Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism, an electric motor, a torque signal generator, a column angular position signal generator and a signal processing unit. The steering mechanism operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of the vehicle. The electric motor may be operatively connected to the steering mechanism. The torque signal generator may produce a torque signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism. The column angular position signal generator may produce a column angle signal indicative of the angular position of the steering wheel or steering column. The signal processing unit may receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and may produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of a vehicle, an electric motor operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a torque signal generator adapted to produce a torque signal, a column angular position signal generator for producing a column angle signal and a signal processing unit adapted to receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and to produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism. A torque demand signal generating circuit adapted to produce the torque demand signal is a function of both the friction compensating torque and the assistance torque signal, at least partially assists the driver in overcoming the effects of static and/or kinetic friction.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises an upper column shaft that is connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle; and a lower column shaft. A torsion bar interconnects the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft; and an electric motor is connected to the lower column shaft of the torque sensor assembly. A first sensor circuit generates a first torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, and a second sensor circuit generating a second torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, the apparatus further including: an error determining circuit which produces two error signals, each indicative of the validity of a respective torque signal, and a torque plausibility estimator which generates two plausibility signals each indicative of the plausibility of a respective one of the two torque signals.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism, an electric motor, a torque signal generator, a column angular position signal generator and a signal processing unit. The steering mechanism operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of the vehicle. The electric motor may be operatively connected to the steering mechanism. The torque signal generator may produce a torque signal indicative of the torque carried by a portion of the steering mechanism. The column angular position signal generator may produce a column angle signal indicative of the angular position of the steering wheel or steering column. The signal processing unit may receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and may produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism by the motor.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises a steering mechanism which operatively connects a steering wheel to the road wheels of a vehicle, an electric motor operatively connected to the steering mechanism, a torque signal generator adapted to produce a torque signal, a column angular position signal generator for producing a column angle signal and a signal processing unit adapted to receive the column torque signal and the column angle signal and to produce therefrom a torque demand signal representative of a torque to be applied to the steering mechanism. A torque demand signal generating circuit adapted to produce the torque demand signal is a function of both the friction compensating torque and the assistance torque signal, at least partially assists the driver in overcoming the effects of static and/or kinetic friction.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprises an upper column shaft that in use is operatively connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle; and a lower column shaft that in use is operatively connected to the road wheels of the vehicle. A torsion bar interconnects the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft; and an electric motor is connected to the lower column shaft of the torque sensor assembly.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system includes an upper column shaft connected to a steering wheel, a lower column shaft connected to road wheels, a torsion bar interconnecting the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft, and a processor that produces a torque signal indicative of torsion bar torque. An electric motor is connected to the lower column shaft, and a motor position sensor provides a motor position signal dependent on the angular position of the motor rotor that repeats after the motor rotates through an angular range. The processor determines a base motor position at start up by comparing the motor position signal with a signal from a sensor associated with the upper column shaft to determine three candidates and, during subsequent unpowered motion of the steering system rules out two candidates until only one plausible candidate for the base motor position remains.

Abstract: A combined angular position and torque sensor assembly for use in an electric power assisted steering system having an input part for connection to an upper column shaft, an output part for connection to a lower column shaft, a torsion bar that interconnects the input shaft and the output shaft, first and second upper column angular position sensors that each produce at least one output signal that is dependent on the angular position of the upper column shaft; and a processing means unit which produces a first torque signal indicative of the torque carried by the torsion bar. The processing unit further includes a component for producing a first absolute angular position signal by processing the output signals of the first and secondary sensors in a first way and a second absolute angular position signal processing the output of the same two sensors in a different way, and further includes a cross checker that performs a cross check between the two absolute position signals.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a drive device of a power steering system, in which a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the drive device and transmits information about the temperature of the drive device to an evaluation unit, the evaluation unit estimates the temperature of a gearbox based on the temperature of the drive device, and, based on the estimated temperature of the gearbox, the evaluation unit adjusts a requested torque of the electric motor.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system comprising a torque sensor assembly comprising an input shaft, an output shaft, a torsion bar that interconnects the input shaft and the output shaft, and a processing means which produces a torque signal indicative of the torque carried by the torsion bar, an electric motor that is connected to the output shaft, and a motor position sensor that provides a motor position signal dependent on the angular position of the motor rotor that repeats each time the motor has rotated through a known angular range. The apparatus further including processing means that generates an absolute output shaft position signal from the motor position signal by adding to the output of the motor position sensor a first term indicative of the fixed offset between the motor position sensor zero position and the zero position of the input shaft and a second term indicative of the number of turns of the motor rotor away from the zero position of the input shaft.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprising a combined angular position and torque sensor assembly comprising an upper column shaft that in use is operatively connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle, a lower column shaft that in use is operatively connected to the road wheels of the vehicle, a torsion bar that interconnects the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft, a first and a second torque signal generating means that each generate a first torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, an absolute position signal generating means that in use produces an absolute upper column position signal indicative of the angular position of the upper column shaft, an electric motor that is connected to the lower column shaft of the torque sensor assembly, and a motor position sensor carried by the motor that provides a motor position signal dependent on the angular position of the motor rotor.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system comprising an input shaft and an output shaft, an electric motor connected to the output shaft, at least two sensors including one or more of: a position sensor, a torque sensor, and a motor position, and a motor controller that causes the motor to apply an assistance torque as a function of the torque measured by the torque sensor, in which each of the sensors produces at least one output signal represented by a stream of digital samples captured at discrete times, and in which the apparatus further comprises: processing means arranged to process together the output signals from both processing units to produce at least one further signal.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering apparatus comprising a combined angular position and torque sensor assembly comprising an upper column shaft that in use is operatively connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle, a lower column shaft that in use is operatively connected to the road wheels of the vehicle, a torsion bar that interconnects the upper column shaft and the lower column shaft, a first and a second torque signal generating means that each generate a first torque signal based on angular deflection of the torsion bar, an absolute position signal generating means that in use produces an absolute upper column position signal indicative of the angular position of the upper column shaft, an electric motor that is connected to the lower column shaft of the torque sensor assembly, and a motor position sensor carried by the motor that provides a motor position signal dependent on the angular position of the motor rotor.

Abstract: A method of controlling an electric motor of a drive device of a power steering system, in which a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the drive device and transmits information about the temperature of the drive device to an evaluation unit, the evaluation unit estimates the temperature of a gearbox based on the temperature of the drive device, and, based on the estimated temperature of the gearbox, the evaluation unit adjusts a requested torque of the electric motor.

Abstract: An electric power assisted steering system comprising an input shaft and an output shaft, an electric motor connected to the output shaft, at least two sensors including one or more of: a position sensor, a torque sensor, and a motor position, and a motor controller that causes the motor to apply an assistance torque as a function of the torque measured by the torque sensor, in which each of the sensors produces at least one output signal represented by a stream of digital samples captured at discrete times, and in which the apparatus further comprises: processing means arranged to process together the output signals from both processing units to produce at least one further signal.

Abstract: A combined angular position and torque sensor assembly for use in an electric power assisted steering system comprises an input part for connection to an upper column shaft, an output part for connection to a lower column shaft, a torsion bar that interconnects the input shaft and the output shaft, a first and second upper column angular position sensing means that each produce at least one output signal that is dependent on the angular position of the upper column shaft; and a processing means which produces a first torque signal indicative of the torque carried by the torsion bar.

Abstract: A road vehicle steering system which is adapted to use measurements and estimates characterising the motion of and forces acting on the vehicle and the steering system such as to derive an estimate of steering system disturbance force and to then use the latter estimate to establish a torque demand for the vehicle electronic power steering (EPS) which substantially compensates for this disturbance force.

Abstract: An electric assisted steering system for a motor driven road vehicle, having assist torque signal generating means which generates an assist torque signal for the steering system in response to the driver's applied torque and sensed vehicle speed to reduce the driver's steering effort. A yaw rate haptic torque is generated which is based upon vehicle rate error and is arranged to be added to the torque assist signal such that, when the yaw rate error builds up corresponding to increasing steering instability (e.g. understeer or oversteer) of the vehicle, the haptic torque added to the torque assist signal reduces the effective road reaction feedback sensed by the driver in advance of any actual vehicle stability loss whereby to allow the driver to correct appropriately in good time before terminal steering instability is reached.

Abstract: An electric assisted steering system for a motor driven road vehicle, having assist torque signal generating means which generates an assist torque signal for the steering system in response to the driver's applied torque and sensed vehicle speed to reduce the driver's steering effort. A yaw rate haptic torque is generated which is based upon vehicle rate error and is arranged to be added to the torque assist signal such that, when the yaw rate error builds up corresponding to increasing steering instability (e.g. understeer or oversteer) of the vehicle, the haptic torque added to the torque assist signal reduces the effective road reaction feedback sensed by the driver in advance of any actual vehicle stability loss whereby to allow the driver to correct appropriately in good time before terminal steering instability is reached.

Abstract: A vehicle stability compensation system, which is arranged to adjust dynamically the self-centering position and the steering feel of the vehicle steering system during split mu braking operation. The adjustment being based on at least one operational variable representing a corrective steer angle for the vehicle and hence representing a target self-centering position. A target self-centering error is derived from the difference between the target self-centering position and an actual vehicle steering angle. A torque demand that is proportional to the target self-centering error is then added to an assistance torque generated by the electrically assisted steering system to shift the self-centering position so as to encourage the vehicle driver to move the steering wheel such as to reduce the target self-centering error to zero for maintaining the vehicle stable and controllable.