Nissan Motor Company Limited

Takaaki Eguchi

Noriki Kubokawa

Naotaka Chino

Kazuo Hara

Taku Suzuki

Hitoshi Ono

Kiyotaka Shitamitsu

Yu Wun Chai

Tetsuya Osonoi

Hiroyuki Sato

Yasuki Ishikawa

Masanori Hara

Hiroshi Tsunehara

Toshiaki Kasahara

Yuusuke Katou

Hideto Murakami

Kazuhiro Igarashi

Shogo Miyasaka

Yukinobu Matsushita

Yuzo Sakita

Hiroshi Mouri

Yukinori Nishida

Hiroyuki Yoshizawa

Yuwun Chai

Norimasa Nakamura

Nishida Yukinori

Toshirou Yoda

Koutarou Shiino

A control computing unit allocates the current axial force and the transverse-G axial force at the predetermined allocation ratio to calculate a feedback axial force which is the steering-rack axial force. Then, the control computing unit drives the reaction force motor on the basis of the calculated feedback axial force. Additionally, the allocation ratio of the transverse-G axial force is set to be greater than the allocation ratio of the current axial force.

Steering control apparatus and steering control method

A control computing unit allocates a feedback axial force and a feedforward axial force at an allocation ratio based on an axial force difference which is a difference between the feedback axial force and the feedforward axial force to set a final axial force as a steering-rack axial force. The control computing unit drives a reaction force motor on the basis of the set final axial force.

Under an automatic turning control, a steering controller defines a value of steering angle set according to a target turning angle of the automatic turning control, as a value of steering angle at which a reaction force is equal to 0. Thereby, the steering controller controls a steering reaction force on the basis of a difference between an actual steering angle and the value of steering angle at which the reaction force is equal to 0.

Vehicle steering control device and method

A vehicle steering controller produces a steering system friction value and a tire lateral force value. A steering reactive force having a magnitude based on the tire lateral force value and the steering system friction value is generated for application to a steering wheel of the vehicle. By reflecting both the tire lateral force and the steering system friction in the steering reactive force, a good steering sensation can be realized in a steer-by-wire system.

Vehicle steering controller

A steer-by-wire system is provided with a driver operating unit, a turning unit, a backup mechanism, a steering reaction actuator, a wheel turning actuator and a controller. The backup mechanism mechanically connects the driver operating unit to the turning unit via a first shaft to transmit an input torque from the driver operating unit to the turning unit when the driver operating unit and the turning unit are mechanically connected by the backup mechanism. The steering reaction actuator applies a steering reaction torque to the driver operating unit. The wheel turning actuator applies a wheel turning torque to the turning unit via a second shaft. The controller controls the wheel turning actuator and the steering reaction actuator. The controller is configured to control the steering reaction actuator based on an operating parameter of the wheel turning actuator.

Vehicle steering control

A vehicle steering control apparatus has a steering wheel, a steering mechanism mechanically separate from the steering wheel for steering the left and right front wheels and a reaction force motor for imparting an operation reaction force against the steering wheel. A steering motor is provided to impart a turning force to the steering mechanism, while a clutch is provided to mechanically connect and disconnect the steering wheel to and from the steering mechanism. A drive torque detector is provided to detect a drive torque imparted to the steering reaction force actuator. A torque sensor is provided to detect an operating torque imparted to the steering wheel. A clutch connection determiner determines that the clutch is in a connected state when a drive torque direction detected by the drive torque detector and an operating torque direction detected by the operating torque detector are different.

Vehicle steering control apparatus and method

A steering control apparatus is provided, including a steering wheel, steered wheels, a direction varying actuator to operate the steering control wheels, a steering reaction actuator to apply steering reaction torque to the steering wheel and steering controller. The steered wheels are mechanically disconnected from the steering wheel. The steering controller outputs control commands for controlling the direction varying actuator and the steering reaction actuator.

Steering control apparatus

A steering control system comprises a steering component, a turning component, and a backup mechanism for alternately mechanically separating and linking steering and turning components. A steer-by-wire control unit is provided for executing steer-by-wire control of a turning actuator to a turning angle corresponding to a steering condition and control of a steering reaction force actuator for imparting steering reaction force corresponding to the turning condition. A steering assistance control unit is selectively linked to the backup mechanism to executing steering assistance control for at least one of the steering reaction force actuator and the turning actuator. A control switching unit is provided for controlling a shift, under predetermined conditions, between control by the steer-by-wire control unit and control by the steering assistance control unit.

