Method for monitoring the status of an electronic power steering device of at least one component of the electronic power steering device of a motor vehicle

An electronic power steering apparatus of a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a steering handle configured to prescribe a steering wheel angle as a measure of a desired wheel steering angle for at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle;
• a steering gear configured to convert the steering wheel angle into the wheel steering angle of the at least one steerable wheel of the motor vehicle;
• an electric servo drive;
• an electronic closed-loop and/or open-loop controller configured to at least one of regulate and activate the electric servo drive;
• and
• at least one acceleration sensor or structure-borne sound sensor arranged in at least one of a region of the electronic power steering apparatus and on a circuit board of the electronic closed-loop and/or open-loop controller,
• wherein the electronic closed-loop and/or open-loop controller is provided with acceleration measured values from the at least one acceleration sensor or the at least one structure-borne sound sensor as input signals, and is configured to monitor a condition of the electronic power steering apparatus or of at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus of the motor vehicle, the controller configured to:
• continually capture acceleration measured values in the region of the electronic power steering apparatus during a driving mode of the motor vehicle;
• continually provide the captured acceleration measured values to a damage computation section configured as a damage meter that continuously sums the acceleration measured values and continually forms therefrom at least one damage variable characterizing a degree of damage to the electronic power steering apparatus or to the at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus;
• and
• continually compare the damage variable with at least one prescribed limit value.

A motor vehicle comprising:

• an electronic power steering apparatus;
• an electronic closed-loop and/or open-loop controller;
• and
• at least one acceleration sensor or structure-borne sound sensor present in a region of the electronic power steering apparatus,
• wherein the electronic closed-loop and/or open-loop controller is provided with acceleration measured values from the at least one acceleration sensor or the at least one structured borne sound sensor as input signals, and is configured to monitor a condition of the electronic power steering apparatus or of at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus of the motor vehicle, the controller configured to:
• continually capture acceleration measured values in the region of the electronic power steering apparatus during a driving mode of the motor vehicle;
• continually provide the captured acceleration measured values to a damage computation section configured as a damage meter that continuously sums the acceleration measured values and continually forms therefrom at least one damage variable characterizing a degree of damage to the electronic power steering apparatus or to the at least one part of the electronic power steering apparatus;
• and
• continually compare the damage variable with at least one prescribed limit value.