Abstract: A power assist suit includes: a body wearing tool; a left actuator unit and a right actuator unit attached to the body wearing tool and worn on a left and right thighs of the wearer, such that the left actuator unit and the right actuator unit respectively generate assist torques of assisting motions of the left and right thighs; left and right-torque-related amount detectors which detect a left-torque-related amount and a right-torque amount related to left and right wearer torques and left and right assist torques, the left and right wearer torque being respectively input from the left and right thighs to the left actuator unit and the right actuator unit, the left and right assist torque being generated by the left actuator unit and the right actuator unit; and a controller which automatically switches a motion mode based on the left-torque-related amount and the right-torque-related amount.

Abstract: A method for fixing a cover on an orifice of a power steering system including a step of approaching the cover to the orifice, characterized in that it includes a step of inserting at least one extension of the cover in at least one recess positioned next to the orifice and a step of deforming the at least one elongation of the cover.

Abstract: A method in which a continuous estimation of the intermediate friction rate is carried out, allowing the integration of the method into a general friction compensation method so as to continuously improve the feel on the steering wheel, particularly for speeds below a determined threshold. Also, a method for friction compensation in an electrical power steering system, characterised in that the compensation method takes into account a continuous estimation of the intermediate friction rate obtained by the estimation method.

Abstract: A control device is mountable on a four-wheel drive vehicle including a main drive wheel and an auxiliary drive wheel, and is configured to control a drive force transmission device configured to transmit a drive force to the auxiliary drive wheel. The control device includes a processor and a memory storing a program, when executed by the processor, to cause the control device to change a control characteristic of the drive force transmission device that indicates a relationship between a vehicle state of the four-wheel drive vehicle and a drive force transmitted to the auxiliary drive wheel in response to an input from the input device.

Abstract: A rolling bearing attachment structure for attaching a rolling bearing to a journal portion of a crankshaft includes: the rolling bearing; and the crankshaft. The rolling bearing is attached to an outer peripheral surface of the journal portion, and includes: a pair of two-split inner rings which are split into two portions in a circumferential direction; a pair of two-split outer rings which are provided on a radial direction outer side of the two-split inner rings and are split into two portions in the circumferential direction; a plurality of rolling elements rotatably provided between the pair of two-split outer rings and the pair of two-split inner rings; and a cage which holds the plurality of rolling elements at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: An auxiliary power supply device includes an auxiliary power supply; and an auxiliary power supply control unit configured to switch a mode of the auxiliary power supply to an output mode or a non-output mode when electric power is output from a main power supply to a drive motor. The auxiliary power supply control unit is configured to switch the mode to the non-output mode when a required power value required by the drive motor is equal to or smaller than a predetermined power value and to switch the mode to the output mode when the required power value is larger than the predetermined power value, the predetermined power value being set to a value smaller than outputtable electric power that is electric power outputtable from the main power supply.

Abstract: Provided is a sensor device that is machinable and mountable easily. A sensor device includes an external gear configured to rotate together with a pinion shaft, driven gears configured to rotate by meshing with the external gear, permanent magnets configured to rotate together with the driven gears, magnetic sensors configured to detect magnetic fields of the permanent magnets, a circuit board assembly having the magnetic sensors mounted on a printed circuit board, a tubular first housing member that houses the external gear, and a second housing member that supports the driven gears and houses the circuit board assembly. The second housing member has a flange portion that abuts against an open end face of a fitting hole of the first housing member, and parts of the driven gears that protrude from the flange portion mesh with the external gear inside the first housing member.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a first shaft which is coupled to a steering wheel; a torsion bar; a second shaft which is coupled to the first shaft through the torsion bar; a torsion bar torque detection unit detecting a torsion bar torque which is applied to the torsion bar; and an electronic control unit configured to estimate a driver torque which is applied to the steering wheel by a driver. The electronic control unit is configured to: i) compute a steering wheel rotation angle which is a rotation angle of the steering wheel; and ii) compute a value including an added value, as the driver torque, the added value being a value resulting from adding the torsion bar torque, a steering wheel inertia torque compensation value, and a gravity torque compensation value.

Abstract: A cage for a thrust roller bearing is provided. The cage has first and second cage members each having an outer ring portion formed radially outside of a roller retention hole. The outer ring portion has a flange portion that extends, from a radially outer end of the outer ring portion, in an axial direction and is divided along the circumferential direction. The flange portion has a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion. The first cage member and the second cage member are fastened to each other while the large diameter portion and small diameter portion of the first cage member overlap the small diameter portion and large diameter portion of the second cage member, respectively.

Abstract: Method for monitoring the operation of a power steering system including a steering wheel, a servo motor and a monitoring module, characterized in that said method involves a step of determining at least one temporary limit value of a parameter, a step of estimating an additional value which an assistance functionality contributes to a setpoint value of the parameter, and a step of correcting the at least one temporary limit value by the additional value.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a steering mechanism including a turning shaft; a motor configured to give a drive force to the steering mechanism; and a controller configured to control the motor based on a command value. The controller includes a first computation circuit, a second computation circuit and a third computation circuit. The first computation circuit is configured to compute a shaft force that acts on the turning shaft. The second computation circuit is configured to compute a value indicating the degree of intervention in a steering control by a host controller, such that the value gradually changes with respect to time. The third computation circuit is configured to compute a final shaft force, by reflecting the value indicating the degree of the intervention, in the shaft force.

