# US 12,214,831 B2 · Turning control device

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- Number: US 12,214,831 B2
- Document ID: US12214831B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/158,591
- Filed: 2023-01-24
- Published: 2023-09-28
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2022-01-28
- Assignees: Jtekt Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Jtekt Corporation; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Takashi Koudai; Yuji Fujita; Yugo Nagashima; Kazuma Hasegawa; Yuuta Kajisawa; Masaharu Yamashita; Yosuke Yamashita; Kazuaki Iida; Shintaro Takayama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214831B2

## CPC

- B62D 5/0481: {monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures}
- B62D 5/0457: {characterised by control features of the drive means as such}
- 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 turning control device includes a precursor detection circuit configured to detect a precursor of an abnormality by which a smooth operation of a turning device is impaired. The precursor detection circuit is configured to start measurement of a total running time of a vehicle when the precursor is detected, and is configured to execute a process of reporting the precursor, based on the measured total running time. The precursor detection circuit is configured to perform the measurement of the total running time regardless of whether the precursor is detected again, when a vehicle electric power source is switched off and then is switched on again after the precursor is detected once.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A turning control device that controls a turning device, the turning device turning a turning wheel of a vehicle, the turning control device comprising a precursor detection circuit configured to detect a precursor of an abnormality by which a smooth operation of the turning device is impaired, wherein:
the precursor detection circuit is configured to start measurement of a total running time of the vehicle when the precursor is detected, and is configured to execute a process of reporting the precursor, based on the measured total running time; and
the precursor detection circuit is configured to perform the measurement of the total running time regardless of whether the precursor is detected again, when a vehicle electric power source is switched off and then is switched on again after the precursor is detected once, wherein:
the precursor detection circuit is configured to store the total running time when the vehicle electric power source is switched off;
the precursor detection circuit is configured to read the total running time stored at a timing when the vehicle electric power source is switched off, when the vehicle electric power source is switched on again, and is configured to restart the measurement of the total running time, using the read total running time as an initial value, and
the precursor detection circuit is configured to increase the initial value depending on a period during which the vehicle electric power source is in an off-state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The turning control device according to claim 1, wherein the precursor is a precursor that occurs due to a cumulative or irreversible event.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The turning control device according to claim 1, wherein:
the turning device includes a turning shaft that turns the turning wheel, a turning motor that generates dynamic force for turning the turning wheel, and a transmission mechanism that transmits the dynamic force of the turning motor to the turning shaft;
the abnormality includes rust of the transmission mechanism; and
the precursor detection circuit is configured to increase the initial value when the period during which the vehicle electric power source is in the off-state is longer than a time determination threshold, the time determination threshold being set using, as a standard, a period during which the rust of the transmission mechanism is likely to progress.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The turning control device according to claim 1, wherein the precursor detection circuit is configured to raise a report level for the precursor depending on the total running time from a time point of a first detection of the precursor.