Vehicle power steering system with digital angle sensing device
First Claim
1. A power steering system for a vehicle having at least one steerable wheel, said power steering system comprising:
- a manually operable steering wheel, a first angle sensing device connected to said manually operable steering wheel, a servo motor connected to said at least one steerable wheel, a second angle sensing device associated with the servo motor, and a control unit for receiving signals from said first angle sensing device and for energizing said servo motor, wherein said first angle sensing device comprises a single digital angle encoder arranged to generate electric pulses of a certain amplitude in relation to changes in an angular position of said steering wheel, wherein said control unit provides said single digital angle encoder with a constant supply voltage and includes a malfunction detecting device connected to said single digital angle encoder, wherein said single digital angle encoder comprises a circuit for establishing a constant analog voltage for reducing said certain pulse amplitude normally delivered by said single digital angle encoder to a suitable check amplitude, and wherein a bottom voltage level of each pulse is above zero and a top voltage level of each pulse is below said supply voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power steering system for a vehicle which has one or more steerable wheels (10) includes a manually operable steering wheel (12), a first angle sensing device (16) connected to the steering wheel (12), a servo motor (13) connected to the steering wheel or wheels (10), associated with the servo motor (13), and a control unit (17) for receiving signals from the first angle sensing device (16) and for energizing the servo motor (13). The first angle sensing device (16) includes a single digital angle encoder fed with a constant supply voltage (VCC) by the control unit (17), and generates electric pulses of a certain amplitude (ΔV1) The control unit (17) includes a malfunction detecting device connected to the angle encoder (16), and the angle encoder (16) includes a circuit for establishing a constant analog voltage for reducing the pulse amplitude (ΔV1) normally delivered by the angle encoder (16) to a suitable check amplitude (ΔV2)
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A power steering system for a vehicle having at least one steerable wheel, said power steering system comprising:
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a manually operable steering wheel, a first angle sensing device connected to said manually operable steering wheel, a servo motor connected to said at least one steerable wheel, a second angle sensing device associated with the servo motor, and a control unit for receiving signals from said first angle sensing device and for energizing said servo motor, wherein said first angle sensing device comprises a single digital angle encoder arranged to generate electric pulses of a certain amplitude in relation to changes in an angular position of said steering wheel, wherein said control unit provides said single digital angle encoder with a constant supply voltage and includes a malfunction detecting device connected to said single digital angle encoder, wherein said single digital angle encoder comprises a circuit for establishing a constant analog voltage for reducing said certain pulse amplitude normally delivered by said single digital angle encoder to a suitable check amplitude, and wherein a bottom voltage level of each pulse is above zero and a top voltage level of each pulse is below said supply voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification