The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 25, 1990
Tsukasa Watanabe, Toyota, JP;
Akiya Taneda, Kariya, JP;
Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
The invention is directed to an apparatus for steering rear wheels of a vehicle. A vehicle speed sensor detects a speed of the vehicle, and a steering angle sensor detects a steering angle of front wheels of the vehicle and provides a first steering signal. A control device is provided for receiving the first steering signal and providing a second steering signal representing a desired steering angle of rear wheels of the vehicle which is determined in response to the first steering signal. A drive device is arranged to receive the second steering signal and steer the rear wheels to reach the desired steering angle. Then, a limit mechanism is provided for reducing the range of variation of steering angle of the rear wheels steered by the drive device to a predetermined range when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, or the steering angle of the front wheels is less than a predetermined angle. Accordingly, when the vehicle is traveling at high speed, or when the vehicle turns with a large turning radius, the steering angle of the rear wheels is prevented from being unnecessarily varied.