Patent ID: 6152255
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
An electric power steering apparatus for an automotive vehicle comprising:an electric motor for applying an electric steering assist to a steering system of the automotive vehicle;a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque manually applied to the steering system;a control unit for setting a target motor current corresponding at least to the steering torque detected by said steering torque sensor, said control unit having a plurality of assist modes to which are allocated respective target motor current signals different in characteristic;a drive for driving said electric motor in accordance with a motor control signal generated by said control unit on the basis of the target motor current; anda mode switching unit, provided in said control unit, for, in response to an assist-mode-change instruction, effecting a successive, gradual shift, over time, from the target motor current signal of one of the assist modes having been used before the assist-mode-change instruction to the target motor current signal of another of the assist modes to be used after the assist-mode-change instruction.