Patent ID: 6561308
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A method of monitoring and deactivating a steer-by-wire system capable of several performance levels of a vehicle, comprising:measuring an angle of an actuated road wheel of the vehicle, a steering angle of a steering device of the vehicle, and a velocity of the vehicle; determining and storing an acceptable angle range based on the measured steering angle of the steering device and the measured velocity; comparing the measured angle of the actuated road wheel to the acceptable angle range; and implementing a procedure based on the comparison of the measured angle to the acceptable angle range that complies with the following rules: (i.) if the measured angle of the steer-by-wire system at a full performance level is within the acceptable angle range, then maintain a full performance level, but if the measured angle is outside the acceptable angle range, then activate a warning system and reduce the performance of the steer-by-wire system to an intermediate performance level; (ii.) if the measured angle at the intermediate performance level is outside the acceptable angle range, then activate a warning system and reduce the performance of the steer-by-wire system to a lower performance level; and (iii.) if the steer-by-wire system is reduced to a lowest performance level, then activate a warning system and completely deactivate the steer-by-wire system.