Abstract: An active suspension system comprises at least one biasing device configured to support a body from a structure, and at least one motor. A magnetorheological (MR) fluid clutch apparatus(es) is coupled to the at least one motor to receive torque from the motor, the MR fluid clutch apparatus controllable to transmit a variable amount of torque. A mechanism is between the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus and the body to convert the torque received from the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus into a force on the body. Sensor(s) provide information indicative of a state of the body or structure. A controller receives the information indicative of the state of the body or structure and for outputting a signal to control the at least one MR fluid clutch apparatus in exerting a desired force on the body to control movement of the body according to a desired movement behavior.

Abstract: A steering system includes a tie rod and an actuator assembly. The tie rod is movably disposed within a tie rod housing. The actuator assembly includes a first member and a second member. The first member extends from an actuator. The second member has a second member first end operatively connected to the first member and a second member second end operatively connected to the tie rod. The second member first end is arranged to translate the tie rod along a first axis responsive to the actuator moving the second member first end relative to a second axis.

Abstract: A vehicle rear wheel steering apparatus includes: a housing supported by the rear wheels via first and second connection members; an electric motor supported by the housing; a speed reduction mechanism connected to an output shaft of the electric motor, and reducing the speed of an output of the electric motor; and a linear motion mechanism including a nut member connected to the speed reduction mechanism, and a rod screwed to the nut member and connected to at least one of the first and second connection members, and converting rotational motion of the nut member into linear motion of the rod, wherein the speed reduction mechanism includes a planetary gear mechanism, and the speed of an output of the electric motor is reduced and the reduced output is transmitted to the linear motion mechanism.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing, an electric motor, a planetary gear mechanism, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod threadedly engaged with the nut member, the housing including a cylindrical body which includes a lock portion provided at an inner surface of the cylindrical body, the housing including a connection cover, a cylindrical holding member holding a ring gear within the cylindrical body in a state where the ring gear is prevented from rotating, and a bearing, wherein the bearing and the cylindrical holding member are disposed and held between the lock portion and the connection cover, and the cylindrical holding member is held to be non-rotatable relative to the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A vehicle having a driving assist system and an electric power assist steering system coupled to the driving assist system. The driving assist system transmits an assist torque request for reception by the electric power assist steering system for enabling the electric power assist steering system to adjust its outputted assist torque to accommodate requirements of the driving assist system. The assist torque request specifies a requested additional assist torque required by the driving assist system from the electric power assist steering system. In response to receiving the assist torque request, the electric power assist steering system performs an operation for determining a column torque offset as a function of both a force being applied by a driver of the vehicle on a steering column of the vehicle and the requested additional assist torque required by the driving assist system.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing including a cylinder portion and a casing, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod, the casing including at least one opening portion that opens in parallel to the rod and a communication hole provided separately from the opening portion, the casing positioned surrounding the rod extending from the cylinder portion and being fixed to the cylinder portion, a cover member joined to the casing to seal the opening portion of the casing, a controller housed in the casing, a power line and a signal line electrically connected to the controller in the casing, and a thermal shrinkage tube surrounding the power line and the signal line to retain thereof. The power line and the signal line are liquid-tightly supported in the communication hole of the casing via the thermal shrinkage tube.

Abstract: A vehicle body drifting suppression device including a steering torque detection unit which detects a steering torque of a vehicle, wherein a vehicle body drifting suppression is performed according to a vehicle body drifting suppression control-amount, and the vehicle body drifting suppression control-amount is adjusted according to a temporal sustention status of the steering torque.

Abstract: A displacement detection apparatus for a linear motion mechanism includes a nut member, a rod including elongate grooves elongating in an axial direction of the rod and a through hole, a permanent magnet disposed parallel to the rod, a magnet block made of synthetic resin and including a retaining portion holding the permanent magnet, a pair of leg portions extending from ends of the retaining portion that are spaced apart, and a nut made of metal insert-molded at an intermediate position between the pair of leg portions, and a displacement sensor disposed opposing to the permanent magnet. The pair of leg portions and the nut of the magnet block are disposed in the elongate groove of the rod and the magnet block is fixed to the rod by a bolt screwed to the nut, the bolt penetrating through the through hole extending through the rod.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing including a cylinder portion and a casing, a linear motion mechanism including a nut member and a rod, the casing including at least one opening portion that opens in parallel to the rod and a communication hole provided separately from the opening portion, the casing positioned surrounding the rod extending from the cylinder portion and being fixed to the cylinder portion, a cover member joined to the casing to seal the opening portion of the casing, a controller housed in the casing, a power line and a signal line electrically connected to the controller in the casing, and a thermal shrinkage tube surrounding the power line and the signal line to retain thereof. The power line and the signal line are liquid-tightly supported in the communication hole of the casing via the thermal shrinkage tube.

