US5268841A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for actively controlling steer angle of front wheels of vehicle
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-08-28
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Granted: 1993-12-07
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Expires: 2011-08-28
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for actively controlling a steer angle of front wheels of a vehicle in accordance with a steering wheel angle, an active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the front wheels is calculated by an equation including a proportional term and a differential term. A coefficient of the differential term is changed in accordance with a lateral acceleration such that it is kept unchanged within a first range in which the cornering power is large, but is increased in a second range in which the cornering power is decreased due to the non-linearity of tires. Thus, the reduction in the cornering power in the second range can be compensated for and the stability and response during the high lateral G turning can be improved.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Mouri
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/06; B62D7/14; B62D7/15; B62D7/159
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for controlling a steer angle of front wheels of a vehicle comprising: first sensing means for detecting a condition of a steering wheel to derive a steering wheel angle signal; main signal processing means for deriving a main steer angle control signal in accordance with said steering wheel angle signal; main steering means for steering the front wheels in accordance with said main steer angle control signal; auxiliary signal processing means for processing said steering wheel angle signal to derive an active steer angle control signal including a proportional component and a differential component; second sensing means for detecting a physical amount corresponding to a lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle; correcting means for correcting a coefficient in an equation for calculating the differential component of said active control signal in such a manner that said coefficient is increased in accordance with an increase in said physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration; and auxiliary steering means for controlling the steer angle of the front wheels in accordance with said active control signal having the differential component with the coefficient which has been corrected by said correcting means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
190 words
An apparatus for controlling a steer angle of front wheels of a vehicle comprising: first sensing means for detecting a condition of a steering wheel to derive a steering wheel angle signal; main signal processing means for deriving a main steer angle control signal in accordance with said steering wheel angle signal; main steering means for steering the front wheels in accordance with said main steer angle control signal; auxiliary signal processing means for processing said steering wheel angle signal to derive an active steer angle control signal including a proportional component and a differential component; second sensing means for detecting a physical amount corresponding to a lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle; correcting means for correcting a coefficient in an equation for calculating the differential component of said active control signal in such a manner that said coefficient is increased in accordance with an increase in said physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration; and auxiliary steering means for controlling the steer angle of the front wheels in accordance with said active control signal having the differential component with the coefficient which has been corrected by said correcting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises third sensing means for detecting a running velocity of the vehicle and said second sensing means for detecting the physical amount is constructed such that said physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration is derived from the steering wheel angle and said running velocity of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means is constructed such that in addition to said coefficient in the equation for calculating the differential component of the active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the front wheels, a coefficient in the equation for deriving the proportional component of the active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the front wheels is also changed in accordance with the physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means is constructed such that in addition to the coefficient in the equation for calculating the differential component of the active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the front wheels, a coefficient in an equation for deriving a proportional component of an active control amount for actively controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of the vehicle is also changed in accordance with the physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means is constructed such that in addition to the coefficient in the equation for calculating the differential component of the active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the front wheels, a coefficient in an equation for deriving a differential component of an active control amount for actively controlling a steer angle of rear wheels of the vehicle is also changed in accordance with the physical amount corresponding to the lateral acceleration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said coefficient in the equation for calculating the active control amount for actively controlling the steer angle of the rear wheels is changed in an opposite sense to that of the coefficient in the equation for calculating the active control amount for the front wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensing means is constructed to detect directly the lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means corrects said coefficient in such a manner that said coefficient remains constant up to a threshold point of the steering angle signal and is then increased in accordance with an increase in the steering wheel angle, said threshold point being shifted toward a smaller steering wheel angle in proportion to an increase in a running speed of the vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means corrects said coefficient in such a manner that said coefficient remains constant up to a threshold point of the steering wheel angle signal and is then increased in accordance with an increase in the lateral acceleration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second sensing means comprises a sensor for directly sensing the lateral acceleration of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second sensing means comprises a sensor for sensing a running speed of the vehicle, and said lateral acceleration is derived from the thus detected running speed of the vehicle and said steering wheel angle signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-12-06 | 1997-06-07 | 1997-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-12-06 | 2001-06-07 | 2001-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-12-06 | 2005-06-07 | 2005-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |