Feedback and servo control for electric power steering system with hydraulic transmission

A vehicle power steering system 10 achieves a substantially linear control relationship between an applied steering torque input T.sub.s and a resulting steering force output, that is, a powered assist to vehicle steering. The system 10 includes a reversible fluid pump 24 driven by an electric motor 26. A pair of fluid lines 20 and 22 supply pressurized fluid from the pump 24 and to the left and right ports 56 and 58 of a power cylinder 18. A pair of pressure transducers 54 and 55 sense the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p in the lines 20 and 22. The pressure transducers 54 and 55 are connected to an electronic control 32 which establishes an internal closed servo control loop 322 or 342 over the powered assist to vehicle steering provided by the power cylinder 18, for example, over actuation of the motor 26. The system 10 is preferably regenerative and includes a variety of safety features which prevent system runaway and allow unencumbered manual steering in case of failure of the system. The system 10 is also arranged for continuous rejuvenation of its hydraulic fluid, and the structure providing such rejuvenation can be employed in a wide variety of other systems. The electronic control 32 employs the measured fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p to counteract a hydromechanical resonance occurring predominantly between the moment of inertia of the motor 26 and a system spring rate consisting primarily of the vehicle steering load stiffness. The system 10 substantially eliminates stability problems in EPS systems, for example, a well-recognized low frequency stability control problem which has typically not been overcome in prior EPS systems. The system 10 provides full time independent verification of instant values of steering boost, substantially eliminating prior concerns relating to auto-steer. The system 10 also eliminates concerns in prior EPS systems such as mechanical over constraint, Coulomb friction, wear and backlash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
I. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to power steering systems for 
vehicles, and more particularly to electrically powered steering systems 
which include an electric drive motor for providing a powered assist to 
the steering gear of the host vehicle. 
II. Description of the Prior Art 
A variety of electrically powered steering systems (known commonly as 
electric power steering systems or "EPS systems") have been proposed for 
providing a powered assist to the steering of a motor vehicle. 
Conventional rack-and-pinion steering systems include a primary 
pinion/rack gear mesh interface for coupling the steering wheel of the 
vehicle to the steering system. EPS systems include an electric drive 
motor having a rotating element which is additionally mechanically or 
hydraulically coupled to the rack of the steering gear. EPS systems are 
said to provide fuel efficiency enhancement amounting to between about 
21/2 and 5 percent; this enhancement is usually on the lower end of this 
range for relatively larger vehicles. EPS systems are also said to 
incorporate software which is easily programmable to provide selected 
steering characteristics for any particular vehicular application. 
However, despite overall industry developmental commitments to date on the 
order of a billion dollars (U.S.), no EPS system is currently offered for 
sale in a mass produced automobile in the United States. There are a 
variety of reasons why EPS systems are not provided on automobiles in this 
country. One reason is that EPS systems are generally subject to an 
"auto-steer" problem, in which an unintended steering event is possible. 
Another reason is that EPS systems generally provide unsatisfactory 
tactile feedback (or "feel") during use; colloquially, EPS systems simply 
"feel funny" in operation. The art generally does not satisfactorily 
indicate the source or sources of these tactile feedback problems. Another 
drawback to the use of EPS systems is the difficulty (as yet unmet) of 
imposing speed reduction means between the motor and the steering linkage 
of the vehicle without also imposing either or both of mechanical over 
constraint and mechanical backlash between the motor and steering linkage. 
It is believed herein that the auto-steer problem occurs because the drive 
motor of such systems is directly linked to the host vehicle's steering 
linkage and both the magnitude and the direction of steering boost are 
determined in an open-loop manner. Moreover, prior EPS systems appear to 
lack even minimal safety feedback information, such as full time 
independent verification that instant values of the actual assistive force 
have been properly generated. Errors in the proper generation of the 
assistive force are not sensed by the driver and remain uncorrected by the 
system. Other complaints about prior EPS systems include "motor cogging," 
lack of return ability and poor steering response to small input signals. 
Several methods are known for coupling the drive motor of an EPS system to 
the steering linkage of the host vehicle. One method entails the use of a 
drive motor having a hollow rotor in which the rack shaft of a 
rack-and-pinion steering gear is concentrically disposed. The drive motor 
and rack shaft are connected by a ball screw and ball nut assembly, the 
ball screw being positioned on the rack in place of the conventional power 
cylinder, and the ball nut being engaged with the ball screw and 
supporting one end of the rotor. The other end of the rotor is supported 
by a thrust bearing. Other methods for coupling the drive motor to the 
steering linkage include coupling the drive motor to a second gear rack, 
via a gear train and a second pinion/rack gear mesh interface generally 
similar to the primary pinion/rack gear mesh interface utilized for 
coupling the steering wheel to the steering system, or coupling the drive 
motor directly to the steering shaft via a gear train. The ball screw/ball 
nut configuration is problematic because it couples the motor torque into 
the rack along with the desired axial thrust. This torque is quite 
sufficient to overcome the preload of the rack into the pinion so 
additional rotational constraint must be applied to the rack. This causes 
an over constraint in the gear mesh interface relationship between the 
pinion and the rack which results in stick-slip tactile characteristics 
felt at the steering wheel. 
Similarly, adding a second pinion/rack gear mesh interface provides over 
constraint between either pinion/rack gear mesh with similar deleterious 
results. If the second pinion/rack gear mesh is loaded by a yoke mechanism 
there is additional Coulomb friction which effects return ability. 
Coupling the drive motor directly to the steering shaft via a gear train 
is limited to vehicles with very light steering loads because of wear 
limitations in the primary pinion/rack gear mesh. With either gear train, 
backlash becomes a tactile issue because it can be felt at the steering 
wheel. And if such a gear train were loaded sufficiently to eliminate the 
backlash, sufficient coulomb friction would be added as to eliminate any 
semblance of on-center feel. 
It is obvious that all such electromechanical assemblies should comprise a 
clutch for decoupling the reflected inertia of the rotating elements of 
the electric drive motor from the steering system in the event of an 
otherwise orderly shutdown which would result from any system failure. 
Apparently however, most EPS systems under consideration today are being 
specified without a clutch for reasons of economy. This is unfortunate 
because the resulting increase in steering effort will certainly become a 
safety issue in the event of such system shutdowns. 
Generally, other than in providing an obvious solution to the electric 
drive motor decoupling issue, such mechanical problems can be overcome in 
an EPS system by providing a fluid coupling between the electric drive 
motor and the rack of the steering gear in which the selective supply of 
pressurized fluid to the ports of a power cylinder is carried out by a 
reversibly driven fluid pump, rather than by a mechanical gear or 
leadscrew reduction means of the type described above. In this case, the 
ports of the fluid pump are connected to the ports of the power cylinder 
by first and second fluid lines. In such a system, bulk cavitation is 
precluded in either side of the power cylinder otherwise subject to an 
absolute pressure value below atmospheric pressure by replenishment fluid 
flowing through either of a pair of check valves disposed in a suction 
line connected to a reservoir and connected one each to the first and 
second fluid lines. Since systems configured in this manner advantageously 
eliminate the four-way control valves conventionally associated with EHPS 
systems, they should be considered to be true EPS systems. 
In addition, many previously known power steering systems, including EPS 
systems, have significant tactile problems at very low frequencies, in 
particular, on the general order of 1 Hz. This includes system resonance 
which is apparently ignored within the art but can readily be recognized 
by a driver sensing an "over-center" type of instability wherein the 
driver must either anticipate lateral vehicle motion, or tightly grip the 
steering wheel in order to maintain precise control of vehicle tracking. 
One attempt to address some of these problems is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 
5,473,539 (Shimizu et al., Dec. 5, 1995). That patent discloses an 
electrically operated power steering apparatus in a motor vehicle having a 
steering system. The apparatus comprises a steering torque detector for 
detecting a manual steering torque applied to the steering system, an 
electric motor for generating an assistive torque to be transmitted as a 
steering assistive force to the steering system, and an actual assistive 
torque detector which detects an actual assistive steering torque which is 
actually transmitted from the electric motor to the steering system. The 
apparatus also comprises a controller which generates a target value for 
the assistive torque to be generated by the electric motor, and which 
generates a control signal based on the difference between the actual 
assistive steering torque detected by the actual assistive torque detector 
and the target value, the control signal then being used to energize the 
electric motor. 
In a first embodiment, the patent discloses an actual assistive torque 
detector 22 coupling the nut 11a of a ball screw mechanism 11 to a rack 
shaft 7 of the steering system, the assistive torque of the electric motor 
10 being applied to the rack shaft 7 through the ball screw mechanism 11. 
The patent indicates that the actual assistive torque detector 22 may be a 
pressure sensor comprising a resistance wire strain gage. In a second 
embodiment, the detector 22 is replaced with an actual assistive torque 
estimator which estimates an actual assistive torque from the voltage 
across the electric motor and the current through it. Because the detector 
22 and the estimator provide quantitative information about the magnitude 
of the actual assistive torque, quantitative information which is 
necessary for the rest of the disclosed parts of the system to act in the 
manner described in the patent, the detector 22 and estimator do more than 
merely "detect" or respond to the presence or absence of an actual 
assistive torque; instead, they actually measure or estimate its value. A 
third embodiment in the patent attempts to give the driver of the vehicle 
a comfortable feel of steering action by providing a high- and/or a low 
pass filter in the actual assistive torque detector. The disclosed purpose 
of such filters is to reduce the purported noise from harmonics which are 
generated in the system upon differentiation for conversion from a 
rotational angular speed into a rotational angular acceleration, such that 
the estimator takes into account the inertial torque and the viscosity 
torque with respect to the motor torque within the system, based on the 
motor current and the rotational angular speed. 
This patent appears to reflect a belief throughout the automotive industry 
that the issue of poor tactile feedback can and should be addressed by 
increasingly complicated software control schemes wherein the applied 
steering boost is made to model the input steering effort. Such efforts, 
however, have lead to enormous development expenditures without 
commensurate results; the art appears to provide no guidance as to 
actually solving the low frequency problems described above. 
The related problem of steering shudder was addressed by the method and 
apparatus for enhancing stability in servo systems disclosed in U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,544,715 (E. H. Phillips, Aug. 13, 1996). The whole of that patent is 
expressly incorporated by reference herein. The patent discloses the use 
of series damping devices to form compliant couplings having series 
damping characteristics, used either for mounting hydro-mechanically 
driven actuators, or for coupling them to load elements which they 
position. The series damping absorbed sufficient energy to provide 
adequate gain and phase margins for the feedback characteristics of 
systems utilizing such actuators, so as to substantially prevent the 
occurrence of high frequency shudder. Of particular interest are the 
general steering system characteristics described in the specification of 
the '715 patent and depicted in the block diagram shown in FIG. 3 of that 
patent. The '715 patent discloses mechanical devices and methods for 
achieving servo control of the open-loop feedback characteristics present 
in general steering systems. 
Many prior EPS systems appear to experience only marginally stable control 
and suffer a resultant amplification of external disturbances to them. 
While general techniques for achieving servo control in other systems are 
discussed in a variety of textbooks, the application of such techniques to 
EPS systems would require a knowledge (presently unpossessed in the art) 
of precisely where undesired resonances arise in EPS systems. More 
particularly, an introduction to servo control which can easily be 
understood by a novice in this field can be found in a "crib" text book by 
DiStefano, Stubberud, and Williams entitled Schaum's Outline of Theory and 
Problems of Feedback and Control Systems and published by the McGraw-Hill 
Book Company. As pointed out in that book, any servo system having a 
closed feedback loop can oscillate via self excitation at any frequency 
whereat unity gain in an opened feedback loop coincides with an odd 
multiple of 180.infin. phase shift of that opened feedback loop's phase 
angle. The prior EPS systems mentioned above appear to be characterized by 
the near confluence of these conditions, with the resulting marginally 
stable control and amplification of external disturbances mentioned above. 
The block diagram shown in FIG. 3 of the '715 patent is both complex and 
complicated, and discloses several feedback paths inherent in a variety of 
steering systems. However, block diagrams like that shown in FIG. 3 of the 
'715 patent can be reduced via appropriate algebraic manipulation to 
substantially simpler diagrams like that shown in FIG. 4 of the '715 
patent. By such algebraic manipulation, all of the forward gain factors 
can be considered as being comprised within a single forward gain block 
"G", while all of the feedback gain factors can be considered as being 
comprised within a single feedback gain block "H". 
The closed loop gain ratio O/I of a system whose analysis is reduced in 
this manner can be determined by the formula: 
EQU O/I=G/(1+GH) 
wherein O is a particular output value of the system, I is a particular 
input value for the system, G is the forward gain value and H is the 
feedback gain value. It should be readily apparent that the closed loop 
gain ratio O/I becomes unstable at any frequency or frequencies where the 
open loop gain GH attains a value of minus 1, that is, where the absolute 
value of GH has a value of 1 and its phase angle is equal to an odd 
multiple of 180 degrees; the denominator of the ratio rapidly approaches 
zero, so that the gain rapidly approaches infinity. Similarly, the closed 
loop gain ratio O/I is at best only marginally stable at any frequency or 
frequencies where the open loop gain GH attains a value which is close to 
(but not equal to) minus 1. Failure to counteract or otherwise address any 
particular resonance associated with an open loop gain GH value close to 
minus 1 would result in such a system having marginal stability. 
Unfortunately, one such shortcoming appears to be typical of prior EPS 
systems, since it appears that the art as a whole has failed to recognize 
or correctly analyze the source of the resonance which causes the low 
frequency stability control problems mentioned above. 
It would be highly advantageous to provide methods and apparatus for 
substantially eliminating stability problems in EPS systems, and, in 
particular, for substantially eliminating the low frequency stability 
control problems mentioned above. It would also be highly advantageous to 
provide full time independent verification of instant values of steering 
boost in EPS systems in order to substantially eliminate concerns relating 
to auto-steer. It would be particularly advantageous for such a system to 
achieve a substantially linear control relationship between an applied 
steering torque input and a resulting steering force output, and thereby 
achieve an optimum tactile relationship between a vehicle, the vehicle 
driver and the steering system of the vehicle. It would be further 
advantageous for such a system to operate in a regenerative manner and 
enjoy all of the benefits of a regenerative system. And, it would be still 
further advantageous to provide means for decoupling the reflected inertia 
of the electric drive motor in the event of any system failure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These and other objects are achieved in an EPS system having fluid coupling 
means between the drive motor and steering gear according to the present 
invention, in which the selective supply of pressurized fluid to the ports 
of a power cylinder is carried out by a reversibly driven fluid pump. As 
mentioned above, such an arrangement eliminates symptoms of objectionable 
mechanical over constraints, Coulomb friction, wear and backlash. In 
particular, the EPS system of the present invention derives a feedback 
signal from a generated pressure signal, a pressure signal which 
represents the fluid pressure delivered to either port of the power 
cylinder, and uses the derived feedback signal in a feedback manner so as 
to provide servo control over the steering force output of the system, 
that is, over the powered assist to vehicle steering supplied by the power 
cylinder. Such control is implemented, for example, over the electric 
motor which drives the fluid pump. 
