Patent ID: 6865463
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An electrically-powered steering apparatus for assisting steering of wheels by detecting a steering condition and generating an assist force corresponding to the steering condition by means of a motor, comprising: a torsional member for connecting a steering shaft coupled with a steering wheel and a steering mechanism shaft coupled with a steering mechanism to each other such that they can be rotated relatively to each other; a first angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of said steering shaft; a second angle detecting means for detecting a rotation angle of said steering mechanism shaft; an assist force determining means for determining said assist force generated by said motor based on at least one of the rotation angle of said steering shaft detected by said first angle detecting means and the rotation angle of said steering mechanism shaft detected by said second angle detecting means; and an abnormality detecting means for if a condition in which a differential between the rotation angle of said steering shaft detected by said first angle detecting means and the rotation angle of said steering mechanism shaft detected by said second angle detecting means is equal to or over a predetermined value continues for a predetermined time, detecting that abnormality occurs in said first angle detecting means or said second angle detecting means.