Patent ID: 8306698
Filing Date: 2012-11-06
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering apparatus comprising: an electric motor to which electric power is supplied from a power supply apparatus and which generates a steering torque; motor control means for controlling an amount of electricity supplied to the electric motor in accordance with an operation state of a steering wheel; voltage detection means for detecting a power supply voltage of the power supply apparatus; restriction instruction means for determining whether or not the voltage detected by the voltage detection means is lower than a restriction determination threshold and for issuing a restriction instruction, when the detected voltage is lower than the restriction determination threshold, so as to restrict use of electric power by a specific vehicle electrical load which receives electric power from the power supply apparatus; and determination threshold switching means for switching the restriction determination threshold in accordance with a state of use of electric power by the electric motor in such a manner that a value of the restriction determination threshold used when the electric motor is determined not to use a predetermined amount of electric power or more is set to be higher than a value of the restriction determination threshold used when the electric motor is determined to use the predetermined amount of electric power or more.