Steering control system

A steering device includes a first housing, first and second cables, and first and second sheaths. The first housing includes a first part that supports a rotatable first cable pulley, and a second part that is disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part. The first cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a first direction of rotation. The second cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a second direction of rotation. The first sheath surrounds the first cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the first sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing. The second sheath surrounds the second cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the second sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing.

Steering device

A vehicle steering apparatus with improved safety securely detects whether or not a backup system is operable and comprises a steering shaft connected to the steering wheel; a reaction actuator connected to the steering shaft for adding a reaction force; a rack for steering a steered wheel; a steering actuator provided on the rack; a backup mechanism for connecting the steering shaft and the rack via a clutch, a first detection means or mechanism for detecting the condition of the steering shaft, a second detection means or mechanism for detecting the condition of the rack, and a backup operation monitoring means or mechanism for driving the steering actuator when the power source is energized, the backup operation monitoring means or mechanism selectively monitoring the operation of the backup mechanism based on the value detected by the first detection means or mechanism or the second detection means or mechanism or both.

Vehicle steering apparatus

To reduce the length in an axis direction of a steering unit and consequently to provide a vehicle steering apparatus with superior vehicle mountability, a steering apparatus for a vehicle has a steering unit, a reaction generating unit and a steered unit. The steering unit and the steered unit are mechanically separated. The apparatus includes a clutch that mechanically connects the steering unit and the steered unit, and a backup unit is provided between the clutch and the steered unit and transmits steering torque that is inputted from the steering unit, when the clutch is engaged, to the steered unit. A rotation conversion unit that outputs rotation in a rotation axis direction of the clutch that is different from the axis direction of the steering unit is provided between the reaction generating unit and the clutch.

Steering apparatus for a vehicle

A vehicle steering control device is provided that suppresses changes in the steering force accompanying the shock transmitted from the road surface during the steering wheel return operation. The vehicle steering device is a steer-by-wire steering device where a steering wheel receiving the steering input which is transmitted electronically to the steering unit which turns steered road wheels of the vehicle. The steering reaction force correction (Gf&#xd7;F) corresponding to road surface reaction force F is applied to the steering wheel. The device includes a turn/return sensor that senses turn/return of the steering wheel, and during return of steering wheel, road surface reaction force feedback gain Gf is made smaller than the initial turning.

Steering control apparatus and method

A vehicle steering system is disclosed that includes a steering portion, a steered portion, and a clutch mechanism. The steering portion includes operations input mechanism and a reaction adding device. The steered portion includes steering controlled wheels and a steered force adding device. The clutch mechanism mechanically connects the steering portion and steered portion through an engagement. The clutch mechanism has a permanent magnet and an electromagnetic coil so as to form an electromagnetic clutch that releases when a current is applied such that a magnetic force in the direction that cancels a magnetic force of the permanent magnet is generated for the electromagnetic coil. The electromagnetic clutch engages when a current is not applied to the electromagnetic coil. The vehicle steering system further includes a controller that generates the magnetic force in the same direction as the magnetic force direction of the permanent magnet for the electromagnetic coil when an abnormality is generated for the steering system.

A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering input section having at least a steering wheel to which steering input is applied, and a steering output section having at least a steering rack shaft and operatively associated with left and right steered wheels for steering the steered wheels by steering-rack-shaft movement produced by a steering force determined based on the steering input and transmitted directly or indirectly to the steering rack shaft. The steering rack shaft is split into left and right movable rack shaft portions. Also provided is a steer angle converter enabling a differential rack stroke between left and right rack strokes of the left and right movable rack shaft portions. The steer angle converter is constructed by at least one of a variable-pitch dual rack arrangement and a dual taper-pulley arrangement of a cable back-up mechanism.

A brake system for a vehicle is comprised of a first brake system that mechanically applies a braking force to wheels according to a master cylinder hydraulic pressure outputted from a master cylinder which receives a brake manipulation force of a driver, and a second brake system that apply a braking force to other wheels according to at least a braking state of the first brake system.

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Yokohama, Japan

Takaaki Eguchi