Patent ID: 6678596
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A system for generating steerable member reaction torque in a motor vehicle having a steer-by-wire steering system, said system comprising:a manually steerable member; a feedback generator coupled to said manually steerable member for generating a reaction torque; a vehicle speed sensor detecting vehicle speed; a steering position sensor detecting a position of said manually steerable member; a steering actuator load sensor detecting steering actuator load; a control unit calculating a set of blended reaction torque values by (i) receiving input signals from the steering position sensor and the steering actuator load sensor, (ii) operating on said input signals with a set of reaction torque equations for arithmetically computing a set of reaction torque values, and (iii) blending said reaction torque values into set of blended reaction torque values based upon an input signal from said vehicle speed sensor; wherein said set of reaction torque equations comprises a plurality of non-linear functions derived from empirical data and said set of reaction torque equations is adapted for real-time, continuous operation upon the input signals from the vehicle speed sensor, the steering position sensor, and the steering actuator load sensor; and whereby said set of blended reaction torque values is transmitted to said feedback generator such that said feedback generator generates the reaction torque in said manually steerable member.