Abstract: A steering shaft is composed of an upper shaft, a lower shaft, an input shaft, and an output shaft. The upper shaft, the lower shaft, and the input shaft can rotate together, and the input shaft and the output shaft are relatively rotatably coupled to each other via a torsion bar. The rotational position of a rotor coupled to the output shaft is calculated based on the detected rotational position of the lower shaft and a steering torque detected based on the amount of relative rotational displacement of the input shaft and the output shaft. Thus, it is not necessary to include a rotor rotational position detecting unit for detecting the rotational position of the rotor within the electric motor, which reduces the size of the electric motor.

Abstract: There is provided a steering apparatus to ease an uncomfortable feeling given to an operator when a steering wheel is connected to a steering mechanism, on a fail. The apparatus includes a unit that varies an angular ratio of a steering angle of front wheels with respect to an operational angle of a steering wheel. The apparatus also includes a connection unit such as a electromagnetic clutch for connecting the steering wheel to the steering mechanism in order to fix the angular ratio, on a fail such as a failure of a steering motor. The apparatus also includes a rotational body which relatively rotates with respect to the steering wheel by an angular deviation upon this connection. Accordingly, since a real neutral position of the steering mechanism coincides with a neutral position recognized by a pattern on the rotational body being seen, it eases the uncomfortable feeling onto the operator.

Abstract: A control section (10) of a vehicle steering system has a steer-by-wire mode, a power steering mode, and a transition mode. In the steer-by-wire mode, a steering actuator (19) is controlled for steering and a reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force. In the power steering mode, steering assistance control is performed with either of the steering actuator (19) and the reaction force actuator (11) caused to function as an assistance unit. In the transition mode, in a transition period from either of the steer-by-wire mode and the power steering mode to the other, the reaction force actuator (11) is controlled for reaction force.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering apparatus (1) has a transmission-ratio variable mechanism (8) for changing, with the use of a transmission-ratio changing motor (18), the rotational transmission-ratio between a first steering shaft (5) connected to a steering member (2) and a second steering shaft (6) connected to a steering mechanism (12). The apparatus has a counter force compensating motor (23) for compensating steering counter force of the steering member (2) caused by operation of the transmission-ratio variable mechanism (8), a hydraulic steering assist mechanism (80), and a controller (24) for controlling the transmission-ratio changing motor (18) and the counter force compensating motor (23). The controller (24) has a function of causing the counter force compensating motor (23) to generate steering assist torque.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus comprises a first sun gear joined to a first shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a second shaft arranged to the first shaft coaxially, a second sun gear joined to the second shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a first planetary gear meshed with the first sun gear, a second planetary gear rotating with the first planetary gear and meshed with the second sun gear, and a carrier supporting the first and second planetary gears and arranged to be driven by a differential electric motor. In particular, the number of teeth of each of the first and second sun gears and the first and second planetary gears is determined so that the ratio of a torque applied to the second shaft to a torque applied to the first shaft ranges from 1:0.7 to 1:0.9.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first sun gear, a second sun gear, first planetary gears and second planetary gears. A carrier for supporting the respective planetary gears is integrally provided with a rotor of a speed change motor for changing a speed of rotation to be transmitted, so that the number of mesh portions in the gears is reduced. Further, the rotor is formed of a cylindrical shape and an input shaft for rotating the first sun gear is inserted into the rotor, so that a limited space is effectively used.

Abstract: A steering shaft is composed of an upper shaft, a lower shaft, an input shaft, and an output shaft. The upper shaft, the lower shaft, and the input shaft can rotate together, and the input shaft and the output shaft are relatively rotatably coupled to each other via a torsion bar. The rotational position of a rotor coupled to the output shaft is calculated based on the detected rotational position of the lower shaft and a steering torque detected based on the amount of relative rotational displacement of the input shaft and the output shaft. Thus, it is not necessary to include a rotor rotational position detecting unit for detecting the rotational position of the rotor within the electric motor, which reduces the size of the electric motor.

Abstract: There is provided a steering apparatus to ease an uncomfortable feeling given to an operator when a steering wheel is connected to a steering mechanism, on a fail. The apparatus includes a unit that varies an angular ratio of a steering angle of front wheels with respect to an operational angle of a steering wheel. The apparatus also includes a connection unit such as a electromagnetic clutch for connecting the steering wheel to the steering mechanism in order to fix the angular ratio, on a fail such as a failure of a steering motor. The apparatus also includes a rotational body which relatively rotates with respect to the steering wheel by an angular deviation upon this connection. Accordingly, since a real neutral position of the steering mechanism coincides with a neutral position recognized by a pattern on the rotational body being seen, it eases the uncomfortable feeling onto the operator.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus comprises a first sun gear joined to a first shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a second shaft arranged to the first shaft coaxially, a second sun gear joined to the second shaft so as to rotate interlockingly, a first planetary gear meshed with the first sun gear, a second planetary gear rotating with the first planetary gear and meshed with the second sun gear, and a carrier supporting the first and second planetary gears and arranged to be driven by a differential electric motor. In particular, the number of teeth of each of the first and second sun gears and the first and second planetary gears is determined so that the ratio of a torque applied to the second shaft to a torque applied to the first shaft ranges from 1:0.7 to 1:0.9.

Abstract: A rotation transmitting apparatus according to the present invention includes a first sun gear, a second sun gear, first planetary gears and second planetary gears. A carrier for supporting the respective planetary gears is integrally provided with a rotor of a speed change motor for changing a speed of rotation to be transmitted, so that the number of mesh portions in the gears is reduced. Further, the rotor is formed of a cylindrical shape and an input shaft for rotating the first sun gear is inserted into the rotor, so that a limited space is effectively used.

Abstract: A calculation processing circuit 10 executes a predetermined operation on the detection signals of a plurality of magnetic sensors A and B, disposed to face a target 3a made of a magnetic material and provided on a rotating member 6, for outputting detection signals with mutually different phases according to a rotation of the rotating member 6, calculates the electrical angle of the detection signals based on a table 2a representing the correlation of the result of the operation executed in advance with a corresponding electrical angle of detection signals, and detects the rotational angle of the rotating member 6 based on the calculated electrical angle. The calculation processing circuit 10 stores a plurality of tables 2a through 2c for different gaps between the target 3a and the magnetic sensors A and B, determines the gap based on the detection signals of the magnetic sensors A and B, and calculates the electrical angle of the detection signals based on the table corresponding to the determined gap.

Abstract: A calculation processing circuit 10 executes a predetermined operation on the detection signals of a plurality of magnetic sensors A and B, disposed to face a target 3a made of a magnetic material and provided on a rotating member 6, for outputting detection signals with mutually different phases according to a rotation of the rotating member 6, calculates the electrical angle of the detection signals based on a table 2arepresenting the correlation of the result of the operation executed in advance with a corresponding electrical angle of detection signals, and detects the rotational angle of the rotating member 6 based on the calculated electrical angle. The calculation processing circuit 10 stores a plurality of tables 2a through 2c for different gaps between the target 3a and the magnetic sensors A and B, determines the gap based on the detection signals of the magnetic sensors A and B, and calculates the electrical angle of the detection signals based on the table corresponding to the determined gap.