The present invention resides, in part, in the recognition that the various 
problems mentioned above with regard to EPS systems are feedback control 
issues which are better addressed via appropriate hardware and servo 
control, rather than by more complex software control as has been done in 
prior EPS systems. The present invention also resides, in part, in the 
recognition that the reflected moment of inertia of the drive motor of 
such systems is in resonance with the series combination of various 
spring-like elements included in the steering load path. More 
particularly, it is believed herein that a primary reason for such tactile 
feedback problems is a low frequency resonance between the reflected 
moment of inertia of such a system's drive motor and the spring-like 
steering load itself. As may be more clearly understood with reference to 
the block diagram shown in FIG. 3 of the '715 patent and the associated 
discussion in the specification of that patent, the most compliant one of 
these spring-like elements (and therefore the dominant one of them) is 
generally formed by system compliance beyond the dirigible wheels. 
Depending upon vehicle speed, this compliance is formed by a parallel 
relationship between tire sidewall stiffness and tire patch loading 
characteristics. For most non-zero vehicle speeds, the dominant system 
compliance (movement) is related to the product of centrifugal force and 
caster offset. The EPS system of the present invention simply treats 
whichever combination yields such compliance as a spring, and generates a 
servo-controlled hydraulic pressure P.sub.p in a stable manner for 
providing a powered assist to steering the host vehicle. 
The power steering system of the present invention includes a primary 
applied steering torque sensor that generates an applied steering torque 
signal V.sub.TT and supplies that signal to an electronic control means. 
The electronic control means processes that signal and utilizes it in an 
internal feedback loop comprising the electric motor and fluid pump for 
selectively generating the pressurized fluid. The electronic control means 
compensates the applied steering torque signal V.sub.TT, obtains 
tachometer feedback information (in a manner described in more detail 
below) and subtracts such tachometer feedback information from the 
compensated torque signal, yielding an internal feedback loop input signal 
V.sub.i. The electronic control means further obtains a pressure-dependent 
internal loop feedback signal V.sub.f (again, in a manner described in 
more detail below) and subtracts the internal loop feedback signal V.sub.f 
from the internal feedback loop input signal V.sub.i, yielding an error 
signal V.sub.e. The electronic control means then determines an internal 
control gain value ICG dependent upon the instant applied steering torque 
signal V.sub.TT, the speed of the host vehicle and other desirable 
parameters, and multiplies the error signal V.sub.e by the internal 
control gain value ICG to yield an internal error signal V.sub.es. The 
electronic control means amplifies the internal error signal V.sub.es to 
yield an internal drive signal V.sub.d, which the electronic control means 
uses to operate an electric motor directly coupled to the fluid pump. The 
ports of the fluid pump are directly coupled to either port of the power 
cylinder. First and second pressure transducers generate pressure signals 
LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p, corresponding to a vehicle left or right turn, 
respectively, which are indicative of the pressure value attained by the 
fluid pump. A higher valued one of the pressure signals LP.sub.p or 
RP.sub.p is multiplied by a feedback factor comprising the inverse of the 
internal control gain value ICG to form the internal, pressure-dependent 
loop feedback signal V.sub.f which is fed back for subtraction from 
V.sub.i to yield the error signal V.sub.e. 
The power steering system of the present invention thus yields an instantly 
controlled pressure P.sub.p (either LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p) which is 
linearly related to the product of the instant applied steering torque 
signal V.sub.TT and the instant control gain value ICG. In this manner the 
power steering system of the present invention isolates the electric motor 
within its own internal feedback loop. The input to the internal loop is 
linearly related to the applied steering torque signal V.sub.TT generated 
by the applied steering torque sensor, and the output is the pressure 
LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by one of the pressure transducers. The 
internal loop functions such that the moment of inertia of the rotor of 
the electric motor is effectively decoupled from the overall control loop. 
This generates an optimum tactile relationship between a vehicle, the 
vehicle's driver and the steering system of the vehicle. 
It is highly preferred that the power steering system of the present 
invention include a redundant applied steering torque sensor. Such a 
redundant sensor prevents system runaway in case the primary applied 
steering torque sensor should fail in such a way as to give a fixed, 
non-zero value to the applied steering torque T.sub.s. Since an indication 
of merely the magnitude of the applied steering torque might be adequate 
for this purpose, the redundant applied steering torque sensor could be 
the sensor disclosed in co-pending Provisional U.S. Patent Application 
Ser. No. 60/070,732 entitled "Adjustable, Preloaded Transducer, Especially 
in a Sensor for Measuring Applied Steering Torque" (E. H. Phillips, filed 
Jan. 7, 1998). The whole of that application is expressly incorporated by 
reference herein. Preferably, however, the redundant applied steering 
torque sensor is constructed in the same manner as, and operates on the 
same principle as, the primary applied steering torque sensor. 
Also preferably, the electronic control means and electric motor in the 
system of the present invention are capable of handling regenerative 
electric power so as to enable the recovery of power returned to the 
system whenever the steering load actively centers the power cylinder. 
This requires the fluid pump to function as a fluid motor as well. The 
electric motor and the fluid pump are preferably combined into a single 
power pack. The system of the present invention also includes a 
conventional fluid reservoir, and it is preferred that each port of the 
power cylinder is protected from bulk cavitation by a check valve directly 
coupled to the fluid reservoir. 
The first and second pressure transducers are conveniently coupled directly 
to the ports of the pump and provide left and right output pressure 
signals LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p, respectively, from which a 
pressure-dependent feedback loop signal V.sub.f is derived. During normal 
operation, the lower pressure pump port is directly connected to the 
reservoir, while both pump ports are directly connected to respective 
ports of the power cylinder. If desired, a third pressure sensor can be 
coupled to the higher pressure port as a redundant output pressure check. 
Should the system fail or become inoperative, both ports of the fluid pump 
are coupled to the reservoir to ease manual steering of the vehicle. Other 
redundant measures of various system parameters can be provided to further 
enhance the safety of the system. 
As described above, the electric motor drives the pump so as to provide 
pressure to either port of the power cylinder in a directionally servo 
controlled manner with reference to the tachometer feedback information 
and the pressure-dependent loop feedback signal V.sub.f. One control 
problem arising from the use of conventional pressure transducers for this 
purpose is the need to calibrate them. Advantageously, the system of the 
present invention sets a signal representative of the pressure value 
measured by one of the pressure transducers to a zero value when a signal 
representative of the pressure value measured by the other of the pressure 
transducers achieves a value greater than a selected threshold value. 
Thus, each of the first and second pressure transducers, as well as the 
system, is adaptively calibrated with respect to zero steering assist as 
required for a straight steering mode of operation. This is fully 
accomplished after the vehicle has negotiated just a single left turn and 
a single right turn. 
Preferably, the lines and fittings connecting the fluid pump, power 
cylinder, fluid reservoir and check valves are configured such that there 
is a fresh flow of reservoir fluid into the lower pressure side of the 
power cylinder whenever the steering load actively centers the power 
cylinder. This permits the system to be purged by elevating the dirigible 
wheels and mechanically pivoting them back and forth until only air- and 
foam-free fluid remains in the system. 
In a first aspect, then, the present invention is directed to an 
improvement in a power steering system for a vehicle having dirigible 
wheels, a power cylinder having left and right ports and adapted to supply 
a powered assist to steering the dirigible wheels of the vehicle upon the 
supply of a pressurized fluid to one of the left and right ports, a 
reversible fluid pump having first and second ports, an electric motor 
operatively connected to and capable of reversibly driving the fluid pump, 
a first fluid line connecting the first port of the fluid pump to the left 
port of the power cylinder, a second fluid line connecting the second port 
of the fluid pump to the right port of the power cylinder, a pair of check 
valves disposed in a suction line connected to a reservoir and connected 
one each to the first and second fluid lines, and a primary applied 
steering torque sensor which generates a signal V.sub.TT in response to at 
least an applied steering torque T.sub.s ; the improvement wherein the 
power steering system further comprises a first pressure transducer 
sensing the fluid pressure LP.sub.p in the first fluid line; a second 
pressure transducer sensing the fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second 
fluid line; and an electronic control means to which the first and second 
pressure transducers and the primary applied steering torque sensor are 
operatively connected, and which controls actuation of the electric motor; 
wherein the electronic control means establishes servo control over the 
powered assist to steering supplied by the power cylinder in dependence 
upon the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by one of the first 
and second pressure transducers. 
The electronic control means of the system establishes closed loop servo 
control over the electric motor in dependence upon the fluid pressure 
LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by the one of the first and second pressure 
transducers, in particular, in dependence upon the higher fluid pressure, 
and achieves a substantially linear relationship between the applied 
steering torque T.sub.s and the powered assist to steering supplied by the 
power cylinder. Preferably, the electronic control means generates an 
error signal V.sub.e in response to at least the generation of the signal 
V.sub.TT by the primary applied steering torque sensor, the error signal 
V.sub.e being dependent upon the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p 
sensed by one of the first and second pressure transducers. The electronic 
control means determines an internal control loop gain value ICG as a 
function of at least vehicle speed, the internal control loop gain value 
ICG being further related to the signal V.sub.TT generated by the primary 
applied steering torque sensor, multiplies the error signal V.sub.e by the 
internal control loop gain value ICG to generate an internal error signal 
V.sub.es which is amplified to form an internal drive signal V.sub.d and 
causes the electric motor to drive the fluid pump in a manner which 
generates the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by the one of the 
first and second pressure transducers in accordance with internal error 
signal V.sub.es. More preferably, the electronic control means 32 
generates the error signal V.sub.e by compensating the signal V.sub.TT 
generated by the primary applied steering torque sensor to yield a 
compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c, subtracting from the 
compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c a tachometer feedback signal 
V.sub.t, (representative of steering movement of the dirigible wheels) to 
yield an input signal V.sub.i, obtaining a pressure-dependent loop 
feedback signal V.sub.f and subtracting the feedback signal V.sub.f from 
the input signal V.sub.i to yield the error signal V.sub.e. 
It should be clear that, in this aspect of the invention (as well as in the 
second, third and fifth aspects of the invention described below) no 
target value for any system parameter is ever established at all for 
control purposes. Even in the fourth aspect of the invention, no target 
value of motor torque is ever established. This is completely unlike the 
system disclosed in the Shimizu et al. '539 patent. 
The power steering system of this aspect of the present invention 
preferably further comprises an actuation speed measuring means 
operatively connected to the electronic control means for providing the 
tachometer signal V.sub.t representative of steering movement of the 
dirigible wheels. The electronic control means subtracts the tachometer 
feedback signal V.sub.t so provided from the compensated steering torque 
signal V.sub.c during control of actuation of the electric motor. The 
actuation speed measuring means can conveniently comprise a tachometer for 
measuring the rotational speed of at least one of the vehicle steering 
wheel and the electric motor. 
The power steering system of the present invention preferably comprises 
redundant measures for confirming proper operation of the system, its 
component elements and the electronic control means. For example, the 
system preferably comprises a redundant applied steering torque sensor 
which is connected to the electronic control means and which generates a 
redundant signal in response to the applied steering torque T.sub.s. The 
electronic control means then terminates the powered assist provided by 
the system when the redundant signal from the redundant applied steering 
torque sensor fails to correlate with the signal V.sub.TT from the primary 
applied steering torque sensor. 
Similarly, the power steering system of the present invention preferably 
further comprises a means for providing a redundant measure of the higher 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p in the first and second fluid lines. 
The electronic control means then terminates the powered assist provided 
by the system when the redundant measure of the higher fluid pressure 
fails to correlate with the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by 
the higher one of the first and second pressure transducers. The means for 
providing a redundant measure of the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p 
in the first and second fluid lines conveniently comprises a third 
pressure transducer selectively connected to that one of the first and 
second fluid lines having a higher pressure than the other. More 
preferably, the electronic control means calculates an expected fluid 
pressure as a function of the signal V.sub.TT generated by the primary 
applied steering torque sensor; compares the higher of the fluid pressures 
LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p in the first and second fluid lines, and the 
redundant measure of the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p provided by 
the means for providing the same, to the expected fluid pressure; and 
terminates the powered assist provided by the system when either the 
higher of the fluid pressures LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p in the first and second 
fluid lines or the redundant measure of the fluid pressure fails to 
correlate with the expected fluid pressure calculated by the electronic 
control means. It is important to note that this calculation of an 
expected fluid pressure is not used as a target for controlling the 
electric motor, but only for indicating when the system is not operating 
properly. 
The power steering system of the present invention preferably also 
comprises a fluid reservoir and a two-position, three-way valve for 
fluidly connecting the one of the first fluid line and the second fluid 
line having lower fluid pressure to the fluid reservoir. The three-way 
valve is operable to connect the second fluid line to the fluid reservoir 
when the fluid pressure LP.sub.p in the first fluid line is greater than 
the fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid line, and to connect the 
first fluid line to the fluid reservoir when the fluid pressure RP.sub.p 
in the second fluid line is greater than the fluid pressure LP.sub.p in 
the first fluid line. The system is preferably further configured with the 
first and second fluid check valves disposed in a suction line connected 
to the fluid reservoir directly in fluid communication with the ports of 
the power cylinder. The check valves are oriented so as to permit the flow 
of fluid from the fluid reservoir through the suction line and to the 
connected left or right port of the power cylinder when the fluid pressure 
LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p at that left or right port is less than the pressure 
in the reservoir. 
The suction line preferably has a lesser flow impedance (i.e., comprising 
both resistance and inductance) than the first and second fluid lines, 
thereby causing the flow of fluid from the fluid reservoir through the 
suction line and one of the check valves to be returned to the fluid 
reservoir via the power cylinder, the higher pressure one of the first and 
second fluid lines, the fluid pump, and finally, through the other of the 
first and second fluid lines, which is of course, connected to the fluid 
reservoir via the three-way valve. Utilizing the combination of the check 
valves and the two-position, three-way valve in this manner, as opposed to 
utilizing only check valves, eliminates the possibility of system pressure 
build up in response to fluid expansion at elevated operating 
temperatures. Further, the selective placement of the check valves and the 
three-way valve causes continual purging of the system every time the 
dirigible wheels drive the power cylinder, as when exiting a turn. In 
addition, this permits a system newly filed with fluid to be purged by 
elevating the dirigible wheels and mechanically pivoting them back and 
forth until only air- and foam-free fluid remains in the system as is 
called for above. 
