Jtekt Europe

Pierre Pilaz

Pascal Moulaire

Stephane Cassar

Andre Michelis

André Michelis

Christophe Ravier

Serge Gaudin

Julien Barthomeuf

Jean-Marc Kasbarian

Sebastien Herault

Stéphane Bourbon

Jocelyn Delarche

Stéphane Cassar

Sébastien Herault

The invention relates to a power steering system in which the set value for torque or force at the steering wheel is predetermined on the basis of various parameters and information so as to provide the most driving comfort in all conditions of driving the vehicle. The torque or force set value is predetermined on the basis of the sideways acceleration of the vehicle, the acceleration in turn being predetermined mainly from an estimate of the force exerted on the rack, and preferably also predetermined by other methods, with the estimate being weighted among all of the obtained values. Said method is particularly useful for vehicles provided with electrical power steering.

Method for determining a torque set value for a steering wheel for a power steering system of a motor vehicle

The processing means, which control the power assisted steering motor (), determine and give consideration to a first steering angle signal (A) determined as a function of the calculation or measurement of the force or torque delivered by the power assisted steering motor () and possibly of the steering torque or force applied by the driver to the steering wheel (), a second steering angle signal (B) determined as a function of the calculation of the measurement of the angular position of the power assisted steering motor (), a third signal (C) of the 'index' type, that is to say of the type emitted for certain angular positions of the steering system (), a convergence signal (D) indicative of the convergence of the steering angle calculations, and a confirmation signal (E) confirming the calculation of the steering angle, the convergence signal (D) being produced thanks to the signal (C) of 'index' type to indicate a confidence level on the estimated steering angle value. The invention can be applied to vehicles that have an automated steering function.

Motor vehicle electric power assisted steering system

The invention relates to a power assisted steering system () that includes an electric assist motor () arranged to assist the manual force exerted by a driver on the steering wheel of the automobile, a processing means () arranged to control the electric assist motor (), the processing means () including a means () for predetermining a signal (S) for controlling the electric assist motor on the basis of a first operation signal (S) determined on the basis of the angular position of the electric assist motor, and a second operation signal (S) determined on the basis of the measurement or calculation of the angular acceleration of the electric assist motor and the measurement or calculation of the assistance torque output by the electric assist motor.

Power assisted steering for an automobile

A method for determining the absolute angular position of a steering wheel of an electric power-assisted steering column of a motor vehicle, including a means for measuring a dynamic parameter while the vehicle is running and including among others, the steps of periodically determining a multi-turn relative angular position, determining at least one dynamic parameter relating to the running conditions of the vehicle using the means for measuring said parameter, determining an absolute steering-wheel angle calculated according to at least one dynamic parameter, and weighting the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle according to a test of the validity of the calculated value of the absolute steering-wheel angle and the origin of said value, in other words, the measurement means used to determine said at least one dynamic parameter.

Device for determining the absolute angular position of the steering wheel of an electric power-assisted steering column of a motor vehicle using weighted dynamic parameters of the vehicle

A method for securing the assistance torque () supplied by an electric assistance motor () in a motor vehicle power steering system includes the steps of: estimating the force on the steering system rack from the torque exerted by the driver on the steering wheel (), from the assistance torque (), and optionally from other parameters such as the speed of the electric assistance motor; comparing a target assistance torque with an authorized assistance range, defined with respect to the estimated rack force () at any moment, and in the event the target assistance torque is maintained above predefined limits for a predefined duration, correcting and optionally interrupting the power steering.

Securing the assistance torque by means of an estimator of the force on the rack

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Saint Marcel l'Eclaire, France

Pierre Pilaz