Steering wheel torque based detection of misalignment of a vehicle steering system
First Claim
1. A method of detecting misalignment of a steering system of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:
- determining when a vehicle is traveling in a substantially straight line;
determining if steering wheel torque is required to maintain said vehicle in a condition of traveling in a substantially straight line;
indicating a misalignment when said steering wheel torque is required to maintain said vehicle in a condition of traveling in a substantially straight line.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A misalignment detection system (12) for steering systems of an automotive vehicle (10) includes a logic device (14) coupled to a vehicle speed sensor (18) and a steering wheel angle sensor (20). The logic device is also coupled to a memory (16) that is used to store a steering wheel ratio map and a historic steering wheel angle or a wheel angle value derived from an automobile manufacturer'"'"'s wheel alignment specification. The logic device (14) compares the signal from the steering wheel angle sensor (20) with the stored value of either the historic steering wheel angle or the value derived from the manufacturer'"'"'s alignment specifications at a given vehicle speed to determine error. An indicator (28) may provide an indication to the vehicle operator to signal the presence of the misalignment condition of the steering system.
15 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of detecting misalignment of a steering system of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining when a vehicle is traveling in a substantially straight line;
determining if steering wheel torque is required to maintain said vehicle in a condition of traveling in a substantially straight line;
indicating a misalignment when said steering wheel torque is required to maintain said vehicle in a condition of traveling in a substantially straight line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of detecting misalignment of the steering system of an automotive vehicle comprising the steps of:
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determining a steering wheel angle estimate;
comparing said steering angle estimate to at least one steering angle limit;
sensing a vehicle steering wheel torque;
comparing said steering wheel torque to at least one steering wheel torque limit; and
indicating a misalignment if said steering angle estimate exceeds at least one of said at least one steering angle limit and if said steering wheel torque exceeds at least one of said at least one steering torque limit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeNissan Motor Co., Ltd.
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Original AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
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InventorsAshrafi, Behrouz
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Granted Patent
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Time in Patent OfficeDays
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Field of Search
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US Class Current701/29
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CPC Class CodesG01M 17/06 Steering behaviour; Rolling...
