Motor-driven power steering apparatus and method
US5341891A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 30, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 18, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB62D5/0478
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A motor-driven power steering apparatus and method for a vehicle are able to avoid frequent on-off operations of an electromagnetic clutch 14 as much as possible, which connects or disconnects a motor 13 with or from a steering system, thus improving the durability of the clutch 14 and suppressing the generation of undesirable noise and shocks upon connection and disconnection of the clutch 14. A clutch controller 191 controls a clutch current Ic supplied to the clutch 14 based on the vehicle speed V in such a manner that it sets the clutch current Ic to a first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a substantially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is less than a first predetermined vehicle speed Vo, and to a second predetermined clutch current level Icr which is less than the first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a partially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is equal to or greater than the first predetermined vehicle speed Vo. Preferably, the clutch current Ic is set to a third predetermined clutch current level Ico which is less than the second predetermined clutch current level Icr so as to substan…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.