Steering angle middle point detecting apparatus

• US 4,961,474 A
• Filed: 07/10/1989
• Issued: 10/09/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsuoka, Hirofumi, Daido, Toshihiko, Tabuse, Hidetoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US07/377,867
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 180/79.1, 180/142, 364/424.01, 74/388 PS
• US Class Current: 180/446
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0245 Means or methods for determination of the central position of the steering system, e.g. straight ahead position

Abstract

A steering angle middle point detecting apparatus of the invention is provided with a vehicle speed sensor for detecting vehicle speed, a torque sensor for detecting at regular intervals steering torque to be added to a steering wheel, a steering position detecting means for detecting a steering position of a steering mechanism, a means for comparing a steering torque set value previously set corresponding to the vehicle speed with the steering torque detected by the torque sensor, and a steering angle middle point calculating means for calculating a middle point of a steering angle by using the steering position of the steering mechanism detected by the steering position detecting means when the steering torque is smaller than the steering torque set value, which judges that the vehicle goes straight when the detected steering torque is smaller than the steering torque set value corresponding to the vehicle speed, and judges the steering position at that time to be the middle point of the steering angle. Further, another steering angle middle point detecting apparatus is added: a judgment of an angle velocity of the steering angle, that is, a rotational speed of the steering wheel or variation of the steering torque; determines that the vehicle goes straight when it is at the specified value or less, and judges the steering position at that time to be the middle point of the steering angle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting a steering angle middle point of a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel to motion in right and left direction for steering a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a vehicle speed of said vehicle;

a torque sensor for detecting steering torque exerted on said steering wheel at regular intervals;

a steering position detecting means for detecting a steering position of said steering mechanism;

a means for comparing a steering torque set value previously set according to said vehicle speed with a steering torque detected by said torque sensor; and

a steering angle middle point calculating means for calculating a middle point of said steering angle by using the steering position of the steering mechanism detected by said steering position detecting means, when said detected steering torque is smaller than said steering torque set value.

2. A steering angle middle point detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising,

an angle velocity detecting means for detecting an angle velocity of a steering angle of said steering mechanism;

and

a comparing means for comparing an angle velocity set value previously set according to said vehicle speed with an angle velocity detected by said angle velocity detecting means;

said steering angle middle point calculating means calculating a middle point of said steering angle by using the steering position of the steering mechanism detected by said steering position detecting means, when said detected steering torque is smaller than said steering torque set value and said detected angle velocity is smaller than said angle velocity set value.

3. A steering angle middle point detecting apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising,

a means for calculating variation of the steering torque detected by said torque sensor at regular intervals, and

a means for comparing calculated variation of said steering torque with a torque variation set value previously set;

said steering angle middle point calculating means calculating a middle point of said steering angle by using the steering position of the steering mechanism detected by said steering position detecting means, when said detected steering torque is smaller than said calculated steering torque set value and the calculated variation of said steering torque is smaller than said torque variation set value.