Abstract: A vehicle steering system is disclosed that includes a steering portion, a steered portion, and a clutch mechanism. The steering portion includes operations input mechanism and a reaction adding device. The steered portion includes steering controlled wheels and a steered force adding device. The clutch mechanism mechanically connects the steering portion and steered portion through an engagement. The clutch mechanism has a permanent magnet and an electromagnetic coil so as to form an electromagnetic clutch that releases when a current is applied such that a magnetic force in the direction that cancels a magnetic force of the permanent magnet is generated for the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic clutch engages when a current is not applied to the electromagnetic coil.

Abstract: To reduce the length in the axis direction of a steering unit and consequently to provide a vehicle steering apparatus with superior vehicle mountability, a steering apparatus for a vehicle has a steering unit and a reaction generating unit, and a steered unit. The steering unit and the steered unit are mechanically separated. The apparatus includes a clutch that mechanically connects the steering unit and the steered unit, and a backup unit that is provided between the clutch and the steered unit and transmits the steering torque that is inputted from the steering unit, when the clutch is engaged, to the steered unit. A rotation conversion unit that outputs rotation in a rotation axis direction of the clutch that is different from the rotation axis direction of the steering unit is provided between the reaction generating unit and the clutch.

Abstract: A steering controller is provided for use in a steering system in which a steering unit having a steering wheel 6 and a reaction motor 5 and a direction varying unit having steered wheels 16,16 and a direction varying motor 14 are mechanically disconnected from each other. Here, the steering controller performs: a direction varying torque control process for outputting a control command for applying a direction varying torque to the direction varying unit in accordance with the steering status of the steering wheel 6 to the direction varying motor 14; a steering reaction control process for outputting a control command for applying a steering reaction torque to the steering unit in accordance with the direction varying status of the steered wheels 16,16 to the reaction motor 5; and an control process for giving an end contact feeling to a driver through the steering wheel 6 the vicinity of a turning limit is reached.

Abstract: In a steering control system comprising a steering component having a steering wheel and a steering reaction force actuator, a turning component having vehicle turning wheels and a turning actuator, and a backup mechanism for alternately mechanically separating and linking the steering and turning components, there is provided a steer-by-wire control unit selectively separated from the backup mechanism for executing steer-by-wire control of the turning actuator to a turning angle corresponding to the steering condition and control of the steering reaction force actuator for imparting steering reaction force corresponding to the turning condition, a steering assistance control unit selectively linked to the backup mechanism for executing steering assistance control for at least one of the steering reaction force actuator and the turning actuator, and a control switching unit for controlling a shift, upon attainment of predetermined conditions, between control by the steer-by-wire control unit and control by th

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus with improved safety securely detects whether or not a backup system is operable and comprises a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel; a reaction actuator connected to the steering shaft for adding a reaction force; a rack for steering a steered wheel; a steering actuator provided on the rack; a backup mechanism for connecting the steering shaft and the rack via a clutch, a first detection means or mechanism for detecting the condition of the steering shaft, a second detection means or mechanism for detecting the condition of the rack, and a backup operation monitoring means or mechanism for driving the steering actuator when the power source is energized, the backup operation monitoring means or mechanism selectively monitoring the operation of the backup mechanism based on the value detected by the first detection means or mechanism or the second detection means or mechanism or both.