Patent · US Expired

Vehicle including a variable gear ratio steering device and an electric power steering apparatus

US6367577B2 · kind B2 · utility

18Cited by
9References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 6, 2001
Grant dateApr 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 6, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/1958
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle including a variable gear ratio steering device and an electric power steering apparatus is disclosed. The variable gear ratio steering device influences on a steering system of the vehicle and varies a ratio of a steering angle of steerable road wheels to a steering wheel angle by driving an electric motor in accordance with a vehicle speed. The electric power steering apparatus influences on the steering system of the vehicle and provides an assist steering wheel torque by driving an electric motor in accordance with a manual steering wheel torque. The vehicle comprises a power supply voltage detector for detecting a voltage of a power supply, and a control unit for controlling the electric motor of said variable gear ratio steering device in accordance with the detected voltage. When the detected voltage decreases to a certain voltage or lower, the control unit brings the variable gear ratio steering device into a slow state and thereafter stops the same.

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