Patent ID: 8433477
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering control apparatus comprising: an input shaft coupled to a steering device operated by a driver of a vehicle; an output shaft provided rotatably to the input shaft and forming a torque transfer path to transfer torque applied to the steering device to vehicle wheels; a differential gear including an input gear rotatable with the input shaft, an output gear rotatable with the output shaft, and a pinion gear meshed with the input gear and the output gear; a support member provided to support the pinion gear rotatably; a worm gear including a worm wheel rotatable with the support member and a worm meshed with the worm wheel, the worm gear having a lead angle for providing a self-lock function, by which the worm wheel is enabled to rotate by rotation of the worm and the worm is disabled to rotate by rotation of the worm wheel; a motor provided to drive the worm to rotate; a steering angle acquisition part for acquiring a steering angle of the steering device; a motor drive control part for controlling driving of the motor based on the steering angle of the steering device acquired by the steering angle acquisition part; a self-lock failure check part for checking whether the worm gear has a self-lock failure, which disables self-lock operation in the worm gear; and an idling suppression part for suppressing the steering device from idling when the self-lock failure is determined by the self-lock failure check part.