Handwheel actuator assembly

A handwheel actuator assembly for a steer by wire steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a steering wheel having at least one hand grip portion rotatable around an axis of rotation of the steering wheel which can be gripped by a driver, the steering wheel having a hub that supports the hand grip portion;
• a housing;
• a feedback torque generator comprising an electric motor which has a stator and a rotor, the stator and rotor being in the housing, the stator being secured to a fixed part of the vehicle body such that the stator cannot rotate relative to the vehicle body;
• and
• a connector separate from and in the housing, the connector directly or indirectly fixing the rotor to the steering wheel such that both the connector and the rotor rotate with the steering wheel;
• wherein the electric motor comprises an annular motor having a hollow centre and in that an additional non-rotational component of the handwheel assembly is located within a hollow centre of the stator.

A handwheel actuator assembly for a steer by wire steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a steering wheel having at least one hand grip portion rotatable around an axis of rotation of the steering wheel which can be gripped by a driver, the steering wheel having a hub that supports the hand grip portion;
• a housing separate from the hub of the steering wheel;
• a stub shaft having one end rotatably supported in the housing and another end fixed to the hub such that the stub shaft rotates with the hub around the axis;
• and
• a feedback torque generator comprising an electric motor which has a stator and a rotor, the stator and the rotor being in the housing, the rotor being directly or indirectly fixed to and rotating with the hub of the steering wheel, the stator being secured to a fixed part of the vehicle body such that it cannot rotate relative to the vehicle body;
• wherein the electric motor comprises a brushless permanent magnet Vernier motor.