Method for supplying power to an electrically assisted steering system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsAlex O'Connor Gibson, Allan Roy Gale, John Anthony DeMarco, Robert Michael Grant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for supplying power to an electrically assisted steering system is described. In one example, the method adjusts alternator field current to increase energy supplied to the electrically assisted steering system in response to an automatic engine stop request. The method may improve operation of the electrically assisted steering system.
Claims20
A method for controlling an electrically-assisted steering system, comprising:
- adjusting a load of an alternator applied to an engine in response to an engine stop request and increasing energy supplied to an electrically assisted steering system;
- during increased steering torque, supplying increased engine output to the steering system;
- and
- during increased torque requests, supplying increased engine output to vehicle wheels.
A method for controlling an electrically-assisted steering system, comprising:
- increasing an amount of energy stored in an electrically assisted steering system in response to an engine stop request and an amount of energy stored in the electrically assisted steering system;
- and
- when a steering angle input or a steering torque of a vehicle is at a higher level, increasing power supplied by an engine to the steering system so that the vehicle can start to turn more quickly;
- and otherwise, if an engine torque request is at a higher level, providing additional engine torque to vehicle wheels to improve vehicle acceleration.
A system for controlling energy of an electrically assisted steering system, comprising:
- an electrically-assisted steering system;
- a battery;
- an engine;
- and
- a controller, the controller including instructions automatically stop the engine from engine idle speed, and to increase an amount of energy stored in the electrically assisted steering system in response to an automatic engine stop in the engine in absence of a dedicated operator engine stop request, the controller including additional instructions to supply energy from the battery to the electrically assisted steering system when the engine is stopped, and further comprising additional instructions to:
- when a steering angle input or a steering torque of a vehicle is at a higher level, increasing power supplied by the engine to the steering system so that the vehicle can start to turn more quickly;
- and otherwise, if an engine torque request is at a higher level, providing additional engine torque to vehicle wheels to improve vehicle acceleration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.