Patent ID: 6148950
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
An electric power steering apparatus comprising;an electric motor applying an assist torque to a steering system;a steering torque detecting sensor detecting the magnitude and direction of a manual steering torque acted upon said steering system;a control unit outputting a motor control signal for controlling said electric motor on the basis of a signal fed from said steering torque detecting sensor, said control unit having an assist inhibitor inhibiting the drive of said electric motor when the output of said steering torque detecting sensor and the direction of the assist torque of said electric motor are different for a predetermined or longer time period; anda motor drive driving said electric motor on the basis of the motor control signal from said control unit;wherein said assist inhibitor includes a torque direction determining section determining the consistency/inconsistency between the direction of the manual steering torque detected by said steering torque detecting sensor and the direction of the assist torque by said electric motor;a timer timing the duration of the inconsistency determination output from said torque direction determining section;a predetermined time setting section setting a predetermined time period in accordance with the output from said steering torque detecting sensor; anda time comparator comparing the inconsistency duration from said timer with said predetermined time period.