Vehicle steering system
AssigneeJtekt Corporation
InventorShohei Ogi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a vehicle steering system provided in a vehicle in which a high-voltage battery is provided, a clutch mechanism is mechanically disconnected and the intermediate shaft falls, after a collision of the vehicle is detected. An ECU detects the collision of the vehicle based on an acceleration that is input, and then detects contraction of the column shaft and disconnection of the clutch mechanism based on an ON signal of a microswitch. Thereafter, the ECU is able to continue to rotationally drive an electric motor based on a steering angle signal that is output from a steering angle sensor provided on the column shaft, and that is electrically insulated through a photo coupler, and thus the ECU causes the vehicle to travel and stop.
Claims7
A vehicle steering system, comprising:
- a power source configured to be used as a main power source of a vehicle;
- an electric motor that generates a steering assist force that assists steering of the vehicle, the power source being configured to drive the electric motor;
- a controller that supplies a drive current to the electric motor and controls rotation of the electric motor, the controller being configured to determine when a collision of the vehicle has occurred;
- a steering shaft that is connected to a steering portion;
- a steered mechanism that changes a direction of vehicle wheels;
- and
- a connecting portion that connects the steering shaft to the steered mechanism,
- wherein the control is configured to mechanically disconnect the steering shaft from the steered mechanism when the controller determines that the collision of the vehicle has occurred.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.