# US 12,214,830 B2 · Steering control device

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- Number: US 12,214,830 B2
- Document ID: US12214830B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/973,737
- Filed: 2022-10-26
- Published: 2023-04-27
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-10-26
- Assignees: Jtekt Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Denso Corporation
- Applicants: Jtekt Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha; Denso Corporation
- Inventors: Yugo Nagashima; Yuji Fujita; Yuuta Kajisawa; Kazuma Hasegawa; Takashi Koudai; Masaharu Yamashita; Yosuke Yamashita; Shintaro Takayama; Hiroki Tomizawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214830B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/20: Means to switch the anti-theft system on or off
- B62D 5/0463: {calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input}
- B62D 5/0409: {Electric motor acting on the steering column}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A steering control device includes a control circuit configured to control driving of a reaction force motor that generates steering reaction force applied to a steering wheel in which power transmission with turning wheels of a vehicle is separated. When a vehicle power source is turned on, the control circuit requests a vehicle control device to stop traveling of the vehicle when information is exchanged with the vehicle control device in a manner that does not follow a predetermined pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering control device comprising a control circuit configured to control driving of a reaction force motor that generates steering reaction force applied to a steering wheel of a vehicle having a steer-by-wire steering system in which power transmission between the steering wheel and turning wheels of the vehicle is separated, wherein when a vehicle power source of the vehicle is turned on, the control circuit requests a vehicle control device of the vehicle that controls traveling of the vehicle to stop the traveling of the vehicle when the control circuit determines that information has been exchanged between the control circuit and the vehicle control device in a manner that does not follow a predetermined pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering control device according to claim 1, wherein upon completion of execution of preparatory processing by the control circuit that is triggered to be executed at a time at which the vehicle power source is turned on, the control circuit (i) permits the vehicle control device to cause the vehicle to transition to a travelable state and (ii) transitions to a normal control state where reaction force control of causing the reaction force motor to generate the steering reaction force is executed when recognition is made via the vehicle control device that the vehicle is in the travelable state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The steering control device according to claim 2, wherein when the recognition is made via the vehicle control device that the vehicle is in the travelable state even though the control circuit did not permit the vehicle control device to cause the vehicle to transition to the travelable state, the control circuit requests the vehicle control device to stop the traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The steering control device according to claim 2, wherein the preparatory processing includes, on a premise that a steering range of the steering wheel is restricted to less than 360°, (1) midpoint learning processing of operating the steering wheel to a first operation end and then reversely operating the steering wheel to a second operation end for learning of a steering neutral position of the steering wheel and (2) rudder angle synchronization processing of correcting a rotational position of the steering wheel such that the rotational position of the steering wheel is a rotational position corresponding to a turning position of the turning wheels.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The steering control device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle control device controls a start of a powertrain of the vehicle including a drive source for traveling of the vehicle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The steering control device according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined pattern is a pattern in which the control circuit sends a second signal to the vehicle control device before the vehicle control device sends a first signal to the control circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The steering control device according to claim 6, wherein the first signal is a preparation completion signal indicating that the vehicle control device has caused the vehicle to transition to a travelable state, and the second signal is a start permission signal indicating that the control circuit permits the vehicle control device to cause the vehicle to transition to the travelable state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The steering control device according to claim 6, wherein
the control circuit requests the vehicle control device to stop the traveling of the vehicle when the control circuit receives the first signal from the vehicle control device without the control circuit having first sent the second signal to the vehicle control device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The steering control device according to claim 8, wherein the first signal is a preparation completion signal indicating that the vehicle control device has caused the vehicle to transition to a travelable state, and the second signal is a start permission signal indicating that the control circuit permits the vehicle control device to cause the vehicle to transition to the travelable state.