TIE ROD FORCE SENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150166101A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ross, Christian E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,487,231 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0463 calculating assisting torque from the motor based on driver input
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0472 for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/008 Control of feed-back to the steering input member, e.g. simulating road feel in steer-by-wire applications

Abstract

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a control system for controlling a steering system having a tie rod is provided. The control system includes a sensor coupled to the tie rod, the sensor configured to measure forces exerted on the tie rod and to generate a signal indicative of the measured forces, and a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the sensor. The control module is programmed to generate a motor assist command based on the generated signal to control the steering system.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a steering system having a tie rod, the control system comprising:

a sensor coupled to the tie rod, the sensor configured to measure forces exerted on the tie rod and to generate a signal indicative of the measured forces; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive the signal from the sensor, the control module programmed to generate a motor assist command based on the generated signal to control the steering system.

2. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a charging coil coupled to the steering system, wherein the charging coil is configured to generate an electromagnetic field that facilitates powering the sensor.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the charging coil is electrically coupled to the control module.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the control module.

5. The control system of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor coupled to a steering column of the steering system, the second sensor configured to sense a torque applied to a hand wheel of the steering system and to generate a second signal, wherein the control module is communicatively coupled to the second sensor to receive the second signal from the second sensor, the control module programmed to further generate the motor assist command based on the second signal.

6. A steering system comprising:

a steering shaft;

a hand wheel coupled to the steering shaft;

a steering gear assembly coupled to the steering shaft, the steering gear assembly including a rack coupled to a tie rod; and

a sensor coupled to the tie rod, the sensor configured to measure forces exerted on at least one of the rack and the tie rod.

7. The steering system of claim 6, further comprising:

a steering assist unit coupled to the steering gear assembly to facilitate assisting movement of the steering system; and

a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor to receive a signal therefrom, the control module programmed to generate a motor assist command to the steering assist unit based on the signal from the sensor.

8. The steering system of claim 6, further comprising a charging coil encircling the rack and located within a housing partially encasing the steering gear assembly, wherein the charging coil is configured to generate an electromagnetic field that facilitates powering the sensor.

9. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the charging coil is electrically coupled to a control module communicatively coupled to the sensor, and the sensor is located within a flexible boot at least partially encasing the tie rod.

10. The steering system of claim 7, wherein the sensor is electrically coupled to the control module.

11. The steering system of 7, further comprising a second sensor coupled to the steering shaft, the second sensor configured to sense a torque applied to the hand wheel and to generate a second signal, the control module communicatively coupled to the second sensor to receive the second signal from the second sensor, the control module programmed to further generate the motor assist command based on the second signal.

12. A method of controlling a steering system having a tie rod, the method comprising:

measuring, with a sensor coupled to the tie rod, a force exerted on the tie rod;

receiving, with a control module, a signal from the sensor indicative of the measured force; and

generating, with the control module, a motor assist command based on the received signal to control the steering system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating an electromagnetic field with a charging coil coupled to the steering system; and

powering the sensor with the generated electromagnetic field.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising electrically coupling the charging coil to the control module.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising powering the sensor with the control module.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

measuring, with a second sensor coupled to a steering column of the steering system, a torque applied to a hand wheel of the steering system; and

receiving, with the control module, a second signal from the second sensor indicative of the applied torque; and

further generating, with the control module, the motor assist command based on the received second signal.