Abstract: A steering system includes a housing, a steering operation shaft that is housed in the housing and configured to move in an axial direction to steer right and left steered wheels, a first drive source that generates a first drive force, a second drive source that generates a second drive force, a first power transfer unit that applies an axial force to the steering operation shaft with the first drive source, a second power transfer unit that applies an axial force to the steering operation shaft with the second drive force, a position detection sensor that is provided in the housing and detects an axial position of the steering operation shaft, and a control device that controls the first drive source and the second drive source using a detection result of the position detection sensor.

Abstract: A power steering system including a steering wheel, a return function to automatically return the steering wheel to a given reference position, and includes a function for calculating a return-speed setpoint which calculates a steering wheel speed setpoint from the steering wheel position error differentiating between the effective instantaneous position of the steering wheel and the reference position, then a function for calculating the return assistance, defining from the steering wheel speed error which is the difference between the effective speed of the steering wheel and the steering wheel speed setpoint, a return assistance setpoint, the system including a dynamic saturation function defining at least one saturation threshold, that the dynamic saturation function sets according to the value of the steering wheel speed setpoint, and the dynamic saturation function applies to clip the peaks of the return assistance setpoint calculation to confine the return assistance setpoint to an authorized domain.

Abstract: A motor control device is configured to control a motor as a dynamic force source depending on a position of a rotation detection object that rotates while interlocking with the motor, the motor and the rotation detection object being included in a mechanical apparatus including a plurality of constituent elements that interlock with each other. The motor control device includes a computation circuit configured to compute an absolute rotation angle of the rotation detection object, using a relative rotation angle of a first constituent element of the mechanical apparatus that is detected through a relative angle sensor provided in the mechanical apparatus, and a rotation number conversion value resulting from converting an absolute rotation angle of a second constituent element of the mechanical apparatus that is detected through an absolute angle sensor provided in the mechanical apparatus, into a rotation number of the first constituent element.

Abstract: A steering column support for a motor vehicle intended to absorb energy during an impact backward on this column, this support including at least one deformable leaf ensuring fastening thereof on a cross-member of the vehicle body, this at least one leaf including two parallel portions connected by a 180° curved folding, being fitted between two guide faces forming a channel holding the spacing between these two portions, for each leaf the support includes a guide sheet metal folded at 180°, having inside the fold two parallel faces forming the guide faces.

Abstract: A rotation angle detection apparatus includes a driving gear, two driven gears, two sensors, and an arithmetic circuit. The two driven gears have different numbers of teeth and each are in mesh with the driving gear. The arithmetic circuit is configured to compute a rotation angle of the driving gear based on the rotation angles of the two driven gears, detected through the two sensors. The arithmetic circuit is configured to, when a relationship between the rotation angles of the two driven gears, detected through the two sensors, is different from the relationship when the rotation angle of the driving gear, computed by the arithmetic circuit, is normal, detect an abnormality in the rotation angle of the driving gear, computed by the arithmetic circuit.

Abstract: Piston apparatus for use with vehicle clutches are disclosed. A disclosed drive unit assembly for a vehicle includes a housing defining a first cavity and a second cavity fluidly coupled together. The drive unit assembly also includes a clutch positioned in the first cavity. Rotation of the clutch conveys a fluid from the first cavity to the second cavity. The drive unit assembly also includes a port extending from the second cavity to the first cavity to receive the fluid. The drive unit assembly also includes a piston positioned in the first cavity proximate to the port and configured to operate the clutch. Movement of the piston relative to the port controls a flow of the fluid through the port from the second cavity to the first cavity.

Abstract: A control device is configured to control a reaction motor based on a command value that is computed depending on a steering state. The control device includes a first computation circuit configured to compute a first shaft force, a second computation circuit configured to compute a second shaft force, and a third computation circuit configured to set a limit value that limits a variation range of the first shaft. The third computation circuit is configured to compute a final shaft force using the set limit value, through execution of a limiting process by which the first shaft force is limited, the final shaft force being reflected in the command value.

Abstract: A tripod constant-velocity joint including: an inner ring; three trunnions protruding from the inner ring; three roller units supported by the trunnions; and an outer ring storing the roller units. Each roller unit includes: an inner roller that is in contact with a convex outer-circumferential surface of the corresponding trunnion at a tangent point; an outer roller supported by the inner roller through rolling elements that are interposed between the inner and outer rollers; and a limiting portion protruding from the outer roller, so as to limit movements of the rolling elements and the inner roller. A clearance between the inner roller and the limiting portion is smaller than an axial length of a crowned end portion of each rolling element, and is larger than a stroke distance of reciprocating movement of the tangent point when a joint angle of the tripod constant-velocity joint is a predetermined value.

Abstract: A power supply voltage monitoring circuit includes a power supply switching circuit, a series circuit including a first series resistor connected to an input power supply line, a second series resistor connected to a ground potential, and a third series resistor connected between the first series resistor and the second series resistor, a first parallel circuit including a first switching element and connected in parallel to the first series resistor, a second parallel circuit including a second switching element and connected in parallel to the second series resistor, a first determination circuit configured to determine whether a first divided voltage between the first series resistor and the third series resistor is in a normal range, and a second determination circuit configured to determine whether a second divided voltage between the second series resistor and the third series resistor is in a normal range.