Patent · US Expired

Electric power steering apparatus

US6032091A · kind A · utility

25Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1998
Grant dateFeb 29, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D5/0463
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An electric power steering apparatus having a control unit for controlling a motor for applying an assist torque to a steering system on the basis of a steering torque of the steering system. The control unit has a drive signal fading part for generating a drive current signal on the basis of a deviation signal expressing the deviation between a target current set in correspondence with a steering torque and a detected motor current detected by a motor current detector and gradually decreasing a drive current value with time to zero when a fadeout request signal is supplied to it. Thus in an electric power steering apparatus constructed to gradually decrease a steering assist force being supplied from a motor when an ignition switch is turned off, even if an error arises in a detected motor current value as a result of a fall in the voltage of a battery power supply, the steering assist force can be decreased correctly.

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