Patent ID: 8265828
Filing Date: 2012-09-11
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A control apparatus for an electric power steering system, the electric power steering system including: an input shaft coupled to a steering wheel of a vehicle so as to rotate together with the steering wheel by steering wheel torque applied when the steering wheel is operated; a rotation transmitting section to transmit rotation of the input shaft to travel wheels of the vehicle to steer the travel wheels; a torque sensor to measure steering torque due to torsion between the input shaft and the travel wheels; and an electric motor to generate assist steering force to assist operation of the steering wheel to steer the travel wheels, the control apparatus comprising: a basic assist amount calculating section to calculate a basic assist amount on the basis of the steering torque measured by the torque sensor; an assist compensation amount calculating section to calculate an assist compensation amount; an assist amount correcting section to calculate a corrected assist amount by correcting the basic assist amount calculated by the basic assist amount calculating section by the assist compensation amount calculated by the assist compensation amount calculating section; and a motor drive section to drive the electric motor in accordance with the corrected assist amount received from the assist amount correcting section to assist the operation of the steering wheel; wherein the assist compensation amount calculating section calculates the assist compensation amount on the basis of at least two signals of different kinds each of which reflects an operating state of the electric power steering state such that the following first and second specs (a) and (b) are satisfied; (a) A first spec where a relation characteristic between speed of the electric motor and the steering wheel torque is the same as a basic relation characteristic in which the electric motor is driven in accordance with the basic assist amount not corrected by the assist compensation amount; (b) A second spec where a relation characteristic between speed of the electric motor and a road surface reaction force is such that speed of the electric motor is suppressed compared to a case where the electric motor is driven in accordance with the basic relation characteristic.