Patent ID: 7690475
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle steering control apparatus comprising: a driver operating unit configured to be operated by a driver; a steering unit arranged to be mechanically separated from the driver operating unit and configured to turn at least one steered wheel in response to an operating state from the driver operating unit; an operating torque detector operable to detect the operating torque applied to the driver operating unit; a clutch operable to mechanically connect and disconnect the driver operating unit and the steering unit to and from each other; a clutch engagement command issuing section configured to issue an engagement command to the clutch when the clutch is disengaged and a clutch engaging condition is satisfied; and a clutch engagement determining section configured to detect an increase in the operating torque applied to the driver operating unit after the engagement command has been issued to the clutch, and the clutch engagement determining section further configured to determine that the clutch is in an engaged state based on the detection of the increase from a first torque amount to a second torque amount that is larger than the first torque amount in the operating torque applied to the driver operating unit.