Patent US4646541A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5097918A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5097918A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor-driven power steering apparatus
Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co Ltd
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Filing: 1989-07-10
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Granted: 1992-03-24
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Expires: 2009-07-10
Abstract
Abstract The electric power steering apparatus of the invention is provided with a rotary detector for detecting a rotational position of a motor, a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque, and when the steering torque is within a dead zone, by increasing flow current to a motor for assisting steering force correspondingly to increase of a steering angle decided on the basis of the rotational position of the motor, the steering assisting force corresponding to the steering angle can be gained at the time of returning the steering wheel steered by mostly using by the steering torque being in the dead zone, and the proper steering assisting force can also be gained by making flow quantity corresponding to the steering angle to be minimum within a predetermined speed range and by increasing it at lower or higher speed than the predetermined speed range when the steering wheel is returned during a time of running at a low speed (such as a time of slowing down).
Inventors
- 👤 Toshihiko Daido
- 👤 Hirofumi Matsuoka
- 👤 Hidetoshi Tabuse
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:02
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/04; B62D5/043; B62D5/0433; B62D5/0436; B62D5/0457; B62D5/046; B62D5/0466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering torque, when a detected steering torque is outside a dead zone; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering angle, when a detected steering torque is within said dead zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering torque, when a detected steering torque is outside a dead zone; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering angle, when a detected steering torque is within said dead zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering torque.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering angle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said second electric current control means making said driving current to be minimum when the detected vehicle speed is within a predetermined range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said first electric current control means changing the increasing rate of said driving current to the increase of steering torque corresponding to the detected vehicle speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said second electric current control means changing the increasing rate of said driving current to the increase of the steering angle corresponding to the detected vehicle speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said steering angle detecting means sets said steering angle by the detection of the rotational position of said motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
158 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering torque when a detected steering torque is outside a dead zone, wherein said first electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering torque; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering angle when a detected steering torque is within said dead zone, wherein said second electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering torque when a detected steering torque is outside a dead zone, wherein said first electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering torque; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to said steering angle when a detected steering torque is within said dead zone, wherein said second electric current control means increases said driving current corresponding to the increase of said steering angle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said second electric current control means making said driving current to be minimum when the detected vehicle speed is within a predetermined range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said first electric current control means changing the increasing rate of said driving current to the increase of steering torque corresponding to the detected vehicle speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a speed of said vehicle, said second electric current control means changing the increasing rate of said driving current to the increase of the steering angle corresponding to the detected vehicle speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power steering apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said steering angle detecting means sets said steering angle by the detection of the rotational position of said motor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
194 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to the steering torque detected by said torque sensor, when the detected steering torque is larger than a predetermined value, said first electric current control means increasing said driving current corresponding to the increase of the detected steering torque; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to the steering angle detected by said steering angle detecting means, when the detected steering torque is smaller than said predetermined value, said second electric current control means increasing said driving current corresponding to the increase of the detected steering angle, the values of said driving current controlled by said first and second electric current control means at said predetermined value being equal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
194 words
A power steering apparatus comprising, a steering mechanism for converting rotations of a steering wheel into a movement for steering a vehicle to right or left direction; a steering angle detecting means for detecting a steering angle of said steering mechanism; a torque sensor for detecting a steering torque exerted on said steering wheel; a motor for assisting steering force; a first electric current control means for controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to the steering torque detected by said torque sensor, when the detected steering torque is larger than a predetermined value, said first electric current control means increasing said driving current corresponding to the increase of the detected steering torque; and a second electric current control means for alternately controlling a driving current of said motor corresponding to the steering angle detected by said steering angle detecting means, when the detected steering torque is smaller than said predetermined value, said second electric current control means increasing said driving current corresponding to the increase of the detected steering angle, the values of said driving current controlled by said first and second electric current control means at said predetermined value being equal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-24 | 1995-09-23 | 1996-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-24 | 1999-09-23 | 2000-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-24 | 2003-09-23 | 2004-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |