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:
Feb. 20, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 19, 2003
Vincent Clapeau, Paris, FR;
Vincent Clapeau, Paris, FR;
Koyo Steering Europe (K.S.E.), Irigny, FR;
Abstract
A device that is used for the automatic release, without any manual effort, of the steering system in a motor vehicle comprising electric power steering and a locking mechanism which acts on the steering column or on another part of the steering system. A controller, which is connected to an electric assist motor, receives signals from at least one vehicle status and/or initiating event detector and controls the motor in order to rotate the steering column or move another part of the steering system until the torque or stress on the locking mechanism is cancelled or reduced to almost zero, thereby enabling said mechanism to be released. The control of the motor is automatically interrupted at the end of a pre-determined period of time if the mechanism has not been released.