Patent ID: 6470995
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
An electric power steering apparatus, comprising:an electric motor for adding an auxiliary steering torque to a steering system of a vehicle; a steering torque detecting unit for detecting a manual steering torque of the steering system; a control unit for outputting a control signal controlling the electric motor in response to at least a signal sent from the steering torque detecting unit; a driving control unit including a switching element for driving the electric motor in response to the control signal sent from the control unit; and, a current detecting unit for detecting an electric motor current flowing to the electric motor, wherein the control unit controls to limit a maximum value of the control signal in response to a signal sent from the current detecting unit, the control unit includes a limitation number measuring unit for measuring the number of times of a maximum value limitation of the control signal, and the control unit is structured such that a condition for starting the maximum value limitation of the control signal is set to be more strict at a first time than that at a second time and thereafter.