Preferably, the rotating inertia of the electric drive motor is decoupled 
from the steering system in the event of any system failure via the system 
additionally placing both of the first and second fluid lines in direct 
fluid communication with the reservoir. Such communication can be carried 
out, for example, by a relief valve which is closed in order to prevent 
such communication when the system is active, but which is spring-biased 
in a fail-safe manner to its open orientation in order to achieve such 
communication if the system should fail. ("Fail" includes actual system 
failure or the intentional termination of the powered assist provided by 
the system.) The relief valve is preferably a solenoid activated 
two-position, compound two-way relief valve, each section of which fluidly 
connects the first and second fluid lines to the reservoir in the 
fail-safe mode. 
The power steering system is preferably a regenerative system similar to 
that disclosed in co-pending Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 
60/073,560, entitled "Regenerative Power Steering System Including 
Solenoid-Actuated Four-Way Cross-Over Valve" (E. H. Phillips, filed Feb. 
3, 1998). An advantage of the system of the present invention is that the 
four-way control valve included in the system disclosed in the '560 
Provisional Application and in other EHPS systems can be eliminated. Thus, 
it is preferred that the system of the present invention is regenerative 
and alternatively operable in an unassisted straight steering mode, a 
powered assist mode in which the powered assist is provided by the power 
cylinder during entry of the vehicle into a turn and an energy 
regeneration mode which recovers energy while the vehicle exits a turn. 
The electronic control means controls the electric motor so as to provide 
a flow of pressurized fluid from one of the first and second fluid pump 
ports during the powered assist mode of the system, and permit the 
electric motor to generate energy recovered through the fluid pump from a 
reversed flow of pressurized fluid during the energy regeneration mode of 
the system. One advantageous feature of the system is that the fluid pump 
and the electric motor do not rotate during the straight steering mode of 
the system. The system includes an electrical energy means for storing and 
delivering electrical power, such that electrical energy is delivered from 
the electrical energy means to the electric motor during the powered 
assist mode of the system, and is stored to the electrical energy means by 
the electric motor during the energy regeneration mode of the system. 
The electronic control means of the system preferably employs the fluid 
pressures measured by the first and second pressure transducers to 
counteract a hydromechanical resonance occurring predominantly between the 
moment of inertia of the electric motor and a system spring rate presented 
by the steering load stiffness of the host vehicle. More particularly, the 
electronic control means treats the hydromechanical resonance as a 
resonance between a mass element predominated by the moment of inertia of 
the electric motor and a theoretical spring element dominated by tire 
loading characteristics associated with the tires. The electronic control 
means then employs the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p measured by 
the first and second pressure transducers to control the electric motor so 
that the fluid pump is not driven in harmony with that hydromechanical 
resonance. In particular, the electronic control means employs the higher 
valued fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p within an internal servo 
control loop comprising the electric motor and fluid pump to control the 
resulting fluid pressure as a selected function of the torque control 
signal according to the internal gain value ICG. Thus, the operation of 
the electric motor is controlled such that the fluid pump is not driven in 
harmony with that mechanical resonance. 
The electronic control means preferably provides for speed sensitive 
steering by reducing the internal gain value ICG as a selective function 
of vehicle speed. In addition, the electronic control means preferably 
provides compensation of at least one of the magnitude of the applied 
steering torque, the operation of the electric motor, and the fluid 
pressure measured by one of the first and second pressure transducers. 
More preferably, the compensation allows for stable operation of both the 
internal servo control loop and the overall system servo control loop with 
adequate phase and gain margins over the entire range of vehicle speed and 
other operational factors, such as a driver abruptly encountering glare 
ice on an otherwise dry roadway, and the like. In general, such operation 
requires selective manipulation of the compensation via selective 
variation of the corner frequencies of poles and/or zeros comprised in the 
compensation with respect to vehicle speed, in order to adjust for changes 
in the internal gain value ICG and the spring-like steering load. 
Preferably, the compensation of the magnitude of the applied steering 
torque predominantly or exclusively includes at least one pole, while the 
compensation of the internal servo control loop, between the input signal 
V.sub.i and the steering force assist ultimately supplied to the dirigible 
wheels by the system, is predominated by a low-frequency zero followed by 
at least one pole. 
This latter compensation may be carried out either in the forward direction 
by compensating the internal error signal V.sub.es, or in the feedback 
path. It has been found to be preferable to confine the compensation of 
the internal servo control loop to the feedback path. As will be explained 
below, this is because all of the perturbing disturbance factors are 
present in the feedback path but are not yet directly present in the 
product of the internal gain value ICG and the error signal V.sub.e which 
forms the internal error signal V.sub.es. 
The electronic control means also preferably employs the fluid pressures 
LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p measured by the first and second pressure 
transducers in establishing the internal servo control loop. V.sub.i is 
derived from the application of an applied steering torque T.sub.s to the 
steering wheel of the host vehicle. More particularly, the system 
preferably comprises a tachometer operatively connected to the electronic 
control means which generates a signal V.sub.t representative of the 
rotational speed of the electric motor. The electronic control means 
subtracts V.sub.t from the compensated signal V.sub.c (generated together 
by the primary applied steering torque sensor and the electronic control 
means) and employs the resulting difference as the input signal V.sub.i to 
the internal servo control loop. V.sub.t is equal to q.sub.m s/K.sub.c, 
q.sub.m being a rotational position of the electric motor, K.sub.c being a 
tachometer feedback damping factor and s being the first-order Laplace 
variable. The Laplace variable s is also referred to as the 
complex-frequency variable; as explained in detail in chapters 15 through 
17 of H. H. Skilling, Electrical Engineering Circuits (John Wiley & Sons, 
Inc., New York, N.Y., 1957), if the functions at issue are linear (as they 
are here), the first-order Laplace variable reduces to the first order 
derivative of those functions with respect to time. Herein, s.sup.2 refers 
to the second-order Laplace variable, which similarly reduces to the 
second order derivative with respect to time. The reciprocals 1/s and 
1/s.sup.2 reduce respectively to single and double integration with 
respect to time. 
Once the electronic control means generates the input signal V.sub.i to the 
internal servo control loop, the electronic control means further 
generates (and preferably compensates) a signal representative of the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by the first or second 
pressure transducer so as to give an internal loop feedback signal 
V.sub.f, and subtracts the internal loop feedback signal V.sub.f from the 
input signal V.sub.i to the internal servo control loop so as to yield an 
error signal V.sub.e from which a drive signal V.sub.d for operating the 
electric motor is derived. The electronic control means further determines 
an internal control loop gain value ICG as a function of vehicle speed and 
the signal V.sub.TT, and operates the electric motor so as to generate a 
measured fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p in accordance with an 
internal error signal V.sub.es equal to the product of the error signal 
V.sub.e and the internal control loop gain value ICG. (Alternately, 
compensation could be applied to that product to yield an internal 
modified error signal V.sub.mes which would be used instead of V.sub.es.) 
As indicated above, the system is always in one of two states associated 
with either a left or right vehicle turn, in which each of the first and 
second fluid lines is sequentially coupled to the reservoir. Thus, a 
particularly advantageous feature of the system is that the electronic 
control means can obviate a significant drawback of common pressure 
transducers (in particular, that common pressure transducers possess a 
non-zero offset voltage at zero pressure, which non-zero offset voltage is 
subject to drift) by adaptively calibrating the fluid pressure value 
measured by that pressure transducer to a zero value. In particular, when 
the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by one of the first and 
second pressure transducers is greater than the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or 
LP.sub.p measured by the other of the second and first pressure 
transducers and exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the electronic 
control means calibrates the other of the second and first pressure 
transducers by assigning a zero value to an internal signal representative 
of the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p measured by the other of the 
second and first pressure transducers. 
In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a particular 
combination of the elements identified above. More particularly, in this 
second aspect, the present invention is directed to improvements in a 
power steering system for a vehicle having dirigible wheels, a power 
cylinder having left and right ports and adapted to supply a powered 
assist to steering the dirigible wheels of the vehicle upon the supply of 
a pressurized fluid to one of the left and right ports, a reversible fluid 
pump having first and second ports, an electric motor operatively 
connected to and capable of reversibly driving the fluid pump, a first 
fluid line connecting the first port of the fluid pump to the left port of 
the power cylinder, a second fluid line connecting the second port of the 
fluid pump to the right port of the power cylinder, a pair of check valves 
disposed in a suction line connected to a reservoir and connected one each 
to the first and second fluid lines, and a primary applied steering torque 
sensor which generates a signal V.sub.TT in response to at least an 
applied steering torque T.sub.s ; the improvements wherein the power 
steering system further comprises a first pressure transducer sensing the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p in the first fluid line; a second pressure 
transducer sensing the fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid line; 
an electronic control means to which the first and second pressure 
transducers and the primary applied steering torque sensor are operatively 
connected, and which controls actuation of the electric motor; a redundant 
applied steering torque sensor which generates a redundant signal in 
response to the applied steering torque T.sub.s and which is connected to 
the electronic control means; an actuation speed measuring means 
operatively connected to the electronic control means for providing a 
tachometer signal V.sub.t representative of steering movement of the 
dirigible wheels; means for providing a redundant measure of the fluid 
pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p in the first and second fluid lines; and a 
fluid reservoir supplying fluid to the system; wherein the electronic 
control means establishes servo control over the powered assist to 
steering supplied by the power cylinder in dependence upon the fluid 
pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by one of the first and second 
pressure transducers; wherein the electronic control means establishes 
closed loop servo control over the electric motor in dependence upon the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p, sensed by the one of the first and 
second pressure transducers and achieves a substantially linear 
relationship between the applied steering torque T.sub.s and the powered 
assist to steering supplied by the power cylinder; wherein the electronic 
control means generates an error signal V.sub.e in response to at least 
the generation of the signal V.sub.TT by the primary applied steering 
torque sensor, the error signal V.sub.e being dependent upon the fluid 
pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by one of the first and second 
pressure transducers; wherein the electronic control means determines an 
internal control loop gain value ICG as a function of at least vehicle 
speed, the internal control loop gain value ICG being further related to 
the signal V.sub.TT generated by the primary applied steering torque 
sensor; and wherein the electronic control means multiplies the error 
signal V.sub.e by the internal control loop gain value ICG and causes the 
electric motor to drive the fluid pump in a manner which generates the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by the one of the first and 
second pressure transducers in accordance with the product of the error 
signal V.sub.e and the internal control loop gain value ICG; wherein the 
electronic control means generates the error signal V.sub.e by 
compensating the signal V.sub.TT generated by the primary applied steering 
torque sensor to yield a compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c ; 
subtracting from the compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c a 
tachometer feedback signal V.sub.t, representative of steering movement of 
the dirigible wheels, to yield an input signal V.sub.i ; obtaining a 
pressure-dependent internal loop feedback signal V.sub.f and subtracting 
the feedback signal V.sub.f from the input signal V.sub.i to yield the 
error signal V.sub.e ; wherein the electronic control means terminates the 
powered assist provided by the system when the redundant signal from the 
redundant applied steering torque sensor fails to correlate with the 
signal V.sub.TT from the primary applied steering torque sensor; wherein 
the vehicle includes a steering wheel to which the primary applied 
steering torque sensor is operatively connected, and wherein the actuation 
speed measuring means comprises a tachometer for measuring the rotational 
speed of at least one of the steering wheel and the electric motor; 
wherein the electronic control means terminates the powered assist 
provided by the system when the redundant measure of the fluid pressures 
LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p provided by the means for providing the same fails 
to correlate with the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by one of 
the first and second pressure transducers; wherein the means for providing 
a redundant measure of the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p in the 
first and second fluid lines comprises a third pressure transducer 
selectively connected to that one of the first and second fluid lines 
having a higher pressure than the other; wherein the system is 
regenerative and alternatively operable in an unassisted straight steering 
mode, a powered assist mode in which the powered assist is provided by the 
power cylinder during entry of the vehicle into a turn and an energy 
regeneration mode which recovers energy while the vehicle exits a turn; 
and wherein the electronic control means controls the electric motor so as 
to provide a flow of pressurized fluid from one of the first and second 
fluid pump ports during the powered assist mode of the system, and permit 
the electric motor to generate energy recovered through the fluid pump 
from a reversed flow of pressurized fluid during the energy regeneration 
mode of the system; wherein the vehicle presents a steering load stiffness 
to the power steering system; wherein the electronic control means employs 
the fluid pressures measured by the first and second pressure transducers 
to counteract a hydromechanical resonance occurring predominantly between 
the moment of inertia of the electric motor and a system spring rate 
presented by the steering load stiffness; wherein the electronic control 
means treats the hydromechanical resonance as a resonance between a mass 
element predominated by the moment of inertia of the electric motor and a 
theoretical spring element dominated by tire loading characteristics 
associated with the tires; and wherein the electronic control means 
employs the fluid pressures measured by the first and second pressure 
transducers to control the electric motor so that the fluid pump is not 
driven in harmony with the hydromechanical resonance; wherein the 
electronic control means provides compensation of at least one of the 
magnitude of the applied steering torque, the operation of the electric 
motor, and the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by one of the 
first and second pressure transducers, and wherein the compensation of the 
magnitude of the applied steering torque predominantly or exclusively 
includes at least one low frequency pole and the compensation of the fluid 
pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by one of the first and second 
pressure transducers is predominated by a low-frequency zero followed by 
one or more higher frequency poles; wherein the vehicle includes a 
steering wheel, such that the application of an applied steering torque 
T.sub.s to the steering wheel results in the application by the system of 
a steering force assist to the dirigible wheels; and wherein the 
electronic control means employs the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p 
measured by the first and second pressure transducers to establish an 
internal servo control loop between the input signal V.sub.i derived from 
the application of an applied steering torque T.sub.s to the steering 
wheel and the steering force assist to the dirigible wheels; wherein when 
the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by one of the first and 
second pressure transducers is greater than the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or 
LP.sub.p measured by the other of the second and first pressure 
transducers and exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the electronic 
control means calibrates the other of the second and first pressure 
transducers by assigning a zero value to an internal signal representative 
of the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p measured by the other of the 
second and first pressure transducers; and wherein both of the first and 
second fluid lines are placed in direct fluid communication with the 
reservoir should the powered assist to steering provided by the system 
fail. 
