Oblon, Fisher, Spivak, McClelland & Maier
Steering force controller for a power steering apparatus
An electronically controlled power steering apparatus wherein the steering force generated by a power cylinder (15) is controlled by a microcomputer (54). Detection signals from a vehicle speed sensor (50) and a steering angle sensor (51) are input to the microcomputer (54), which thus, reads out from a memory (60) stored control electric currents corresponding to detection signals in order to output the appropriate control electric currents. A solenoid valve (20) for controlling the communication between left and right chambers of the power cylinder (15) and another solenoid valve (30) for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid from a pump (16) to a servovalve (14) are driven in response to the control electric currents from the microcomputer (54). When the vehicle runs a predetermined distance or a predetermined time period after the supply of electric current, the microcomputer (54) decreases the control electric currents charged to the solenoid valves (20) and (30). Accordingly, even in a vehicle of the type wherein a neutral position of the steering (10 ) cannot be precisely detected unless the vehicle runs the predetermined distance or the predetermined time period after the supply of electric power, any uncomfortable or strange "feel" by the driver can be avoided.
Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
B B
B62D B62D
inventional inventional
Yutaka Kunihiko Akihiro
Mori Eto Ohno