Method and apparatus for torque linearization in an electric power steering system

A method of controlling a motor in an electric power steering system, comprising:

• obtaining a motor control signal having an initial duty cycle;
• linearizing said duty cycle by comparing said initial duty cycle to a threshold, selecting said initial duty cycle as a secondary duty cycle if said initial duty cycle exceeds said threshold, adding an offset to said initial duty cycle to obtain a secondary duty cycle if said initial duty cycle does not exceed said threshold;
• and controlling said motor using said secondary duty cycle.

A torque linearization device for linearizing torque produced by a motor in response to a motor control signal having an initial duty cycle, the device comprising:

• a comparator for receiving said initial duty cycle and comparing the initial duty cycle to a threshold;
• a linearization table for converting said initial duty cycle to a linearized duty cycle;
• a selector for receiving said initial duty cycle and said linearized duty cycle, said selector selecting one of said initial duty cycle and said linearized duty cycle as a secondary duty cycle in response to said comparing.

A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for controlling a motor in an electric power steering system, the storage medium including instructions for causing a controller to implement a method comprising:

• obtaining a motor control signal having an initial duty cycle;
• linearizing said duty cycle by comparing said initial duty cycle to a threshold, selecting said initial duty cycle as a secondary duty cycle if said initial duty cycle exceeds said threshold, adding an offset to said initial duty cycle to obtain a secondary duty cycle if said initial duty cycle does not exceed said threshold;
• and controlling said motor using said secondary duty cycle.