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to an improvement in a 
power steering system for a vehicle having dirigible wheels, a power 
cylinder having left and right ports and adapted to supply a powered 
assist to steering the dirigible wheels of the vehicle upon the supply of 
a pressurized fluid to one of the left and right ports, a reversible fluid 
pump having first and second ports, an electric motor operatively 
connected to and capable of reversibly driving the fluid pump, a first 
fluid line connecting the first port of the fluid pump to the left port of 
the power cylinder, a second fluid line connecting the second port of the 
fluid pump to the right port of the power cylinder, a pair of check valves 
disposed in a suction line connected to a reservoir and connected one each 
to the first and second fluid lines, and a primary applied steering torque 
sensor which generates a signal V.sub.TT in response to at least an 
applied steering torque T.sub.s ; the improvement wherein the power 
steering system further comprises a two-position, three-way valve fluidly 
connecting the first fluid line and the second fluid line to the fluid 
reservoir, the three-way valve being operable to connect the second fluid 
line to the fluid reservoir when the fluid pressure LP.sub.p in the first 
fluid line is greater than the fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid 
line, and to connect the first fluid line to the fluid reservoir when the 
fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid line is greater than the fluid 
pressure LP.sub.p in the first fluid line; and the pair of check valves 
disposed in the suction line being directly connected one each to the left 
and right ports of the power cylinder, oriented so as to permit the flow 
of fluid from the fluid reservoir through the suction line and to the 
connected left or right port of the power cylinder when the pressure 
LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p at that left or right port is less than the pressure 
in the reservoir; wherein the suction line has a lesser flow impedance 
than the first and second fluid lines, thereby causing the flow of fluid 
from the fluid reservoir through the suction line and one of the check 
valves to be returned to the fluid reservoir through the power cylinder, 
the higher pressure one of the first and second fluid lines, the fluid 
pump, the other of the first and second fluid lines, and the three-way 
valve. 
In a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to an improvement in 
a power steering system for a vehicle having dirigible wheels, a power 
cylinder having left and right ports and adapted to supply a powered 
assist to steering the dirigible wheels of the vehicle upon the supply of 
a pressurized fluid to one of the left and right ports, a reversible fluid 
pump having first and second ports, an electric motor operatively 
connected to and capable of reversibly driving the fluid pump, a first 
fluid line connecting the first port of the fluid pump to the left port of 
the power cylinder, a second fluid line connecting the second port of the 
fluid pump to the right port of the power cylinder, a pair of check valves 
disposed in a suction line connected to a reservoir and connected one each 
to the first and second fluid lines, and a primary applied steering torque 
sensor which generates a signal V.sub.TT in response to at least an 
applied steering torque T.sub.s ; the improvement wherein the power 
steering system further comprises electronic control means establishing a 
desired fluid pressure for one of the first fluid line and the second 
fluid line in response to at least the generation by the primary applied 
steering torque sensor of the signal V.sub.TT corresponding to an applied 
steering torque T.sub.s ; a first pressure transducer operatively 
connected to the electronic control means and sensing the fluid pressure 
LP.sub.p in the first fluid line; and a second pressure transducer 
operatively connected to the electronic control means and sensing the 
fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid line; wherein the electric 
motor is controlled by the electronic control means so as to drive the 
fluid pump in a manner which urges the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p 
in one of the first and second fluid lines towards the desired fluid 
pressure established by the electronic control means. It should be noted 
that this is an elementary implementation of the principles of the present 
invention and, indeed, it is believed that this fourth aspect is not the 
preferred way to implement the broad principles of the present invention. 
Accordingly, even though the instant specification provides full support 
to this fourth aspect of the present invention, such support should be 
considered as being merely incidental; the practice of the preferred 
embodiment of the invention as detailed below is likely to fall outside 
the scope of this fourth aspect of the present invention. 
In a fifth and final aspect, the present invention is directed to an 
improvement in a power steering system for a vehicle having dirigible 
wheels, a primary applied steering torque sensor which generates a signal 
V.sub.TT in response to an applied steering torque T.sub.s, an electric 
motor for developing a powered assist to steering the dirigible wheels and 
an electronic control means to which the primary applied steering torque 
sensor and the electric motor are operatively connected, the electronic 
control means controlling actuation of the electric motor in dependence 
upon at least the signal V.sub.TT from the primary applied steering torque 
sensor; the improvement wherein the system further comprises a redundant 
applied steering torque sensor which generates a redundant signal in 
response to the applied steering torque T.sub.s and which is connected to 
the electronic control means, and wherein the electronic control means 
terminates the powered assist provided by the system when the redundant 
signal from the redundant applied steering torque sensor fails to 
correlate with the signal V.sub.TT from the primary applied steering 
torque sensor or with any other parameter of the system, but does not use 
the redundant signal from the redundant applied steering torque sensor for 
otherwise controlling any other element or parameter of the system. 
The power steering system of the present invention possesses several 
distinct advantages over prior EPS systems. For example, the system of the 
present invention provides full time independent verification of the 
instant values of steering boost, substantially eliminating concerns 
relating to auto-steer. The system of the present invention also 
substantially eliminates low frequency stability control problems 
previously encountered in such systems. 
The reversible fluid pump, fluid lines and associated valves altogether 
taken as a complete system provide an entirely new way to couple (and to 
decouple in the event of any system failure) the drive motor of an EPS 
system to the balance of the steering system, such that prior concerns 
about mechanical over constraint, Coulomb friction, wear and backlash are 
eliminated. 
Advantageously, the steering force output from the system of the present 
invention is linearly related to the applied steering torque. 
Of course, the system of the present invention enjoys all of the advantages 
of a regenerative system. The power steering system of the present 
invention possesses high efficiency and recovers a significant portion of 
the energy returned from the dirigible wheels when the host vehicle exits 
a turn. 
Because of the high efficiency, the system of the present invention draws 
significantly less current during parking maneuvers than is drawn by 
typical EHPS systems. More particularly, the ability to handle 
regenerative power allows the system of the present invention to operate 
in all four quadrants which permits smooth transition between its powered 
assist and energy regeneration modes, and to permit good steering control 
both during operation in each of the modes and during transition between 
modes. Finally, the system of the present invention allows safe operation 
of the vehicle during failure of the powered assist provided by the system 
.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicular power steering system 
according to the present invention is thereshown, in perspective and 
schematically, respectively, in conjunction with various constituents of 
the host vehicle in which the system 10 is located. More particularly, the 
system 10 is employed with a steering wheel 12 movable by a driver 
steering the dirigible (steerable) wheels 13 of the vehicle. The steering 
wheel 12 is connected to the dirigible wheels 13 by a steering shaft 172 
coupled to a suitable steering gear 16, for example, of the 
rack-and-pinion type, including a pinion shaft (not shown) contained in a 
steering gear housing 66 and engaged with a gear rack 17. A primary 
applied steering torque sensor 14 is connected to the steering gear 16 and 
generates an electrical or electronic signal representative of the 
magnitude and direction of a steering torque applied to the steering wheel 
12. 
As is conventional, the application of an applied steering torque T.sub.s 
to the steering wheel 12 results in the application by the system 10 of an 
assisted steering force to the dirigible wheels 13. More particularly, the 
gear rack 17 is partly contained within a housing 53 comprising a power 
cylinder 18, the housing 53 being fixed to a conventional steering 
assembly sub-frame 57. The sub-frame 57 includes a plurality of mounts 59 
for connecting the steering assembly sub-frame 57 to the vehicle chassis 
(not shown). The dirigible wheels 13 are rotatably carried on wheel 
spindles 64 connected to vehicle steering knuckles 65 and vehicle struts 
61. The steering knuckles 65 are pivotably connected to the sub-frame 57 
by lower control arms 63. A portion 67 of each steering knuckle 65 defines 
a knuckle arm radius R.sub.w about which the assisted steering force, 
comprising both mechanically derived steering force and powered assist to 
steering as respectively provided by the pinion-rack interface and the 
power cylinder 18. 
The power steering system 10 of the present invention first comprises a 
power cylinder 18 connected to the gear rack 17 arranged to apply an 
assistive force to longitudinal movement of the gear rack 17. More 
particularly, the power cylinder 18 has a left port 56 and a right port 
58. Upon the supply of a pressurized fluid to one of the left and right 
ports 56 and 58, the power cylinder 18 assists longitudinal movement of 
the gear rack 17 by applying an assistive force to it, and thereby is 
adapted to supply a powered assist to steering the dirigible wheels 13 of 
the vehicle about the knuckle arm radius R.sub.w. Of course, a manual, 
mechanical steering force derived from the mesh of the pinion and rack is 
concurrently supplied to the dirigible wheels 13 about the knuckle arm 
radius R.sub.w through the steering gear 16 as well. The total steering 
force applied to the dirigible wheels is the sum of the manual steering 
force and the powered assist provided by the power cylinder 18. 
The power steering system 10 of the present invention also comprises a 
means 53 for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to the left and right 
ports 56 and 58 of the power cylinder 18. The fluid is ultimately supplied 
from a fluid reservoir 50. To clarify the presentation of the various 
connections to the reservoir 50, the reservoir 50 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 
3 at a plurality of locations. All of these constitute the same reservoir 
50, however, not separate reservoirs. Preferably, the fluid supply means 
53 is chosen so as to permit the system 10 to be alternatively operated in 
powered assist, straight steering and energy regeneration modes, such as 
in the manner disclosed in the co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 
'560. 
Thus, the fluid supply means 53 preferably first comprises a reversible 
fluid pump 24 having a first port 78 and a second port 80. The fluid 
supply means 53 preferably also comprises a first fluid line 20 connecting 
one of the ports 78 or 80 of the fluid pump 24, for example, the first 
port 78 of the fluid pump 24, to the left port 56 of the power cylinder 
18. The fluid supply means 53 preferably further comprises a second fluid 
line 22 connecting the other of the ports 80 or 78, for example, the 
second port 80 of the fluid pump 24, to the right port 58 of the power 
cylinder 18. Of course, the designation of one of the ports 78 or 80 and 
one of the fluid lines 20 or 22 as "first" and the other as "second" is 
arbitrary, since in a regenerative system fluid will at different times 
flow both into and out of the fluid pump 24 through both of the ports 78 
and 80, and will at different times flow in both directions through the 
lines 20 and 22. 
The power steering system 10 of the present invention next comprises at 
least a primary applied steering torque sensor 14. The primary applied 
steering torque sensor 14 is shown in FIG. 1 as being connected to the 
steering gear housing 66. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the 
primary applied steering torque sensor 14 can be operatively connected to 
the steering shaft 172. The system 10 further comprises an electric motor 
26 operatively connected to and capable of reversibly driving the fluid 
pump 24 and an electronic control means 32 which controls actuation of the 
electric motor 26 in a manner described in more detail below. The electric 
motor 26 is preferably an induction motor under vector control by the 
electronic control means 32. Conveniently, the fluid pump 24 and the 
electric motor 26 comprise the motor pump (24) and motor generator (26) of 
the power pack (84) disclosed in the co-pending Provisional Application 
Ser. No. '560, the parenthetical reference numerals referring to the 
numerals used in Provisional Application Ser. No. '560. 
The system 10 further comprises a first pressure transducer 54 sensing the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p in the first fluid line 20, and a second pressure 
transducer 55 sensing the fluid pressure RP.sub.p in the second fluid line 
22. The first and second pressure transducers 54 and 55 are operatively 
connected to the electronic control means 32. While the first and second 
pressure transducers 54 and 55 can be connected to their respective fluid 
lines 20 and 22 at any location between the fluid pump 24 and the power 
cylinder 18, it is preferred that the first and second pressure 
transducers 54 and 55 be located at taps in the fluid pump 24 at or near 
the first and second ports 78 and 80 of the fluid pump 24, respectively. 
The measured pressure accurately indicates the actual pressure LP.sub.p or 
RP.sub.p in the fluid lines 20 or 22 because there is no load in the fluid 
lines 20 and 22 between the fluid pump 24 and the power cylinder 18. 
As indicated above, the power steering system 10 of the present invention 
can be characterized in that, in contrast to prior EPS systems, primary 
control over generation of the assistive steering force is made without 
any measurement of the torque produced by the drive motor of the system, 
in this case, the electric motor 26. More particularly, the electronic 
control means 32 establishes servo control over the powered assist to 
steering supplied by the power cylinder 18 in dependence upon the fluid 
pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed by one of the first and second 
pressure transducers 54 or 55, in particular, that one sensor having the 
higher pressure. This servo control is described in more detail below with 
regard to the flow chart disclosed in FIG. 4, and the block diagram 
disclosed in FIGS. 5A-5C. 
The power steering system 10 of the present invention preferably further 
comprises a variety of additional components which augment the 
performance, reliability and safety of the system 10. For example, it is 
highly desirable to have a way to bleed air from the system 10 when fluid 
is first introduced into it; 
to vent or replace fluid from or to the system 10 upon changes in 
temperature, for example, during operation of the system 10; and to 
eliminate any foam or bubbles which may occur during operation of the 
system 10, particularly if the system 10 is operated in alternative modes. 
These and other objectives can be achieved in the power steering system 10 
according to the present invention by including in it, for example, a 
two-position, three-way valve 39 connecting the first fluid line 20 and 
the second fluid line 22 to the fluid reservoir 50 via line 41. As shown 
in FIG. 2, the three-way valve 39 is activated by that one of the lines 20 
or 22 having the higher pressure and is operable to connect the line 20 or 
22 having the lower fluid pressure to the reservoir; that is, the 
three-way valve 39 connects the second fluid line 22 to the fluid 
reservoir 50 when the fluid pressure in the first fluid line 20 is greater 
than the fluid pressure in the second fluid line 22, and connects the 
first fluid line 20 to the fluid reservoir 50 when the fluid pressure in 
the second fluid line 22 is greater than the fluid pressure in the first 
fluid line 20. 
Alternatively, but preferably in addition, the system 10 can further 
comprise a suction line 49 selectively directly connecting one of the left 
and right ports 56 and 58 of the power cylinder 18 to the fluid reservoir 
50. A pair of check valves 52 are disposed in the suction line 49, 
connected one each to the left and right ports 56 and 58 of the power 
cylinder 18. The check valves 52 are oriented so as to permit the flow of 
fluid from the reservoir 50, through the suction line 49 and to the 
connected left or right port 56 or 58 of the power cylinder 18, when the 
fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p at that left or right port 56 or 58 is 
less than the pressure in the reservoir 50 (that is, when the pressure on 
either side of the cylinder conventionally defined in the power cylinder 
18 is less than the pressure in the reservoir 50). The suction line 49 is 
larger in diameter than the first and second fluid lines 20 and 22. The 
suction line 49 therefore has a lesser flow impedance (i.e., comprising 
both resistance and inductance) than the first and second fluid lines 20 
and 22, thereby permitting the described flow of fluid from the fluid 
reservoir 50 through the suction line 49 to be returned to the fluid 
reservoir 50 through the three-way valve 39 and the line 41. 
It is important to note that this combination of the three-way valve 39, 
the line 41, the suction line 49 and the check valves 52 can provide for 
the continuous rejuvenation of fluid in any power steering system of the 
type employing a pressurized fluid, that is, in conventional power 
steering systems having a pump driven directly by the vehicle engine, as 
well as in fluidic systems other than the hybrid type disclosed herein. 
This can occur every time a host vehicle incorporating any such system 
recovers from a turn; at least a portion of the fluid entering the 
expanding low-pressure side of the power cylinder 18 enters via the 
suction line 49 and one of the check valves 52, and that fluid volume is 
then returned to the reservoir 50 via the three-way valve 39 and the line 
41. 
