Factory steering rack centering using electric power steering system
First Claim
1. A method of centering a steering rack in an automotive vehicle that includes an electric power steering (EPS) assembly having an electric motor in the vehicle for steering and an angular position sensor to sense motor angle, the method comprising:
- locating a center of a steering rack of the EPS by using the electric motor and the angular position sensor of the EPS; and
installing a steering wheel to a steering column after the locating step.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided for centering a steering rack in an automotive vehicle, particularly a vehicle that includes an electric power steering (EPS) system. The centering method includes locating a center by using an electric motor of the EPS system. The method includes temporarily locking the steering rack in place and subsequently installing a steering wheel to a steering column after the locating step. The method further includes operatively communicating with an on-board processor or ECU of the automotive vehicle and running a program to determine or locate the center of the rack. The method may also include detecting the first and second ends of the rack when at least one of a velocity of the electric motor reaches zero, a current of the electric motor reaches a preselected level, and steering angle of the electric motor stabilizes.
4 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of centering a steering rack in an automotive vehicle that includes an electric power steering (EPS) assembly having an electric motor in the vehicle for steering and an angular position sensor to sense motor angle, the method comprising:
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locating a center of a steering rack of the EPS by using the electric motor and the angular position sensor of the EPS; and installing a steering wheel to a steering column after the locating step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification