Patent ID: 8316984
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An electric power steering apparatus for generating a steering assist force through a motor powered by a battery, comprising: a capacitor connected to an electrical path conducting electric power from the battery to the motor and operative to smooth out voltage of the battery; a relay including a relay contact interposed in the electrical path at a place upstream of the capacitor; a controller that controls the motor and that determines, before exciting the relay, whether the relay contact is fused or not by comparing a voltage of a downstream side of the relay contact with a threshold value; a system power supply for generating a source voltage for a control system including the controller and supplying electric power to the control system; and a path extending from the downstream side of the relay contact to the system power supply for directly inputting a terminal voltage of the capacitor to the system power supply.