For further safety and reliability, it is highly preferred that the power 
steering system 10 of the present invention include redundant measures of 
various operating parameters. Such redundancy serves at least two 
purposes: it provides a direct check on the proper operation of various 
individual components of the system 10; and it ensures the rapid 
termination of the powered assist to steering provided by the system 10, 
in case one or more individual components should fail, thereby 
affirmatively preventing runaway within the system 10 and an unintended 
steering event commonly known in the industry as "auto steer". 
Thus, the power steering system 10 of the present invention preferably 
further comprises a redundant applied steering torque sensor 15 different 
from the primary applied steering torque sensor 14. "Different from" means 
that the redundant applied steering torque sensor 15 comprises separate 
elements from those comprised in the primary applied steering torque 
sensor 14. While the redundant applied steering torque sensor 15 can act 
on a different operating principle than does the primary applied steering 
torque sensor 14, that is, that the primary and redundant applied steering 
torque sensors 14 and 15 can be of different fundamental types, it is 
preferred that they are the same type of sensor. 
In any event, the electronic control means 32 terminates the powered assist 
to vehicle steering provided by the system 10 when the redundant signal 
from the redundant applied steering torque sensor 15 fails to correlate 
with the signal V.sub.TT from the primary applied steering torque sensor 
14. 
With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the power steering system 10 of the 
present invention can include an additional or alternative redundant 
measure of a system parameter (such as assistive pressure) for safety 
purposes. More particularly, the system 10 further or alternatively 
comprises a means 35 for providing a redundant measure of the pressures 
LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p in the first and second fluid lines 20 and 22. This 
provides a check on the failure of the first and second pressure 
transducers 54 and 55, and can be employed by the electronic control means 
32 to prevent an erroneous voltage provided by a failed pressure 
transducer from generating an inappropriate error signal and causing 
system runaway. For example, the means 35 for providing a redundant 
measure of the pressures in the first and second fluid lines 20 and 22 can 
comprise a third pressure transducer 113 selectively connected to the one 
of the first an second fluid lines 20 or 22 having a higher fluid pressure 
than the other. The required selective connection is carried out in any 
convenient manner, as shown in FIG. 3 for example, by including a two 
position four-way valve 107 which selectively connects the third pressure 
transducer 113 to that one of the first and second fluid lines 20 or 22 
which has the higher pressure. This two-position four-way valve 107 
replaces the two-position, three-way valve 39 shown in FIG. 2, but still 
connects the first or second fluid line 20 or 22 having the lower pressure 
to the reservoir 50, like the three-way valve 39. The two-position, 
four-way valve 107 is not comparable to the four-way cross-over valve 
employed in the co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. '560, however, 
because it does not selectively connect the fluid pump 24 to the power 
cylinder 18. 
The electronic control means also generates a redundant expected computed 
value of the of the higher valued pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p in 
response to either the signal V.sub.TT from the primary applied steering 
torque sensor 14 or the redundant signal from the redundant applied 
steering torque sensor 15. The redundant expected computed signal, of 
course, must correspond to the actual signal indicative of the measured 
value of the higher valued pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p provided by 
either of the first and second pressure transducers 54 and 55, or the 
redundant measure of the pressure provided by the third pressure 
transducer 113. The electronic control means 32 compares each of the 
respective redundant computed and measured signals, and terminates the 
powered assist provided by the system 10 when any one of the redundant 
signals fails to correlate acceptably. A difference between signals 
corresponding to the same measured quantity may indicate a failure of one 
of the components of the system 10 measuring that quantity, or, may 
indicate a more fundamental failure within the system 10, including a 
failure of the electronic control means 32 itself. In any case, should 
such a difference between signals corresponding to the same measured 
quantity occur, the electronic control means terminates the powered assist 
provided by the system 10. 
It is highly desirable that, should the powered assist to steering provided 
by the system 10 be terminated by the electronic control means 32 in this 
manner, or should the system 10 otherwise fail, the vehicle can still be 
steered manually. Isolating the system 10 from the mechanical path of 
manual steering, however, substantially improves the ease of such manual 
steering. Without isolation, the vehicle operator would have to apply an 
additional torque, over and above that required for steering, in order to 
overcome the hindrance to steering presented by needing to manually drive 
fluid from the power cylinder 18 through the fluid pump 24, and thereby 
drive the fluid pump 24 and the electric motor 26 of the system 10. 
Accordingly, as shown in both FIGS. 2 and 3, it is preferred that the 
system 10 further comprise a two-position, solenoid-actuated compound 
two-way relief valve 37 connected to the first and second fluid lines 20 
and 22. The two-position relief valve 37 is spring-biased so that, in case 
of failure of the system 10, both of the first and second fluid lines 20 
and 22 are placed in direct fluid communication with the fluid reservoir 
50. When positioned in this fail-safe orientation, the two-position relief 
valve 37 effectively mimics the action of a clutch in decoupling the 
inertia of the rotating elements of the electric motor 26 and the fluid 
pump 24 from the remainder of the system 10. However, during normal 
operation of the system 10, the solenoid positions the relief valve 37 so 
that such communication through the relief valve 37 is prevented. It is 
this latter, normal operation position of the relief valve which is shown 
in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
As indicated above, it is also preferred that the power steering system 10 
of the present invention be a system which employs the energy regeneration 
principles of the system shown in co-pending Provisional Application Ser. 
No. '560. For brevity, the details of the disclosure of that provisional 
application will not be repeated here. By way of summary, however, such a 
system is alternatively operable in an unassisted straight steering mode, 
a powered assist mode in which a powered assist to steering is provided by 
the power cylinder 18 during entry of the host vehicle into a turn, and an 
energy regeneration mode which recovers energy while the vehicle exits a 
turn. 
Reference to the Provisional Application Ser. No. '560 should be made for 
further details about regenerative systems in general. One major 
difference between the system 10 of the present invention and the system 
shown in Provisional Application Ser. No. '560, however, is that the 
present system 10 does not employ differences between the actual and ideal 
pressure-effort curves to switch the system 10 among the straight 
steering, powered assist and energy regeneration modes. The system shown 
in Provisional Application Ser. No. '560 required such switching because 
it was desirable that the electric motor (26) disclosed in it was not 
driven in a reverse direction. In the system 10 of the present invention, 
in contrast, the electric motor 26 is in fact reversible; this eliminates 
the need for any controls for switching between modes and eliminates the 
need for any calculation of pressure-effort curves or ratios. Instead, by 
allowing the electric motor 26 to be driven in either of two directions, 
the regeneration of energy upon recovery from a vehicle turn is automatic. 
This is an appreciable improvement over the system shown in Provisional 
Application Ser. No. '560. 
The power steering system 10 of the present invention is thus preferably a 
regenerative system, operable in the three modes indicated above, such 
that the electronic control means 32 controls the electric motor 26 so as 
to provide a flow of pressurized fluid from one the first and second ports 
78 and 80 of the fluid pump 24 during the powered assist mode of the 
system 10, and so as to permit the electric motor 26 to generate energy 
recovered through the fluid pump 24 from a reversed flow of pressurized 
fluid during the energy regeneration mode of the system 10. (As indicated 
above, this regeneration occurs automatically in the preferred embodiment 
of the system 10 as described in detail herein.) Preferably, the fluid 
pump 24 and the electric motor 26 do not rotate during the straight 
steering mode of the system 10. 
When configured as a regenerative system, the system 10 preferably further 
comprises an electrical energy means 82 for storing and delivering 
electrical power, such that electrical energy is delivered from the 
electrical energy means 82 to the electric motor during the powered assist 
mode of the system 10, and is stored to the electrical energy means 82 by 
the electric motor 26 during the energy regeneration mode of the system 
10. The electrical energy means 82 most conveniently comprises a 
conventional alternator (not shown) and storage battery. 
A better understanding of the details of the feedback and servo control 
provided in the system 10 of the present invention may be had with 
reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. Such feedback and servo 
control is provided in the path between the application of an applied 
steering torque T.sub.s to the steering wheel 12 and the powered assist to 
steering provided by the power cylinder 18, that is, between the applied 
steering torque T.sub.s and the steering force assist provided to the 
dirigible wheels 13 by the power cylinder 18. More particularly, the 
electronic control means 32 employs the fluid pressures LP.sub.p and 
RP.sub.p measured by the first and second pressure transducers 54 and 55 
to establish an internal servo control loop, such as an internal servo 
control loop 322 for a left turn or 342 for a right turn, over the 
electric motor 26. This is achieved by establishing such an internal servo 
control loop 322 or 342 between an input signal V.sub.i derived from the 
application of the steering torque T.sub.s to the steering wheel 12, and 
the steering force assist to the dirigible wheels 13. In this manner, the 
electronic control means 32 can achieve a substantially linear 
relationship between the applied steering torque T.sub.s and the powered 
assist to steering supplied by the power cylinder 18. 
More particularly, in establishing such feedback and servo control, the 
applied steering torque T.sub.s is continuously sampled by the primary 
applied steering torque sensor 14 at block 300 of the flow chart shown in 
FIG. 4. The generation of a left fluid pressure LP.sub.p at block 316 or a 
right pressure RP.sub.p at block 336 results in the supply of a 
pressurized fluid to the left or right port 56 or 58 of the power cylinder 
18, respectively, resulting in a powered assist to steering the dirigible 
wheels 13 of the host vehicle. 
The flow chart shows the significant steps performed by the system 10 of 
the present invention between the application of the steering torque 
T.sub.s and the powered assist to steering. At block 302, the electronic 
control means 32 decides whether the applied steering torque T.sub.s is 
positive or negative, a positive torque T.sub.s indicating a left turn 
304, and a negative torque T.sub.s indicating a right turn 324. As shown 
at block 306 or 326, the electronic control means 32 samples and A/D 
(analog-to-digital) converts the signal of pressure RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p 
provided by the opposite pressure transducer 55 or 54. 
In a key feature of the system 10, the electronic control means 32 then 
adaptively calibrates this opposite pressure transducer 55 or 54 by 
assigning a zero value to the pressure value RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p it 
measures. More particularly, when the fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p 
measured by one of the first and second pressure transducers 54 or 55 is 
greater than the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p measured by the other 
transducer 55 or 54, and when that fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p 
measured by that one transducer 54 or 55 exceeds a predetermined threshold 
value (as will always be the case during execution of turns by a host 
vehicle incorporating the system 10), the electronic control means 32 
calibrates the other transducer 55 or 54 and assigns a zero value to an 
internal signal representative of the fluid pressure RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p 
measured by that other transducer 55 or 54. 
This adaptive calibration is highly advantageous in that it avoids a 
practical problem which might otherwise arise from the use of commonly 
available pressure transducers. In particular, many available pressure 
transducers generate a voltage at zero pressure which may be subject to a 
drift error offset from its nominal zero point (i.e., +0.5 v) by up to 
about 50 mV or so. 
The adaptive calibration employed in the system 10 of the present invention 
provides calibration of either of the pressure transducers 54 or 55 by 
holding, in a subtractive register, the A/D converted output signal 
therefrom when the other of the transducers 55 or 54 generates a voltage 
above an arbitrary threshold value indicating the presence of an 
appreciable fluid pressure. The digital value so held is then subtracted 
from sequentially A/D converted output signals from that one of the 
pressure transducers 54 or 55 (thus yielding a zero signal for a zero 
pressure) until the process is repeated during its next calibration. It 
should be noted that the resetting of RP.sub.p or LP.sub.p shown in blocks 
306 and 326 can be performed any time it is known that the other of LP or 
RP has an appreciable value, not merely at the location of blocks 306 and 
326 in FIG. 4. 
The electronic control means 32 also A/D converts the applied steering 
torque T.sub.s (that is, a torque signal V.sub.TT from the primarily 
applied steering torque transducer 14) and provides a compensation of the 
magnitude of the applied steering torque T.sub.s (that is, a compensation 
of the signal V.sub.TT) at block 308 or 328, yielding a compensated 
steering torque signal V.sub.c. The specific nature and purpose of this 
compensation is described in more detail below. 
Next, at block 310 or 330, the electronic control means 32 obtains feedback 
information regarding the actuation speed of the system 10 and modifies 
the compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c in dependence upon that 
feedback information. As described below, the purpose of the feedback 
information is to provide tactile damping of the system 10 as controlled 
by the driver. 
To this end, the power steering system 10 of the present invention further 
comprises a means 33 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) for measuring an actuation speed 
of the system 10. The actuation speed measuring means 33 preferably 
measures a quantity corresponding to the steering movement of the 
dirigible wheels 13. The actuation speed measuring means 33 can thus 
comprise a tachometer 62 operatively connected to the electronic control 
means 32 for measuring at least one of the rotational speed of the 
electric motor 26 and the rotational speed of the vehicle steering wheel 
12. The drawings show the tachometer 62 positioned for measuring the first 
of these; a second tachometer (not specifically shown) for measuring the 
second can also be provided. Alternatively, since (as indicated above) the 
electric motor 26 is preferably an induction motor under vector control, 
such tachometer information is required for the vector control itself, and 
preferably, the actuation speed measuring means 33 derives the tachometer 
information for the electric motor 26 from the voltage and current inputs 
into it. (Such means for deriving tachometer information from an induction 
motor are clearly beyond the scope of the instant application, but are 
believed herein to be well known in that art.) In addition, the tachometer 
62 or other source of tachometer information can also be used to provide a 
redundant signal, which permits monitoring of system safety (but not 
direct system control) in a similar manner to that permitted by the 
redundant applied steering torque sensor 15 and the third pressure 
transducer 113. 
Without regard to its source, the tachometer information is provided to the 
electronic control means 32 at block 310 or 330 of the flow chart shown in 
FIG. 4 as a tachometer feedback signal V.sub.t. The electronic control 
means 32 then subtracts this tachometer feedback signal V.sub.t from the 
compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c to yield an input signal 
V.sub.i for the internal feedback loop 322 or 342. The internal feedback 
loop 322 or 342 starts at block 312 or 332, respectively, at which the 
electronic control means 32 obtains a pressure-dependent internal loop 
feedback signal V.sub.f which is generated later in the loop 322 or 342. 
Also at block 312 or 332, the electronic control means 32 subtracts this 
pressure-dependent loop feedback signal V.sub.f from the input signal 
V.sub.i to yield an error signal V.sub.e. The electronic control means 32 
then determines an internal control loop gain value ICG (block 313 or 
333). The gain value ICG is a function of at least the speed of the host 
vehicle and the steering torque signal V.sub.TT (in a manner to be 
explained below), and can be obtained from a look-up table or can be made 
as a real-time calculation according to algorithms presented below. (The 
electronic control means 32 could, of course, use a series of 
pressure-effort curves stored in look-up tables for the direct calculation 
of a desired or target pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p, constituting the 
fourth aspect of the invention mentioned above, but it is believed that 
this is a less than satisfactory way to implement the principles of the 
present invention.) 
