Methods and systems for performing steering alignment health checks

• US 9,868,461 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: West, Marissa J., Venner, III, William R., Kloess, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Winner, Tony H
• Application Number:
  US14/869,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20170088163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 180444, 180446
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0457 characterised by control features of the drive means as such
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0481 monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/06 Steering behaviour; Rolling behaviour

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a steering system of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving torque signal data corresponding to torque signals received from a torque sensor associated with the steering system; processing the torque signal data to determine an average torque value; determining a health status of an alignment of the steering system based on the average torque value; and generating at least one of a signal, a message, and a code to notify a user based on the health status.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a steering system of a vehicle, comprising:

receiving torque signal data corresponding to torque signals received from a torque sensor associated with the steering system;

processing the torque signal data over a time period to determine an average torque value;

determining a health status of an alignment of the steering system based on the average torque value; and

generating at least one of a signal, a message, and a code to notify a user based on the health status.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving vehicle conditions data, and wherein the determining the average torque value is based on the vehicle conditions data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle conditions data indicates current operating conditions of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle conditions data indicates current conditions of an environment the vehicle is driving.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the signal, the message, and the code deactivates a steering compensation system, the deactivation of the steering compensation system notifies the user through feedback from the steering system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the signal, the message, and the code activates a notification device to notify the user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an average torque value X number of times across Y key cycles, wherein the determining the average torque value is based on the X number of average torque values across the Y key cycles.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the average torque value X number of times across Y key cycles is based on whether the vehicle is driving in a test environment or on a road.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the health status of the steering system indicates at least one of aligned and miss-aligned.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the health status is based on a comparison of the average torque value to a predetermined threshold, wherein a value of the predetermined threshold is based on at least one of a particular vehicle type, a particular steering type, a driving condition, and a result of steering miss-alignment.

11. A system, comprising:

an electric power steering system;

a torque sensor associated with the electric power steering system; and

a first module that receives torque signal data corresponding to torque signals received from the torque sensor, that processes the torque signal data over a time period to determine an average torque value, that determines a health status of an alignment of the steering system based on the average torque value, and that generates at least one of a signal, a message, and a code to notify a user based on the health status.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first module receives vehicle conditions data, and determines the average torque value based on the vehicle conditions data.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle conditions data indicates current operating conditions of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle conditions data indicates current conditions of an environment the vehicle is driving.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the signal, the message, and the code deactivates a steering compensation system, the deactivation of the steering compensation system notifies the user through feedback from the steering system.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the signal, the message, and the code activates a notification device to notify the user.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first module determines an average torque value X number of times across Y key cycles, and determines the average torque value based on the X number of average torque values across the Y key cycles.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first module determines the average torque value X number of times across Y key cycles based on whether the vehicle is driving in a test environment or on a road.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the health status of the steering system indicates at least one of aligned and miss-aligned.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the first module determines the health status based on a comparison of the average torque value to a predetermined threshold, wherein a value of the predetermined threshold is based on at least one of a particular vehicle type, a particular steering type, a driving condition, and a result of steering miss-alignment.