Patent · US Expired

Apparatus for controlling steering force produced by power steering system

US5122958A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
7References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 13, 1990
Grant dateJun 16, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 13, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D6/00
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the ratio of a assisting force produced by a power steering system installed in an vehicle to a steering torque supplied by the driver wherein the ratio is changed by a solenoid valve arranged in the power steering system. The CPU of the apparatus changes control current to be applied to the solenoid valve using a characteristic map defining change of a base current with respect to changes of the vehicle speed and the steering angle. Further, the CPU increases the control current, when the steering wheel is returned to its neutral angle position, so as to decrease the ratio, increasing the self returning ability of the steering mechanism. The control current applied to the solenoid valve during the returning operation is changed depending upon both the steering angle and the steering speed of the steering wheel using additional characteristic maps.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.