Abstract: Conventionally, there was a problem that in cases when it is difficult to place a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a heat-generating portion, overheating could not be prevented.

Abstract: A road surface reaction torque detector has a low-pass filter element whose time constant is determined in accordance with a vehicle speed that is detected by a vehicle steed detector and a motor rotation speed that is detected by a motor rotation speed detector. A road surface reaction torque estimation value is obtained in such a manner that the road surface reaction torque detector performs low-pass filter processing on steering shaft reaction torque signal that is outputted by a steering shaft reaction torque signal outputting means. As a result, an accuracy of estimation of road surface reaction torque is improved.

Abstract: A road surface reaction torque detector has a low-pass filter element whose time constant is determined in accordance with a vehicle speed that is detected by a vehicle steed detector and a motor rotation speed that is detected by a motor rotation speed detector. A road surface reaction torque estimation value is obtained in such a manner that the road surface reaction torque detector performs low-pass filter processing on steering shaft reaction torque signal that is outputted by a steering shaft reaction torque signal outputting means. As a result, an accuracy of estimation of road surface reaction torque is improved.

Abstract: Conventionally, there was a problem that in cases when it is difficult to place a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a heat-generating portion, overheating could not be prevented.

Abstract: Conventionally, there was a problem that in cases when it is difficult to place a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a heat-generating portion, overheating could not be prevented.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor-driven power steering system of a motor vehicle includes a steering angular information detecting means (16) for detecting steering angular information of a steering mechanism (3), a controller (10) for controlling a motor current on the basis of the steering angular information and magnitude and direction of a steering torque, an electric motor (7) operatively coupled to the steering mechanism (3) for generating a steering assist torque (Ta) corresponding to the motor current, the assist torque being applied to a steering wheel, a motor-rotational information detecting means (101) for detecting rotational information of the electric motor (7), and an abnormality decision means (17) designed to make decision that the steering angular information detecting means (16; 15) is abnormal when a difference between the steering angular information and the motor rotational information is not smaller than a reference value preset for comparison of both the information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a power steering system which involves no dedicated equipment, no increase in cost, and no such hardware operation for correction as the mounting of an adjusting resistor. The power steering system includes an external device which outputs an arbitrary torque signal in an error measurement mode, and an electric power steering control device which detects the torque signal, computes the differential between the detected torque value and a reference torque value, stores the differential as a torque correction value, and, in the actual control mode, uses the detected torque value after correcting it by the torque correction value, whereby it is possible to perform reading error correction on a software basis and to expedite and automate the correction.

Abstract: Conventionally, there was a problem that in cases when it is difficult to place a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a heat-generating portion, overheating could not be prevented.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor-driven power steering system of a motor vehicle includes a steering angular information detecting means (16) for detecting steering angular information of a steering mechanism (3), a controller (10) for controlling a motor current on the basis of the steering angular information and magnitude and direction of a steering torque, an electric motor (7) operatively coupled to the steering mechanism (3) for generating a steering assist torque (Ta) corresponding to the motor current, the assist torque being applied to a steering wheel, a motor-rotational information detecting means (101) for detecting rotational information of the electric motor (7), and an abnormality decision means (17) designed to make decision that the steering angular information detecting means (16; 15) is abnormal when a difference between the steering angular information and the motor rotational information is not smaller than a reference value preset for comparison of both the information.

Abstract: In conventional electric power steering apparatus, a problem exists in that whether or not there is any failure in drive inhibiting means may be erroneously judged, and that it is impossible to judge whether or not a drive inhibition signal is normal. A steering torque detected by a torque sensor and a motor current outputted by motor drive means 5 using a motor drive signal formed by CPU 13 based on the steering torque are inputted to drive inhibiting means 14. The drive inhibiting means 14 outputs a drive inhibition signal and a drive inhibition switch signal based on the relation between the inputted two signals. CPU 13 detects that there is a failure in the drive inhibiting means 14 based on the outputted signals. Upon detecting a failure, a control is conducted so that the motor current is set to 0.

Abstract: An electric power steering system is proposed in which it is possible to inspect function of switches connected to a motor. An electric power steering system having a CPU 2 for calculating a control amount for controlling a motor 3 corresponding to a steering torque 1 and a driving circuit 8 for driving the motor 3, comprises a first switch 12 connected in series with the motor 3, a voltage monitoring circuit 10 for monitoring motor voltage, and a drive restricting circuit 11 for restricting operation of the driving circuit 8 besides the CPU 2, and in which the CPU 2 inspects function of the first switch 12 from drive of the driving circuit 8 and results detected by the voltage monitoring circuit 10 when it is judged that the driving circuit 8 is not restricted from a situation of the steering torque 1 or the drive inhibiting circuit 11.

