METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A STEERING SYSTEM IN A VEHICLE

• US 20100228438A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Weilkes, Michael, Rentschler, Tobias, Buerkle, Lutz
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method for adjusting a steering system in a vehicle, a setpoint trajectory is produced to which a tolerance corridor is assigned, a basic steering torque for guiding the vehicle within the tolerance corridor being generated. In the event that the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor, a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in the direction of the tolerance corridor is superimposed on the basic steering torque.

Claims

1-14. -14. (canceled)

15. A method for adjusting a steering system in a vehicle, in which a setpoint trajectory adapted to an ambient situation is produced and a steering torque is adjusted in the steering system so that the vehicle follows the setpoint trajectory, the method comprising:

assigning a tolerance corridor to the setpoint trajectory, and producing a basic steering torque for guiding the vehicle within the tolerance corridor; and

superimposing a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in a direction of the tolerance corridor on the basic steering torque in the event that the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the basic steering torque is the torque needed to compensate for restoring torque prevailing in the steering system.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein within the tolerance corridor the basic steering torque is exclusively effective as the steering torque generated by the steering system.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one of the basic steering torque and the steering guidance torque is calculated as a function of at least one of a longitudinal vehicle dynamics and a transverse vehicle dynamics.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the at least one of the basic steering torque and the steering guidance torque is calculated as a function of a velocity of the vehicle.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the at least one of the basic steering torque and the steering guidance torque is calculated as a function of the square of a velocity of the vehicle.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the basic steering torque is calculated according to the following relationship:

$M_{\mathrm{basic}}=\frac{l_n·<br><br>n_r·<br><br>m·<br><br>v^2·<br><br>K_R·<br><br>k_{\mathrm{servo}}}{l·<br><br>N}$

where

M_basic denotes the basic steering torque,

l_h a distance from a center of mass of the vehicle to a rear axle of the vehicle,

n_R a caster,

m a vehicle mass of the vehicle,

v a velocity of the vehicle,

l a wheelbase of the vehicle,

N a transmission ratio of a steering gear of the vehicle,

K_R a curvature of a road, and

k_servo a degree of assistance of a power steering.

22. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a road curvature is measured and the basic steering torque is ascertained based on the road curvature in a mathematical vehicle model.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein a course of the road is ascertained using a video lane recognition system.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the course of the road is ascertained using a navigation system.

25. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the tolerance corridor is ascertained as a function of at least one of vehicle-related variables, and surroundings variables.

26. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein a magnitude of the basic steering torque is limited to a maximum value.

29. A regulating and control unit adapted to assign a tolerance corridor to a setpoint trajectory of a vehicle and produce a basic steering torque to guide the vehicle within the tolerance corridor, the regulating and control device further adapted to superimpose a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in a direction of the tolerance corridor on the basic steering torque if the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor.

30. A steering system in a vehicle, comprising:

a steering grip;

a steering shaft coupled to the steering grip;

a steering linkage and a steering gear coupled to the steering shaft; and

a regulating and control unit adapted to assign a tolerance corridor to a setpoint trajectory of a vehicle and produce a basic steering torque to guide the vehicle within the tolerance corridor, the regulating and control device further adapted to superimpose a steering guidance torque which acts upon the vehicle in a direction of the tolerance corridor on the basic steering torque if the vehicle leaves the tolerance corridor.