Patent ID: 9020704
Filing Date: 2015-04-28
Classification: B60R,B62D,H02J,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An electronic control apparatus comprising: a control unit that outputs a control signal configured to drive a motor, the motor being configured to apply a steering torque to a steering wheel; a plurality of power voltage regulators that are configured to supply the control unit with a predetermined voltage that is lower than a regular operational voltage supplied to the control unit; and a power supply fault detector unit for detecting a fault in the plurality of voltage regulators, wherein the control unit operates in a normal mode on electric power supplied from the plurality of voltage regulators, when none of the plurality of voltage regulators is faulty; and wherein if at least one of the plurality of voltage regulators is faulty, the control unit operates in an energy saving mode in which a voltage supplied to the control unit is the predetermined voltage, so as to enable continued operation of the electronic control apparatus even when the at least one of the plurality of power voltage regulators is faulty.