DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A POSITION SENSOR OF THE STEERING WHEEL OF AN AUTOMOBILE

• US 20110238266A1
• Filed: 12/15/2009
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Systemes De Controle Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Systemes De Controle Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Plaideau, Michel, Bettan, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 9,126,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/021 Determination of steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0235 by measuring or deriving directly at the electric power steering motor

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) for controlling a position sensor (13) of a steering wheel (3) of a vehicle. Said device (2) includes a means (9) for generating a control signal for the acquisition periods of the position sensor (13) when the vehicle is stopped, the frequency of said signal increasing upon the detection of a variation in the position of said steering wheel (3). The invention can be used in the field of automobiles, and the position sensor can be associated with the rotor of the steering assist motor.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a position sensor configured to detect a position of a steering wheel of a motor vehicle, said device comprising:

means for generating a control signal for acquisition periods of the position sensor when the motor vehicle is stationary, wherein a frequency of said control signal increases when a change in the position of said steering wheel is detected.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means generate a second signal at a standby frequency suitable for detecting a half-turn of a rotor.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said standby frequency is between 500 Hz and 1000 Hz.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means generate a third signal at an active frequency that is strictly higher than said standby frequency when said position sensor detects a rotary movement of said steering wheel.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means generate a third signal at a frequency changing proportionally with an acceleration or a deceleration of the rotation speed of said steering wheel.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means reduce said active frequency to reach said standby frequency when:

said position sensor detects a deceleration of the rotation speed of said steering wheel;

or

said position sensor detects no rotation of said steering wheel over a certain period.

7. An assisted steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a steering column configured to support a steering wheel at a top end of the steering column;

a rack on which a bottom end of said steering column acts;

a power-steering motor mechanically connected to said rack;

a torque sensor associated with the steering column configured to measure a torque applied by a driver of the motor vehicle to said steering wheel; and

a control device as claimed in claim 1, the control device being configured to keep said position sensor alert for counting a number of half-turns or turns of a rotor of said motor using a reduction ratio operating on said rotor, wherein the control device is on said rack or on said steering column.