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. 04, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 29, 2001
Shinji Takeuchi, Okazaki, JP;
Toshihiro Takahashi, Nishio, JP;
Hirotsune Suzuki, Toyokawa, JP;
Hiroshi Suzuki, Okazaki, JP;
Hiroaki Kato, Nukata-gun, JP;
Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
In a control unit for an electrical-motor-driven power steering apparatus, there are provided an assist current command value calculated based upon a steering torque of a steering wheel, an assist current control value calculated based upon a motor current value of a motor and the assist current command value. A motor outputs an assist force based upon the assist current control value. Further, the control unit provides an estimation means for estimating a road surface &mgr; based upon at least one of the motor current value and the steering torque. To the control unit, there are further inputted a vehicle speed obtained based upon rotation of a wheel, and a steering angle obtained based upon rotation of the steering wheel. Therefore, the estimation means estimates the road surface &mgr; by comparing with a previously memorized standard value corresponding to the vehicle speed and the steering angle.