Detecting impact forces on an electric power steering system
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsSebastian Mayer, Achim Frankovics
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric power steering system. One example includes a steering control, a steering shaft connected to the steering control, a steering rack, a sensor configured to detect an operating parameter of the steering rack or an electric motor, and an electronic controller. In one example, the electronic controller is configured to receive data indicative of the operating parameter from the sensor, compare the data to a known characteristic curve, the known characteristic curve indicating potential damage to a component of the electric power steering system, and when the data matches the known characteristic curve, output an indication to a user that potential damage has occurred to the component of the electric power steering system.
Claims18
An electric power steering system, the system comprising:
- a steering control;
- a steering shaft connected to the steering control;
- a steering rack;
- an electric motor configured to provide an extra torque to the steering rack;
- a sensor configured to detect an operating parameter of the steering rack or the electric motor;
- and
- an electronic controller configured to
- receive data indicative of the operating parameter from the sensor;
- compare the data to a known characteristic curve, the known characteristic curve indicating potential damage to a component of the electric power steering system;
- and,
- when the data matches the known characteristic curve, output an indication that potential damage has occurred to the component of the electric power steering system.
A method for detecting potential damage to an electric power steering system, the system comprising a steering control, a steering shaft connected to the steering control, a steering rack, an electric motor configured to provide an extra torque to the steering rack, a sensor configured to detect an operating parameter of the steering rack or the electric motor, and an electronic controller, the method comprising:
- receiving, with the electronic controller, data indicative of the operating parameter from the sensor;
- comparing, with the electronic controller, the data to a known characteristic curve, the known characteristic curve indicating potential damage to a component of the electric power steering system;
- and,
- when the data matches the known characteristic curve, outputting, with the electronic controller, an indication that potential damage has occurred to the component of the electric power steering system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.