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US 8,428,822 B2Granted
Method of determining a steering angle in a motor vehicle
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsRyan Shartle, Nathaniel Ellis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for determining a steering angle of a steering shaft in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method uses a rotation sensor associated with an electric motor of a power steering system to determine the relative steering angle of the steering column. The relative steering angle is measured relative to an initial position of the steering column during vehicle startup. The relative steering angle is reset each time the motor vehicle is turned on.
Claims14
A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising:
- an electronic control unit setting a relative steering angle equal to an arbitrary initial value that is not related to an actual position of a steered wheel while a steering shaft is in an initial angular position immediately following an ignition on event;
- after the electronic control unit has set the relative steering angle equal to an arbitrary initial value, the electronic control unit receiving information from a rotation sensor, the rotation sensor being configured to determine an amount of motor angle rotation of a motor that is configured to facilitate turning the motor vehicle;
- when the steering motor has rotated, the electronic control unit determining an amount of steering angle rotation of the steering shaft of the motor vehicle according to the amount of motor angle rotation;
- the electronic control unit adding the amount of steering angle rotation to the relative steering angle to determine a new relative steering angle;
- the electronic control unit continuing to update the value of the relative steering angle value according to information received from the rotation sensor;
- and
- wherein the initial value is independent of the initial angular position of the steering shaft.
4 more elements
A motor vehicle comprising:
- An electronic control unit configured to set a relative steering angle equal to an arbitrary initial value that is not dependent upon any zero angular position value while a steering shaft is in an initial angular position immediately following an ignition on event;
- a rotation sensor configured to determine an amount of motor angle rotation of a motor that is configured to facilitate turning the motor vehicle;
- the electronic control unit configured to determine an amount of steering angle rotation of the steering shaft of the motor vehicle according to the amount of motor angle rotation, when the steering motor has rotated;
- the electronic control unit configured to add the amount of steering angle rotation to the relative steering angle to determine a new relative steering angle;
- the electronic control unit configured to continually update the value of the relative steering angle value according to information received from the rotation sensor;
- and
- wherein the initial value is independent of an absolute steering shaft angle of a steering motor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.