Patent ID: 6302441
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A steering control apparatus, comprising:a transmission ratio varying mechanism that varies a transmission ratio of a steering angle of a steering handle to a turn angle of a wheel, wherein the steering handle and the wheel are connected via an input shaft connected to the steering handle and an output shaft connected to the wheel, the mechanism capable of varying an amount of angular rotation of the output shaft relative to an amount of angular rotation of the input shaft, the mechanism connecting with and arranged between the input and output shafts, the mechanism including an actuator for varying the transmission ratio when the actuator is driven;a state judging means that judges whether a vehicle is accelerating, decelerating or constant;a steering state judging means that judges a steering state, based on the steering angle of the steering handle;a base transmission ratio determining means that determines a base transmission ratio according to a running condition of the vehicle;a compensation amount determining means that, when the state judging means judges that the vehicle is in acceleration or deceleration, determines a compensation amount for the base transmission ratio, based on whether the steering state is feed steering during acceleration, return steering during acceleration, feed steering during deceleration, and return steering during deceleration so as to decrease the base transmission ratio during acceleration/deceleration and feed steering or so as to increase the base transmission ratio during acceleration/deceleration and return steering; anda transmission ratio setting means that sets a transmission ratio of the transmission ratio varying mechanism, based on values determined by the base transmission ratio determining means and the compensation amount determining means.