Steer-by-wire handwheel actuator incorporating mechanism for variable end-of-travel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle comprising:
- a controller operative to accept as input thereto data from the steer-by-wire system and generate therefrom control signals;
a driver input shaft;
a gear train connected to the driver input shaft;
a variable stop motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and variably geared to the gear train;
a feedback motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and geared to one of the driver input shaft and the gear train; and
a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled to one of the feedback motor and the gear train.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle is presented. The handwheel actuator comprises a controller operative to accept as input thereto data from the steer-by-wire system and generate therefrom control signals; a driver input shaft; a gear train connected to the driver input shaft; a variable stop motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and variably geared to the gear train; a feedback motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and geared to one of the driver input shaft and the gear train; and a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled to one of the feedback motor and the gear train.
83 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle comprising:
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a controller operative to accept as input thereto data from the steer-by-wire system and generate therefrom control signals;
a driver input shaft;
a gear train connected to the driver input shaft;
a variable stop motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and variably geared to the gear train;
a feedback motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and geared to one of the driver input shaft and the gear train; and
a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled to one of the feedback motor and the gear train. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
a sun gear connected to the driver input shaft; a ring gear having interior and exterior gear teeth thereto;
a plurality of planet gears coupled to the sun gear and the interior teeth of the ring gear; and
a carrier connected to the plurality of planet gears.
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3. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the variable stop motor includes
a variable stop motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a variable stop assist gear connected to the variable stop motor shaft and coupled to the exterior gear teeth of the ring gear.
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4. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the feedback motor includes
a feedback motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a feedback motor assist gear connected to the feedback motor shaft and coupled to the carrier.
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5. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the driver input shaft includes a driver feedback gear coupled thereto.
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6. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 5 wherein the feedback motor includes
a feedback motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a feedback motor assist gear connected to the feedback motor shaft and coupled to the driver feedback gear.
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7. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 5 wherein the feedback motor includes
a feedback motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a feedback motor assist gear connected the feedback motor shaft and coupled to the driver feedback gear.
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8. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stop mechanism includes
a stop guide having a first stop end and a second stop end; - and
a collar coupled to the feedback motor shaft and the stop guide and operative thereby to travel between the first and second stop ends along the feedback motor shaft.
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9. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stop mechanism includes
a stop guide having a first stop end and a second stop end; - and
a collar coupled to the carrier and the stop guide and operative thereby to travel between the first and second stop ends along the carrier.
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10. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 2 wherein the stop mechanism includes
a shaft connected to the carrier; -
a stop guide having a first stop end and a second stop end;
a bar connected to the shaft and operative to rotate therewith between the first stop end and the second stop end.
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11. A method of varying the gear ratio of a handwheel actuator of a steer-by-wire steering system comprising:
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providing a controller operative to accept as input thereto data from the steer-by-wire system and generate therefrom control signals;
providing a driver input shaft;
providing a gear train connected to the driver input shaft;
providing a variable stop motor responsive to the control signals from the controller and variably geared to the gear train;
providing a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled the gear train. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
measuring the position of the driver input shaft; measuring the speed of the vehicle; and
calculating the desired position of the end-of-travel of the driver input shaft.
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13. The method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising
measuring the position of the stop mechanism; - and
providing a first control signal to the variable stop motor for controlling the input of the variable stop motor to the planetary gear train.
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14. A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle comprising:
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a driver input shaft;
a gear train connected to the driver input shaft;
a variable stop motor responsive to control signals and variably geared-to-the gear train; and
a stop mechanism attached to a housing and coupled the gear train. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
a sun gear connected to the driver input shaft; a ring gear having interior and exterior gear teeth thereto;
a plurality of planet gears coupled to the sun gear and the interior teeth of the ring gear; and
a carrier connected to the plurality of planet gears.
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16. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 15 wherein the variable stop motor includes
a variable stop motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a variable stop assist gear connected to the variable stop motor shaft and coupled to the exterior gear teeth of the ring gear.
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17. A steer-by-wire handwheel actuator in a vehicle comprising:
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a driver input shaft;
a gear train connected to the driver input shaft;
a feedback motor responsive to control signals and geared to one of the driver input shaft and the gear train; and
a stop mechanism attached to a housing coupled to one of the feedback motor and the gear train. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
a sun gear connected to the driver input shaft; a ring gear having interior and exterior gear teeth thereto;
a plurality of planet gears coupled to the sun gear and the interior teeth of the ring gear; and
a carrier connected to the plurality of planet gears.
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19. The steer-by-wire handwheel actuator as set forth in claim 18 wherein the feedback motor includes
a feedback motor shaft driven therefrom; - and
a feedback motor assist gear connected to the feedback motor shaft and coupled to the carrier.
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Specification