Patent · US Expired

Steering angle detecting mechanism

US6314355A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
8References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2000
Grant dateNov 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D15/02
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering angle detecting mechanism of this invention comprises: a plurality of photocouplers for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel; a timer circuit for setting time; a first power source control unit which is controlled by the set time of the timer circuit and intermittently drives one of the plurality of photocouplers; a second power source control unit for driving the rest of the plurality of photocouplers; a wake-up circuit for generating a wake-up signal when a detection value of the single photocoupler is different from the immediately preceding detection value of the single photocoupler; and a micro control unit which is switched between a sleep mode and a wake-up mode. The micro control unit is switched to the sleep mode when an ignition switch is turned off, and to the wake-up mode for predetermined time when the wake-up signal is supplied, in the sleep mode, the micro control unit intermittently drives the single photocoupler at predetermined intervals and allows the wake-up circuit to generate the wake-up signal on the basis of the detection value of the single photocoupler, and in the wake-up mode, the micro control unit drives the plurality of photocouple…

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