Vehicle steering offset monitor
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting an out-of-alignment condition of a wheeled vehicle with at least one steered wheel controlled by a steering wheel by comparing the relative number of periodic samples during a sampling period in which the vehicle steering wheel is positioned right of the center position as compared to left of the center position, the apparatus comprising;
- sampler that periodically samples the position of the steering wheel and determines whether the steering wheel is in a center position, or a left position left of the center position, or a right position right of the center position,fault determiner that determines a left fault condition when the number of samples in the left position exceeds the number of samples in the right position by a first predetermined number during the sampling period, or determines a right fault condition when the number of samples in the right position exceed the number of samples in the left position by the first predetermined number during the sampling period,auto-reset that initiates a new sampling period when a left fault condition is determined, or a right fault condition is determined, or the number of samples made by the sampler during the sampling period reaches a second predetermined duration number,a status indicator that indicates to a user a left failure or a right failure based upon a comparison of accumulated right fault conditions and accumulated left fault conditions over one or more sampling periods.
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Abstract
A apparatus and method for detecting an out-of-alignment condition of a wheeled vehicle with at least one steered wheel controlled by a steering wheel by comparing the relative number of periodic samples during a sampling period in which the vehicle steering wheel is positioned right of the center position as compared to left of the center position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting an out-of-alignment condition of a wheeled vehicle with at least one steered wheel controlled by a steering wheel by comparing the relative number of periodic samples during a sampling period in which the vehicle steering wheel is positioned right of the center position as compared to left of the center position, the apparatus comprising;
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sampler that periodically samples the position of the steering wheel and determines whether the steering wheel is in a center position, or a left position left of the center position, or a right position right of the center position, fault determiner that determines a left fault condition when the number of samples in the left position exceeds the number of samples in the right position by a first predetermined number during the sampling period, or determines a right fault condition when the number of samples in the right position exceed the number of samples in the left position by the first predetermined number during the sampling period, auto-reset that initiates a new sampling period when a left fault condition is determined, or a right fault condition is determined, or the number of samples made by the sampler during the sampling period reaches a second predetermined duration number, a status indicator that indicates to a user a left failure or a right failure based upon a comparison of accumulated right fault conditions and accumulated left fault conditions over one or more sampling periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting an out-of-alignment condition of a wheeled vehicle with at least one steered wheel controlled by a steering wheel, the method comprising;
comparing the relative number of periodic samples during a sampling period in which the vehicle steering wheel is positioned right of the center position as compared to left of the center position.
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14. A method for detecting an out-of-alignment condition of the wheeled vehicle with at least one steered wheel controlled by a steering wheel, the method comprising;
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periodically sampling the position of the steering wheel and determining whether the steering wheel is in a center position, or a left position, of a right position) determining a left fault condition when the number of samples in the left position exceeds the number of samples in the right position by a first predetermined number during the sampling period, determining a right fault condition when the number of samples in the right position exceed the number of samples in the left position by the first predetermined number during the sampling period, resetting to initiate a new sampling period when a left fault condition is determined, or a right fault condition is determined, or the number of samples made by the sampler during the sampling period reaches a second predetermined duration number, indicating to a user a left failure or a right failure based upon a comparison of accumulated right fault conditions and accumulated left conditions over one or more sampling periods. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification