Abstract: A load short-circuit failure detection apparatus comprises load current drive means 8, load current control means 7, load current detection means 6 and load short-circuit failure judging means 9 and judges that a short-circuit failure occurs in a load when a state in which a load current detection value exceeds a predetermined value within a first predetermined time continues for a second predetermined time so that the load drive means can be protected, a short-circuit failure of the load can be detected, and the erroneous detection of a short-circuit failure caused by a transient overcurrent can be prevented.

Abstract: A current flowing to a motor 8 for generating a steering assist force for a steering mechanism is detected by a motor current detecting circuit 24 to be inputted to a controller 10 as a motor current detection value IMS. The controller 10 arithmetically determines deviation between the motor current detection value IMS and a desired motor current value IMT preset on the basis of a vehicle speed and a detected steering assist torque value and decides abnormality of the motor current detecting circuit 24 when the deviation indicates an abnormal value over a period equal to or longer than a predetermined time.

Abstract: A motor-driven power steering system for a motor vehicle implemented inexpensively in a simplified structure allows operation of a steering assist torque generating motor even in the vicinity of a neutral point while preventing rotation of the motor in a direction reverse to the steering direction as well as self-rotation of a steering wheel notwithstanding of occurrence of abnormality in a controller implemented by a CPU. The motor-driven power steering system includes a CPU (3) for controlling a motor (2) in dependence on output of a steering torque detecting unit (1), an interlock means (5) for limiting driving operation of the motor (2) upon occurrence of abnormality in the CPU (3), and a motor driving means (6) for driving the motor (2) in accordance with commands issued by the CPU (3).

Abstract: A power steering control apparatus for a motor vehicle which ensures an appropriate steering force conforming to the prevailing road condition and hence the safety for the motor vehicle even when the wheels are locked due to hard brake applied on a slippery road. The apparatus includes a first microcomputer for determining a driving torque of a steering assist motor on the basis of steering torque information generated upon steering of a steering wheel and pseudo vehicle speed information to thereby generate and output a driving signal for the steering assist motor on the basis of the driving torque, and a second microcomputer for generating the pseudo vehicle speed signal on the basis of wheel rotation speed signals and acceleration/deceleration signal of the motor vehicle to thereby generate and output a brake actuation signal for wheels of the motor vehicle on the basis of the pseudo vehicle speed signal, the acceleration/deceleration information and brake application information.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering torque sensor (1) for sensing a steering torque, a motor (3) for generating a steering assisting force, a CPU (22) for determining a motor drive direction based on at least the steering force and a motor drive direction restricting circuit (25) for restricting the drive direction of the motor (3) determined by the CPU (22) based on a steering force determination level as a motor drive direction determination criterion and the steering force, and the steering force determination level is changeable.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering torque sensor (1) for sensing a steering torque, a motor (3) for generating a steering assisting force, a CPU (22) for determining a motor drive direction based on at least the steering force and a motor drive direction restricting circuit (25) for restricting the drive direction of the motor (3) determined by the CPU (22) based on a steering force determination level as a motor drive direction determination criterion and the steering force, and the steering force determination level is changeable.

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: An electric power steering control apparatus is intended to improve the convergence and control stability of a returning motion of a steering wheel when a driver of a vehicle on which the apparatus is installed lets his or her hands free from the steering wheel, and to reduce a burden to the driver when an excessive steering torque occurs during the returning motion. The apparatus includes a steering torque sensor 8 for detecting a steering torque of a steering system of the vehicle, a motor rotational-speed detector 7 for detecting a rotational speed of the electric motor, and a rotational-speed controller for controlling the electric motor based on output signals from the steering torque sensor and the motor rotational-speed sensor so that when the steering torque as detected is less than a predetermined torque value, the rotational speed of the electric motor does not exceed a predetermined speed value corresponding to the predetermined torque value.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus includes a steering torque sensor (1) for sensing a steering torque, a motor (3) for generating a steering assisting force, a CPU (22) for determining a motor drive direction based on at least the steering force and a motor drive direction restricting circuit (25) for restricting the drive direction of the motor (3) determined by the CPU (22) based on a steering force determination level as a motor drive direction determination criterion and the steering force, and the steering force determination level is changeable.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a single sensor means, two sensed signal processing circuits for processing the output signal of the sensor means, both the signal processing circuits being substantially equal in circuit construction, and an abnormality detecting circuit for detecting an abnormality on the basis of the difference between the output signals of the two sensed signal processing circuits.