Once the internal control loop gain value ICG is determined, the electronic 
control means 32 operates the electric motor 26 so as to generate a 
measured fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p at the appropriate one of the 
first and second pressure transducers 54 or 55 in accordance with the 
product of the error signal V.sub.e and the gain value ICG. More 
particularly, the electronic control means 32 multiplies the gain value 
ICG by the error signal V.sub.e to yield an internal error signal V.sub.es 
(block 315 or 335). The electronic control means 32 then amplifies the 
internal error signal V.sub.es to yield an internal drive signal V.sub.d 
for operating the electric motor 26 (block 316 or 336). 
As indicated above, such compensated operation of the electric motor 26 
drives the fluid pump 24 and results in the supply of a pressurized fluid 
(at a pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p) to the appropriate left or right port 
56 or 58 of the power cylinder 18, and a consequent assist to vehicle 
steering. The electronic control means 32, however, also samples at block 
318 or 338, the resulting actual pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p, 
respectively. At block 320 or 340, the electronic control means 32 then 
AID converts and compensates the resulting pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p, 
respectively, yielding the pressure-dependent internal loop feedback 
signal V.sub.f mentioned above. (Such compensation is usually performed at 
this point, but instead, alternate compensation at block 315 or 335 could 
be utilized.) The pressure-dependent internal loop feedback signal V.sub.f 
is then fed back via loop 322 or 342 to block 312 or 332, respectively, 
enabling block 312 or 332 to yield the error signal V.sub.e by subtraction 
of the feedback signal V.sub.f from the input signal V.sub.i to the 
internal closed servo control loop 322 or 342, from which the internal 
drive signal V.sub.d is derived. 
As further indicated above, the tachometer feedback information used by the 
electronic control means in block 310 or 330 for tactile system damping 
can be obtained in any of several ways. For example, as mentioned before, 
the electric motor 26 is preferably an induction motor under vector 
control whereby such tachometer feedback information is required in order 
to implement the vector control. For both that purpose and its utilization 
in block 310 or 330, again as mentioned before, the tachometer feedback 
information can most economically be derived from the voltage and current 
inputs into the electric motor 26. Alternately, however, the actuation 
speed measuring means 33, such as the tachometer 62 measuring the 
rotational speed of the electric motor 26 (or, alternatively, of the 
steering wheel 12) generates a tachometer feedback signal V.sub.t equal to 
q.sub.m s/K.sub.c representative of the rotational speed of the electric 
motor 26 (or, alternatively, of the steering wheel 12), in which q.sub.m 
is the rotational position of the electric motor 26 (or steering wheel 
12), while K.sub.c is a tachometer feedback damping factor, and s is the 
first-order Laplace variable. The electronic control means 32 subtracts 
q.sub.m s/K.sub.c (that is, V.sub.t) from the compensated signal V.sub.c 
generated by the primary applied steering torque sensor 14 and the 
electronic control means 32 and employs the resulting difference as the 
input signal V.sub.i to the internal closed servo control loop 322 or 342. 
The steps outlined in the flow chart shown in FIG. 4 enable the electronic 
control means 32 to achieve a substantially linear relationship between 
the applied steering torque T.sub.s and the powered assist to vehicle 
steering supplied by the system 10, and in particular, by the power 
cylinder 18. It should also be noted, however, that the system 10 also 
generates the torque signal V.sub.TT in response to inputs at the 
dirigible wheels 13 of the host vehicle, for example, from jostling from 
chuckholes or the like. These perturbations could be considered as inputs 
(not shown) to the flow chart of FIG. 4 at blocks 316 or 336, and as 
outputs at block 300. As explained in detail below with regard to the 
block diagram shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, such perturbations are handled well by 
the system 10 of the present invention. 
The primary principle of the present invention, employing pressure or a 
pressure-dependent error signal for establishing servo control over the 
drive motor of a power steering system, is decidedly different from and 
is, because of the adaptive calibration described above, decidedly more 
accurate and therefore superior to the prior use of the torque output of 
prior drive motors to measure or estimate actual assistive torque. As 
described in more detail below, and without regard to where system 
resonances are believed to arise, the use of pressure or a 
pressure-dependent error signal for closed loop feedback control decouples 
operation of the power steering system 10 from the moment of inertia of 
the motor itself, which, because of the accuracy problem mentioned above, 
is problematic when motor torque information is used as a primary control. 
This principle allows the power steering system 10 of the present invention 
to counteract a specific resonance present in host vehicles whose 
existence appears not to have been previously dealt with in the automotive 
industry: a hydromechanical resonance occurring predominantly between the 
moment of inertia J.sub.m of the drive motor of a power steering system on 
the host vehicle (here, the electric motor 26) and a system spring rate 
presented by the steering load stiffness presented to the power steering 
system by the host vehicle. The electronic control means 32 employs the 
fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p measured by the first and second 
pressure transducers 54 and 55 to counteract this resonance. 
More particularly, the electronic control means 32 treats the 
hydromechanical resonance as a resonance between a mass element 
predominated by the moment of inertia of the electric motor 26 and a 
theoretical spring element dominated by tire loading characteristics 
associated with the tires 21. The electronic control means 32 employs the 
fluid pressures LP.sub.p and RP.sub.p measured by the first and second 
pressure transducers 54 and 55 to control the electric motor 26 so that 
the fluid pump 24 is not driven in harmony with the hydromechanical 
resonance. The dominant tire characteristics are determined by the tire 
side walls 23 of the tires 21 of the dirigible wheels 13, and by the tire 
patches 19 where the tires 21 contact the surface on which the host 
vehicle is located. At moderate to high vehicle speed, the dominant tire 
characteristics can be considered as arising from the product of the front 
end centrifugal force of the host vehicle and the effective caster offset 
of the dirigible wheels 13. 
Also in general, the various compensations mentioned above are intended to 
counteract other specific resonances which are believed to exist in the 
host vehicle and which affect steering. The compensations mentioned above 
and described in more detail below are believed to be dependent upon the 
specific structural characteristics of the steering gear, chassis, 
suspension and dirigible wheels of the particular host vehicle on which 
the system 10 of the present invention is employed. The effect of 
particular compensation constants can be effectively modeled by a variety 
of readily available computer programs. While some amount of modeling or 
experimentation with compensation will be required in order to meet any 
particular or perceived system resonance, the amount of such modeling or 
experimentation is believed not to be undue, but is instead believed to be 
the routine implementation of engineering skills once a person skilled in 
the art has assimilated the teachings comprised within the description of 
the block diagram shown in FIGS. 5A-C and has assigned values to all of 
the above-described structural characteristics of the host vehicle. 
FIGS. 5A-C constitute a single block diagram depicting various mechanical, 
hydraulic, electrical and electronic connections and relationships 
existing in a host vehicle which control the dynamic linkage between the 
actual torque T.sub.s applied by a vehicle operator to the steering wheel 
12, and the output tire patch steering angle q.sub.tp. (This block diagram 
is comparable to the block diagram 80 disclosed in FIG. 3 of the Phillips 
'715 patent.) Such a block diagram is useful in that it allows an 
assessment of the response of any represented system to a perturbation 
arising anywhere between the system input (here, the steering torque 
T.sub.s) and the tire patches 19 (including jostling of the dirigible 
wheels 13 by rough pavement, chuckholes or the like). The arrangement of 
the power steering system 10 according to the present invention isolates 
the moment of inertia J.sub.m of the electric motor 26 in the internal 
servo control loop 322 or 342 from the pinion-rack interface, and thus 
from the steering wheel and the driver of the host vehicle. 
The block diagram includes a terminal 350 (FIG. 5A) at which the actual 
torque T.sub.s applied to the steering wheel 12 by the vehicle operator 
serves as an input to the block diagram. The block diagram also includes a 
terminal 384 providing an output corresponding to the output tire patch 
steering angle qtp. 
The designation of terminals 350 and 384 as being respectively associated 
with an input and an output of the block diagrams is arbitrary, however, 
since the block diagrams also provide for an analysis of a perturbing 
force applied to the terminal 384 (for example, from jostling of the 
dirigible wheels 13 from road roughness or the like) and experienced by 
the driver at terminal 350. Therefore, while the block diagram of FIGS. 
5A-5C will be described in a forward direction from the input terminal 350 
to the output terminal 384 (a direction associated with actually steering 
the vehicle), concomitant relationships in the opposite direction should 
be assumed to be present. A description of such opposite, concomitant 
relationships is omitted herein for the sake of brevity. 
With particular reference to the portion of the block diagram shown in FIG. 
5A, the applied steering torque T measured by the primary applied steering 
torque sensor 14 is subtracted from T.sub.s at a summing point 352. The 
algebraic sum (T.sub.s -T) is then divided by (or, rather, multiplied by 
the reciprocal of) the sum of the moment of inertia term J.sub.s s.sup.2 
of the steering wheel 12 and the front end damping term B.sub.s s at block 
354. The block 354 yields a steering wheel angle q.sub.s which serves as 
the positive input to a summing point 356. The negative input to the 
summing point 356 is a pinion feedback angle q.sub.f derived in part from 
the linear motion X.sub.r of the rack 17 at a terminal 370 described 
below. The summing point 356 yields an error angle q.sub.e equal to 
(q.sub.s -q.sub.u), which when multiplied by the stiffness K (block 358) 
of the whole steering column connecting the steering wheel 12 to the 
pinion (not shown) gives the applied steering torque T (at terminal 360) 
which is present anywhere along the steering shaft 172 or is present at 
the pinion itself. K can be considered as a series gain element in this 
regard. T is fed back at terminal 380 for subtraction from T.sub.s at the 
summing point 352 in the manner described above. T is also supplied from 
terminal 380 to the portion of the block diagram shown in FIG. 5C, for a 
purpose described in more detail below. Division of T at block 362 by the 
radius R.sub.p of the pinion (or, rather, multiplication by its 
reciprocal) gives the mechanical force F.sub.m applied to the rack 17 via 
the pinion (not shown). 
The total steering force F.sub.T applied to the rack 17 is generated at 
summing point 364 and is the sum of the mechanical force F.sub.m applied 
to the rack 17 via the pinion and a hydraulic force F.sub.h provided by 
the hydraulic assist of the particular system modeled by the block 
diagram. The hydraulic force F.sub.h is derived from the applied steering 
torque T (again, supplied from terminal 380 to the portion of the block 
diagram shown in FIG. 5C) in a manner described in more detail below. The 
hydraulic force F.sub.h is summed with the mechanical force F.sub.m at 
summing point 364 to yield the total force F.sub.T in the manner indicated 
above. 
The sum of the forces applied to the effective steering linkage radius, 
F.sub.r, is derived at terminal 400 (FIG. 5B) and is subtracted from the 
total force F.sub.T at a summing point 366. The resulting algebraic sum 
(F.sub.T -F.sub.r) from the summing point 366 is divided by (or, rather, 
multiplied by the reciprocal of) a term M.sub.r S.sup.2 +B.sub.r s at 
block 438, where M.sub.r relates to the mass of the rack 17 and B.sub.r is 
a parallel damping coefficient term associated with motion of the rack 17. 
The resulting product is the longitudinal movement X.sub.r of the rack 17 
and is available at terminal 404 for two purposes. X.sub.r is supplied 
from terminal 404 to a summing point 410 (FIG. 5B) for a purpose described 
in more detail below. X.sub.r also serves as the positive input to a 
summing point 462, from which the lateral motion X.sub.h of the steering 
gear housing 66 is subtracted. The algebraic sum (X.sub.r -X.sub.h) taken 
at terminal 370 is divided by (that is, multiplied by the reciprocal of) 
the pinion radius R.sub.p at block 376 to yield the rotational feedback 
angle q.sub.f, which serves as the negative input to the summing point 356 
as described above. The algebraic sum (X.sub.r -X.sub.h) also relates to 
an angle q.sub.p associated with rotation of the fluid pump 24, which is 
described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 5C. 
The lateral motion X.sub.h of the steering gear housing 66 depends upon FT. 
More particularly, F.sub.T is a negative input to a summing point 461, 
from which a force F.sub.hsf applied to the sub-frame as a 
housing-to-sub-frame force is subtracted. (The force F.sub.hsf is derived 
from terminal 454 (FIG. 5B) in a manner described in more detail below.) 
The lateral housing motion X.sub.h is then determined by the product of 
the algebraic sum (-F.sub.T -F.sub.hsf) and a control element 1/(M.sub.h 
S.sup.2) at block 460, where M.sub.h is the mass of the housing of the 
power cylinder 18. X.sub.h is taken from terminal 420 as the negative 
input to summing point 462 to yield the algebraic sum (X.sub.r -X.sub.h) 
in the manner described above. 
With reference then to that portion of the block diagram shown in FIG. 5B, 
the output tire patch steering angle q.sub.tp at terminal 384 is 
determined by the sum of torques T.sub.tp applied to the tire patches 19 
(located at terminal 386) multiplied by a control element 1/(B.sub.tp 
s+K.sub.tp) shown at block 388, where K.sub.tp and B.sub.tp are exemplary 
tire patch torsional stiffness and damping coefficient terms, 
respectively, determined in a manner explained in more detail below, and s 
is the first-order Laplace variable. The sum of tire patch torques 
T.sub.tp at terminal 386 is determined by the difference, achieved via 
summing point 390, between the average dirigible wheel angle q.sub.w and 
the average output tire patch angle q.sub.tp multiplied by a control 
element (B.sub.sw s+K.sub.sw) shown at block 392, where K.sub.sw and 
B.sub.sw are torsional stiffness and torsional damping coefficients, 
respectively, associated with torsional deflection of the tire side walls 
23 with respect to the dirigible wheels 13. q.sub.w is determined by the 
difference (achieved via summing point 396) between the sum of the torques 
T.sub.w applied to the dirigible wheels and the sum of tire patch torques 
T.sub.tp, multiplied by a control element 1/(J.sub.w s.sup.2) (where 
J.sub.w is moment of inertia of the dirigible wheels) shown at block 398. 
