Actuator synchronization and locking concept for steer by wire applications
First Claim
1. A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
- a steering input device actuator operably connected to a steering input device of the vehicle; and
a steerable device actuator operably connected to a steerable device of the vehicle, said steerable device actuator being disposed in electronic communication with said steering input device actuator, the electronic communication being maintained through a control unit, the control unit being configured to reposition at least one of said steering input device actuator and said steerable device actuator upon startup of the vehicle so that they are synchronized in relation to one another independent of any actuation of the steering input device to effect such position synchronization.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steer-by-wire system for a vehicle that provides synchronization capability to an actuator of a steerable device and an actuator of a steering input device includes a steering input device actuator operably connected to the steering input device of the vehicle and a steerable device actuator operably connected to the steerable device of the vehicle. The steerable device actuator is disposed in electronic communication with the steering input device actuator. The electronic communication is defined such that synchronous positioning of the steering input device actuator and the steerable device actuator can be effectuated by the system upon startup of the vehicle. A method of using the system includes initiating operation of the system by turning on an ignition switch of the vehicle and evaluating an initial condition of the vehicle. The initial condition is associated to the positions of the steering input device actuator and the steerable device actuator.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a steering input device actuator operably connected to a steering input device of the vehicle; and
a steerable device actuator operably connected to a steerable device of the vehicle, said steerable device actuator being disposed in electronic communication with said steering input device actuator, the electronic communication being maintained through a control unit, the control unit being configured to reposition at least one of said steering input device actuator and said steerable device actuator upon startup of the vehicle so that they are synchronized in relation to one another independent of any actuation of the steering input device to effect such position synchronization. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A steerable device synchronization system for a steer-by-wire steering system for a vehicle, the system comprising:
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a steering input device positioned to be controllable by an operator of the vehicle;
a steering input device actuator disposed in operable communication with said steering input device;
a steerable device actuator;
a steerable device disposed in operable communication with said steerable device actuator; and
a control unit disposed in electronic communication with said steering input device actuator and said steerable device actuator, said control unit being configured to provide electronic communication between said steering input device actuator and said steerable device actuator, said control unit operating at least one of said steerable device actuator and said steering input device actuator upon vehicle start-up, thereby effectuating the synchronous positioning of said steerable device with respect to said steering input device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of synchronizing steerable devices with a steering input device in a steer-by-wire steering system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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activating the system by turning on an ignition switch of the vehicle;
determining whether a steerable device actuator of the vehicle is synchronously positioned relative to a steering input device actuator of the vehicle; and
if said steerable device actuator and said steering input device actuator are unsynchronized, repositioning at least one of said steerable device actuator and said steering input device actuator so that they are synchronized in relation to one another independent of any actuation of the steering input device to effect such position synchronization. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification