Abstract: A nonvolatile memory built in a vehicle control computer and storing control software and an auxiliary storage for setting an unerasable region to the nonvolatile memory and updating the control software in an erasable region to new control software are used.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory built in a vehicle control computer and storing control software and an auxiliary storage for setting an unerasable region to the nonvolatile memory and updating the control software in an erasable region to new control software are used.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory device 80 or 800 is provided, wherein intrinsic information indicating variances of characteristics of individual units is stored in advance in the inexpensive memory device 80 or 800 through a simple processing procedure with a view to adjusting a control quantity with high accuracy upon ordinary control by executing software with a microcomputer 55A or 300A. Thus, a control system for a motor vehicle exhibiting excellent performances can be implemented at low costs, which allows accurate and precise adjustment to be realized through a simplified adjusting step while reducing an extraneous space for adjustment of variance without need for use of any specific part of high precision.

Abstract: An electric power steering circuit device comprising a microcomputer, a bridge circuit for switching, a motor current output by a battery to drive a motor based on an output signal from the microcomputer, wiring patterns for flowing a large current, an insulated printed-circuit board for mounting the microcomputer, and a heat radiating plate for mounting thereon on the semiconductor switching elements. The bridge circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor switching elements, and the wiring patterns comprise metal plates fixed by molding. The heat radiating plate and the insulation printed-circuit board are overlapped through a predetermined space.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering apparatus and method for a vehicle are able to avoid frequent on-off operations of an electromagnetic clutch 14 as much as possible, which connects or disconnects a motor 13 with or from a steering system, thus improving the durability of the clutch 14 and suppressing the generation of undesirable noise and shocks upon connection and disconnection of the clutch 14. A clutch controller 191 controls a clutch current Ic supplied to the clutch 14 based on the vehicle speed V in such a manner that it sets the clutch current Ic to a first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a substantially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is less than a first predetermined vehicle speed Vo, and to a second predetermined clutch current level Icr which is less than the first predetermined clutch current level I(V) so as to place the clutch into a partially engaged state when the vehicle speed V is equal to or greater than the first predetermined vehicle speed Vo.

Abstract: A unified control device for a vehicle including an anti-skid braking system and power steering control system is controlled by two microcomputers (4B and 24B). On the basis of the outputs of the torque sensors (1a and 1b, etc.), the first microcomputer (4B) determines the driving direction and torque of the DC motor (9) providing the assisting steering torque for the steering wheel, and outputs the torque signal (T) and the first direction signal (D1) for the DC motor (9). The second microcomputer (24B) generates the brake operation signal (B) on the basis of the outputs of the road wheel velocity sensors (21a through 21d) and the brake switch (22). Further, on the basis of the output of the torque sensors (1a and 1b), the microcomputer (24B) determines the direction of the DC motor (9), and outputs the second direction signal (D2).

Abstract: A motorized power steering apparatus is equipped with a torque sensor including a primary potentiometer for detecting a steering torque applied to the steering wheel by a driver. The torque sensor further includes an auxiliary potentiometer so as to detect variations in the output voltage of a constant voltage power supply to the potentiometers. When there is a difference between the outputs of the primary and auxiliary potentiometers which is greater than a prescribed level, a fail-safe relay is turned off to nullify the power steering operation of a motor. When the output voltage of the power supply for supplying a constant voltage to the primary and auxiliary potentiometers drops below or rises above a predetermined level, the output voltage of the auxiliary potentiometer, which is not used for power steering control, is raised.

Abstract: A motor-driven type power assisted steering control apparatus has a torque sensor which is provided with first and second displacement-electric signal converting units and a control unit which is adapted to break a motor current and to interrupt application of a voltage to an electromagnetic clutch as soon as abnormality in the torque sensor is detected on the basis of the electric signals of the first and second displacement-electric signal converting units.

Abstract: A steering torque detecting device includes a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, a torque detecting unit for converting a quantity of torsion produced in the torsion bar into an electric output, an electricity collecting unit including slip rings and brushes which takes the electric output and supplies an electric power from an outer power source, bearings for supporting the input and output shaft on the same axial line, and a housing supporting the bearings, a printed wiring board in a circular plate form which is provided at its one surface with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from the resistance layer, the resistance layer and the output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and a slider having a portion extending in the radial direction of the circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas with a small width to the resistance layer and the output electrode.