The sum of the torques T.sub.w applied to the dirigible wheels is 
determined by the sum of the forces F.sub.r applied at the effective 
steering linkage radius (located at a terminal 400) multiplied by a 
control element R.sub.w cos (q.sub.w) (where R.sub.w is the effective 
steering linkage radius of the steering knuckles) shown at block 402. The 
sum of forces F.sub.r is determined in three steps. First, a difference is 
achieved via summing point 410 between X.sub.r taken from terminal 404 
(FIG. 5A) and (f.sub.c X.sub.tf), the latter being obtained by multiplying 
(at block 406) the lateral motion X.sub.sf of the sub-frame at terminal 
408 by a coupling factor f, between the sub-frame of the system 10 and the 
dirigible wheels 13. Second, the product q.sub.w R.sub.w cos(q.sub.w) 
(obtained by multiplication at block 412) is subtracted from the algebraic 
sum (X.sub.r -f.sub.C X.sub.sf) at summing point 414. Finally, this 
difference (X.sub.r -f.sub.c X.sub.sf)-(q.sub.w R.sub.w cos(q.sub.w)) is 
multiplied by a control element K.sub.r shown at block 416 to yield the 
sum of rack forces F.sub.r, where K.sub.r is the stiffness of the 
connecting elements between the rack 17 and the dirigible wheels 13. 
F.sub.r is then returned to summing point 366 and the subsequent 
derivation of X.sub.r at terminal 404 in the manner described above with 
respect to FIG. 5A. 
The balance of the portion of the block diagram shown in FIG. 5B models the 
structural elements disposed in the path of reaction forces applied to the 
cylinder housing of the power cylinder 18, and provides the lateral motion 
X.sub.sf of the sub-frame (terminal 408) and the sub-frame force F.sub.h 
s.sub.f (terminal 454) mentioned above. Ultimately, these reaction forces 
are applied to a substantially "stationary" portion of the host vehicle's 
frame as a frame reaction force F.sub.f derived from block 444. More 
particularly, F.sub.f is determined by the product of the displacement 
X.sub.f of a "mobile" portion of the host vehicle's frame (located at 
terminal 442) and a control element K.sub.f (where K.sub.f is a stiffness 
factor separating "mobile" and "stationary" portions of the host vehicle's 
frame) shown at block 444. X.sub.f is determined by the product of a 
control element 1/(M.sub.f s.sup.2) (shown at block 446) and an algebraic 
sum (F.sub.sff -F.sub.f) generated by summing point 449, where M.sub.f is 
mass of the "mobile" portion of the host vehicle's frame, and F.sub.sff is 
the force applied to the "mobile" portion of the host vehicle's frame as 
sub-frame to frame force, located at terminal 448. F.sub.sff is determined 
by the product of a control element (B.sub.sff s+K.sub.sff) shown at block 
450 and an algebraic sum (X.sub.sf -X.sub.f) generated by summing point 
451, where K.sub.sff and B.sub.sff are stiffness and series damping 
coefficient terms, respectively, associated with the interface between the 
sub-frame and "mobile" portion of the host vehicle's frame. Xsf at 
terminal 408 is determined by the product of control element 1/(M.sub.sf 
s.sup.2) shown at block 452, where M.sub.sf is the mass of the sub-frame, 
and an algebraic sum (F.sub.hsf -F.sub.sff) generated by summing point 
455, where F.sub.hsf is a force applied to the sub-frame as a 
housing-to-sub-frame force located at terminal 454. F.sub.hsf is 
determined by the product of a control element (B.sub.hsf s+K.sub.hsf) 
(where K.sub.hsf and B.sub.hsf are stiffness and series damping 
coefficient terms, respectively, associated with the interface between the 
power cylinder housing and the sub-frame), shown at block 456, and an 
algebraic sum (X.sub.h -X.sub.sf) generated by summing point 458. The 
positive input to summing point 458, X.sub.h, is taken from terminal 420 
in FIG. 5A, while the negative input, X.sub.sf, is taken from terminal 408 
in FIG. 5B. 
With reference now to that portion of the block diagram shown in FIG. 5C, 
FIG. 5C completes the block diagram and models the internal servo control 
loop established by the electronic control means 32, motor 26, fluid pump 
24, and pressure sensors 54 and 55. The input V.sub.i to the loop is the 
positive input to a summing point 486 and is derived in part from the 
applied steering torque T at terminal 380, less tachometer feedback 
information such as a subtracted tachometer feedback voltage V.sub.t. The 
output from the loop is a port pressure P.sub.p at terminal 504, 
equivalent to the left or right fluid pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p sensed 
by the appropriate one of the pressure sensors 54 and 55, and which yields 
the hydraulically derived force F.sub.h summed with the mechanically 
derived force F.sub.m at summing point 364 in the manner disclosed above. 
More particularly, the steering torque T at terminal 380 is converted at 
block 480 by the primary applied steering torque sensor 14 to a torque 
sensor voltage V.sub.TT, the sensor conversion constant TT being 
associated with the sensor 14 and having suitable units such as 
volts/in.-lb. The torque sensor voltage V.sub.TT is multiplied by suitable 
compensation f.sub.i at block 482 to yield a compensated voltage V.sub.c. 
V.sub.c serves as a positive input to a summing point 484; the negative 
input to summing point 484 is the tachometer feedback voltage V.sub.t, 
derived in a manner described in more detail below, in conjunction with 
FIG. 13. 
The input voltage V.sub.i to the servo control loop is thus the algebraic 
sum (V.sub.c -V.sub.t) from summing point 484. 
At the summing point 486, a pressure-dependent feedback voltage V.sub.f is 
subtracted from V.sub.i to yield an error signal voltage V.sub.e, V.sub.f 
being derived in a manner described in more detail below. V.sub.e 
multiplied by a gain factor K.sub.q in block 488 provides the actual air 
gap motor torque T.sub.m of the electric motor 26. The gain factor K.sub.q 
in block 488 is the product of many factors, including the internal 
control gain value ICG, any compensation, amplification (to drive the 
electric motor 26) and the torque constant of the electric motor 26. 
The actual pump torque T.sub.p of the fluid pump 24, obtained at terminal 
500 in a manner described in more detail below, is subtracted from T.sub.m 
at a summing point 490 to give an algebraic sum (T.sub.m -T.sub.p) 
representing net torque for accelerating J.sub.m, the moment of inertia of 
the electric motor 26. A motor angle q.sub.m at terminal 494, associated 
with the rotor (not shown) of the electric motor 26, is the product of the 
net torque (T.sub.m -T.sub.p) and an inertia term 1/(J.sub.m S.sup.2) 
shown in block 492. The motor angle provides tachometer feedback by being 
multiplied by a damping factor s/K.sub.c in block 518 (comprising 
differentiation with respect to time and division by the term K.sub.c 
described in more detail below in connection with FIG. 13) to yield the 
tachometer feedback voltage V.sub.t supplied as the negative input to the 
summing point 484. 
The motor angle q.sub.m serves as the positive input to a summing point 
496. 
The negative input to the summing point 496 is a pump rotation angle qp 
derived from the algebraic sum (X.sub.r -X.sub.h) at terminal 370. More 
particularly, the product of the algebraic sum (X.sub.r -X.sub.h) and an 
area A (associated with the power cylinder 18) identified in block 520 
yields the integral with respect to time, Q.sub.c /s, of a flow quantity 
Q.sub.c flowing from the power cylinder 18 to the fluid pump 24. (Q.sub.c 
/s is a volumetric measure because the reciprocal of the first-order 
Laplace variable s denotes integration with respect to time while 
multiplication by s denotes differentiation with respect to time.) The 
product of Q.sub.c /s and a transfer function f.sub.qoi in block 522 in 
turn yields the resulting volumetric quantity Q.sub.p /s of fluid at the 
fluid pump 24. More particularly, f.sub.qoi is a transfer function 
comprising the volumetric compliance of the fluid in the power cylinder 18 
and the impedance (primarily inductive) of the fluid line(s) from the 
power cylinder 18 back to the fluid pump 24. The product of Q.sub.p /s and 
the reciprocal of the displacement d of the fluid pump 24 (block 524) 
yields the pump rotation angle q.sub.p to be subtracted from q.sub.m at 
the summing point 496. The resulting algebraic sum (q.sub.m -q.sub.p) from 
summing point 496 is multiplied by the stiffness K.sub.p, shown at block 
498 of the shaft and coupling (not shown) which connect the rotor (not 
shown) of the electric motor 26 to the fluid pump 24, to yield the pump 
torque Tp at terminal 500. It may be of interest to note that the feedback 
loop of T.sub.p from terminal 500 to summing point 490 has infinite gain 
at dc., as the Laplace variable s goes to zero. This is natural, since it 
implies that the rotor of the electric motor 26 reaches a terminal speed 
without further acceleration. 
The product of T.sub.p and the reciprocal of the pump displacement d at 
block 502 yields the pump port pressure P.sub.p at terminal 504. (P.sub.p 
is, of course, equal to the pressure LP.sub.p or RP.sub.p measured by the 
appropriate one of the first and second pressure transducers 54 and 55.) 
The product of P.sub.p and a transfer function f.sub.pio in block 514 
yields the pressure P.sub.c in the power cylinder 18 itself. The transfer 
function f.sub.pio represents a low-pass filter into the power cylinder 
18, and nominally comprises the elements of transfer function f.sub.qoi in 
reverse. The further product of the power cylinder pressure P.sub.c with 
the area A of the power cylinder 18 (block 516) yields the hydraulic force 
F.sub.h provided by the power cylinder 18. As indicated above with respect 
to FIG. 5A, F.sub.h is summed with the mechanical force F.sub.m at the 
summing point 364 to yield the total steering force F.sub.T. 
The internal servo control feedback loop in the system 10 of the present 
invention is established between V.sub.i as the positive input to the 
summing point 486 and the pump port pressure P.sub.p at terminal 504. Upon 
sampling by the left or right pressure transducer 54 or 55, the pump port 
pressure P.sub.p is multiplied by an appropriate conversion factor PT at 
block 506 to yield a pressure transducer voltage V.sub.PT. The pressure 
transducer voltage V.sub.PT is then divided by (that is, multiplied by the 
reciprocal of) the conversion factor PT at block 508, multiplied by the 
pump displacement d at block 510 and divided by (that is, multiplied by 
the reciprocal of) K.sub.q ' at block 512 to yield the feedback voltage 
V.sub.f supplied as the negative input to summing point 486. 
As explained in more detail below, K.sub.q ' has differing value and 
compensation from the value and any compensation associated with K.sub.q 
in block 488. The parenthetical indications of P.sub.p after block 508 and 
T.sub.p after block 510 show the relationships that exist at those 
locations. Unlike the other parameters identified in the block diagram, 
however, these parameters should be considered as merely virtual at these 
locations, because they are not separately calculated by the electronic 
control means 32, and unlike the other parameters they are not subject to 
actual measurement at those locations. 
The reverse analysis of the block diagrams shown in FIGS. 5A-C from 
q.sub.tp at output terminal 384 to T.sub.s at input terminal 350 will, for 
brevity, be omitted. 
The block diagram of the system 10 of the present invention shown in FIGS. 
5A-C can alternatively be reduced to a "canonical form" 222block diagram 
like that shown in FIG. 4 of the Phillips '715 patent. That figure is 
expressly incorporated by reference herein; the reference numerals in that 
figure will be referred to in parentheses. Reduction is carried out via 
computation of suitable forward and feedback transfer functions G and H, 
respectively, for each of the powered assist and energy regeneration 
modes. Such computation can be made, for example, via methods described by 
DiStefano, Stubberud, and Williams in Schaum's Outline of Theory and 
Problems of Feedback and Control Systems. In block diagram (370), an input 
signal I (equal in this case to T.sub.s), is positively applied to a 
summing point (372) via an input terminal (374). Closed-loop response of 
block diagram (370) yields an output signal C (equal in this case to 
q.sub.tp) at an output terminal (376). C multiplied by a control element 
feed-back transfer function H shown at block (378) generates a feedback 
signal B which is negatively applied to the summing point (372) to 
generate an error signal E. Finally, the error signal E multiplied by a 
control element forward transfer function G shown at block (380) generates 
the output signal C. During the powered assist and energy regeneration 
modes of the present system 10, the expressions for the forward transfer 
function G and the feedback function H will be very complex. However, in 
each case the equation C/I=q.sub.tp /T.sub.s =G/(1+(G H)) determines the 
dynamic relationship between q.sub.tp and T.sub.s. 
In general, the mass of piston-and-rack assembly, the transmissive 
character of tie-rod linkage assemblies, the mass of the dirigible wheels 
13, the transmissive character of the tire side walls and the tire 
patches, the mass of housing, the transmissive character of the mounting 
bracket and bolts, the effective mass of the sub-frame, the effective 
transmissive character of the interface between the sub-frame and the host 
vehicle's frame, and the effective mass of the host vehicle's frame are 
comprised in a very complex sub-system. The dynamics associated with this 
sub-system heavily influence the stability criteria governing the shudder 
susceptibility of power steering system 10 of the present invention. 
It is desirable for any servo system, as represented by block diagram 
(370), to operate in a stable manner. This will occur if the open-loop 
transfer function (G H) attains sufficient values of gain margin wherein 
its absolute value differs sufficiently from a value of 1.0 whenever its 
argument attains an angular value equal to an odd multiple of 180.infin.; 
and attains sufficient values of phase margin wherein its argument differs 
sufficiently from a value equal to an odd multiple of 180.infin. whenever 
its absolute value attains a value of 1.0. The stability enjoyed by the 
system 10 of the present invention is described in more detail below, with 
regard to FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A and 11B. 
Except for the tire patch torsional stiffness K.sub.tp, and K.sub.q and 
K.sub.q ' (described in detail below in conjunction with FIGS. 8, 12 and 
13), the following values and units for the various constants and 
variables mentioned above can be considered exemplary for the regenerative 
power steering system 10 of the present invention, and a conventional host 
vehicle on which it is employed: 
______________________________________ 
1/(B.sub.tp s + K.sub.tp) = 1/(5,000 s + K.sub.tp) rad./in.-lb. 
B.sub.sw s + K.sub.sw = 30 s + 500,000 in.-lb. 
1/(J.sub.w s.sup.2) = 1/(5 s.sup.2) rad./in.-lb. 
1/(J.sub.s s.sup.2 + B.sub.s s) = 1/(0.5 s.sup.2 + 3.5 s) rad./in.-lb. 
R.sub.w = 5 in/rad. 
1/(M.sub.r s.sup.2 + B.sub.r s) = 1/(0.02 s.sup.2 + 3 s) in./lb. 
1/R.sub.p = 1/0.315 in..sup.-1 
K = 800 in.-lb. 
f.sub.c = 0.8 (dimensionless) 
A = 1.511 in..sup.2 
1/(M.sub.h s.sup.2) = 1/(0.02 s.sup.2) in./lb. 
B.sub.hsf s + K.sub.hsf = 5.0 s + 150,000 lb/in. 
1/(M.sub.sf s.sup.2) = 1/(0.5 s.sup.2) in./lb. 
B.sub.sff s + K.sub.sff = 25.0 s + 60,000 lb./in. 
1/(M.sub.f s.sup.2) = 1/(0.2 s.sup.2) in./lb. 
K.sub.c = 1,000 rad./volt-sec. 
K.sub.f = 530,000 lb./in. 