Abstract: A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the vehicle are disclosed. A main controller signals a secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when a power steering controller is in a first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in a second mode. The main controller signals a friction device to actuate to a disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to an engaged position to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicular rear wheel steering device includes a housing, a rod being non-turnable with respect to the housing and movably supported in an axial direction of the rod, and a conversion mechanism arranged between the rod and the housing to convert a rotation of a rotational drive device to a drive force in the axial direction. The housing includes a tubular first bush disposed at a first end and a tubular second bush at a second end. Each bush is slidably engaged to an outer periphery of the rod and supports the rod to be movable in the axial direction. A rod supporting rigidity of the first bush is lower compared to that of the second bush. The first bush is arranged with an elastic body that deforms in a radial direction of the rod. The second bush is arranged with an inner periphery protrusion at which the rod tilts.

Abstract: An electronic control unit determines the steering direction of rear wheels on the basis of the turning operation direction of a steering wheel when a detected vehicle speed is “0”, i.e. when the vehicle is stopped. If the steering direction of the rear wheels is a return-side steering direction to obtain a neutral steering position, the unit operates a rear wheel-side steering mechanism by driving and controlling an electric motor, whereby allowing return-side stationary steering for the rear wheels.

Abstract: A device and a method for maneuvering a vehicle using maneuvering moves using at least one trajectory along which the vehicle is movable. Maneuvering moves have at least one reversing clothoid which borders on at least one trajectory and which is designed so that a steering motion of the vehicle is avoidable at standstill.

Abstract: A rear toe control (RTC) system and method for a vehicle includes rear actuators for applying rear steering to rear wheels of the vehicle and rear sensors for measuring individual toe angles of the rear wheels. The system further includes a RTC failure module that determines when the RTC system has failed and a road condition determining module that determines whether the vehicle is encountering a poor road surface condition. An electronic control unit (ECU) is disposed on the vehicle and is configured to impose a speed limit for the vehicle when the RTC failure module determines that the RTC system has failed and the road condition determining module determines that the vehicle encountering a poor road surface condition.

Abstract: A steering device for adjusting a wheel turning angle of a wheel of a motor vehicle, in particular of a rear wheel, includes a wheel guide member via which a wheel carrier of the wheel is connected to a vehicle body, the wheel carrier being swivellable about an axis of rotation disposed parallel to the wheel plane and the wheel guide member being articulated to the wheel carrier at a distance from the axis of rotation and being adjustable in length by an electromechanical drive unit, the electromechanical drive unit being connected, on the one hand, via a push rod to a joint at the wheel carrier end in order to form a swivel bearing to establish a connection to the wheel carrier, and, on the other hand, to a joint at the vehicle body end to form a further swivel bearing to establish a connection to the vehicle body.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rear wheel steering angle controlling device for vehicles comprising: a rear wheel steering mechanism (5R, 5L) for changing a rear wheel steering angle; a front wheel steering angle detector (9) for detecting a front wheel steering angle (?f); a vehicle velocity detector (10R, 10L) for detecting a vehicle velocity (V); a feedforward rear wheel steering angle control target value setting unit (21) for setting a feedforward control target value (?rFF) of said rear wheel steering angle according to said front wheel steering angle, said vehicle velocity, a steering yaw rate transfer function property (G?0) of the vehicle without a rear wheel steering angle control, and a prescribed reference steering yaw rate transfer function property (Gideal); and a controlling device (11) for controlling said rear wheel steering mechanism according to said feedforward rear wheel steering angle control target value; wherein a steady-state property of said reference steering yaw rate transfer fun

Abstract: In an electric power steering system, an ECU 11 includes two independent microcomputers 17a, 17b that serve as motor control signal generators, and the microcomputers 17a, 17b perform the same current feedback computation. Switching arms 20a, 20b that constitute a driving circuit 18 operate independently of each other, based on motor control signals generated by the corresponding microcomputers 17a, 17b. Each of the microcomputers 17a, 17b determines whether an absolute value of a current deviation of an actual current I (I1, I2) from a current command value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. If the current deviation exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that an abnormality occurs in the system.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering system includes a knob that is for rotating a wheel of a steering member, has a knob center, and is supported rotatably around the knob center by the wheel. A control unit sets a predetermined period after detection of gripping on the knob by a grip detection device as a transfer period for transfer from reaction force application only by a wheel reaction force actuator to reaction force application only by a knob reaction force actuator. In the transfer period, the knob reaction force is increased with time and the wheel reaction force is reduced with time.

Abstract: A vehicular rear wheel steering device includes a housing, a rod being non-turnable with respect to the housing and movably supported in an axial direction of the rod, and a conversion mechanism arranged between the rod and the housing to convert a rotation of a rotational drive device to a drive force in the axial direction. The housing includes a tubular first bush disposed at a first end and a tubular second bush at a second end. Each bush is slidably engaged to an outer periphery of the rod and supports the rod to be movable in the axial direction. A rod supporting rigidity of the first bush is lower compared to that of the second bush. The first bush is arranged with an elastic body that deforms in a radial direction of the rod. The second bush is arranged with an inner periphery protrusion at which the rod tilts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steering control apparatus that controls steering of a vehicle of a steer-by-wire type, and includes steered-wheel motors that apply separate torques to right and left steered wheels respectively, a rod member that couples the right and left steered wheels so that the steered wheels can be steered, and a steering controller that controls driving of the steered-wheel motors. In each steered wheel, a center of the contact face thereof and a kingpin point thereof are offset in a lateral direction of the vehicle, and the steering controller controls driving of the steered-wheel motors so as to generate a torque difference between the right and left steered wheels, and provides a steering effort in accordance with this torque difference for each of the right and left steered wheels via the rod member, thereby to steer the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rear wheel toe angle variable control system-equipped vehicle that is capable of assisting the steering of the front wheels by a power steering system mounted therein without deteriorating the steering feeling experienced by the vehicle operator even when the rear wheels have been steered.

Abstract: A method for controlling the rear steering angle of a vehicle includes receiving a plurality of signals indicative of rear steering angle; checking at least one of the plurality of signals to determine if it falls within a valid range; correlating at least a first signal of the plurality of signals with at least a second signal of the plurality of signals to determine if either the first signal or the second signal is invalid; and rejecting any signals found to be invalid.

Abstract: A steering device for vehicles having a pair of wheels which can be steered freely as a function of the current driving state of the vehicle or whose steered position can be locked by an electronically actuable locking device, having an electronic control device and having sensors which are connected to the electronic control device and have the purpose of monitoring current driving state values, with the electronic control device actuating the locking device when a minimum velocity of the vehicle is exceeded, in such a way that the steered position of the pair of wheels is locked, characterized in that driving state values which characterize critical driving situations are additionally stored in the electronic control device, in which the steered position of the pair of wheels is locked in critical driving situations, and in which, after a critical driving situation, the locking device does not release the pair of wheels again until predefined critical driving state values are undershot at least for a predef

Abstract: A vehicular steering control apparatus is comprised of a steering system of receiving a steering torque inputted by a driver, a torque control actuator connected to the steering system to produce an actuator torque relative to the steering torque and a steering controlling section connected to the torque actuator. The steering controlling section controls the torque control actuator and increases a phase delay of the actuator torque relative to the steering torque toward a neighborhood of 180° as the frequency of the inputted steering torque increases.

Abstract: There is provided a steering apparatus including a pinion communicating with an operation of a steering member, a rack shaft having a rack meshed with the pinion, and a support yoke resiliently coming into contact with the rack shaft, and being configured to convert rotation of the pinion into movement of the rack shaft in an axial direction in a meshing portion in which the pinion and rack mesh to each other. The steering apparatus comprises a detection unit for detecting a force applied to the support yoke to which a force acting on the meshing portion being transmitted from the rack shaft and a calculation unit for calculating a steering torque applied to the steering member based on the force detected by the detection unit, wherein the pinion and the rack are formed in helical gears.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rear wheel toe angle variable control system-equipped vehicle that is capable of assisting the steering of the front wheels by a power steering system mounted therein without deteriorating the steering feeling experienced by the vehicle operator even when the rear wheels have been steered.

