Patent classifications
B62D5/0469
Steering control device
A steering control device includes a microcomputer. The microcomputer is configured to calculate a torque command value that is a target value of a motor torque, set a restricting value that is an upper limit of an absolute value of the torque command value, restrict the absolute value of the torque command value to be equal to or less than the restricting value, control driving of a motor such that the motor torque follows the restricted torque command value, calculate a steering angle restricting value that decreases based on an increase of an absolute value of a rotation angle, and an absolute value of an angular velocity, when the absolute value of the rotation angle of the rotary shaft exceeds a steering angle threshold, and set the restricting value to be a value equal to or less than the steering angle restricting value.
Detecting damage to components of an electric power steering system
An electric power steering system. The system includes a steering rack having a first end and a second end and at least one damper coupled to one of the first end and the second end. The system also includes an electronic controller configured to determine if the damper has been destroyed based upon a sensed steering angle being above a maximum steering angle threshold or based upon a received signal from an electrical circuit enclosed within the at least one damper.
Differentiation of a resisting torque according to direction of movement of a steering rack for improving feel of driver at the approach to an end-of-travel virtual stop
A method for managing a power steering system assist motor, includes defining, over the functional length of the actuator member, at least one reduced assist area separate from a normal assist area by an end-of-travel virtual threshold, a step of assessing an instantaneous position and a direction of the movement of the actuator member on the functional length, a step of applying an input resistance set point value to the assist motor when the actuator member crosses the end-of-travel virtual threshold in such a way as to move from the normal assist area into the reduced assist area. After the step of applying an input resistance set point value, an output resistance set point value is applied when the actuator member is in the reduced assist area and the direction of the movement of the actuator member is directed from the reduced assist area towards the normal assist area.
Steering device
A steering device includes: a mechanism configured to turn turning wheels of a vehicle; a motor configured to generate drive force that is applied to the mechanism; and a controller configured to control the motor in accordance with a steering state. The controller includes a determination circuit configured to determine whether or not one of the turning wheels is in contact with an obstacle based on at least a value of electric current that is supplied to the motor and a vehicle speed. The controller is configured to, when one of the turning wheels is in contact with the obstacle, notify a driver that one of the turning wheels is in contact with the obstacle.
CONTROL DEVICE AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING DEVICE
A control device includes a current command value calculation unit configured to calculate a first current command value causing an actuator to generate steering assist torque, a correction value calculation unit configured to, when an absolute value of steering angle is greater than or equal to a threshold value, calculate a correction value for suppressing increase in an absolute value of the steering angle by correcting the steering assist torque, a correction unit configured to calculate a second current command value obtained by correcting the first current command value by the correction value, and a driving unit configured to drive the actuator, based on the second current command value. The correction value calculation unit calculates the correction value, based on first torque, the first torque changing nonlinearly with respect to steering angular velocity.
STEERING CONTROL DEVICE
A steering control device is applied to a steer-by-wire system in which a steering mechanism and a turning mechanism are mechanically separated. The steering control device applied to the steer-by-wire system controls a drive of a steering motor that functions as a reaction motor that applies reaction torque to a steering wheel. A steering wheel lock calculating unit of the steering control device performs a steering wheel lock drive control for calculating a drive command so as to output a lock torque for maintaining a rotation stop state of the steering wheel by energizing the steering motor when a predetermined condition is satisfied while a vehicle is parked or stopped. A power converter converts power supply electric power according to the drive command calculated by the steering wheel lock calculating unit and supplies the electric power to the steering motor.
Variable travel stop to increase worm gear durability
Technical solutions are described for controlling operation of a motor using a controller to: energize the motor to rotate driveshaft and a worm; drive a worm gear by the worm; stop the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating to a given one of a plurality of first stop positions; and change the given one of the first stop positions to another one of the first stop positions. A method for controlling a machine comprises: rotating a driveshaft by a motor; driving a worm gear by a worm to cause the worm gear to rotate; stopping the motor from rotating the driveshaft in response to the worm gear rotating to a given one of a plurality of first stop positions; and changing the given one of the first stop positions to another one of the first stop positions.
Dynamic end-stops for electric power steering
A method for controlling an electrically powered steering assistance system including an electric motor for providing assisting torque to an axle of a vehicle such that impact between a wheel and the wheel housing can be prevented. Electrically powered steering assist systems include an electric motor for providing an assist steering torque to the steerable wheels of the vehicle. The electrical current used by the electric motor has a typical dependence with the amount of output torque from the motor. The electrical current of the electrical current used by the electric motor exhibits distinguishable characteristics when the wheels reach the end stop in the wheel housing. By monitoring the electrical current used by the electric motor for providing the assisting torque it is possible to determine that the wheels have reached the end-stop.
Signal control device
A signal control device includes a charge/discharge circuit, a sampling capacitor, and an AC conversion circuit. The charge/discharge circuit is capable of charging or discharging the sampling capacitor. The AC conversion circuit performs an AD conversion by converting an analog voltage value charged in the sampling capacitor into an AD conversion value that is a digital value. After a charge operation or a discharge operation to the sampling capacitor with the charge/discharge circuit, the AD conversion circuit performs the AD conversion, and a malfunction of the charge/discharge circuit is determined based on a diagnosis result of the AD conversion value.
Steering device
A steering device includes a turning shaft, a steering mechanism, a motor, and a control device. The control device includes a steering-range axial force calculating circuit, a limiting axial force calculating circuit, a final axial force calculating circuit, and an axial force adjusting circuit. The steering-range axial force calculating circuit calculates a steering-range axial force when a steering wheel is operated in a predetermined operation range. The limiting axial force calculating circuit calculates a limiting axial force. The final axial force calculating circuit calculates a final axial force. The axial force adjusting circuit adjusts a value of the steering-range axial force, the limiting axial force, or the final axial force based on the axial force that reflects the force acting on the turning shaft.