Patent ID: 8862329
Filing Date: 2014-10-14
Classification: B66F

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for a steering mechanism, comprising: an instructed drive amount detection unit that detects an instructed drive amount provided by a drive control member that provides an instruction on a drive amount of a drive actuator for driving a drive wheel, the instructed drive amount detection unit outputting a signal that indicates the instructed drive amount; a shift operation detection unit that detects an operation of a shift lever that switches movement of a vehicle between forward movement and backward movement, and that outputs a forward-backward switching signal that indicates that the movement of the vehicle is switched between forward movement and backward movement; and a steered system control unit that controls a steered system actuator for steering a steered wheel in response to an operation of a steering member; wherein the control apparatus for a steering mechanism includes a drive current control unit that sets, when the instructed drive amount is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a drive current for the steered system actuator to a value smaller than a normal drive current within a predetermined time period that starts upon reception of the forward-backward switching signal.