Abstract: A method, computer usable medium including a program, and a system for braking a vehicle during brake failure. The method and computer usable medium include the steps of determining a brake force lost corresponding to a failed brake, and determining a brake force reserve corresponding to at least one non-failed brake. At least one commanded brake force is determined based on the brake force lost and the brake force reserve. Then at least one command brake force is applied to the at least one non-failed brake wherein at least one of an undesired yaw moment and a yaw moment rate of change are limited to predetermined values. The system includes a plurality of brake assemblies wherein a commanded brake force is applied to at least one non-failed brake.

Abstract: A vehicle lateral control system that integrates both vehicle dynamics and kinematics control. The system includes a driver interpreter that provides desired vehicle dynamics and predicted vehicle path based on driver input. Error signals between the desired vehicle dynamics and measured vehicle dynamics, and between the predicted vehicle path and the measured vehicle target path are sent to dynamics and kinematics control processors for generating a separate dynamics and kinematics command signals, respectively, to minimize the errors. The command signals are integrated by a control integration processor to combine the commands to optimize the performance of stabilizing the vehicle and tracking the path. The integrated command signal can be used to control one or more of front wheel assist steering, rear-wheel assist steering or differential braking.

Abstract: The method consists in: determining in which actually sector the booster motor is located, a sector of the booster motor being defied by two successive poles; determining a relative angle position of the steering wheel in relation to the booster motor; identifying a sector, known as neutral, in which the booster motor is located when the rotation speeds of the rear wheels, i.e. right and left of the vehicle, are equal; determining an angle offset of the steering wheel corresponding to a neutral angle position of the steering wheel; determining an absolute angle position of the steering wheel which is equal to the difference between the relative angle position of the steering wheel and the offset angle thereof.

Abstract: A steering actor of an independent type steer-by-wire system comprises a housing fixed to a vehicle body and an ultrasonic motor. The ultrasonic motor has a stator internally fixed to the housing and a rotator rotating relative to the stator when an electric current is applied. A steering rod having a first end and a second end penetrates through a center portion of the ultrasonic motor. The first end of the steering rod extends out of the housing for connection to a tie rod. A movement conversion means is operably associated with the steering rod for converting rotating movement of the ultrasonic motor into linear movement of the steering rod.

Abstract: A support device for motor-vehicle wheel hubs adapted to be mounted between the hub and the body of the rear suspension, consisting of a connection element (12), rotatably connected to the body of the suspension and adapted to rotate on a plane which is basically perpendicular to the ground and parallel to the longer axis of the motor-vehicle, provided with attachments (15) for the hub (16) and connected to an elastic element (20), articulated on the body of the suspension (2, 3) and adapted to control its rotation.

Abstract: A control system that employs closed-loop control for providing active vehicle rear-wheel steering, where the control system receives longitudinal wheel slip inputs to improve the vehicle directional stability. The longitudinal wheel slip inputs can be from one or more of wheel speed, traction control on and automatic braking system on. The control system includes an open-loop controller for generating an open-loop steering control signal, a yaw rate feedback controller for generating a yaw rate feedback signal, and a side-slip rate controller for generating a side-slip rate feedback signal. The open-loop steering control signal, the yaw rate feedback signal and the side-slip rate feedback signal are combined to generate the steering control signal to steer the vehicle rear wheels.

Abstract: A control system for estimating the tongue length of a trailer being towed by a vehicle in connection with a front wheel steering with or without coordinated rear wheel steering associated with the vehicle. The control system employs an algorithm that calculates an estimated trailer yaw rate based on a corrected tongue length, a front wheel steering angle, a rear wheel steering angle, vehicle speed and a vehicle yaw rate. The estimated trailer yaw rate is compared to a measured trailer yaw rate to generate a yaw rate error that is converted to a tongue length error. The tongue length error is compared to the estimated tongue length to become a corrected estimated tongue length for a next computation period. After a few seconds of processing, the corrected estimated tongue length will be the actual tongue length of the trailer.

Abstract: A steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle having first and second sets (14 and 16) of steerable wheels comprises a first steering gear (22) actuatable, in response to rotation of a handwheel (110), to effect turning of the first set (14) of steerable wheels. The steering apparatus (10) also comprises second and third steering gears (24 and 26), each of which is independently actuatable to effect turning of the second set (16) of steerable wheels and thereby providing redundancy for turning of the second set (16) of steerable wheels. A sensor (112) senses a steering position of the first set (14) of steerable wheels and provides a steering signal indicative of the sensed steering position. A controller (114) receives the steering signal and, in response to the steering signal, controls actuation of the second and third steering gears (24 and 26).

