Patent ID: 8392063
Filing Date: 2013-03-05
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle handwheel, comprising: determining first and second amounts of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel at first and second times, respectively; determining first and second relative rotational positions of the vehicle handwheel at the first and second times, respectively; determining a delta torque value based on a difference between the first and second amounts of torque; determining a delta rotational position value based on a difference between the first and second relative rotational positions; determining a slope value based on the delta torque value and the delta rotational position value; using a microprocessor to determine when the slope value is within a predetermined slope range and to set an absolute rotational position value equal to a predetermined steering travel limit of the vehicle handwheel, wherein the absolute rotational position value indicates the absolute rotational position of the vehicle handwheel when the slope value is within the predetermined slope range; and using the microprocessor to store the absolute rotational position value in a memory device.