Abstract: A DC motor driven power steering system for a motor vehicle includes a motor current detection circuit for detecting a motor current flowing through the DC motor, a power supply voltage detection circuit for detecting a power supply voltage applied to the bridge commutation circuit, a motor voltage estimating unit for estimating a voltage applied across the DC motor on the basis of the power supply voltage applied to the bridge commutation circuit and the pulse-width modulated control signals used for controlling the bridge commutation circuit, and a motor rotation detecting means for detecting the rotation state of the DC motor on the basis of the motor current and the estimated motor voltage applied to the DC motor. High reliability can be ensured for detection of the rotation state of the DC motor.

Abstract: A power steering motor control unit for driving a motor in a PWM mode with feedback motor current control reduces fluctuations in the output torque of the motor caused by switching among a plurality of motor driving modes or a change in the duty value of the PWM signal. The control unit as a switching device driving circuit for driving the motor in the PWM mode and a plurality of motor driving modes for the driving control system of a motor, Q/D switching circuitry 14 for switching the motor driving mode, and detected current correcting circuitry 16 for correcting at least one input signal of an input signal comparing circuit provided in a feedback control loop in accordance with the motor driving mode. When the motor driving mode is switched, the correction value given by the detected current correcting circuitry is changed.

Abstract: An electrically-operated steering apparatus in which in addition to avoiding an increase in cost caused by installing a new sensor or using a high process speed CPU, steering feels, such as steering wheel return, viscous feeling, inertial feeling and frictional feeling, are improved. In addition to assisting a static steering torque on the basis of a torque sensor, with a motor-applied voltage detection circuit capable of removing the square wave component attendant on the PWM drive of a motor, a motor angular velocity .omega. is estimated from the output data of the relevant circuit. A motor angular acceleration d.omega./dt is estimated from the motor angular velocity .omega. by using a differential calculator. The steering friction and the moment of inertia are compensated on the basis of the motor angular velocity .omega. and motor angular acceleration d.omega./dt, respectively.

Abstract: A controller apparatus for a vehicle includes a computer for controlling devices mounted in the vehicle, and a detector means for detecting the state of the computer immediately before the computer enters a reset state. The computer determines its processing contents on the basis of the detection result of the detection means immediately after the computer is started. Thus, the controller apparatus detects the abnormal reset of the computer in control, thereby assuring the safe control of the devices.

Abstract: A motor controller is provided which improves response to control inversion of a motor, and which also improves controllability and driving comfort when applied to electric power steering. In the motor controller a bridge circuit 5 is formed which includes switching elements 3a to 3d which are driven to control the motor 2 in a direction of conduction, a drive system is switched between a single-phase one-sided chopper system and either a single-phase double-sided chopper system or a double-phase double-sided chopper system based on detected states of an apparatus or the amount of control, so as to control the motor 2 with a drive system suitable for each state of the apparatus.

Abstract: [Object] To improve system reliability and safety. [Constitution] The rotation speed of the motor 6 is detected by the motor rotation speed detection circuit 17 and the amount of rotation of the motor 6 is calculated from the detected rotation speed by the motor rotation amount calculating means 10a. Then, a fault is determined when the amount of rotation exceeds a predetermined value and the drive of the motor 6 is stopped by the motor stopping means 123.

Abstract: In a electric power steering controller, an output signal of motor driving direction discrimination means is compared with a driving direction discrimination processing result to detect a failure of the motor driving direction discriminator in accordance with the comparison result, so as to prevent the runaway of a motor supplying steering force to a steering wheel.

Abstract: A motor for a motor-assisted power steering device is controlled with a control value which is obtained by detecting an error between an actual steering torque which has undergone phase lead compensation and a target steering torque, and by summing a proportional value, an integration value and a differentiation value of the error, or with a control value which is obtained by detecting an error between actual steering torque and a target torque; obtaining a proportional value, an integration value and a differentiation value of the error; clipping the lower limit value of the integration value with a first clipping circuit, and clipping the upper and lower limit values of motor-controlling quantity obtained by summing the proportional value, the integration value and the differentiation value by using a second clipping circuit.

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 control apparatus for a motor-driven power steering system of a motor vehicle for preventing generation of actuation noise of a clutch without sacrificing reliability of the steering system. A current calculating/driving means 91 calculates a motor current command value I.sub.0 on the basis of a vehicle speed V and a steering torque T for driving a motor 13. An abnormal torque decision reference value arithmetic means 901 calculates an abnormal torque decision reference value T.sub.0 and a reference time t.sub.0 in dependence on the vehicle speed V, while a load torque calculating means 902 calculates a load torque T.sub.L on the basis of the steering torque T and the motor current command value I.sub.0. A motor rotation decision means 907 estimates a rotation number N.sub.M of the motor 13 from a motor regeneration voltage. When the load torque T.sub.L is greater than the abnormal torque decision reference value T.sub.0 and when a duration t.sub.L thereof is greater than the reference time t.sub.