Patent ID: 8428822
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising: an electronic control unit setting a relative steering angle equal to an arbitrary initial value that is not related to an actual position of a steered wheel while a steering shaft is in an initial angular position immediately following an ignition on event; after the electronic control unit has set the relative steering angle equal to an arbitrary initial value, the electronic control unit receiving information from a rotation sensor, the rotation sensor being configured to determine an amount of motor angle rotation of a motor that is configured to facilitate turning the motor vehicle; when the steering motor has rotated, the electronic control unit determining an amount of steering angle rotation of the steering shaft of the motor vehicle according to the amount of motor angle rotation; the electronic control unit adding the amount of steering angle rotation to the relative steering angle to determine a new relative steering angle; the electronic control unit continuing to update the value of the relative steering angle value according to information received from the rotation sensor; and wherein the initial value is independent of the initial angular position of the steering shaft.