Hand wheel actuator with steering-feel enhancement

A hand wheel actuator for a steer-by-wire steering system comprising:

• a first housing having an aperture;
• a steering shaft extending through said first housing, said steering shaft having an upper end adapted for attaching a hand wheel, and a lower end opposite said upper end, said steering shaft being rotatably supported by said first housing;
• a position sensor and a non-compliant torque sensor, each positioned within said first housing and configured to detect the angular displacement of the steering shaft and torque applied against the steering shaft respectively;
• a mechanical steering feel enhancement device attached to said first housing, said mechanical steering feel enhancement device providing at least one of a positive stop function, a return-to-center function, or a friction/weight function by mechanical means, said mechanical steering feel enhancement device being in mechanical communication with said steering shaft, and said mechanical steering feel enhancement device being disposed in a second housing and existing as a separate unitary subassembly prior to being installed on said first housing;
• and
• an electric motor mounted to one of said first housing and second housing, said electric motor having an output shaft in mechanical communication with said steering shaft for imparting a torque to said steering shaft;
• wherein said torque sensor is positioned between the upper end of the steering shaft and a location at which the motor applies torque to the steering shaft and wherein said first housing separates and shields said non-compliant torque sensor from magnetic fields generated by said electric motor.