Abstract: Conventionally, there was a problem that in cases when it is difficult to place a temperature sensor in the vicinity of a heat-generating portion, overheating could not be prevented.

Abstract: Disclosed is a power steering system which involves no dedicated equipment, no increase in cost, and no such hardware operation for correction as the mounting of an adjusting resistor. The power steering system includes an external device which outputs an arbitrary torque signal in an error measurement mode, and an electric power steering control device which detects the torque signal, computes the differential between the detected torque value and a reference torque value, stores the differential as a torque correction value, and, in the actual control mode, uses the detected torque value after correcting it by the torque correction value, whereby it is possible to perform reading error correction on a software basis and to expedite and automate the correction.

Abstract: In conventional electric power steering apparatus, a problem exists in that whether or not there is any failure in drive inhibiting means may be erroneously judged, and that it is impossible to judge whether or not a drive inhibition signal is normal. A steering torque detected by a torque sensor and a motor current outputted by motor drive means 5 using a motor drive signal formed by CPU 13 based on the steering torque are inputted to drive inhibiting means 14. The drive inhibiting means 14 outputs a drive inhibition signal and a drive inhibition switch signal based on the relation between the inputted two signals. CPU 13 detects that there is a failure in the drive inhibiting means 14 based on the outputted signals. Upon detecting a failure, a control is conducted so that the motor current is set to 0.

Abstract: A method of detecting the angle of rotation of a DC motor includes the steps of: driving the DC motor with a predetermined torque for a predetermined period of time which is selected so that the angular acceleration of the DC motor is substantially constant during the above period of time; and calculating the angle of rotation of the DC motor from the driving time period and the voltage generated by the DC motor after the driving of the DC motor is stopped. This method makes it possible to accurately detect the angle of rotation and the load torque using an apparatus having a simple structure.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a motor-driven power steering system of a motor vehicle controls the steering system such that a steering torque required to be applied by a driver is prevented from increasing abruptly or steeply even when generation of an assist torque applied to the steering system for assisting the driver in steering operation is to be stopped.

Abstract: A motor driving apparatus which makes it possible to continue a suppressed power supply to an electric motor even when a detected value (Id) of a current flowing to an H-bridge circuit indicates abnormality, to thereby prevent occurrence of shock in a system in which the motor is employed as a drive source. The apparatus includes a current detecting device (12) for detecting an electric current (I) flowing to an H-bridge circuit (1), and a control device (20) which includes an abnormality decision device (24) for determining abnormality of the detected current value (Id) outputted from the current detecting device (12). When the detected current value (Id) indicates abnormality, both of the ones (Q1; Q4) of the transistors (Q1; Q2 and Q3; Q4) inserted at the side of the power supply source (3) and the ground (GND), respectively, are driven under the PWM control.

Abstract: A suspension control system includes: a vehicle speed sensor for providing a signal representing a vehicle speed, a vehicle body behavior variation detecting device for detecting variations in behavior of a vehicle body, and a vehicle speed deciding device for calculating a vehicle speed from the signal provided by the vehicle speed sensor to compare the vehicle speed with a predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: A suspension control system having a suspension unit between a wheel and a body of a vehicle, a fluid supply device for supplying a fluid to the suspension unit, a fluid discharge device for discharging the fluid from the suspension unit, an amplitude measurement device for measuring the amplitude of vertical vibrations of the vehicle body, a threshold value setting device for setting a threshold value of the amplitude of vertical vibrations, a controller for cancelling expansion and contraction of the suspension unit by controlling the fluid supply and the fluid devices when the amplitude of vertical vibrations is equal to or larger than the threshold value, a counter for counting the number of times the fluid supply and fluid discharge devices are controlled by the controller in a predetermined time period, and a threshold value changing device for setting, when the number of times counted by the counter is equal to or larger than a reference number, the threshold value in the threshold value setting device

Abstract: In a suspension control device, vertical acceleration detecting means detects an acceleration of a vehicle body in a vertical direction. A spring constant and damping force changing means for the suspensions of the vehicle body is provided. A vertical acceleration differential value measuring means measures the differential value of an output signal of the vertical acceleration detecting means which is larger than a predetermined level. A vertical acceleration period measuring means measures the magnitude and period of vibration of the output signal of the vertical acceleration detecting means. A first damping force and spring constant holding and setting means estimates a frequency of vibration of the vehicle body from the output signal of the vertical acceleration differential value measuring means, operating on the frequency thus estimated.