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EP0718173A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electric power steering system

Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1995-12-18
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2015-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract An electric power steering system of this invention can inform the driver of potential danger before a vehicle enters a dangerous situation. The occurrence of dangerous situations is determined based on a signal from an obstacle sensor (15). If a steering wheel (1) is turned in a dangerous situation, a warning control is performed by control means (14) on a motor (13). The motor outputs a torque for t1 second, for example, which counters against turning of the steering wheel (1). Then, the motor enters a "non-assist" state wherein no current is applied thereto for t2 second. If an intermittent counter torque is applied by the motor, it is hard to turn the steering wheel. The steering wheel is caused to vibrate, thereby preventing the vehicle from being steered to collide with an obstacle. The driver is warned of the danger through the vibration caused in the steering wheel. <IMAGE>

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshinobu c/o Seiko Co. Ltd. Shimizu
  • 👤 Shiro c/o Seiko Co. Ltd. Nakano

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 22:44
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D15/00; B62D15/02; B62D15/025; B62D15/0265; B62D15/029; G; G01; G01S; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/93; G01S13/931; G01S2013/9318

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 95 words
An electric power steering system suitable for use with a vehicle steering mechanism (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) including a steering wheel (1) and a motor (13) for producing a steering assist force when the vehicle is steered by the steering wheel (1), the power steering system comprising: obstacle detecting means (15) for determining the presence of an obstacle in the periphery of the vehicle; and warning control means (14) for driving the motor (13) to cause vibration in the steering wheel (1) when an obstacle is detected by the obstacle detecting means (15).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 60 words
An electric power steering system as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising means for determining whether the steering wheel (1) is turned or not, wherein the warning control means (14) is adapted to drive the motor (13) so as to vibrate the steering wheel (1) stronger when the steering wheel (1) is not turned than when it is turned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 56 words
An electric power steering system as set forth in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the warning control means (14) is adapted not to perform the warning control when the steering wheel (1) is within a range of play about the middle point of steering, wherein the steering wheel (1) is not practically involved in steering operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 60 words
An electric power steering system as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the warning control means (14) is adapted to regulate a value of current and/or voltage applied to the motor (13) to a predetermined target value, and to fluctuate the target value cyclically when an obstacle is detected by the obstacle detecting means (15).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 44 words
An electric power steering system as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the warning control means (14) is adapted to drive the motor (13) so as to produce an intermittent counteractive force against turning of the steering wheel (1).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
An electric power steering system as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the warning control means (14) is adapted to control the motor (13) to alternate an "adverse-assist" state wherein the motor (13) produces a counteractive force against turning of the steering wheel (1), and a non-assist" state wherein the motor (13) produces no counteractive force.

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