Abstract: The terminal voltages of respective phase coils of a steering shaft driving motor constituted by a three-phase brushless motor are separately detected. When the terminal voltages detected at at least three different conducting terminals u, v, and w are made Vu, Vv, and Vw, respectively, and the values when those detected values Vu, Vv, and Vw are arranged in order from largest to smallest voltage are made V1, V2, and V3, respectively, provided that V1?V2?V3, a calculation is performed to determine if V1+V3 coincides with 2*V2 within a predetermined allowable range, and a failure is determined based on results obtained from such a calculation.

Abstract: For the purpose of controlling the yaw dynamics and lateral dynamics in a road vehicle with electrically controlled four-wheel steering, in the case of which the setting of the front axle steer angle ?v and of the rear axle steer angle ?h is performed by means of mutually decoupled control loops, a desired value ?vsoll for the lateral force Sv to be built up at the front axle is determined in the control loop assigned to the front axle and, for this desired value Svsoll, the value of the slip angle, linked to the desired value Svsoll, is determined as desired value ?vsoll from an Sv(?v) characteristic representing the dependence of the lateral force Sv, to be built up at the front axle, on the slip angle ?v. In the control loop assigned to the rear axle, a desired value Shsoll for the lateral force Sh to be built up at the rear axle is determined in a control process in accordance with a controller law of the form S hsoll = l v · m · v x L · [ ? .

Abstract: A steering device for an electric car includes tandem wheel suspensions for at least two sets of tandem wheels and a steering mechanism for each set of tandem wheels and provides a smooth turning motion. The steering mechanism for one tandem set of wheels is formed by a mechanical connection to a steering wheel and the steering mechanism for the second set of tandem wheels is driven by motors.

Abstract: A vehicle control system that selectively provides rear-wheel steering to prevent a vehicle-trailer from jackknifing during a back-up maneuver. The system senses a steering angle of the vehicle, a speed of the vehicle and a hitch angle between the vehicle and the trailer. The system calculates an equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle position based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed, and a pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle that is a steady-state hitch angle at a maximum rear-wheel steering input based on the steering angle and the vehicle speed. The system then determines whether the rear-wheel steering should be provided based on a predetermined relationship between the sensed hitch angle, the equilibrium hitch angle and the pseudo-equilibrium hitch angle.

Abstract: A worm gear and an irreversible clutch mechanism adapted to permit the transmission of a driving force from an actuator toward rear wheels and to inhibit the transmission of the driving force in a reverse direction, are disposed at upstream and downstream locations in a power-transmitting path for transmitting the driving force from the actuator to the rear wheels, respectively. The driving force transmitted in the reverse direction from the rear wheels toward the actuator is blocked by both the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear. Therefore, the steering angle of the rear wheels can be reliably prevented from changing from a desired angle. Further, even when one of the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear is broken, the function of inhibiting the reverse transmission of the driving force can be maintained.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering apparatus comprises an electric motor generating rotational torque, an electric control device controlling the rotation of the electric motor, a motion converting device converting the rotational torque of the electric motor into a propulsion force, an output shaft outputting the propulsion force, a rear wheel steering angle detecting device detecting a steering angle of the rear wheels steered by the output shaft, a regulating member for prohibiting the output shaft from rotating while allowing the output shaft to move axially, a neutral return device manually returning the rear wheels to a neutral position upon failure of the motor or the electric control device, a neutral return detecting device for detecting the return of the output shaft to the neutral position and a neutral return notification device for notifying the return of the output shaft to the neutral position.

Abstract: An all wheel steering system for a vehicle comprising a controller having a first input for receiving a signal from a hand wheel position sensor, a second input for receiving a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, and a third input for receiving a signal that varies depending upon whether a trailer is hitched the vehicle. The controller generates an output for controlling a rear wheel steering actuator. The output varies as a function of the first, second, and third inputs such that when a trailer is hitched to the vehicle the out-of-phase rear steer amount at low speeds is reduced and the in-phase rear steering amount at high speeds is increased.

