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US 2003/0200018 A1Published application
Apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system
AssigneeHonda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYutaka Arimura
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system is provided, which has a microcomputer for determining a signal for target current, the other microcomputer for determining a signal for motor control, a motor drive circuit for driving a brushless motor. The apparatus has a feature that the microcomputers can back up each other in controlling an electric power steering system even if failure occurs in one of the microcomputers.
Claims7
An apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system comprising:
- a motor for providing assist steering torque for a steering line, said motor comprising a brushless motor;
- a sensor for detection of steering torque acting on said steering line and delivering a signal of steering torque;
- a device for detection of rotational phase of said motor and delivering a phase signal;
- a device for detection of current of said motor and delivering a signal of current;
- a current control unit for determining a signal for target current based upon at least said signal of steering torque, said current control unit comprising a first microcomputer;
- a drive control unit for determining a signal for motor control for controlling said motor based upon a deviation between said signal for target current and said signal of current, along with said phase signal, said drive control unit comprising a second microcomputer and a motor drive circuit for driving said motor based upon said signal for motor control;
- and
- wires electrically connecting said current control unit and drive control unit,
- wherein said drive control unit incorporates said signal of steering torque from said sensor for detection of steering torque, and if said first microcomputer fails, said second microcomputer determines a signal for target current based upon said signal of steering torque.
6 more elements
An apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system comprising:
- an motor for providing assist steering torque for a steering line, said motor comprising a brushless motor;
- a sensor for detection of steering torque acting on said steering line and delivering a signal of steering torque;
- a device for detection of rotational phase of said motor and delivering a phase signal;
- a device for detection of current of said motor and delivering a signal of current;
- a current control unit for determining a signal for target current based upon at least said signal of steering torque, said current control unit comprising a first microcomputer;
- a drive control unit for determining a signal for motor control for controlling said motor based upon a deviation between said signal for target current and said signal of current, along with said phase signal, said drive control unit comprising a second microcomputer and a motor drive circuit for driving said motor based upon said signal for motor control;
- and
- wires electrically connecting said current control unit and drive control unit,
- wherein a memory is connected to one of said first and second microcomputers, when said memory is connected to said first microcomputer, data stored in said memory is transmitted from said first microcomputer to said second microcomputer via said wires, and when said memory is connected to said second microcomputer, said data stored in said memory is transmitted from said second microcomputer to said first microcomputer via said wires.
6 more elements
An apparatus for controlling an electric power steering system comprising:
- an motor for providing assist steering torque for a steering line, said motor comprising a brushless motor;
- a sensor for detection of steering torque acting on said steering line and delivering a signal of steering torque;
- a device for detection of rotational phase of said motor and delivering a phase signal;
- a device for detection of current of said motor and delivering a signal of current;
- a current control unit for determining a signal for target current based upon at least said signal of steering torque, said current control unit comprising a first microcomputer with a first clock serving as a master microcomputer;
- a drive control unit for determining a signal for motor control for controlling said motor based upon a deviation between said signal for target current and said signal of current, along with said phase signal, said drive control unit comprising a second microcomputer with a second clock serving as a slave microcomputer and a motor drive circuit for driving said motor based upon said signal for motor control;
- first wires for transmitting clock signals generated by said master microcomputer to said slave microcomputer so that said master and slave microcomputers can communicate by clock synchronization;
- and
- second wires for transmitting data between said master and slave microcomputers,
- wherein when one of said master and slave microcomputers detects an error in communication therebetween under clock synchronization, said master and slave microcomputers continue communication each other by switching from clock synchronization to an asynchronous technique.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.