Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a switching device, a monitoring device and a control device. The first battery is electrically connected to load devices which are mounted on the vehicle. The second battery serves as a backup power source. The switching device switches the first and second batteries. The monitoring device monitors remaining capacity for each of the first and second batteries. When the control device determines that the remaining capacity of the second battery is less than the remaining capacity of the first battery based on information monitored by the monitoring device, the control device controls the switching device so as to conduct switching of the first and second batteries.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes the steps of: providing a steering shaft or another such rotating shaft with two magnetostrictive parts endowed with magnetic anisotropy; disposing detection coils around the magnetostrictive parts to detect changes in magnetostrictive characteristics of the magnetostrictive parts; providing a detection circuit for bringing out detection signals from signals outputted from the detection coils; and adjusting a gain of a gain adjuster included in the detection circuit.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor detecting a steering angle, a steering motor steering road-wheels, a reaction motor imparting a reaction force to the steering wheel, an ECU driving the steering motor with respect to a detected steering angle and a temperature detecting unit detecting temperatures of the steering motor, the reaction motor or a constituent member involved in the temperatures of the motors. When the temperature detected is larger than a predetermined value, the ECU performs such that a ratio of the rotating angle to the steering angle is made smaller than one that is to result when the temperature is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, or a reaction force that is to be imparted to the steering wheel is made larger.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive torque sensor of the present invention is provided with: a magnetostrictive film; a detection coil; a current direction switching device; and an inversion device, wherein: when the current flows in a direction from one side to another side of the detection coil by the current direction switching device, the torque reacted to the shaft is detected based on the input signal of the inversion device; and when the current flows in a inverse direction from another side to one side of the detection coil by the current direction switching device, the torque reacted to the shaft is detected based on the output signal of the inversion device.

Abstract: A lever fitting-type connector has a lock arm for retaining a lever, the lock arm being provided at a connector housing. The lever fitting-type connector includes, in addition to a first retaining cancellation structure for canceling a retained condition of the lever by the finger, a second retaining cancellation structure for canceling the retained condition by inserting a retaining cancellation jig in a direction intersecting a direction of pressing of the lock arm and then by operating the jig. The second retaining cancellation structure includes a jig guide serving as a lever fulcrum for the retaining cancellation jig.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetostrictive torque sensor device includes the steps of: providing a steering shaft or another such rotating shaft with two magnetostrictive parts endowed with magnetic anisotropy; disposing detection coils around the magnetostrictive parts to detect changes in magnetostrictive characteristics of the magnetostrictive parts; providing a detection circuit for bringing out detection signals from signals outputted from the detection coils; and adjusting a gain of a gain adjuster included in the detection circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steering handle for a vehicle, in which no burden is imposed on a driver's arms and wrists during operation of the steering handle. In the steering handle (23) grasped and rotated by both hands of a driver, an axis (Ls) of a steering shaft included in the steering handle is inclined so as to be higher in level in a forward direction of a vehicle body, and a left grip (24L) grasped by a left hand and a right grip (24R) grasped by a right hand are rotatable in opposite directions about an axis (Lg) perpendicular to the axis (Ls) of the steering shaft. Thus, an upper half of the driver's body sitting on a seat and leaning backwards and a plane of rotation of the steering handle (23) are substantially parallel to each other, thereby ensuring that the driver can rotate the steering handle (23) without stretching and withdrawing his or her arms.

Abstract: A lever fitting-type connector has a lock arm for retaining a lever, the lock arm being provided at a connector housing. The lever fitting-type connector includes, in addition to a first retaining cancellation structure for canceling a retained condition of the lever by the finger, a second retaining cancellation structure for canceling the retained condition by inserting a retaining cancellation jig in a direction intersecting a direction of pressing of the lock arm and then by operating the jig. The second retaining cancellation structure includes a jig guide serving as a lever fulcrum for the retaining cancellation jig.

Abstract: A vehicle control system is provided for a vehicle that is steered by steer-by-wire, the system including a battery mounted in the vehicle, a steer-by-wire steering system that turns wheels by an electric motor that is operated by electric power supplied from the battery, a steering controller for controlling the operation of the steer-by-wire steering system, and an engine controller for controlling, by electric power supplied from the battery, the operation of an engine for making the vehicle travel. A booster circuit boosts the voltage applied to the steering controller so that, when the voltage of the battery decreases, the voltage applied to the engine controller falls below its minimum operating voltage before the voltage applied to the steering controller falls below its minimum operating voltage. With this arrangement, it is possible to provide fail-safe operation when there is a decrease in the voltage of the battery which supplies electricity to the steering controller.

