Vehicle steering apparatus
First Claim
1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle having a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:
- a steering mechanism that is mechanically separate from the steering wheel, wherein the steering mechanism includes a steering rod and a steering actuator, wherein the steering actuator drives the steering rod;
a steering wheel position detector for detecting a steering position of the steering wheel;
a control system that determines a target steered position of the steering rod based on the detected steering position of the steering wheel, wherein the control system performs feedback control of the steering actuator based on the target steered position and an actual steered position of the steering rod;
a reaction force actuator, wherein the reaction force actuator applies reaction force to the steering wheel based on force that the steering mechanism receives from a road; and
an elastic member that couples the reaction force actuator to the steering wheel, wherein the elastic member is located between the steering wheel and the reaction force actuator, and wherein, with respect to the elastic member, a side closer to the steering wheel is referred to as a primary side, and a side closer to the reaction force actuator is referred to as a secondary side, wherein the steering wheel position detector is located at the secondary side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steer-by-wire steering apparatus for a vehicle includes an elastic member couples a reaction force actuator to a steering wheel. With respect to the elastic member, a side closer to the steering wheel is referred to as a primary side, and a side closer to the reaction force actuator is referred to as a secondary side. A steering wheel position detector is located at the secondary side. Therefore, the apparatus is capable of giving a feel of a steering reaction force equivalent to an ordinary mechanically connected steering apparatus to an operator and secures stability of a control system.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle having a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:
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a steering mechanism that is mechanically separate from the steering wheel, wherein the steering mechanism includes a steering rod and a steering actuator, wherein the steering actuator drives the steering rod;
a steering wheel position detector for detecting a steering position of the steering wheel;
a control system that determines a target steered position of the steering rod based on the detected steering position of the steering wheel, wherein the control system performs feedback control of the steering actuator based on the target steered position and an actual steered position of the steering rod;
a reaction force actuator, wherein the reaction force actuator applies reaction force to the steering wheel based on force that the steering mechanism receives from a road; and
an elastic member that couples the reaction force actuator to the steering wheel, wherein the elastic member is located between the steering wheel and the reaction force actuator, and wherein, with respect to the elastic member, a side closer to the steering wheel is referred to as a primary side, and a side closer to the reaction force actuator is referred to as a secondary side, wherein the steering wheel position detector is located at the secondary side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A steering apparatus for a vehicle having a steering wheel, the apparatus comprising:
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a steering mechanism that is mechanically separate from the steering wheel, wherein the steering mechanism includes a steered wheel and a steering actuator, wherein the steering actuator drives the steered wheel;
a steering wheel angle detector for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel;
a control system that determines a target steered angle of the steered wheel based on the detected steering angle of the steering wheel, wherein the control system performs feedback control of the steering actuator based on the target steered angle and an actual steered angle of the steered wheel;
a reaction force actuator, wherein the reaction force actuator applies reaction force to the steering wheel based on load that the steering actuator receives from a road through the steered wheel; and
an elastic member that couples the reaction force actuator to the steering wheel; and
a torque detector that detects elastic deformation of the elastic member, thereby obtaining steering torque applied to the steering wheel, wherein the object of detection by the steering wheel angle detector is a portion that is closer to the reaction force actuator than the torque detector is to the reaction force actuator.
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Specification