Torque-based steering system for steer by wire vehicles
First Claim
1. A steering system comprising:
- a steering wheel used to control vehicle direction;
a torque sensor generating a torque signal wherein said torque signal is proportional to an amount of torque a driver applies to said steering wheel and wherein said torque sensor is mounted on said steering shaft;
an angle sensor generating an angle signal wherein said angle signal is proportional to a change in position of said steering wheel and wherein said angle sensor is mounted on said steering shaft; and
an electronic unit to generate a reference signal to control vehicle direction wherein during a malfunction, said reference signal is generated utilizing said torque sensor signal without the angle sensor signal and, during normal operation said reference signal is generated utilizing said angle sensor signal without the torque sensor signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A torque-based method to steer a vehicle equipped with a steer by wire system begins when a driver applies torque to a steering wheel so as to change the direction in which the vehicle travels. Two sensors, a steering wheel angle sensor and a steering wheel torque sensor then generate an angle signal and a torque signal, respectively. In the unlikely event the vehicle steering system is malfunctioning, the steering wheel torque sensor will still generate a torque signal. This torque signal is used in place of the angle signal to generate the reference signal. Once the reference signal is generated, then it can be used to generate the road wheel angle signal, which is in turn used to position the road wheels accordingly.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A steering system comprising:
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a steering wheel used to control vehicle direction;
a torque sensor generating a torque signal wherein said torque signal is proportional to an amount of torque a driver applies to said steering wheel and wherein said torque sensor is mounted on said steering shaft;
an angle sensor generating an angle signal wherein said angle signal is proportional to a change in position of said steering wheel and wherein said angle sensor is mounted on said steering shaft; and
an electronic unit to generate a reference signal to control vehicle direction wherein during a malfunction, said reference signal is generated utilizing said torque sensor signal without the angle sensor signal and, during normal operation said reference signal is generated utilizing said angle sensor signal without the torque sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An automotive backup steering system comprising:
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a vehicle having a steer by wire system;
a steering wheel used to control vehicle direction;
a steering shaft used to conned said steering wheel to a rack and pinion;
a torque sensor generating a torque signal wherein said torque signal is proportional to an amount of torque a driver applies to said steering wheel and wherein said torque sensor is mounted on said steering shaft;
an angle sensor generating an angle signal wherein said angle signal is proportional to a change in position of said steering wheel and wherein said angle sensor is mounted on said steering shaft; and
an electronic unit to generate a reference signal to control vehicle direction wherein during a malfunction, said reference signal is generated utilizing said torque sensor signal without the angle sensor signal and, during normal operation said reference signal is generated utilizing said angle sensor signal without the torque sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification