Patent ID: 8380399
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An electric power steering device for assisting a driver's steering operation by driving an electric motor disposed in a steering mechanism that generates a steering assist torque for steering a wheel in a first direction that coincides with the driver's steering operation, the electric power steering device comprising: a motor output detector to detect an output of said electric motor, a rotational state detector to detect a rotational state of said steering mechanism, a power generation state detector to detect a power generation state of said electric motor where a direction for generating torque of said electric motor does not match a rotational direction of said steering mechanism, based on detection results of said motor output detector and said rotational state detector, a power generation energy calculator to calculate an amount corresponding to power generation energy generated at said electric motor during a period when said power generation state is detected continuously, a reverse input detector to judge an input state as a reverse input state, where a reverse input is acting on said steering mechanism via the wheel, in which the reverse input acts on the wheel in a second direction that does not coincide with the driver's steering operation, when said calculated amount corresponding to power generation energy exceeds a criterion value, and a reverse input rotation suppressor to suppress rotation of said steering mechanism by said reverse input by suppressing rotation of said steering mechanism in the second direction, when said reverse input detector detects the reverse input state, such that the wheel is suppressed from rotating in the second direction that does not coincide with the driver's steering operation.