A vehicle theft deterrent apparatus includes a driver verifier, a steering torque detector, an actuator, and a steering controller. The steering torque detector is configured to detect steering torque input by a driver to a steering system. The actuator is configured to generate drive torque to be given to the steering system. The driver verifier is configured to verify whether driver information obtained from the driver matches registered information registered in advance. The steering controller is configured to control the drive torque generated by the actuator based on the steering torque. In a case where the driver verifier determines that the driver information does not match the registered information, the steering controller is configured to permit the driver to steer until a vehicle drives a set distance, and then to cause the actuator to generate the drive torque prohibiting the driver from steering.

A locking mechanism for a motor is provided. The locking mechanism includes a detent mounted on a shaft coupled to the motor, and a solenoid including an electromagnetic coil, a plunger, and a spring that holds the plunger at an extended state. The plunger engages the detent at the extended state when no voltage is applied, and the spring is configured to exert a predetermined force for the plunger to engage the detent to lock the shaft. The plunger retracts away from the detent to allow rotation of the motor shaft when a voltage is applied to the solenoid.

The electric steering lock device (1) is provided with a cam (40) which is arranged to allow forward and reverse rotation inside of a frame (10), and a lock member (50) which, while following a cam surface (41) of the rotating cam (40), is arranged to be movable forward and backward between a locked position at the advancing end and an unlocked position at the retreating end. The cam face (41) comprises a locking and unlocking segment (41b) for moving the lock member (50) and a lock release position segment (41c). A change ratio of a cam lift amount to a rotation angle of the cam (40) in the lock release position segment (41c) is constructed to be smaller than the change ratio of the can lift amount to the rotational angle of the cam (40) in the locking and unlocking segment (41b).

The electric steering lock device (1) is provided with a cam (40) which is arranged to allow forward and reverse rotation inside of a frame (10), and a lock member (50) which, while following a cam surface (41) of the rotating cam (40), is arranged to be movable forward and backward between a locked position at the advancing end and an unlocked position at the retreating end. The cam face (41) comprises a locking and unlocking segment (41b) for moving the lock member (50) and a lock release position segment (41c). A change ratio of a cam lift amount to a rotation angle of the cam (40) in the lock release position segment (41c) is constructed to be smaller than the change ratio of the can lift amount to the rotational angle of the cam (40) in the locking and unlocking segment (41b).

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.

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 system for estimating torque in a locked vehicle system may include a locking mechanism comprising a stiff material. The system may further include a controller configured to estimate an amount of torque in the locked vehicle system based on a deformation of the stiff material.

A system for estimating torque in a locked vehicle system may include a locking mechanism comprising a stiff material. The system may further include a controller configured to estimate an amount of torque in the locked vehicle system based on a deformation of the stiff material.

A locking device for a motor vehicle having a steering column has a blocking bolt that locks the steering wheel shaft in the steering wheel column, wherein the blocking bolt is movable between a first and a second position, a return element that returns the blocking bolt to the first position, and at least one protection cover that at least partially covers the return element. In the first position, the blocking bolt is in blocking engagement with the steering wheel shaft. In the second position, the blocking bolt is disengaged from the steering wheel shaft. The return element is a torsion spring. The torsion spring is a coil spring with a coil body and a connection hook. A first end portion of the torsion spring has a hook extension, and is inserted into an opening of the blocking bolt and is covered at least partially by the blocking bolt.

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.