Variable road feedback device for steer-by-wire systems
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteven Mark Thomas, Richard Allen Devers, William David Cymbal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable road feedback device (20) for a steer-by-wire system (50) comprises a housing (31) that contains a magnetorheological fluid (32), a magnetic field generator (34) for generating a variable magnetic field within the housing (31) in order to vary the viscous resistance of the magnetorheological fluid (32) therein, and a rotor (24) rotatably mounted within the housing (31) that rotates through the magnetorheological fluid (32) and is responsive to the variable viscous resistance thereof.
Claims14
A variable feedback device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a magnetorheological fluid contained within the housing;
- a magnetic field generator coupled to the housing and adapted to produce a magnetic field within the magnetorheological fluid and vary a viscous resistance of the fluid;
- and
- a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing, the rotor being responsive to the variable viscous resistance of the magnetorheological fluid.
A steer-by-wire system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a plurality of sensors for generating a plurality of input signals, comprising at least one column sensor for sensing changes in at least one of position and torque of a steering wheel and comprising a plurality of wheel sensors for sensing changes in at least one of position and torque of a plurality of steerable vehicle wheels;
- an electrical power steering motor coupled to a vehicle steering system for assisting a vehicle operator;
- and
- a housing containing:
- a magnetorheological fluid;
- a magnetic field generator adapted to produce a magnetic field within the magnetorheological fluid and vary a viscous resistance of the fluid;
- and
- a rotor rotatably mounted within the housing in contact with the magnetorheological fluid wherein the rotor is responsive to the viscous resistance of the magnetorheological fluid.
A method for generating a variable viscous resistance within a housing, which contains therein a magnetorheological fluid and a rotor, whereby a vehicle operator feels resistance while turning a steering wheel, the method comprising:
- sensing a plurality of input signals with a plurality of sensors;
- generating a variable magnetic field within the housing in accordance with the sensed plurality of input signals;
- varying a viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid in accordance with the generated magnetic field;
- and
- resisting the motion of the rotor in accordance with the varied viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid to thereby provide feedback to the vehicle operator through the steering wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.