An electronic circuit includes a regulator circuit including at least one regulator configured to supply a predetermined voltage by receiving a power supply from a main power source circuit, a functional circuit configured to operate on the voltage supplied from the regulator and perform a predetermined function, and a monitor circuit connected to at least one of the regulators and configured to monitor operation mode information inputted to the regulator. When detecting that the operation mode information contains sleep transition information to make a transition from a normal mode as a normal operation state to a sleep mode as an operation state where power consumption is smaller than that in the normal mode, the monitor circuit outputs a voltage output maintaining signal to the regulator connected to the monitor circuit to supply the voltage capable of causing the functional circuit to operate in the normal mode.

A variable steering angle steering device rotationally drives a rotational element using a steering angle ratio adjustment motor so as to change the relationship between the amount of rotation of a first rotating shaft and the amount of rotation of a second rotating shaft, thereby changing the relationship between the amount of steering of the steering wheel and the amount of change in steering angle. The steering angle ratio adjustment motor is supported and fixed at a part of a steering column forward than a portion at which the steering column is supported with respect to a support frame. In the event of primary collision, the steering angle ratio adjustment motor collides with the support frame and is thereby prevented from being displaced rearward beyond the support frame.

A variable steering angle steering device rotationally drives a rotational element using a steering angle ratio adjustment motor so as to change the relationship between the amount of rotation of a first rotating shaft and the amount of rotation of a second rotating shaft, thereby changing the relationship between the amount of steering of the steering wheel and the amount of change in steering angle. The steering angle ratio adjustment motor is supported and fixed at a part of a steering column forward than a portion at which the steering column is supported with respect to a support frame. In the event of primary collision, the steering angle ratio adjustment motor collides with the support frame and is thereby prevented from being displaced rearward beyond the support frame.

The invention relates to an anti-theft device (1) for a steering column of a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising: a bolt (7) mounted such that it can move in translation in the device (1) between a position in which the steering column is locked and a position in which the column is released, and a means (15) for controlling the movement of the bolt (7). The device also comprises a drive means (9) connecting the control means (15) and the bolt (7), said drive means (9) including a housing (20) that receives at least part of a locking element (19) when the locking element (19) is in the rest and active positions. The aforementioned locking element (19) is configured to co-operate with the control means such as, in the active position, to lock the drive means (9) when the bolt (7) is in the locked position.

The invention relates to an anti-theft device (1) for a steering column of a motor vehicle, said device (1) comprising: a bolt (7) mounted such that it can move in translation in the device (1) between a position in which the steering column is locked and a position in which the column is released, and a means (15) for controlling the movement of the bolt (7). The device also comprises a drive means (9) connecting the control means (15) and the bolt (7), said drive means (9) including a housing (20) that receives at least part of a locking element (19) when the locking element (19) is in the rest and active positions. The aforementioned locking element (19) is configured to co-operate with the control means such as, in the active position, to lock the drive means (9) when the bolt (7) is in the locked position.

A steer-by-wire steering apparatus comprises a plurality of locking projections that project radially outward of a upper shaft; a rotation range limiting projection that is fixed to the upper shaft and has an engaged portion located on the radially outer side of outer peripheral ends of the locking projections; a radially movable lock member that is located on the radially outer side than the locking projections when a drive source switch is ON, and has at least a part located at the same radial position as the locking projections when the switch is OFF; and a rotation range limiting member that has at least a part located at the same radial position as the engaged portion regardless of whether or not a steering actuator that changes steered angle of steered wheels is in an operable state when the switch is at least ON.

A column housing for a vehicle steering system is made of synthetic resin and coupled outside a column tube of a steering column for the vehicle system, the column housing including: a slit which is formed to be elongated in a predetermined direction so that the column housing is deformed inward when the column housing is pressed on and fixed to the column tube positioned inside the column housing; and a first reinforcing portion which is formed so as to protrude outward at a predetermined portion from an end position of an end portion of the slit to the periphery of the slit where the slit is not formed, and has a shape having an increased thickness relative to other portions of the column housing.

A column housing for a vehicle steering system is made of synthetic resin and coupled outside a column tube of a steering column for the vehicle system, the column housing including: a slit which is formed to be elongated in a predetermined direction so that the column housing is deformed inward when the column housing is pressed on and fixed to the column tube positioned inside the column housing; and a first reinforcing portion which is formed so as to protrude outward at a predetermined portion from an end position of an end portion of the slit to the periphery of the slit where the slit is not formed, and has a shape having an increased thickness relative to other portions of the column housing.

A steering lock locks a steering member with a lockbolt movable along an axis between locking and unlocking positions. A first member having a first cam surface is rotatable by an actuator in a first direction for locking the lockbolt. A second member having a second cam surface is engaged with the first cam surface. The second member is translatable along the axis in a locking direction by rotation of the first member. An unlocking spring is compressible through a range of movement of the second member in the first direction to store increasing potential energy. The cam surfaces are engaged such that unlocking of the lockbolt is carried out by the stored energy in the unlocking spring, which is released in a continuously increasing manner controlled by the actuator as the first member is rotated by the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering system has at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling. In doing so, it is provided that the electric motor is actuated and an electric current flowing between the current source and the electric motor is measured in order to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present.