US5481457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle steering system
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1994-03-25
•
Granted: 1996-01-02
•
Expires: 2014-03-25
Abstract
Abstract Provided is a vehicle steering system which can substantially stabilize the lateral dynamic behavior of a vehicle with a simple control logic over the entire range of the vehicle speed. A steering torque proportional to a yaw rate and/or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle is applied to the steerable wheels to counteract a lateral deviation of the vehicle. To avoid the oscillatory or overshooting behavior of the control system, a damping torque is applied to the steering wheel. Thus, the counteracting steering torque is given as a mathematical function including a sum of a first term consisting of a product of a yaw rate and/or the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a first coefficient, and a second term consisting of a product of an angular speed of the steering wheel and a second coefficient. In particular, the first coefficient and second coefficient are variable in a mutually proportional relationship so that the optimum selection of the first and second conditions can be done without any complication.
Inventors
- 👤 Yorihisa Yamamoto
- 👤 Yutaka Nishi
- 👤 Takashi Nishimori
- 👤 Hiroyuki Tokunaga
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:58
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/04; B62D5/0457; B62D5/046; B62D5/0463; B62D6/00; B62D6/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A vehicle steering system, comprising: manual steering means including a steering wheel for manually steering steerable wheels of a vehicle; power means for applying a steering torque to said steerable wheels; and control means for controlling said steering torque produced by said power means according to a value indicating a lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle so as to control said lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle against external disturbances; said lateral dynamic behavior including at least one of a yaw rate and a lateral acceleration of said vehicle, and said steering torque being given by a mathematical function including a sum of a first term consisting of a product of said value indicating a lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle and a first coefficient, and a second term consisting of a product of an angular speed of said steering wheel and a second coefficient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A vehicle steering system, comprising: manual steering means including a steering wheel for manually steering steerable wheels of a vehicle; power means for applying a steering torque to said steerable wheels; and control means for controlling said steering torque produced by said power means according to a value indicating a lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle so as to control said lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle against external disturbances; said lateral dynamic behavior including at least one of a yaw rate and a lateral acceleration of said vehicle, and said steering torque being given by a mathematical function including a sum of a first term consisting of a product of said value indicating a lateral dynamic behavior of said vehicle and a first coefficient, and a second term consisting of a product of an angular speed of said steering wheel and a second coefficient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 1, wherein said first coefficient and second coefficient are variable in a mutually proportional relationship.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 2, wherein said first coefficient changes in dependence on a travelling speed of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 3, wherein said first coefficient linearly increases with a travelling speed of said vehicle in a low speed range, and takes a fixed value when said travelling speed of said vehicle exceeds a certain value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 2, wherein a proportional constant between said first and second coefficients changes in dependence on a travelling speed of said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 5, wherein said proportional constant is zero in a low speed range, linearly increases with a travelling speed of said vehicle in a medium speed range, and takes a fixed value when said travelling speed of said vehicle exceeds a certain high value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 1, wherein said steering torque given by the mathematical function including the sum of the first term and the second term is a steering reaction torque.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A vehicle steering system according to claim 7, wherein said steering torque further includes a steering assist torque which is combined with said steering reaction torque, said control means including a power steering control means for determining said steering assist torque and a steering reaction computing means for determining said steering reaction torque.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB815080A
Cited
US3866706A
Cited
GB1411829A
Cited
US4878557A
Cited
US4706771A
Cited
US4830127A
Cited
US4840389A
Cited
GB2205541A
Cited
US4966249A
Cited
US5097917A
Cited
US5014801A
Cited
US4984646A
Cited
US4909343A
Cited
US5274576A
Cited
US5078226A
Cited
US5094127A
Cited
JPH03277023A
Cited
US5267783A
Cited
US5225984A
Cited
US5268841A
Cited
US5247441A
Cited
US5236335A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-01 | 1999-07-03 | 2000-01-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-01 | 2003-07-03 | 2004-01-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-01 | 2007-07-03 | 2008-01-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |