Method for controlling a vehicle steering system

• US 8,027,767 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nexteer beijing Technology Co Ltd
• Inventors: Klein, Steven D., Hales, Michael K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US12/570,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/43, 701/42, 701/35, 280/761, 180/408, 180/410, 180/418, 180/433, 180/411, 180/204, 180/443, 340/465, 116/31
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/046 Controlling the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0481 monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/002 computing target steering angles for front or rear wheels B62D7/159 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle steering system are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving a desired front road wheel angle signal at a controller. The desired front road wheel angle signal is indicative of a desired front road wheel angle of vehicle wheels. The method further includes receiving a parking assist request signal at the controller indicating a parking assist operational mode is desired. The method further includes generating a desired motor torque signal for controlling a power steering motor in the parking assist operational mode utilizing the controller, based on the desired front road wheel angle signal and the parking assist request signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle steering system, comprising:

receiving a desired front road wheel angle signal at a computer, the desired front road wheel angle signal being indicative of a desired front road wheel angle of vehicle wheels;

receiving a parking assist request signal at the computer indicating a parking assist operational mode is desired for automatically parking a vehicle;

receiving a vehicle speed signal indicative of a vehicle speed at the computer;

receiving a handwheel torque signal indicative of an amount of torque applied to a vehicle handwheel at the computer;

enabling a parking assist control mode to automatically control the operational position of vehicle wheels during automatic vehicle parking, utilizing the computer, when the parking assist request signal is received, and the vehicle speed signal indicates a vehicle speed is less than a first threshold vehicle speed, and the handwheel torque signal indicates an amount of handwheel torque is less than a threshold handwheel torque; and

generating a desired motor torque signal for controlling a power steering motor in the parking assist control mode when the parking assist control mode is enabled, utilizing the computer, based on the desired front road wheel angle signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the enabling the parking assist control mode is further based on a transmission gear.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the parking assist control mode is enabled while maintaining a power steering operational mode.