# US 2017/0282971 A1 · Vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282971 A1 - Document ID: US20170282971A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/085,547 - Filed: 2016-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc. - Applicants: Nissan North America, Inc. - Inventors: Andre YANEZ - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282971A1 ## CPC - B62D 6/002: {computing target steering angles for front or rear wheels (B62D7/159 takes precedence)} - B62D 5/001: {Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup} - B62D 5/0418: {Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers} - B62D 6/06: responsive only to vehicle vibration dampening arrangements (steering dampers for cycles B62K21/08) - B62D 7/159: {characterised by computing methods or stabilisation processes or systems, e.g. responding to yaw rate, lateral wind, load, road condition} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus includes a front wheel steering mechanism having a right wheel steering portion and a left wheel steering portion. A left front wheel rotatably is coupled to the left wheel steering portion. A right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right wheel steering portion. A controller in electronic communication with a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly and the front wheel steering mechanism operates the front wheel steering mechanism to turn the left front wheel and the right front wheel in accordance with Ackerman steering geometry. The controller is also configured to calculate toe angle adjustments for the right wheel steering portion relative to the left wheel steering portion and make the toe angle adjustments to right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion during turning and steering movements effected by the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus, comprising: a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly; a front wheel steering mechanism in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism having a right wheel steering portion and a left wheel steering portion; a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left wheel steering portion; a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right wheel steering portion; and a controller in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly and the front wheel steering mechanism, the controller being configured to operate the front wheel steering mechanism to turn the left front wheel and the right front wheel in accordance with Ackerman steering geometry, the controller also being configured to calculate toe angle adjustments for the right wheel steering portion relative to the left wheel steering portion and make the toe angle adjustments to right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion during turning and steering movements effected by the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the right wheel steering portion includes a first driven member and a right side electric motor with a driving gear engaged with the first driven member such that operation of the right side electric motor moves the first driven member, and the left wheel steering portion includes a second driven member and a left side electric motor with a driving gear engaged with the second driven member such that operation of the left side electric motor moves the second driven member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the front wheel steering mechanism includes a single housing with the first and second driven members being disposed within the single housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the front wheel steering mechanism includes a first housing and a second housing separated from one another, the first housing having the first driven member disposed therein and the second housing having the second driven member disposed therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first driven member includes a hollow interior with internal spiral machine threads formed therein, and the driving gear of the first electric motor includes external spiral machine threads engaged with the internal spiral machine thread within the first driven member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the right wheel steering portion includes a first housing having a first driven member movably disposed therein, the left wheel steering portion including a second housing spaced apart from the first housing, the second housing having a second driven member movably disposed therein, and further comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the first housing and the second housing such that changes in hydraulic pressure effected by the hydraulic pump cause the first driven member and the second driven member to move within the first housing and the second housing, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front wheel steering mechanism includes a single housing, the right wheel steering portion includes a first driven member movably disposed within the single housing, the first driven member having external gear teeth and a hollow interior with internal spiral machine threads, and the left wheel steering portion includes a second driven member movably disposed within the single housing, the second driven member having external spiral machine threads engaged with the internal spiral machine thread within the first driven member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a first electric motor having a first driving gear engaged with the external gear teeth of the first driven member; and a second electric motor having a second driving gear contacting a sliding gear disposed on a portion of the second driven member, wherein the controller is configured to operate the first electric motor in order to effect steering and turning operations, and the controller is configured to operate the second electric motor in order to make toe angle adjustments.