Steering resistance device
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRobert E. Hefner, Kevin Huang, John J. Krone, Andrew H. Nippert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for controlling the resistance to the movement of a steering shaft that is operable to move as a function of an operator input. A position sensor is coupled with the steering shaft and transmits a shaft position signal as a function of the position of the steering shaft. A processing device is coupled with the position sensor to receive the shaft position signal and transmits a resistance signal as a function of the shaft position signal. A resistance device is coupled with the processing device to receive the resistance signal and is coupled with the steering shaft, the resistance device resists the movement of the steering shaft as a function of the resistance signal.
Claims27
An apparatus for controlling the resistance to the movement of a steering shaft that is operable to move as a function of an operator input, the apparatus comprising;
- a position sensor coupled with the steering shaft and operable to transmit a shaft position signal as a function of the position of the steering shaft;
- a processing device coupled with the position sensor to receive the shaft position signal and operable to transmit a resistance signal as a function of the shaft position signal;
- and
- a resistance device coupled with the processing device to receive the resistance signal and coupled with the steering shaft, the resistance device operable to resist the movement of the steering shaft as a function of the resistance signal.
An apparatus for controlling the resistance to the movement of a steering shaft that is operable to move as a function of an operator input, the apparatus comprising;
- a position sensor coupled with the steering shaft and operable to transmit a shaft position signal as a function of the position of the steering shaft;
- a processing device coupled with the position sensor to receive the shaft position signal and operable to transmit a resistance signal as a function of the shaft position signal;
- and
- a resistance device coupled with the processing device to receive the resistance signal and coupled with the steering shaft, the resistance device operable to resist the movement of the steering shaft as a function of the resistance signal,
- the processing device operable to operate in a first mode and a second mode, in the first mode the processing device being operable to transmit a resistance signal that substantially prevents movement by the steering shaft beyond a first position when the shaft is moved in a first direction and beyond a second position when the shaft is moved in a second direction, and in the second mode the processing device being operable to transmit a resistance signal that substantially prevents movement by the steering shaft beyond a third position when the shaft is moved in the first direction and beyond a fourth position when the shaft is moved in the second direction.
A method for resisting movement of a steering shaft, comprising:
- determining a position of the steering shaft;
- and
- applying a force operable to resist movement of the steering shaft as a function of the position of the steering shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.