Steering system for a motor vehicle and method for operating same
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsFrank Esser, Joerg Peter Schalz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method operates a steering system of a motor vehicle having a steerable wheel controlled using a steering wheel. The method begins by ascertaining a prevailing control angle of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle. A variable steering ratio between the prevailing control angle and a steering angle of the steerable wheel is defined. A static steering ratio from the variable steering ratio to set the steering angle of the steerable wheel is then selected.
Claims13
A steering system for a motor vehicle, said steering system comprising:
- a sensor to measure a prevailing control angle of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and to generate a control angle signal that correspond to the prevailing control angle of the steering wheel;
- an electronic steering system connectable to the sensor device using signal technology, said electronic steering system receiving and processing the control angle signal;
- an adjusting device electrically connected to and controlled by said electronic steering system, said adjusting device setting a steering angle of a steerable wheel of the motor vehicle;
- and
- an actuating device communicating with said electronic steering system using signal technology, wherein said electronic steering system defines at least one variable steering ratio between the prevailing control angle and the steering angle and is configured to select a static steering ratio from the variable steering ratio during a manual actuation of said actuating device and to control said adjusting device based on the selected static steering ratio.
A motor vehicle comprising:
- a front axle;
- a rear axle;
- a steerable front wheel operatively connected to said front axle;
- non-steerable rear wheels operatively connected to said rear axle;
- a steering system operatively connected to said steerable front wheels, said steering system including a steering wheel actuated by a driver of said motor vehicle, said steering system further including a sensor to measure a prevailing control angle of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and to generate a control angle signal that correspond to the prevailing control angle of the steering wheel, an electronic steering system connectable to the sensor device using signal technology, said electronic steering system receiving and processing the control angle signal, an adjusting device electrically connected to and controlled by said electronic steering system, said adjusting device setting a steering angle of a steerable wheel of the motor vehicle;
- and an actuating device communicating with said electronic steering system using signal technology, wherein said electronic steering system defines at least one variable steering ratio between the prevailing control angle and the steering angle and is configured to select a static steering ratio from the variable steering ratio during a manual actuation of said actuating device and to control said adjusting device based on the selected static steering ratio.
A method for operating a steering system of a motor vehicle having a steerable wheel controlled using a steering wheel comprising the steps of:
- ascertaining a prevailing control angle of the steering wheel;
- defining a variable steering ratio between the prevailing control angle and a steering angle of the steerable wheel;
- selecting a static steering ratio from the variable steering ratio to set the steering angle of the steerable wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.