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Electrical steering system for manned or unmanned operation

  • US 20050092542A1
  • Filed: 10/30/2003
  • Published: 05/05/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An electrical steering system comprising:

  • an upper shaft;

    a steering wheel coupled to the upper shaft for rotation with the upper shaft;

    an electric motor capable of receiving a rotational input from the upper shaft;

    a torque transducer connected to the upper shaft for sensing a torque placed on the steering wheel;

    a steering assembly coupled to at least one of the electric motor and the upper shaft;

    an operator detector electrically or electromagnetically coupled to the torque transducer, the operator detector detecting a presence of the operator for a corresponding time interval by the sensed torque meeting or exceeding a threshold minimum torque level; and

    a steering controller for controlling the electric motor based upon the detected presence.

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