Vehicle steering device
First Claim
1. A vehicle steering device comprising:
- a steering member operated by a driver to steer a vehicle;
a reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering member;
a turning mechanism that turns turning wheels of the vehicle by a turning motor;
a clutch that mechanically connects and disconnects the steering member with and from the turning mechanism;
a control unit that provides control so that a turning angle is based on a steering angle of the steering member; and
a control device that acquires a temperature by measuring or estimating the temperature,wherein, the control device determines, before activating the vehicle steering device, whether the temperature is a predetermined value or lower, and when the temperature is the predetermined value or lower, the steering member and the turning mechanism are mechanically coupled by the clutch and the vehicle steering device is activated with a manual steering mode or an electronic power steering mode, and when the temperature is higher than the predetermined value, the steering member and the turning mechanism are mechanically disconnected by the clutch and the vehicle steering device is activated with a steer by wire mode,wherein the temperature is a temperature around the turning mechanism, a temperature of a turning gear box of the turning mechanism, or an ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle steering device includes a steering wheel operated by a driver to steer a vehicle; a steering reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering wheel; a turning device that turns turning wheels of the vehicle by a turning motor; a clutch mechanism that mechanically connects and disconnects the steering wheel with and from the turning device; a control device that provides control so that a turning angle is based on a steering angle of the steering wheel; and a temperature sensor that measures a temperature. The vehicle steering device mechanically couples the steering wheel and the turning device and activates the steering wheel and the turning device if the temperature is a predetermined value or lower.
6 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A vehicle steering device comprising:
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a steering member operated by a driver to steer a vehicle; a reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering member; a turning mechanism that turns turning wheels of the vehicle by a turning motor; a clutch that mechanically connects and disconnects the steering member with and from the turning mechanism; a control unit that provides control so that a turning angle is based on a steering angle of the steering member; and a control device that acquires a temperature by measuring or estimating the temperature, wherein, the control device determines, before activating the vehicle steering device, whether the temperature is a predetermined value or lower, and when the temperature is the predetermined value or lower, the steering member and the turning mechanism are mechanically coupled by the clutch and the vehicle steering device is activated with a manual steering mode or an electronic power steering mode, and when the temperature is higher than the predetermined value, the steering member and the turning mechanism are mechanically disconnected by the clutch and the vehicle steering device is activated with a steer by wire mode, wherein the temperature is a temperature around the turning mechanism, a temperature of a turning gear box of the turning mechanism, or an ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A vehicle steering device comprising:
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a steering member to steer a vehicle; a reaction force motor that applies a reaction force to the steering member; a turning mechanism that turns turning wheels of the vehicle by a turning motor; a clutch that mechanically connects and disconnects the steering member with and from the turning mechanism; a controller that controls the turning mechanism such that a turning angle of the turning wheels corresponds to a steering angle of the steering member; and a control device that acquires a temperature by measuring or estimating the temperature, wherein, the control device determines, before activating the vehicle steering device, whether the temperature is a predetermined value or lower, and when the temperature is the predetermined value or lower, the controller mechanically connects the steering member to the turning mechanism by the clutch and activates the vehicle steering device with a manual steering mode or an electronic power steering mode, and when the temperature is higher than the predetermined value, the controller mechanically disconnects the steering member and the turning mechanism by the clutch and activates the vehicle steering device with a steer by wire mode, and wherein the temperature is a temperature around the turning mechanism, a temperature of a turning gear box of the turning mechanism, or an ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for controlling a vehicle steering device, the method comprising:
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obtaining, by using a controller, a temperature as to a vehicle; deciding, by using the controller, whether the temperature is a predetermined value or lower before activating the vehicle steering device; and when the temperature is the predetermined value or lower, mechanically connecting, by using the controller, a steering member to a turning mechanism by a clutch and activating the vehicle steering device with a manual steering mode or an electronic power steering mode, and when the temperature is higher than the predetermined value, mechanically disconnecting the steering member and the turning mechanism by the clutch and activating the vehicle steering device with a steer by wire mode, wherein the steering member steers the vehicle, the turning mechanism turns turning wheels of the vehicle by a turning motor, and wherein the temperature is a temperature around the turning mechanism, a temperature of a turning gear box of the turning mechanism, or an ambient temperature surrounding the vehicle.
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Specification