Abstract A steering handle neutral position estimating apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a steering handle operable to provide a driver's vehicle steering demand. The apparatus comprises a first sensor sensitive to steering handle position for producing an electric signal indicative of a sensed steering handle position, and a second sensor sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle neutral position signal having a first level when the sensed steering handle position is in a predetermined range and a second level when the sensed steering handle is out of the predetermined range. The first and second sensors are coupled to an estimating unit which estimates a sterring handle neutral position when four conditions are fulfilled; that is when the steering handle neutral position signal is at its first level, when the steering handle position change is less than a reference value, when the vehicle continuous traveling distance is greater than a reference value, and the vehicle traveling speed is greater than a first reference value and less than a second, greater reference value.
A steering handle neutral position estimating apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a steering handle operable to provide a driver's vehicle steering demand, the apparatus comprising: first sensor means sensitive to steering handle position for producing an electric signal indicative of a sensed steering wheel position; second sensor means sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle neutral position signal having a first level when the sensed steering handle position is in a predetermined range and a second level when the sensed steering handle position is out of the predetermined range; and an estimating unit coupled to the first and second sensor means, the estimating unit including means sensitive to a steering handle position change, means sensitive to a continuous traveling distance of the vehicle, means sensitive to a traveling speed of the vehicle, means for producing an estimation command signal when the sensed steering handle position change is less than a reference value, when the sensed continuous traveling distance is greater than a reference value and when the sensed traveling speed is greater than a first reference value and less than a second, greater reference value, and means responsive to the estimation command signal for estimating a steering handle neutral position value when the steering handle neutral position signal is at its first level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A steering handle neutral position estimating apparatus for use with a motor vehicle having a steering handle operable to provide a driver's vehicle steering demand, the apparatus comprising: first sensor means sensitive to steering handle position for producing an electric signal indicative of a sensed steering wheel position; second sensor means sensitive to steering handle position for producing a steering handle neutral position signal having a first level when the sensed steering handle position is in a predetermined range and a second level when the sensed steering handle position is out of the predetermined range; and an estimating unit coupled to the first and second sensor means, the estimating unit including means sensitive to a steering handle position change, means sensitive to a continuous traveling distance of the vehicle, means sensitive to a traveling speed of the vehicle, means for producing an estimation command signal when the sensed steering handle position change is less than a reference value, when the sensed continuous traveling distance is greater than a reference value and when the sensed traveling speed is greater than a first reference value and less than a second, greater reference value, and means responsive to the estimation command signal for estimating a steering handle neutral position value when the steering handle neutral position signal is at its first level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The neutral position estimating apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first reference value is 20 km/h and the second reference value is 80 km/h.