Steering angular velocity detecting device

• US 6,941,207 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Inoue, Makoto, Matsubara, Katsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/959,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20050080531A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: B62/D00.6/00, B62/D00.5/04, B62/D00.5/07, B62/D00.5/06, 701/49, 701/93, 701/41, 180/443, 180167-168, 318/727, 324/207.11, 324/20, 341/15, 738/623.24
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0215 by measuring on the steering column

Abstract

Operates steering angular velocity in first steering angular velocity calculating unit and second steering angular velocity calculating unit, by using steering angle signal from steering angle generating unit, and outputs steering angular velocity by switching them with reference to a certain threshold value of steering angular velocity.

Claims

1. A steering angular velocity detecting device for vehicle control comprising

a steering angle generating unit for generating a steering angle signal in the shape of stairs depending on changes in steering angle;

a first steering angular velocity calculating unit for determining the first steering angular velocity by dividing a first changed amount of the steering angle signal during a predetermined time by the predetermined time;

a second steering angular velocity calculating unit for determining;

a) a second changed amount of the steering angle signal at the point in time of a change of the steering angle signal;

b) a difference time by subtracting time at a previous change of the steering angle signal from time at the change of the steering angle signal, and

c) a second steering angular velocity by dividing the second changed amount by the difference time; and

a selector for selecting the first steering angular velocity and the second steering angular velocity,

wherein, the selector selects the first steering angular velocity, in the case where the first steering angular velocity and/or the second steering angular velocity are larger than a predetermined threshold value.

2. A steering angular velocity detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the threshold value is set for a value at which, with the threshold value as border line, the relative amounts of change of the first steering angular velocity and change of the second steering angular velocity are reversed.

3. A steering angular velocity detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the selector outputs the first steering angular velocity, in the case where the steering angular velocity is decelerating.

4. A steering angular velocity detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the selector outputs the first steering angular velocity, in the case where the steering angular velocity is decelerating and the second steering angular velocity is substantially equal to zero.

5. A steering angular velocity detecting device as defined in claim 1, wherein the steering angle generating unit comprises a magnetic steering angle sensor.

6. A steering angular velocity detecting device as defined in claim 5, wherein the steering angle generating unit further comprises a second rotor which turns in linkage with a first rotor, and the steering angle sensor is provided with a magnet disposed at the central part of the second rotor and an anisotropic magnetic resistance (AMR) element disposed at a position opposing the magnet.