Steering handle position sensor checking apparatus

• US 5,283,740 A
• Filed: 01/03/1992
• Issued: 02/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Eguchi, Takaaki, Sato, Hiroyuki, Ishikawa, Yasuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US07/816,898
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.03, 364/424.05, 180/79.1, 180/140-142, 280/91
• US Class Current: 701/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/412 of steering wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/08 Failure or malfunction detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/02 Steering position indicators ; Steering position determination; Steering aids
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/159 characterised by computing methods or stabilisation processes or systems, e.g. responding to yaw rate, lateral wind, load, road condition

Abstract

An apparatus for use with a vehicle dynamic characteristic control system employing a vehicle speed sensor, a steering handle position sensor and a steering handle neutral position sensor to control the dynamic characteristics of an automotive vehicle. The vehicle speed sensor is sensitive to vehicle speed for producing a vehicle speed signal indicative of a sensed vehicle speed. The steering handle position sensor is sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle position signal indicative of a sensed steering handle position. The steering handle neutral position sensor is sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle neutral position signal having a first level when the sensed steering handle position is in a predetermined neutral range and a second level when the sensed steering handle position is out of the predetermined neutral range. A steering handle neutral position is estimated based upon the steering handle position signal and the steering handle neutral position signal. A steering angle, which corresponds to an absolute value of a difference of the sensed steering handle position from the estimated steering handle neutral position, is calculated. A failure signal is produced to indicate that at least one of the steering handle position sensor and the steering handle neutral position sensor is subject to failure when the calculated steering angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and when the vehicle speed is held above a predetermined value normal for vehicle running in an urban area for a predetermined interval of about 60 seconds.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle speed sensor, a steering handle position sensor and a steering handle neutral position sensor, the vehicle speed sensor being sensitive to vehicle speed for producing a vehicle speed signal indicative of a sensed vehicle speed, the steering handle position sensor being sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle position signal indicative of a sensed steering handle position, the steering handle neutral position sensor being sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle neutral position signal having a first level when the sensed steering handle position is in a predetermined neutral range and a second level when the sensed steering handle position is out of the predetermined neutral range, the apparatus comprising:

means for estimating a steering handle neutral position based upon the steering handle position signal and the steering handle neutral position signal;

means for calculating a steering angle corresponding to an absolute value of a difference of the sensed steering handle position from the estimated steering handle neutral position; and

means for producing a failure signal to indicate that at least one of the steering handle position sensor and the steering handle neutral position sensor is subject to failure when the calculated steering angle is equal to or greater than a predetermined steering angle value and when the vehicle speed is held above a predetermined vehicle speed normal for vehicle running in an urban area for a predetermined interval of about 60 seconds.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined steering angle value is about 60 degrees and the predetermined vehicle speed is about 50 Km/h.