9697results about "Electrical steering" patented technology

A motor control apparatus includes a steering column having inserted therein a steering shaft to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box coupled to the steering shaft, and an electric motor that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. The electric motor and its control unit including a control board mounted with a control circuit, are provided side by side in the reduction gear box. A connection terminal of the electric motor is electrically connected to the control unit directly. This minimizes a connection distance between the control unit and the electric motor.

Electrical steering assist systems reduce the operator applied steering effort necessary to operate material handling vehicles. A steer drive unit including a motor is coupled to a steerable wheel for providing steering assist. The amount of steering assist provided by the steer drive unit is determined by a controller that receives input from one or more input sensing devices. The input sensing device(s) may include force sensors that detect an operator applied turning force. The input sensing device(s) may also detect the movement of one steering component relative to another. Further, the input sensing device(s) may include operator activated controls such as a joystick, potentiometer, switches and voice initiated commands. Input sensing device(s) may additionally be provided to detect operational parameters such as the load on the material handling vehicle, vehicle speed, or environmental conditions such as travel path obstruction detection, homing and proximity sensing.

A drive control device of an unconnected motor capable of resolving power shortage and increasing motor output without using a boost circuit, and an electric power steering device using the unconnected motor. The drive control device comprises an unconnected motor (12) having a rotor in which permanent magnets are allocated and a stator opposing the rotor, in which armature winding Lu to Lw of a plurality (N number) of phases are independently arranged, a pair of inverter circuits (34a, 34b) individually connected to both ends of each armature winding, and a drive control circuit (15) which drives the pair of inverter circuits (34a, 34b) with a predetermined number (e.g. 2N) of PWM drive control signals.

An electric power steering apparatus can improve heat dissipation of a power board. A heat sink is mounted on the power board in surface contact therewith, on which power board there is mounted a bridge circuit including a plurality of semiconductor switching elements for switching an electric current supplied to an electric motor in accordance with torque assisting a steering wheel. The heat sink has a plurality of protrusions formed on a surface thereof at a side opposite to the power board.

A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.

A vehicle control system that selectively provides rear-wheel steering to prevent a vehicle-trailer from jackknifing during a back-up maneuver. The system senses a steering angle of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle and a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. The system calculates an equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle position based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed, and a pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle at a maximum rear-wheel steering input based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed. The system then determines whether the rear-wheel steering should be provided based on a predetermined relationship between the sensed hitch angle, the equilibrium hitch angle and the pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle.

A first compensation torque T1, a second compensation torque T2 and a third compensation torque T3 are added to a basic assist torque Tas. In this case, the second compensation torque T2 and the third compensation torque T3 are corrected by multiplying them by a common control gain G that is determined by the steering torque Th and the vehicle speed v. Therefore, since the two compensation control amounts are corrected through multiplication by the common control gain G, no interference occurs between the compensation controls. Besides, when the direction in which the total (T2+T3) of the pre-correction second compensation torque T2 and the pre-correction third compensation torque T3 acts is the same direction as the steering torque Th, the multiplication by the control gain G is avoided.

When it is determined that a malfunction has occurred in a rotational angle sensor, an electronic control unit changes the control manner from the normal assist control to the sensorless assist control. In the sensorless assist control, an assist stop command unit receives the information concerning the motor rotational angular speed ωm from an angular speed conversion unit. Then, the motor rotational angular speed ωm is compared with the threshold value ωm1. If the motor rotational angular speed ωm is equal to or higher than the threshold value ωm1, an assist enabling signal is transmitted to a PWM voltage production unit to continue the power assist. On the other hand, if the motor rotational angular speed ωm is lower than the threshold value ωm1, a stop command signal is transmitted to the PWM voltage production unit to stop the power assist.

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a steering wheel angle, determining a steering wheel direction, determining a steering wheel angular rate and applying brake-steer as a function of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angular rate and steering wheel direction.

A parking aid system having a driver initially stop the subject vehicle alongside a target parking position so that a mark provided inside a door coincides with the central line of the target parking position when assisting the driver with left reverse parking. The subject vehicle is a predetermined distance away from an entrance of the target parking position, when the driver turns the operation switch ON. A display unit then displays the target parking position, the subject vehicle position, and an expected parking position. The expected parking position is set at a position that the subject vehicle reaches when reversing with the steering wheel turned fully to the left. Therefore, when the driver moves the subject vehicle forward to a position where the expected parking position coincides with the target parking position and reverses the subject vehicle from that position through 90° while turning the steering wheel fully to the left, the subject vehicle can reliably be guided to the target parking position.

