Methods and apparatus for variable reduced effort steering in electric steering systems

A method for installing a steering-assist system onto a vehicle having an electrically powered steering system, the method comprising:

• placing a controller intermediate of a torque sensor and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed on the vehicle;
• coupling a first primary signal line and a second primary signal line from the torque sensor to be in electrical communication with the controller;
• and
• coupling a first secondary signal line and a second secondary signal line to the controller to be in electrical communication with the ECU, wherein, when movement is detected by the torque sensor, the torque sensor provides a primary signal from the first primary signal line and the second primary signal line to the controller and the controller provides a secondary signal to the ECU through the first secondary signal line and the second secondary signal line, the first secondary signal being different than the first primary signal, wherein the first secondary signal comprises a first signal that is amplified to a second signal having a value greater than the primary signal, and wherein the second signal is limited by a limiting circuit to a third signal having a value less than the value of the second signal but greater than the value of the primary signal.

A steering-assist system for use in a vehicle having an electrically powered steering system, the steering-assist system comprising:

• a controller adapted to be coupled intermediate of a torque sensor and an electronic control unit (ECU) disposed on a vehicle;
• a first primary signal line and a second primary signal line adapted to be coupled between the torque sensor and the controller;
• and
• a first secondary signal line and a second secondary signal line adapted to be coupled to the controller and the ECU, wherein, a primary signal from the first primary signal line and the second primary signal line is provided to the controller from the torque sensor and a secondary signal is provided to the ECU from the first secondary signal line and the second secondary signal line from the controller upon movement detected by the torque sensor, the first secondary signal being different than the first primary signal, wherein the first secondary signal comprises a first signal that is amplified to a second signal having a value greater than the primary signal, and wherein the second signal is limited by a limiting circuit to a third signal having a value less than -the value of the second signal but greater than the value of the primary signal.