Electric power steering
AssigneeZF Automotive UK Limited
InventorRussell Wilson-Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric power steering system includes: a steering bar, an electric motor, a linear position sensor, and a sensing means. The steering bar is mechanically connected at each opposing end to a respective wheel carrier. The linear position sensor having one elongate feature that extends diagonally along a length of the steering bar such that it is inclined relative to the axis of the steering bar. The sensing means faces the steering bar and at any given time observes only a slice of the elongate feature that extends across the full width of the feature and along only a part of the length of the feature. The sensing means generates a signal that varies depending on the pattern formed by the feature and adjacent portions of the steering bar that is observed by the sensing means.
Claims11
An electric power steering system comprising:
- a steering bar that is mechanically connected at each opposing end to a respective wheel carrier;
- an electric motor connected to the steering bar through a gear mechanism such that rotation of the electric motor causes the steering bar to translate along its main axis thereby displacing each wheel carrier;
- at least one elongate feature extending diagonally along a length of the steering bar such that it is inclined relative to the main axis of the steering bar;
- and
- a sensor that faces the steering bar and at any given time observes only a slice of the elongate feature that extends across a full width of the elongate feature and along only a part of a length of the elongate feature, the sensor generating a signal that varies depending on a pattern that is formed on the steering bar by the elongate feature and adjacent portions of the steering bar and that is observed by the sensor, the signal encoding the axial position of the steering bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.