A sensor for measuring the relative displacement between two rotating shafts. The sensor can sense a torque applied to the steering wheel of a vehicle. The sensor has a housing that has apertures at each end. The rotating shafts pass into the housing. A sensor assembly is located in the housing and connected to the shafts. The sensor assembly generates an electrical signal that is proportional to the relative rotational displacement between the shafts. An electrical connector is located in the housing and electrically connects with the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly has a planetary gear assembly that is connected to the shafts. A variable magnetic field generator is connected to the planetary gear assembly and moves proportional to the relative rotational displacement of the shafts. A magnetic field sensor is located adjacent the variable magnetic field generator and generates the electrical signal as the variable magnetic field generator moves.

A vehicle steering apparatus is comprised of an assist motor, a steering torque sensor, a steering angle sensor, and a controller. The controller has a torque producing section for estimating a virtual steering model input torque from a torque sensor detection value and a steering angle detection value, a virtual steering model of representing a desired steering characteristic which receives the virtual steering model input torque and outputs a target steering angle of a steering column shaft, and a steering angle servo for controlling an output of the assist motor so that the steering angle detection angle follows the target steering angle.

A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering input section having at least a steering wheel to which steering input is applied, and a steering output section having at least a steering rack shaft and operatively associated with left and right steered wheels for steering the steered wheels by steering-rack-shaft movement produced by a steering force determined based on the steering input and transmitted directly or indirectly to the steering rack shaft. The steering rack shaft is split into left and right movable rack shaft portions. Also provided is a steer angle converter enabling a differential rack stroke between left and right rack strokes of the left and right movable rack shaft portions. The steer angle converter is constructed by at least one of a variable-pitch dual rack arrangement and a dual taper-pulley arrangement of a cable back-up mechanism.

An autonomous steering system for a vehicle includes a park assist steering module configured to generate a first steering angle command across a communication network of the vehicle. A backup assist steering module is also configured to generate a second steering angle command across the communication network of the vehicle. A steering angle controller is configured to receive the first and second steering angle commands and generate a third steering angle command for controlling a steered wheel of the vehicle based on acceptable steering column torque conditions for the respective steering module.

In an operation range of an actuator subjected to quick acceleration and deceleration, a motor drive apparatus, an electric actuator and an electric power steering apparatus capable of continuous torque control up to the high drive speed and high torque area. A controller comprises a voltage saturation detecting means for detecting the voltage saturation of the output voltage of an inverter circuit, based on the battery voltage, and a waveform controller that converts the drive waveform of the inverter circuit into the waveform created by superimposing harmonics of high odd-numbered order on a sinusoidal wave as a fundamental wave of the modulated wave modulated by a PWN carrier wave; and continuously changes the ratio of superimposing the high-order harmonics in response to the voltage saturation detected by a voltage saturation detecting means. This arrangement allows the controller to continuously change the drive waveform of the inverter circuit.

An electric power steering system is provided which is capable of providing a favorable steering feeling without using compensation logics such as of inertia compensation and friction compensation. The electric power steering system includes road-noise suppression control means (213) for controlling a steering assist motor (9) in a manner to damp torque transmission in a higher frequency region representing road noises than a frequency region representing road information. A friction value of a steering mechanism (A) is decreased enough to allow the intrinsic vibrations of the steering mechanism (A) to appear. Rotor inertia of the steering assist motor (9) is set to a value small enough to allow the frequencies of the intrinsic vibrations to be present in the frequency region where the torque transmission is damped by the road-noise suppression control means (213).

The disclosure concerns a a motor drive apparatus, an electric actuator and an electric power steering apparatus capable of continuous torque control up to the high drive speed and high torque area, in order to enable quick acceleration and deceleration. A controller comprises a voltage saturation detecting apparatus for detecting the voltage saturation of the output voltage of an inverter circuit, based on the battery voltage, and a waveform controller that converts the drive waveform of the inverter circuit into the waveform created by superimposing harmonics of high odd-numbered order on a sinusoidal wave as a fundamental wave of the modulated wave modulated by a PWN carrier wave; and continuously changes the ratio of superimposing the high-order harmonics in response to the voltage saturation detected by a voltage saturation detecting means. This arrangement allows the controller to continuously change the drive waveform of the inverter circuit.

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes determining a steering wheel angle, determining a steering wheel direction, determining a steering wheel angular rate and applying brake-steer as a function of steering wheel angle, steering wheel angular rate and steering wheel direction.

A continuously variable planetary gear set is described having a generally tubular idler, a plurality of balls distributed radially about the idler, each ball having a tiltable axis about which it rotates, a rotatable input disc positioned adjacent to the balls and in contact with each of the balls, a rotatable output disc positioned adjacent to the balls opposite the input disc and in contact with each of the balls such that each of the balls makes three-point contact with the input disc, the output disc and the idler, and a rotatable cage adapted to maintain the axial and radial position of each of the balls, wherein the axes of the balls are oriented by the axial position of the idler.

An electric power steering apparatus requires no external connecting member connecting between a power main body and a control main body, and hence can be reduced in size and cost, and the reliability of electrical connection between the power main body and the control main body can be improved. High current parts constituting the power main body and low current parts constituting the control main body are mounted on opposite sides of a circuit board, and are electrically connected with one another via conductor layers of the circuit board and through holes formed therein.

Electrical steering assist systems reduce the operator applied steering effort necessary to operate material handling vehicles. A steer drive unit including a motor is coupled to a steerable wheel for providing steering assist. The amount of steering assist provided by the steer drive unit is determined by a controller that receives input from one or more input sensing devices. The input sensing device(s) may include force sensors that detect an operator applied turning force. The input sensing device(s) may also detect the movement of one steering component relative to another. Further, the input sensing device(s) may include operator activated controls such as a joystick, potentiometer, switches and voice initiated commands. Input sensing device(s) may additionally be provided to detect operational parameters such as the load on the material handling vehicle, vehicle speed, or environmental conditions such as travel path obstruction detection, homing and proximity sensing.

Lateral displacement reference positions LXL, LXR are set on left and right from a center in a width direction of a traffic lane L where a vehicle travels. Then, at least in a case where the vehicle is positioned on an inner side of the left and right lateral displacement reference position LXL, LXR, the vehicle is feedback-controlled so as to decrease a yaw angle deviation. Further, in a case where the vehicle is positioned at an outer side of the left and right lateral displacement reference position LXL, LXR with respect to the traffic lane center, the feedback control is performed so as to decrease the angle deviation and a lateral displacement deviation.

An obstacle avoidance path computing apparatus is provided with a preceding object detecting section, a host vehicle information detecting section, a preceding object arrival region estimating section and a preceding object avoidance path setting section. The preceding object detecting section detects a preceding object. The host vehicle information detecting section detects host vehicle information. The preceding object arrival region estimating section calculates an estimated arrival region within which the preceding object could arrive after a prescribed amount of time has elapsed since the preceding object was detected, based on an estimated attribute of the preceding object from the preceding object information. The preceding object avoidance path setting section calculates an avoidance path that will not encroach on the estimated arrival region based the preceding object information and the host vehicle information.

An electric power steering system for an automotive vehicle, includes a torque sensor disposed to a steering shaft to detect a steering torque. A first pinion is disposed to the steering shaft. A rack shaft is in mesh with the first pinion and connected with the steering shaft to change a rotational motion of the steering shaft to an axial motion of the rack shaft and provided to be operated in relation to the steering shaft. A first motor is connected with the first pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque detected by the torque sensor. A second pinion is disposed to be separate from the first pinion and in mesh with the rack shaft. A second motor is connected with the second pinion to generate a steering assist torque in accordance with the steering torque.

The stator core of a motor comprises an annular back core, and a plurality of tees created separately from the back core and secured onto the inner periphery of the back core. A stator coil is wound on each of the tees by a distributed or concentrated winding method. The stator core and stator coil are formed by molding.

A steering wheel for motor vehicles is disclosed. The aim of the steering wheel is to supply information from a driver guidance system or a driver assistance system to a driver in such a way that said information is easily received and that the driver can also input information for said systems or for a telephone, without having to divert his or her attention from the traffic. To achieve this, the steering wheel is configured as a communication interface for the driver.

Reduction in costs and size of an electric driving device is achieved and reliability of electrical connection thereof is enhanced. The device comprises: an electric motor; a controller that is disposed coaxially with the axis of the electric motor rotation shaft and takes control of driving the electric motor; a motor terminal whose end extends from the electric motor toward the controller; and an output terminal whose end extends from the controller toward the electric motor; wherein a portion of the motor terminal including the end thereof and that of the output terminal including the end thereof each are formed to extend in parallel to an axial direction of the electric motor, and overlappingly connected with each other.