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US 7,698,035 B2Granted
Steering control apparatus
AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsNaotaka Chino, Taku Suzuki, Noriki Kubokawa, Takaaki Eguchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering control apparatus is provided, including a steering wheel, steered wheels, a direction varying actuator to operate the steering control wheels, a steering reaction actuator to apply steering reaction torque to the steering wheel and steering controller. The steered wheels are mechanically disconnected from the steering wheel. The steering controller outputs control commands for controlling the direction varying actuator and the steering reaction actuator.
Claims20
A steering control apparatus, comprising:
- a steering wheel;
- steered wheels mechanically disconnected from the steering wheel;
- a direction varying actuator to operate the steered wheels;
- a steering reaction actuator to apply steering reaction torque to the steering wheel;
- a steering controller configured to output a control command to the direction varying actuator for applying a direction varying torque to the steered wheels in accordance with the steering status of the steering wheel;
- and
- a backup mechanism disposed between the steering wheel and the steered wheels to permit mechanical connection and disconnection of the steering wheel and the steered wheels;
- wherein
- the steering controller is configured to output a control command to the steering reaction actuator for applying a steering reaction torque to the steering wheel in accordance with the direction varying status of the steered wheels;
- the steering controller is configured to gradually increase the steering reaction torque with the lapse of time when the direction varying angle of the steered wheels reaches the vicinity of the maximum direction varying angle;
- and
- the steering controller is configured to, when a target direction varying angle generated from a steering angle reaches the vicinity of the maximum direction varying angle of the steered wheels, selectively perform a backup control process of outputting a mechanical connection command to the backup mechanism and selectively perform a steering reaction torque correcting control process of gradually increasing the steering reaction torque with the lapse of time during a period of time from the mechanical connection command to completion of the mechanical connection.
9 more elements
A steering control apparatus, comprising:
- a steering wheel;
- at least one steered wheel mechanically disconnected from the steering wheel;
- a direction varying actuator to operate the at least one steered wheel;
- a steering reaction actuator to apply steering reaction torque to the steering wheel;
- a backup mechanism disposed between the steering wheel and the at least one steered wheel to permit mechanical connection and disconnection of the steering wheel and the at least one steered wheel;
- an angular velocity sensor for detecting one of a steering angular velocity of the steering wheel and a direction varying angular velocity of the at least one steered wheel;
- and
- a steering controller configured to output a control command to the direction varying actuator for applying a direction varying torque to the steered wheels in accordance with a steering status of the steering wheel,
- to output a control command to the steering reaction actuator for applying a steering reaction torque to the steering wheel in accordance with the direction varying status of the at least one steered wheel;
- to selectively increase an amount of enhancement correction of the steering reaction torque as the detected angular velocity value becomes greater;
- and
- to, when a target direction varying angle generated from a steering angle reaches the vicinity of the maximum direction varying angle of the steered wheels, selectively perform a backup control process of outputting a mechanical connection command to the backup mechanism and selectively perform a steering reaction torque correcting control process of gradually increasing the steering reaction torque with the lapse of time during a period of time from the mechanical connection command to completion of the mechanical connection.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.