A torque detection device capable of suppressing intrusion of static electricity thereinto. A magnetism collection unit includes magnetism collection rings, first and second magnetism collection holders that hold the magnetism collection rings, respectively, and a magnetic shield that covers the outer peripheries of the magnetism collection rings. The inner peripheral surface of the first magnetism collection holder is provided wife recessed portions. The outer peripheral surface of the second magnetism collection holder is provided with engagement protrusions to be inserted into the recessed portions. The inner peripheral surface of the second magnetism collection holder is provided with recessed portions. The inner peripheral surface of the first magnetism collection holder is provided with protrusions that project toward the second magnetism collection holder. The protrusions are inserted into the recessed portions when the first magnetism collection holder and the second magnetism collection holder are assembled to each other.

An angle sensor includes a detection signal generation unit for generating detection signals, an angle detection unit for generating a detected angle value on the basis of the detection signals, and a condition determination apparatus. The condition determination apparatus includes a determination value generation unit for generating a determination value to be used for determining the condition of the angle sensor, and a determination unit for determining the condition of the angle sensor. The angle detection unit includes a common correction processing unit for performing common correction processing for converting uncorrected signals, which have correspondence with the detection signals, into common corrected signals to be used for the generation of the detected angle value and the generation of the determination value. The common correction processing reduces an angular error occurring in the detected angle value, and narrows the variation range of the determination value.

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.

A method for compensating a steering wheel angle signal, which is subject to an offset, in a vehicle, includes: a filtering step; and a use step. In the filtering step, the steering wheel angle signal is filtered while the vehicle is traveling, using a filtering rule, in order to obtain a mean value of the steering wheel angle signal. The steering wheel angle signal is filtered if a lane and/or a roadway of the vehicle meets predetermined criteria. In the use step, the mean value is used to compensate the offset.

A Steering Angle Sensor (SAS), equipped with a redundancy system to allow the bypass of any failing part, keeping all functionalities intact, while ensuring all the required safety integrity levels is provided. The proposed fail operational redundant steering angle sensor (100) has two functional blocks (70) responsible to determine the absolute angle between at least two angling sensing devices, detecting systematic failures of the devices.

The present invention is a guidance computing system used by the driver of a vehicle towing a trailer while backing-up that rapidly calculates and predicts the direction in which the tow vehicle and trailer will become generally in-line for a given position of the steering wheel, thereby enabling the use of slower, lower cost microcomputers. This is accomplished by using a predetermined table, based on a baseline trailer of known length, having a measure of turning as one of its axes; such an axis is necessary to facilitate ratiometric scaling to convert table values to correspond to any length trailer. In a specially equipped vehicle incorporating servomechanisms to enable the vehicle to steer itself, the driver indicates the direction desired for the trailer to travel. The present invention also predicts left and right path limits for controlling the direction of the trailer when maneuvering complex paths.

The present invention is a guidance computing system used by the driver of a vehicle towing a trailer while backing-up that rapidly calculates and predicts the direction in which the tow vehicle and trailer will become generally in-line for a given position of the steering wheel, thereby enabling the use of slower, lower cost microcomputers. This is accomplished by using a predetermined table, based on a baseline trailer of known length, having a measure of turning as one of its axes; such an axis is necessary to facilitate ratiometric scaling to convert table values to correspond to any length trailer. In a specially equipped vehicle incorporating servomechanisms to enable the vehicle to steer itself, the driver indicates the direction desired for the trailer to travel. The present invention also predicts left and right path limits for controlling the direction of the trailer when maneuvering complex paths.

An apparatus for compensating a steering angle signal and motor angle signal of an MDPS system may include: a motor torque compensator configured to compensate for mechanical deformation; an angular speed compensator configured to compensate for a difference between a steering angle and a motor angle; a sensor characteristic compensator configured to compensate for a steering position error of the steering angle sensor; and a hysteresis compensator configured to compensate for a hysteresis characteristic of the MDPS system.

A method of judging an abnormality of a zero point of a steering angle sensor that outputs a steering angle according to a turning operation amount of a steering shaft with a straight-ahead state of a vehicle being the zero point, the method has, when the steering angle which is a threshold value or larger continues to be output until travelling with a vehicle speed of a predetermined speed or higher reaches a predetermined cumulative time, judging that the zero point has deviated.

A position sensor, designed, in particular, for detecting torsion in a steering column, includes a first magnetized magnetic rotor structure comprising a plurality of magnets, two flux-collecting components, which define at least one air gap in which at least one magnetically sensitive element is positioned. Each collecting component has at least one primary collecting zone extended by at least one extension having at least one secondary collecting zone. The secondary collecting zones end in flattened shoes that form the two poles of the air gap. The transverse mid-plane of the air gap intersects at least one of the extensions.