US6647329B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Damping of voltage-controlled brushless motors for electric power steering systems
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
•
Filing: 2001-04-09
•
Granted: 2003-11-11
•
Expires: 2021-04-09
Abstract
Abstract An electric power steering system includes a steering wheel, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor connected to the steering wheel or column, and an electronic controller electrically connected to the assist motor that receives a first signal representing a torque command to the assist motor and a second signal representing an angular velocity of the assist motor, and produces a voltage signal according to an assist-dependent damping function of the first and second signals, and uses the voltage signal to control the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function.
Inventors
- 👤 Julie A. Kleinau
- 👤 Ashok Chandy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:26
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D5/00; B62D5/04; B62D5/0457; B62D5/046; B62D5/0466; B62D5/0463
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: a first signal input for receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; a second signal input for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; and a signal output for providing a voltage signal in communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor; wherein the voltage signal is responsive to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: a first signal input for receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; a second signal input for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; and a signal output for providing a voltage signal in communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor; wherein the voltage signal is responsive to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 1 ; the electronic controller further comprising: a third signal input for receiving a third signal indicative of a road speed of a vehicle; and an input-dependent damping function responsive to the third signal; wherein the voltage signal is responsive to the input-dependent damping function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 , further comprising: a steered member coupled to the steering input member; and a torque sensor coupled to the steered member for sensing a driver torque input; wherein: the input-dependent damping function is responsive to the driver torque input; and the voltage signal of the electronic controller is responsive to the input-dependent damping function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 wherein the input-dependent damping function is responsive to at least one of the first and second signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of the input-dependent damping function and the assist-dependent damping function comprises a look-up table.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of the assist-dependent damping function and the input-dependent damping function comprises a direct computation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 wherein at least one of the assist-dependent damping function and the input-dependent damping function comprises a constant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
139 words
An electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: a first signal input or receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; a second signal input for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; and a signal output for providing a voltage signal in communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor; a phase advance function in signal communication with the assist motor, wherein the phase advance function in responsive to at least one of the first and second signal; and wherein the voltage signal is responsive to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
139 words
An electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: a first signal input or receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; a second signal input for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; and a signal output for providing a voltage signal in communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor; a phase advance function in signal communication with the assist motor, wherein the phase advance function in responsive to at least one of the first and second signal; and wherein the voltage signal is responsive to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 2 ; the controller further comprising a vehicle speed signal wherein at least one of the input-dependent damping function and the assist-dependent damping function is responsive to the vehicle speed signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electric power steering system as defined in claim 1 wherein the voltage-controlled electric assist motor is brushless.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; and adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; and adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; adding the first signal to the computed assist-dependent damping function; and limiting the added assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; adding the first signal to the computed assist-dependent damping function; and limiting the added assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; limiting the computed assist-dependent damping function; and adding the first signal to limited assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signal; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; limiting the computed assist-dependent damping function; and adding the first signal to limited assist-dependent damping function.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system as defined in claim 11 , further comprising: receiving a third signal indicative of a vehicular road speed; computing a first input-dependent damping function responsive to the third signal; and adapting the output voltage in response to the first input-dependent damping function.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, a torque sensor coupled to the steering input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; receiving a third signal indicative of a vehicular road speed; computing a first input-dependent damping function responsive to the third signal; adapting the output voltage in response to the fist input-dependent damping function; receiving a fourth signal indicative of a driver torque input upon the steering input member; computing a second input-dependent damping function responsive to the driver torque input; and adapting the output voltage in response to the second input-dependent damping function.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, a torque sensor coupled to the steering input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the method comprising: receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; adapting an output voltage in signal communication with the voltage-controlled electric assist motor in response to the assist-dependent damping function; receiving a third signal indicative of a vehicular road speed; computing a first input-dependent damping function responsive to the third signal; adapting the output voltage in response to the fist input-dependent damping function; receiving a fourth signal indicative of a driver torque input upon the steering input member; computing a second input-dependent damping function responsive to the driver torque input; and adapting the output voltage in response to the second input-dependent damping function.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as defined in claim 15 wherein adapting the output voltage in response to the second input-dependent damping function comprises multiplying the computed first input-dependent damping function by the computed second input-dependent damping function and adapting the output voltage in response to the product of the multiplication.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
97 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system as defined in claim 15 wherein at least one of computing an assist-dependent damping function and computing a first input-dependent damping function and computing a second input-dependent damping function comprises: using at least one of the first, second, third and fourth signals as an index to a look-up table; looking-up an intermediate result responsive to the at least one signal; interpolating the intermediate result in response to the difference between the at least one signal and the corresponding table index to compute the at least one damping function.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system as defined in claim 15 wherein at least one of computing an assist-dependent damping function and computing a first input-dependent damping function and computing a second input-dependent damping function comprises directly computing the function result.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for controlling an electric power steering system as defined in claim 15 wherein at least one of computing an assist-dependent damping function and computing a first input-dependent damping function and computing a second input-dependent damping function comprises multiplying by a constant.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electric power steering, system for a vehicle comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: means for receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; means for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; means for computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; means for receiving a third signal indicative of a road speed of the vehicle; means for receiving a fourth signal indicative of a driver torque on the input member; means for computing an input-dependent damping function responsive to the third and fourth signals; and means for producing an output voltage in signal communication with the assist motor that is responsive to at least one of the assist-dependent damping function and the input-dependent damping function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
156 words
An electric power steering, system for a vehicle comprising a steering input member, a voltage-controlled electric assist motor coupled to the input member, and an electronic controller in signal communication with the assist motor; the electronic controller comprising: means for receiving a first signal indicative of a torque command to the assist motor; means for receiving a second signal indicative of an angular velocity of the assist motor; means for computing an assist-dependent damping function responsive to the first and second signals; means for receiving a third signal indicative of a road speed of the vehicle; means for receiving a fourth signal indicative of a driver torque on the input member; means for computing an input-dependent damping function responsive to the third and fourth signals; and means for producing an output voltage in signal communication with the assist motor that is responsive to at least one of the assist-dependent damping function and the input-dependent damping function.
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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) | 2006-11-10 | 2007-05-12 | 2007-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-11-10 | 2011-05-12 | 2011-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-11-10 | 2015-05-12 | 2015-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |