Apparatus for controlling steer angle of rear wheels of vehicle
First Claim
1. A rear wheel steer angle controlling apparatus for automatically controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of a vehicle by controlling an actuator mechanism for generating the steer angle of the rear wheels in response to an operation of a steering wheel for generating a steer angle of front wheels of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a steering wheel displacement detecting means for detecting a steering wheel displacement and for generating a steering wheel displacement signal representing the steering wheel displacement;
a judging means for judging a rotation speed of said steering wheel from said steering wheel displacement signal; and
a controlling means for controlling said actuator mechanism in accordance with a result of judgement by said judging means such that;
(a) said steer angle of the rear wheels is generated in the direction counter to a direction of steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a high rotation speed; and
(b) said steer angle of the rear wheels is generated in the same direction as the steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a low rotation speed.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rear wheel steer angle controlling apparatus for vehicles having steerable front and rear wheels, adapted for controlling the steer angle of rear wheels in response to the operation of the steering wheel for steering the front wheels. When the steering wheel is operated quickly, a rear wheel steer angle is formed in the counter direction to the direction of the front wheel steer angle, so that the response to the steering input for turning the vehicle is improved. Conversely, when the steering wheel is operated slowly, a rear wheel steer angle is formed in the same direction as the front wheel steer angle, thus enhancing the stability of the vehicle running straight. When the vehicle is running at a high speed, the rear wheel steer angle is formed always in the same direction as the front wheel steer angle regardless of the speed of operation of the steering wheel, so that the steering stability during high speed running is improved. When a yawing moment is generated due to a disturbance such as lateral wind, the rear wheel steer angle is automatically controlled in such a manner as to negate the yawing moment, thus compensating for the lateral displacement of the vehicle without requiring correcting steering operation by the driver.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A rear wheel steer angle controlling apparatus for automatically controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of a vehicle by controlling an actuator mechanism for generating the steer angle of the rear wheels in response to an operation of a steering wheel for generating a steer angle of front wheels of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel displacement detecting means for detecting a steering wheel displacement and for generating a steering wheel displacement signal representing the steering wheel displacement; a judging means for judging a rotation speed of said steering wheel from said steering wheel displacement signal; and a controlling means for controlling said actuator mechanism in accordance with a result of judgement by said judging means such that; (a) said steer angle of the rear wheels is generated in the direction counter to a direction of steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a high rotation speed; and (b) said steer angle of the rear wheels is generated in the same direction as the steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a low rotation speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A rear wheel steer angle controlling apparatus for automatically controlling the steer angle of rear wheels of a vehicle by controlling an actuator mechanism for generating the steer angle of rear wheels in response to an operation of a steering wheel for generating a steer angle of front wheels of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel displacement detecting means for detecting a steering wheel displacement and for generating a steering wheel displacement signal representing the steering wheel displacement; a judging means for judging a rotation speed of said steering wheel from said steering wheel displacement signal; a physical amount detecting means for detecting a physical amount related to a velocity of said vehicle and outputting a physical amount signal; and a controlling means for controlling said actuator mechanism in accordance with a result of judgement by said judging means and said physical amount signal such that; (a) when said steering wheel is operated at a high rotation speed, a steer angle of the rear wheels is formed in the direction counter to a direction of steer angle of the front wheels such as to provide a small radius of turning circle of said vehicle when said physical amount is small and, when said physical amount is large, said steer angle of the rear wheels is determined such as to provide a greater radius of turning circle than that obtained when said physical amount is small; and (b) when said steering wheel is operated at a low rotation speed, a steer angle of the rear wheels is formed in the same direction as the steer angle of the front wheels. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A rear wheel steer angle controlling apparatus for automatically controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of a vehicle by controlling an actuator mechanism for generating the steer angle of the rear wheels in response to an operation of a steering wheel for generating a steer angle of front wheels of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel displacement detecting means for detecting a steering wheel displacement and for generating a steering wheel displacement signal representing the steering wheel displacement; a judging means for judging a rotation speed of said steering wheel from said steering wheel displacement signal; a physical amount detecting means for detecting a physical amount related to a lateral displacement of said vehicle and outputting a physical amount signal; and a controlling means for controlling said actuator mechanism in accordance with a result of judgement by said judging means and said physical amount signal, such that a steer angle of rear wheels is genrated as the sum of; (a) a first angle proportional to said steering wheel displacement and set in the direction counter to a direction of steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a high rotation speed and in the same direction as the steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a low rotation speed; and (b) a second angle proportional to said physical amount and set in the same direction as generation of said physical amount. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A rear wheel steer angel controlling apparatus for automatically controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of a vehicle by controlling an actuator mechanism for generating the steer angle of the rear wheels in response to an operation of a steering wheel for generating a steer angle of front wheels of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel displacement detecting means for detecting a steering wheel displacement and for generating a steering wheel displacement signal representing the steering wheel displacement; a judging means for judging a rotation speed of said steering wheel from said steering wheel displacement signal; a physical amount detecting means for detecting a physical amount related to a lateral displacement of said vehicle and outputting a physical amount signal; a steer angle detecting means for detecting the steer angle of the rear wheels and outputting a steer angle signal; and a controlling means for controlling said actuator mechanism in accordance with the result of judgement by said judging means, said physical amount signal and said steer angle signal, such that a steer angle of the rear wheels is generated as the sum of; (a) a first angle proportional to said steering wheel dislacement and set in the direction counter to a direction of steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a high rotation speed and in the same direction as the steer angle of the front wheels when said steering wheel is operated at a low rotation speed; and (b) a second angle proportional to said physical amount and set in the same direction as generation of said physical amount. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification