Steering control apparatus

A vehicle steering system comprising:

• a steering portion having an operations input means and a reaction adding means;
• a steered portion having steering controlled wheels and a steered force adding means;
• a clutch means that mechanically connects the steering portion and steered portion through an engagement wherein:
• the clutch means has a permanent magnet and an electromagnetic coil so as to form an electromagnetic clutch means that releases when current is applied to the electromagnetic coil and engages when current is not applied to the electromagnetic coil;
• and
• a clutch engagement control means that generates a magnetic force in a predetermined direction for the electromagnetic coil when an abnormality is generated for the steering system.

A steering control method for a vehicle steering system having a steering portion and a steered portion, the method comprising:

• providing an electromagnetic clutch that comprises a permanent magnet and an electromagnetic coil for mechanically connecting the steering portion to a steered portion by engagement;
• generating a magnetic force in the electromagnetic coil in a normal operation, in a direction in which a magnetic force of the permanent magnet is canceled, thereby releasing the electromagnetic clutch;
• controlling the steered portion according to a steering operation of the steering portion;
• and
• generating a magnetic force in the electromagnetic coil in the same direction as the magnetic direction of the permanent magnet when an abnormality is generated for the steering system.