Abstract: A battery load power detecting system includes a generator current sensor which detects a current supplied from a generator to at least one of a battery and a load group including a steering device, and first and second load current sensors which detect a current supplied from at least one of the generator and the battery to the load group. A battery state monitor calculates a load power of the battery by multiplying a difference between both the currents by a voltage at a terminal of the battery detected by a voltage sensor. Therefore, the load state of the battery can be appropriately confirmed to avoid a situation where the steering device, e.g., a steering-by-wire type steering device, falls into an inoperable state due to power deficiency.

Abstract: Steering apparatus includes at least one motor for generating a steering assisting force in a direction to steer a steerable wheel, two drive circuits having respective switching elements for PWM-controlling the motor, and a controller for differentiating, between the drive circuits, a control frequency at which the switching element is switched on and off. The differentiated PWM switching timing can effectively reduce switching noise and magnetostrictive sound of the motor.

Abstract: A steering system includes a steering wheel, a steering angle sensor detecting a steering angle, a steering motor steering road-wheels, a reaction motor imparting a reaction force to the steering wheel, an ECU driving the steering motor with respect to a detected steering angle and a temperature detecting unit detecting temperatures of the steering motor, the reaction motor or a constituent member involved in the temperatures of the motors. When the temperature detected is larger than a predetermined value, the ECU performs such that a ratio of the rotating angle to the steering angle is made smaller than one that is to result when the temperature is equal to or smaller than the predetermined value, or a reaction force that is to be imparted to the steering wheel is made larger.

Abstract: A motor driving method for a steering apparatus for applying an auxiliary steering force to a steering system with two motors. When the two motors are driven, a first one of the two motors is operated first. Thereafter, the other, second motor is driven, whereby smooth steering is effected.

Abstract: In a torque sensor having a magnetic metal film with magnetic anisotropy attached to a torque transmission shaft, and an exciting coil and a pair of detector coils each installed near the magnetic metal film, outputs of the detector coils and a reference signal are respectively added in waveform adders when the exciting coil is energized by an exciting power source. Then, the outputs of the adders and the reference signal are respectively compared in phase in phase comparators, and the outputs of the comparators are respectively converted in voltage values. A differential amplifier amplifies a difference between the voltage values, and a torque detector detects direction and magnitude of the torque applied to the torque transmission shaft from polarity and magnitude of the difference voltage value, thereby enabling to accurately detect applied torque even when installed near noise-producing electrical equipment such as an electric power steering system.

Abstract: Steering apparatus for transmitting a driving force of a motor through a gear mechanism to a rack shaft of a steering system and applying the driving force to steering road wheels in a steering direction. The apparatus has first and second motors. In the transmission of driving forces from output shafts of the first and second motors to the rack shaft, the phases of the two motors are essentially staggered by 180 degree.

Abstract: In a torque sensor having a magnetic metal film with magnetic anisotropy attached to a torque transmission shaft and an exciting coil and a detector coil each installed near the magnetic metal film, there is provided a reference voltage generator that supplies an ac excitation signal whose reference voltage indicating a midpoint of the ac excitation signal is set to a voltage corresponding to a 50% duty ratio of the ac excitation signal, to the exciting coil, such that a torque applied to the torque transmission shaft is detected based on an output of the detector coil, thereby achieving improved torque detection accuracy by enabling generation of an excitation signal of large amplitude that is free of upper-lower imbalance relative to the reference voltage as the midpoint and accurate detection of the magnitude and accuracy of detection waveform amplitude.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus with a plurality of motors for applying a force to steering road wheels in a steering direction with mechanism which applies an increase in allocation of auxiliary steering force to an operating motor when at least one of the motors has failed.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power for a vehicle includes a first battery, a second battery, a switching device, a monitoring device and a control device. The first battery is electrically connected to load devices which are mounted on the vehicle. The second battery serves as a backup power source. The switching device switches the first and second batteries. The monitoring device monitors remaining capacity for each of the first and second batteries. When the control device determines that the remaining capacity of the second battery is less than the remaining capacity of the first battery based on information monitored by the monitoring device, the control device controls the switching device so as to conduct switching of the first and second batteries.

Abstract: A motor driving method for a steering apparatus for applying an auxiliary steering force to a steering system with two motors. When the two motors are driven, a first one of the two motors is operated first. Thereafter, the other, second motor is driven, whereby smooth steering is effected.

Abstract: A motor driving method for a steering apparatus for applying an auxiliary steering force to a steering system with two motors. When the two motors are driven, a first one of the two motors is operated first. Thereafter, the other, second motor is driven, whereby smooth steering is effected.