Steering position sensor assembly utilizing angular velocity sensor
First Claim
1. A method of determining an angular position of a vehicle steering component comprising the steps of:
- providing a rotary velocity sensor disposed in sensing relationship with a rotating member of a vehicle steering assembly, said sensor having velocity and center position outputs;
determining the angular position of said rotating member from said velocity output; and
resetting said angular position to center when said sensor provides an output indicating said rotating member is in a center position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a data signal representative of the current angular position of the steering wheel and steering wheels of a vehicle utilizes a rotary or angular velocity sensor sensing rotation of the steering column. The angular velocity sensor includes two outputs providing pulses having a distinct phase relationship and a third output which provides a signal at the center or straight ahead position of the steering wheel or column. The pulses and their leading edges are utilized to increment and decrement a counter which provides an indication of angular position. The accuracy of the output may be compared with data with front wheel speed sensors and the center position sensor to ensure continued operating accuracy. A memory device stores the current angular position when the ignition is turned off in order to provide such information when the ignition is turned on.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining an angular position of a vehicle steering component comprising the steps of:
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providing a rotary velocity sensor disposed in sensing relationship with a rotating member of a vehicle steering assembly, said sensor having velocity and center position outputs;
determining the angular position of said rotating member from said velocity output; and
resetting said angular position to center when said sensor provides an output indicating said rotating member is in a center position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of sensing an angular position of a vehicular steering component comprising the step of:
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providing a rotary velocity sensor having an output;
positioning such rotary velocity sensor assembly in sensing relationship with a vehicular steering component;
providing said output of said rotary velocity sensor assembly to an integrator; and
integrating said output to provide a signal representing the angular position of said steering component. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for determining an angular position of a steering component of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination;
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a rotary velocity sensor disposed in sensing relationship with a rotating component of a vehicular steering system, said sensor having velocity and center outputs;
means for determining the magnitude and direction of rotation of said steering component from said velocity output means and providing an output representing an angular position of said steering component; and
means for resetting said angular position when said center output indicates said rotating steering component is at center position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification