A steer-by-wire steering system may include an actuation control system to actuate road wheels via a rack and pinion steering gear and a steering wheel control system to simulate a steering feel of a mechanically linked steering system to a steering device. The actuation control system may have a second control unit, and the steering wheel control system may have a first control unit and an actuator. An automatic driving electronic control unit may decide if a drive mode is vehicle-controlled or driver-controlled. If driver-controlled, the first control unit may rotate the steering wheel by a turning angle by activating the actuator according to a pre-set function depending on a rotation angle of a pinion to simulate the steering feel. If vehicle-controlled, the first control unit may rotate the steering wheel by a reduced turning angle by activating the actuator according to a fraction of the pre-set function.

A correction circuit receives a steering torque and an electric signal indicative of an operating state of a clutch. The correction circuit selectively uses a first correction value and a second correction value in accordance with the operating state of the clutch. The first correction value is set to correct deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point when an exciting coil of the clutch is not energized. The second correction value is set to correct deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point, caused by magnetic flux generated by energization of the exciting coil of the clutch. Adding the first correction value or the second correction value to the steering torque in accordance with the operating state of the clutch suitably corrects deviation of the steering torque relative to its zero point in accordance with the operating state of the clutch.

[Problem] An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering apparatus that can perform an angle estimating by using a motor regenerative current so as to accurately perform an angle estimating even in a low speed steering. [Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention is the electric power steering apparatus that calculates a current command value based on at least a steering torque, driving-controls a motor, which applies an assist torque to a steering system based on the current command value, by an inverter with respective phase duties of a PWM, and detects an angle of the steering system or the motor, comprising: an angle estimating section to estimate the angle when a detecting system of the angle is failed, wherein the electric power steering apparatus performs an assist-control based on an estimating angle that is estimated at the angle estimating section. The present invention can be also adapted to the control of the motor having multi-system windings.

A steering system includes: a steering shaft to which a steering member is coupled; a worm wheel attached to the steering shaft so as to be rotatable integrally with the steering shaft; a housing that houses the worm wheel; an output shaft that is coaxial with the steering shaft and rotatable relative to the steering shaft and coupled to a steering operation mechanism; and a clutch mechanism that enables and disables transmission of power between the steering shaft and the output shaft. The clutch mechanism is housed and disposed in an internal space in the housing. A solenoid in the clutch mechanism is disposed on the opposite side of the worm wheel in an axial direction from a mechanical portion of the clutch mechanism.

An actuator with reverse input blocking clutch has a function of switching the reverse input blocking clutch to a state in which torque can be transmitted between an input member and an output member, in a state in which reverse torque is input to the output member from an output-side mechanism, by applying torque to the input member by an actuator in an opposite direction to a direction of the reverse torque, and then by giving an instruction to the actuator to apply torque having a magnitude smaller than a magnitude of the reverse torque to the input member in the opposite direction, transmitting the reverse torque to the input member.

Vehicles and steering systems for vehicles are provided. An exemplary steering system is provided for an automotive vehicle that includes road wheels and a rack mechanically coupled to the road wheels and laterally displaceable to change an orientation of the road wheels. The steering system includes a steering wheel mounted on a steering column and rotatable by a driver for inputting a steering command. The steering system also includes a lower column coupled to the rack. In the steering system, lateral displacement of the rack causes a rotational torque on the lower column. The steering system further includes a magneto-rheological coupling interconnected between the steering column and the lower column. The magneto-rheological coupling selectively communicates a desired portion of the rotational torque on the lower column to the steering column to provide haptic feedback to the steering column.

A steering assembly for a steer-by-wire vehicle comprises a rotatably mounted elongate steering column configured for attachment of a steering member at one end, the steering column being rotatable about its longitudinal axis in either direction from a straight-ahead position. The steering assembly further comprises a damper having a housing defining a volume for receipt of a damping fluid; a stator within the housing and rotatably fixed relative to the housing; and a rotor within the housing, the rotor being coupled with the steering column and rotatable therewith. Each of the stator and rotor comprises a shear surface, the shear surfaces of the stator and the rotor being positioned adjacent one another to generate a resistance to rotation of the rotor when the housing contains damping fluid; and the total surface area of the shear surfaces of the stator and the rotor positioned adjacent one another which generates the resistance to rotation of the rotor varies as the steering column is rotated from the straight-ahead position.

An actuator with reverse input blocking clutch has a function of switching the reverse input blocking clutch to a state in which torque can be transmitted between an input member and an output member, in a state in which reverse torque is input to the output member from an output-side mechanism, by applying torque to the input member by an actuator in an opposite direction to a direction of the reverse torque, and then by giving an instruction to the actuator to apply torque having a magnitude smaller than a magnitude of the reverse torque to the input member in the opposite direction, transmitting the reverse torque to the input member.

An active suspension system comprises at least one biasing device configured to support a body from a structure, and at least one motor. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus(es) is coupled to the at least one motor to receive torque from the motor, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of torque. A mechanism is between the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus and the body to convert the torque received from the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus into a force on the body. Sensor(s) provide information indicative of a state of the body or structure. A controller receives the information indicative of the state of the body or structure and for outputting a signal to control the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting a desired force on the body to control movement of the body according to a desired movement behavior.

An integrated clutch steering mechanism for an autonomous vehicle (AV) can include a steering clutch coupled to a steering column of the AV, and an AV steering motor coupled to the steering clutch. The AV steering motor can apply torque to the steering column via the steering clutch to control steering of the AV. When a predetermined amount of torque is exceeded on the steering column, the steering clutch slips to enable manual steering of the AV.