheel steering amount to an operation amount of an operation member based on an inverse of a steering gear ratio. In the determining process, when the steering gear ratio abruptly changes, the controller converts a gap of the converted operation amount generated at a time point of occurrence of the abrupt change to a gap of the wheel steering amount to grasp a converted steering amount offset value. While gradually decreasing the converted steering amount offset value, the controller thereafter re-converts the converted steering amount offset value to the gap of the converted operation amount based on the inverse of the steering gear ratio to determine a converted operation amount correction value and corrects the converted operation amount based on the value.

An electromagnetic motor comprising an inner stator comprising a plurality of stator teeth, each surrounded by one or more turns of electrical wire, a controller which generates a set of currents that are applied to phase windings of the inner stator to generate a pattern of magnetic poles spaced around the inner stator, the spacing between the magnetic poles being larger than the spacing between adjacent teeth of the inner stator, an outer stator that is concentric with the inner stator and comprises an alternating set of magnet poles, the spacing between adjacent magnet poles being smaller than the spacing of the magnetic poles of a first array created by the controller, and an intermediate rotor part that is located between the inner stator and the outer stator and comprises an array of pole pieces, in which the pole pieces of the intermediate rotor part shape a magnetic flux acting between the inner and outer stators, and whereby in use the controller is arranged to control a torque applied to the rotor part by moving the pattern of magnetic poles of the inner stator around an axis of a torque generator.

A steering apparatus for a vehicle that utilizes steer-by-wire controls and may selectively be operated in an autonomous mode comprises a body mounted sliding steering column. The body mounted sliding steering column includes an arm that slides between a stowed position and a use position on at least one rail attached to a frame of the vehicle. The arm supports a steering column that may also be adjustable between a retracted position and an extended position. The arm also houses a force feedback motor in force-transmitting communication with the steering column.

An actuator that applies force to a member associated with steering, and a control device that controls the actuator, have duplex configuration. First and second control devices compute the same controlled variable as first and second controlled variables, respectively. In a normal mode, the control device controls the actuator according to the first controlled variable. The first and second control devices send and receive respectively computed controlled variables to and from each other via communications. When a discrepancy arises between the first and second controlled variables, or an abnormality occurs in communications between the first and second control devices, the operating mode is switched from the normal mode to an independent mode. In the independent mode, the first and second control devices control the first and second actuators, according to the first and second controlled variables, respectively.

A apparatus for controlling a steer-by-wire system including: a reaction torque generator configured to generate reaction torque as a calculated value of steering reaction torque applied to a steering wheel; a driver torque estimator configured to detect a driver torque estimation value as an estimated value of driver steering torque; a speed controller configured to generate a motor torque command value of a motor-driven power steering system; a torque adjuster configured to calibrate the motor torque command value and the reaction torque based on the driver torque estimation value, and output final active return torque and final reaction torque; and a target current generator configured to generate a target current for motor control by using the final active return torque and the final reaction torque, inputted from the torque adjuster, and input the generated target current to a motor.

A hand-wheel actuator for preventing over rotation of a hand-wheel shaft. The hand-wheel actuator comprises a housing that defines an opening aligned about an axis. The hand-wheel shaft extends along and is rotatable about the axis. A drive gear is rotationally coupled to the hand-wheel shaft, wherein the drive gear is at least partially disposed in the opening and includes a drive gear tooth. A stop gear is coupled to the housing and includes a plurality of stop gear teeth for engagement with the drive gear tooth and prevents rotation of the drive gear over a predetermined threshold.

A linear actuator for a steer-by-wire system including a component, in particular an axle or a shaft, that can be moved along a linear trajectory, and including a measuring device for determining a position of the component. The measuring device has a coil for inductively determining the position of the component, and the coil is arranged coaxially relative to the linear trajectory of the component.

A control device for a vehicle includes a plurality of control circuits configured to control a control object in cooperation or in combination by starting with powering-on of a vehicle as a trigger. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured to perform a synchronization process and power latch control. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured to maintain the operation mode immediately before the vehicle has been powered off in a period in which the power latch control is being performed. Each of the plurality of control circuits is configured not to perform the synchronization process in a predetermined period when the vehicle has been powered on.

A control device for a vehicle includes a plurality of control circuits configured to control a control object by starting in response to powering-on of a vehicle and to perform power latch control for continuing to be supplied with electric power in a predetermined period in response to powering-off of the vehicle. Each of the control circuits is configured to perform starting after all of the control circuits have recognized the powering-on of the vehicle in a case where the vehicle is powered on while the power latch control is being performed after the vehicle has been powered off.