Absolute steering angle detection device and absolute steering angle detection method for electric power steering device

• US 7,149,615 B2
• Filed: 07/04/2003
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ura, Noritake
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong
• Application Number:
  US10/515,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20050236221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 180/443, 324/86, 702/151
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0215 by measuring on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0235 by measuring or deriving directly at the electric power steering motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/024 Other means for determination of steering angle without directly measuring it, e.g. deriving from wheel speeds on different sides of the car
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/10 characterised by means for sensing or determining torque
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/105 involving inductive means G01L3/102, G01L3/104 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/221 to steering wheels, e.g. for power assisted steering

Abstract

A steering angle θt detected by the torque sensor is read at S900. Then, an electrical angle θm corresponding to a motor rotational angle is read at S902. At S908 through S922, motor rotational numbers are calculated based on θt, θm and the rotational number of a handle, and a correct rotational number of the handle is calculated from the motor rotational number which is the nearest to an integer of all of the calculated motor rotational numbers. Thereafter, an absolute steering angle which is not influenced by various errors is calculated based on the calculated rotational number of the handle and the steering angle θt detected by the torque sensor.

Claims

1. An absolute steering angle detection device for an electric power steering device characterized by comprising:

a steering wheel;

a motor for assisting the rotation of the steering wheel;

first detection means for torque detection for detecting the steering torque of the steering wheel to linearly output a first detection signal in dependence on the rotational angle of the steering wheel;

second detection means for detecting the rotation of a motor which is driven in dependence on the rotation of the steering wheel to assist the rotation of the steering wheel, to linearly output a second detection signal having a frequency different from that of the first detection signal;

first operation means for calculating rotational numbers of the motor based on the first and second detection signals and the rotational number of the steering wheel;

first selection means for selecting an appropriate rotational number from the rotational numbers of the motor calculated by the first operation means;

second selection means for selecting a rotational number of the steering wheel which corresponds to the appropriate rotational number selected by the first selection means; and

second operation means for calculating an absolute steering angle based on the rotational number of the steering wheel selected by the second selection means and the first detection signal.

2. The absolute steering angle detection device for an electric power steering device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the first and second detection means are constituted respectively by resolvers.

3. The absolute steering angle detection device for an electric power steering device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the first detection means is composed of at least two resolvers which do not take the same values during one rotation of the steering wheel.

4. The absolute steering angle detection device for an electric power steering device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the first selection means selects a numerical value which is the nearest to an integer.

5. The absolute steering angle detection device for an electric power steering device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that the second operation means detects the absolute steering angle by addition means for adding the first detection signal to a value which is made by multiplying 360 with the rotational number of the steering wheel selected by the second selection means.

6. An absolute steering angle detection method for an electric power steering device including a steering wheel and a motor for assisting the rotation of the steering wheel, the method being characterized by comprising:

a first detection step for torque detection, of detecting the steering torque of the steering wheel to linearly output a first detection signal in dependence on the rotational angle of the steering wheel;

a second detection step of detecting the rotation of a motor which is driven in dependence on the rotation of the steering wheel to assist the rotation of the steering wheel, to linearly output a second detection signal having a frequency different from that of the first detection signal;

a first operation step of calculating rotational numbers of the motor based on the first and second detection signals and the rotational number of the steering wheel;

a first selection step of selecting an appropriate rotational number from the rotational numbers of the motor calculated by the first operation step;

a second selection step of selecting a rotational number of the steering wheel which corresponds to the appropriate rotational number calculated at the first selection step; and

a second operation step of calculating an absolute steering angle based on the rotational number of the steering wheel selected at the second selection step and the first detection signal.