Abstract: The present invention involves a system and method of controlling a steer-by-wire system to produce adjustable steering feel for A vehicle driver by providing control of reaction torque on a steering wheel of a vehicle. The method includes a quantitative description for the steering feel which is obtained by establishing a relationship of steering wheel reaction torque and steering wheel angle, road wheel torque, and vehicle speed. The system and method include steer-by wire system closed-loop feedback controls with inner torque loop, steering wheel rate feedback loop, and steering wheel angular position feedback loop to implement providing the steering feel, active steering wheel return with the different rotation rate, steering wheel stop according to the road wheel angular position in a parking state, and directional angle reference generation to road wheels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the steering of an automatic guided vehicle (AGV) includes simultaneously correcting the vehicle's heading and position errors. The vehicle may include first and second steering control loops that determine the vehicle's position and heading errors, respectively. Separate commands are generated from these control loops to steer the vehicle in a manner that tends to reduce these errors. The vehicle may include a forward and a rearward pair of wheels. For correcting position errors, the first control loop issues the same steering command to both the forward and rearward pair of wheels. For correcting heading errors, the second control loop issues a steering command to the rearward pair of wheels that is summed together with the first control loop's steering command prior to being applied to the rearward pair of wheels.

Abstract: A steering apparatus (10) for turning steerable wheels of a vehicle having first and second sets (14 and 16) of steerable wheels comprises a first steering gear (22) actuatable, in response to rotation of a handwheel (110), to effect turning of the first set (14) of steerable wheels. The steering apparatus (10) also comprises second and third steering gears (24 and 26), each of which is independently actuatable to effect turning of the second set (16) of steerable wheels and thereby providing redundancy for turning of the second set (16) of steerable wheels. A sensor (112) senses a steering position of the first set (14) of steerable wheels and provides a steering signal indicative of the sensed steering position. A controller (114) receives the steering signal and, in response to the steering signal, controls actuation of the second and third steering gears (24 and 26).

Abstract: A worm gear and an irreversible clutch mechanism adapted to permit the transmission of a driving force from an actuator toward rear wheels and to inhibit the transmission of the driving force in a reverse direction, are disposed at upstream and downstream locations in a power-transmitting path for transmitting the driving force from the actuator to the rear wheels, respectively. The driving force transmitted in the reverse direction from the rear wheels toward the actuator is blocked by both the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear. Therefore, the steering angle of the rear wheels can be reliably prevented from changing from a desired angle. Further, even when one of the irreversible clutch mechanism and the worm gear is broken, the function of inhibiting the reverse transmission of the driving force can be maintained.

Abstract: A rear wheel steering device for a vehicle is comprised of a steering mechanism connected to rear wheels of a vehicle, an electric actuator having a coil portion and a rotor portion for driving the steering mechanism, and a transmission mechanism connected to the rotor portion for transmitting drive force of the electric actuator to the steering mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a ball screw mechanism and a clutch mechanism for transmitting force from the electric actuator.

Abstract: A parking operation aiding system includes a display for displaying parking-aiding information including a target parking position and a vehicle position. The system also includes a locus calculating means for calculating an expected movement locus for a subject vehicle in accordance with a distance of movement of the vehicle and a steering angle, an interference determining means for determining whether the expected movement locus will interfere with the target parking position, and an information determining means for determining subsequent parking operation aiding information based on the presence or absence the interference.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system coupled to a steerable wheel, comprising a steering rack linked to said steerable wheel, an electric motor having an output shaft engaged with the steering rack for controlling the steerable wheel. The system also includes a position sensor configured to measure an actual steerable wheel angle of the steering rack and thereby the steerable wheel, a return spring, where the return spring is biased so as to provide a returning force to the steering rack. Finally, the system includes a controller that provides a command to the electric motor resulting in a torque, the command is responsive to the actual steerable wheel angle, a desired steerable wheel angle, and a command direction.

Abstract: A steerable drive axle for a motor vehicle including a rigid tubular housing, a pair of steering knuckles at opposite ends of the rigid tubular housing, an expanded chamber in the middle of the rigid tubular housing open on one side for access to a differential gear set in the expanded chamber, a differential cover for closing the open side of the expanded chamber, and an electrically-powered steering apparatus on the cover linked to the steering knuckles. The electrically-powered steering apparatus includes a rack bar passage in the differential cover, a rack bar supported in the rack bar passage for linear translation and linked to the steering knuckles, a pinion head rotatably supported on the differential cover having a pinion gear meshing with a rack gear on the rack bar, an electric motor mounted on the differential cover, and a speed reducer on the differential cover between the pinion head and an output shaft of the electric motor.

Abstract: Vehicular dynamic controlling apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle which can achieve a desired yaw rate output in response to a steering input by a vehicular driver even when the controlled vehicle is running in such a cornering limit range such that a vehicular lateral acceleration is relatively large without giving a steering maneuver different from that the vehicular driver desires to the vehicular driver.