Abstract: A motor-driven type power steering control device includes a control unit. When the control unit detects that power elements are short-circuited or in an open state, the control unit cuts off a current supplied from the power elements to a motor and a voltage applied to an electromagnetic clutch. By modifying a control program for the control unit, it is possible to attain the measures for preventing that burning of a wiring or a battery from dying upon short-circuiting of the power elements and the measures for preventing that only one side of a steering wheel becomes light to steer upon breakage of the power elements.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of changing into a non-power assisted manual steering mode by means of a control unit when a speed sensor detects that the vehicle speed has exceeded a prescribed level. When the speed sensor has failed and/or wiring connecting the speed sensor to the control unit is broken, the control unit detects such sensor failure or wiring breaks and operates to change the steering system into a non-power assisted manual steering mode, thereby improving safety in high-speed driving of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering torque detecting device comprises a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, a torque detecting unit for converting a quantity of torsion produced in the torsion bar into an electric output, an electricity collecting unit comprising slip rings and brushes which takes the electric output and supplies an electric power from an outer power source, bearings for supporting the input and output shaft on the same axial line, and a housing supporting the bearings, a printed wiring board in a circular plate form which is provided at its one surface with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from the resistance layer, the resistance layer and the output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and a slider having a portion extending in the radial direction of the circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas with a small width to the resistance layer and the output electrode.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle having a motor operatively connected to the steerable road wheels of the vehicle and a clutch arrangement interposed therebetween for selectively establishing and interrupting the transmission of power-assisting force from the motor to the road wheels in accordance with vehicle speed and operator-induced steering torque resulting form the steering force exerted on the steering wheel. The current to be supplied to the motor for controlling the running operation thereof is gradually decreased to reduce the power-assisting force transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels as the vehicle speed increases before the clutch is switched off and gradually increased to increase the power-assisting forces as the vehicle speed decreases after the clutch is switched on so as to provide a smooth transition from power steering to manual steering or vice versa without causing any abrupt change in the steering torque.

Abstract: A steering torque detecting device includes a steering shaft consisting of an input shaft and an output shaft, a torsion bar provided between the input shaft and the output shaft, a torque detecting unit for converting a quantity of torsion produced in the torsion bar into an electric output, an electricity collecting unit including slip rings and brushes which takes the electric output and supplies an electric power from an outer power source, bearings for supporting the input and output shaft on the same axial line, and a housing supporting the bearings, a printed wiring board in a circular plate form which is provided at its one surface with a resistance layer and an output electrode radially spaced apart from the resistance layer, the resistance layer and the output electrode constituting a potentiometer, and a slider having a portion extending in the radial direction of the circular printed wiring board so as to have contacting areas with a small width to the resistance layer and the output electrode.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of preventing abrupt change in the steering motion or torque an operator even when the battery has been suddenly depleted or excessively discharged during travel of the vehicle, thereby avoiding any possible panic resulting from sudden loss of power assist.

Abstract: Output signals from first and second speed sensors are inputted in a control unit to measure a car speed on the basis of the signals. When the measured value is higher than a predetermined value, control unit determines that one of the speed sensors is abnormal, whereby a motor current to be fed to a d.c. motor is interrupted and a voltage applied to a magnetic clutch is removed.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of preventing a motor-related element such as a motor itself, power elements for controlling power supply to the motor or the like from being damage due to an abnormal temperature rise or overheating thereof, thereby substantially avoiding or reducing resultant unsureness or instability in the operator's steering feeling upon change in steering mode as well as improving safety in steering operation. The motor is operatively connected with a steering rack and energizable by a power source for power assisting the steering motion caused by the operator through a steering wheel. A temperature sensor detects the temperature of the motor-related element. An electromagnetic switching clutch is interposed between the motor and the steering rack for selectively establishing and interrupting the transmission of power assisting force from the motor to the steering rack in accordance with the travelling speed of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for front and rear road wheels which is capable of preventing uncontrolled steering resulting from abnormal movement of the rear road wheels in case of a failure in various sensors and/or an electric motor or breakage in the wiring, and enabling vehicle to continuously travel in a safe manner by means of front wheel steering alone after occurrence of such troubles.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of preventing or substantially reducing generation of shocks and noises when the steering system is changed from a power steering mode into a manual steering mode or vice versa. A motor is operatively connected with steerable road wheels and adapted to be energized by a power source to transmit a force to the steerable road wheels for power assisting steering motion caused by the operator through a steering wheel. An electromagnetic hysteresis clutch is interposed between the motor and the steerable road wheels for electromagnetically connecting the motor with the steerable road wheels in such a manner that the power-assisting force transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels is continuously changed in accordance with an exciting current supplied to the clutch.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a vehicle capable of ensuring the travelling stability of a vehicle during travel on a bad road by avoiding unintentional motion of the steering wheel caused by road surface irregularities. The power steering system includes a motor adapted to be energized by a battery to power assist the steering motion induced by an operator. The power assisting force is transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels through a first electromagnetic sliding clutch and a second electromagnetic switching clutch. The operations of the motor and the first and second clutches are controlled by a control unit in such a manner that the force transmitted from the motor to the steerable road wheels is reduced to make the steering operation heavier than when steering with full power assist when the vehicle is travelling on a bad road.