Electric power steering apparatus

Abstract

A control unit of an electric power steering apparatus has an overload preventing part having the function of decreasing the current supplied to a motor of the electric power steering apparatus when a state such that a steering torque acting on the steering system is above a predetermined value and the steering speed of the steering system is below a predetermined value has continued for a predetermined time or having the function of immediately decreasing the current supplied to the motor when the steering speed of the steering system is below a predetermined value and the steering torque acting on the steering system is above a first predetermined value and decreasing the current supplied to the motor when a state such that the steering speed is below a predetermined value and the steering torque is above a second predetermined value smaller than the first predetermined value has continued for a predetermined time. As a result, a stable steering assist torque can be supplied from the motor even when a steering operation is carried out slowly and an excessive current is not continuously supplied to the motor when the steering system has reached a maximum steering angle position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.