K.sub.ps = 19,300 in.-lb. 
K.sub.r = 125,000 lb./in. 
TT = 0.025 volts/in.-lb. 
1/(J.sub.m s) = 1/(0.00523 s) in..sup.-1 -lb..sup.-1 sec..sup.-1 
d = 0.0207 in..sup.3 /rad. 
1/d = 1/0.0207 rad./in..sup.3 
PT = 0.00267 volts/psi. 
1/PT = 1/0.00267 psi./volt 
P.sub.c, P.sub.p = lb./in..sup.2 
X.sub.r, X.sub.f, X.sub.h, X.sub.sf = in. 
F.sub.hsf, F.sub.h, F.sub.sff, F.sub.f, F.sub.T, F.sub.r, F.sub.m = lb. 
T, T.sub.tp, T.sub.m, T.sub.e, T.sub.p, T.sub.s, T.sub.w = in.-lb. 
q.sub.s, q.sub.tp, q.sub.p, q.sub.e, q.sub.w, q.sub.m, q.sub.f = rad. 
Q.sub.c, Q.sub.p = in..sup.3 /sec. 
V.sub.TT, V.sub.t, V.sub.f, V.sub.PT, V.sub.c, V.sub.e, V.sub.i = 
______________________________________ 
volts 
For each of the combination terms mentioned above, the designated units 
apply to the entire term, and not merely to the last element of the term. 
Of course, the particular values given above are merely exemplary of the 
actual values which may be encountered in any particular, real-world 
steering system and host vehicle, and the particular values given above 
may be only rough approximations of those actual values. Many of the 
terms, particularly the compensation terms, are generally determined in an 
empirical manner. 
The transfer functions f.sub.pio and f.sub.qoi are dimensionless and have 
the same numerical value, and are defined by the equation: 
EQU f.sub.pio =f.sub.qoi =(1+0.0005 s)/(1+0.0005 s+0.0000057 s.sup.2) 
The compensation term f.sub.i is also dimensionless, and is defined by the 
following equation, where v is the host vehicle speed in mph: 
EQU f.sub.i= (1+0.018 s) (1+s/(63 e.sup.-v/30 +19)/(1+s/(63 e.sup.-v/30 +19) 
(1+0.0023 s) (1+0.018 s) 
And the compensation 1/K.sub.qc ' applied to 1/K.sub.q ', also 
dimensionless, is defined by the following equation: 
EQU 1/K.sub.qc '=(1+0.055 s)/(1+s/(15 e.sup.-v/35 +0.1 v+5)(1+0.0032 s) 
(1+0.0027 s) 
Steering shaft damping means which is believed to be suitable for use as 
the steering shaft damping element B.sub.s in block 354 of that portion of 
the block diagram shown in FIG. 5A has already been described, for 
example, in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/630,369, entitled "Yoke 
Apparatus for Rack and Pinion" (E. H. Phillips, filed Apr. 10, 1996); U.S. 
patent application Ser. No. 09/026,738, entitled "Yoke Apparatus for Rack 
and Pinion" (E. H. Phillips, filed Feb. 19, 1998); and U.S. Provisional 
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/070,732, entitled "Yoke Apparatus for Rack 
and Pinion" (E. H. Phillips and R. Swartzendruber, filed Feb. 3, 1998); 
all of which being expressly incorporated by reference herein. The yoke 
apparatus described in any of the above U.S. Patent Applications provides 
effective on-center damping because frictional forces increase in value as 
motion of the supported rack begins. As explained in the above U.S. Patent 
Applications, this occurs because there is a lack of initial relative 
motion between a bearing disc member of the yoke apparatus and rack 
followed by progressive relative motion therebetween. This occurs because 
the bearing disc member is subject to a force couple which causes a 
contra-pitch rotation whereby it establishes a hydrodynamic bearing wedge 
for lubricant. Thus, during a rack motion startup mode there is an initial 
period of zero friction between the bearing disc member and the rack, 
followed by modestly increasing friction there-between. 
The beneficial effects attendant to the absence or presence of a non-zero 
value for B.sub.s are shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and 7A and 7B, 
respectively. These figures depict overall system Bode plots and closed 
loop response plots for on center handling at a vehicle speed of 100 mph, 
wherein B, has the value of 0.0 in.-lb.-sec. in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and has 
the value of 12 in.-lb.-sec. in FIGS. 7A and 7B. As will be described in 
greater detail below, K.sub.q and Kq' (i.e., for T.sub.s values between 0 
and 15 in.-lbs.) are both suppressed to zero on center. This causes the 
internal servo control loop to deliver fluid pressure P.sub.p 
substantially at a zero value in order to suppress the hydraulic force 
F.sub.h and provide essentially manual steering conditions on center. Even 
though the internal servo control loop actively tries to suppress any 
control abnormalities, setting B.sub.s to a zero value results in a lack 
of damping together with a mild resonance for tactile inputs applied to 
the steering wheel 12. 
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, wherein B.sub.s has a value of 0.0 
in.-lb.-sec., the open loop gain T/T.sub.e crosses unity at 4.9 Hz with a 
phase angle of -121 degrees, as indicated by reference numerals 600 and 
602, respectively. This results in X.sub.r /T.sub.s, the closed loop gain 
between T.sub.s (the torque applied to the steering wheel) and X.sub.r 
(the resulting displacement of the rack) having a modest resonance as 
indicated by reference numeral 604 in FIG. 6A. The amplitude of X.sub.r 
/T.sub.s increases by a factor of about 2.7 at this resonance. This 
resonance is also associated with a somewhat abrupt change in phase angle, 
as indicated by reference numeral 606 in FIG. 6B. 
Similar tactile performance curves are presented in FIGS. 7A and 7B, 
wherein B.sub.s has a value of 12 in.-lb.-sec. and wherein identically 
numbered reference numerals having primes are utilized to indicate 
improved tactile performance. The result of providing such damping is a 
unity gain crossover occurring at 2.8 Hz with a critically damped phase 
angle of -89.infin. and absolutely no resonance at all. In greater detail, 
the resonance indicated by reference numeral 604 in FIG. 6A is between 
J.sub.s, the moment of inertia of the steering wheel 12, and the reflected 
spring constant of the system as a whole as observed from the steering 
wheel 12. Typically in an automotive power steering system, compliance of 
the tire side walls and tire loading characteristics of the dirigible 
wheels 13 comprise the most compliant and therefore dominant factors 
determining the reflected spring constant of the system as a whole. As 
indicated above, a typical value for the tire side wall stiffness 
K.sub.sw, is perhaps 500,000 in.-lb./rad., while tire loading stiffness 
K.sub.tp (in in.-lb./rad.) can be represented by an empirically determined 
equation as a function of vehicle speed, centrifugal force due to lateral 
acceleration, and instant tire patch-road interface characteristics. 
When the vehicle is stationary, K.sub.tp is related to the integrated 
product of the deflection rate of each tread block of the tire patch and 
its radial distance from the center of rotation of the tire patch. At high 
speed it is related to the product of front end centrifugal force and 
caster offset while at low speeds there is a transition from stationary to 
high speed conditions. Actually, even the effective value for the caster 
offset should be determined empirically because it is dependent upon the 
instant characteristics of a dynamically varying tire patch. As lateral 
acceleration reaches high values, slippage begins primarily toward the 
rear of the tire patch-road interface. This serves to reduce the caster 
offset to the point where it can even achieve a zero value. This, of 
course, would result in a zero value of steering force. Should such a 
level of centrifugal force be reached that the caster offset becomes 
negative, then the direction of the tire loading stiffness K.sub.tp 
reverses and it increases in absolute value in the opposite direction with 
resulting steering force reversal as well. 
Depicted by curve 610 of FIG. 8 is a representative approximation for 
K.sub.tp values comprising an exponential term plus a square law term 
(i.e., with respect to vehicle velocity) according to the formula: 
EQU K.sub.tp =250,000/e.sup.(v/3) +((17.6).sup.2 few co v.sup.2)/(g wb) 
where e is the base of the natural logarithm, v is vehicle velocity in mph, 
"few" is front end weight in lbs., "co" is caster offset in inches, g is 
the acceleration of gravity (386.4 in./sec..sup.2), and "wb" is the 
vehicle's wheel base in inches. 
Of lesser impact on the reflected spring constant of the system as a whole 
is the torsional spring stiffness of the steering column K, which includes 
the effects of any compliant element in the steering gear itself, such as 
a torsion bar. This fact of lesser impact is especially significant 
herein, because one of the goals of the system 10 of the present invention 
is to enable the use of higher values for K. Use of the block diagram 
disclosed above and the application of conventional analysis techniques to 
it comprise values for K on the order of 800 in.-lbs./rad. as indicated 
above. Thus, the net reflected spring constant K.sub.rsc in in.-lbs./rad. 
relates primarily to K.sub.sw and K.sub.tp, and is substantially 
determined by the equations: 
EQU K.sub.int=(R.sub.p /(R.sub.w cos .theta..sub.w)).sup.2 (F.sub.m /(F.sub.m 
+F.sub.h))((K.sub.sw K.sub.tp)/(K.sub.sw +K.sub.tp)) 
and 
EQU K.sub.rsc =(K.sub.sc K.sub.int)/(K.sub.sc +K.sub.int) 
where R.sub.p is the pinion radius in inches, R.sub.w is the knuckle arm 
radius in inches, q.sub.w is average knuckle arm angle, F.sub.m is the 
mechanically derived force in lbs., F.sub.h is the hydraulically derived 
force in lbs., and K.sub.int is an intermediate approximation to the 
reflected spring constant in in.-lbs./rad. In the equation for determining 
K.sub.rsc, the terms on the right hand side of the equation serve to 
combine K.sub.sc and K.sub.int. In the equation for determining K.sub.int, 
the term (R.sub.p /(R.sub.w cos q.sub.w)).sup.2 can be thought of as 
representing a transformer whose ratio is (R.sub.p /(R.sub.w cos 
q.sub.w)), the term (F.sub.m /(F.sub.m +F.sub.h)) can be thought of as 
being equivalent to a voltage divider, and the term ((K.sub.sw 
K.sub.tp)/(K.sub.sw +K.sub.tp)) serves to combine K.sub.sw and K.sub.tp. 
It is the presence of the product of the first two of these terms that 
results in the reflected compliance of the tire side wall and tire loading 
characteristics being dominant over that of the steering column. Values 
for K.sub.rsc (utilizing the values for K.sub.tp shown in FIG. 8) as a 
function of vehicular speed (in mph) is depicted by curve 612 in FIG. 9. 
In calculating the functions depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, q.sub.w is taken 
as being equal to zero, while the values used for all of the other terms 
identified above correspond to those listed with reference to the block 
diagram shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. 
Again, by way of summary, in the power steering system 10 of the present 
invention the electronic control means 32 achieves its objects by 
employing the fluid pressures measured by the first and second pressure 
transducers 54 and 55 (and preferably employs an error signal derived in 
part from those fluid pressures) to counteract a hydromechanical resonance 
occurring predominantly between the moment of inertia of the electric 
motor 26 and a system spring rate consisting primarily of the dominant 
tire loading characteristics of the dirigible wheels 13. More 
particularly, the electronic control means 32 treats the hydromechanical 
resonance as a mass element predominated by the moment of inertia of the 
electric motor 26 and a theoretical spring element dominated by the tire 
loading characteristics of the tires 21, and employs the fluid pressures 
measured by the first and second pressure transducers 54 and 55 to control 
the electric motor 26 so that the fluid pump 24 is not driven in harmony 
with the hydromechanical resonance. 
The electronic control means 32 provides compensation suitable to this end. 
More particularly, the electronic control means 32 provides compensation 
of at least one of the magnitude of the applied steering torque in 
determining the compensated signal V.sub.c (block 308 or 328 of FIG. 4), 
and the internal servo control loop comprising either, or both of, the 
operation of the electric motor 26, in particular, by compensation of the 
internal error signal V.sub.es, the product of the gain value ICG and the 
error signal V.sub.e (block 315 or 335), or compensation of the fluid 
pressure measured by one of the first and second pressure transducers 54 
and 55 in determining the feedback signal V.sub.f (block 320 or 340). Most 
preferably, the compensation (308 or 328) of the magnitude of the applied 
steering torque predominantly includes at least one pole to suppress the 
open loop gain q.sub.f /q.sub.e of the overall control loop, while the 
remaining compensation associated with the internal servo control loop is 
predominated by a low-frequency zero to advance the phase angle of the 
motor inertia dominated resonance of the open loop gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e, 
followed by higher frequency poles to suppress the open loop gain q.sub.f 
/q.sub.e of the overall control loop in order to suppress overall system 
high frequency resonances. Preferably, this is by compensation (320 or 
340) of the fluid pressure measured by one of the first and second 
pressure transducers. However, it is possible to change the manner in 
which the remaining compensation is placed or even to concentrate all of 
the terms in the step 315 or 335 with comparatively little degradation of 
the total compensation. 
The electronic control means 32 also establishes base non-frequency 
dependent values for both the gain factor K.sub.q (block 488) and the 
feedback gain factor 1/K.sub.q ' (block 512) in part as functions of 
vehicle speed and torque sensor signal V.sub.TT, and in part according to 
the ratio u=K.sub.q /K.sub.q '. As mentioned above, for values of torque T 
less than 15 in./lbs., corresponding to V.sub.TT values less than 0.375 
Volts, both K.sub.q and K.sub.q ' are suppressed to zero values in a 
manner to be explained below. The ratio u may be fixed or may itself vary 
with vehicle speed. Ideally, the ratio u would have a large value which 
would make the closed loop gain P.sub.p /V.sub.i of the internal feedback 
loop equal to the inverse of the overall feedback value, and thus, totally 
independent of the motor inertia term. However, this would result in a 
large internal open loop gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e which would be difficult to 
suppress and successfully bring through unity gain. Thus, the internal 
open loop gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e must have a rather modest value (i.e., 
such as that obtained with a value of u=2 which is used herein) so as to 
achieve stable operation of the internal servo control loop. However, the 
hydro-mechanical resonance identified herein does result in a high "Q" 
resonance in the internal open loop gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e at all vehicle 
speeds. This is shown for both 0 mph and 100 mph by reference numerals 550 
and 552 in FIGS. 10A and 11A, respectively, each depicting a significant 
localized increase in the internal open loop gain V.sub.t /V.sub.e at its 
resonant frequency. 
It is interesting to note that without utilization of the internal servo 
control loop there would of course be no feedback voltage V.sub.f, with 
the result that V.sub.e would have the same value as V.sub.i and the high 
"0" resonance would actually be present in the ratio P.sub.p /V.sub.i. 
This would result in the high "0" resonance commingling with all of the 
nodes depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B except for the input node 350 where 
T.sub.s is located. Specifically, it would result in an inversely 
proportional notch in the node following summing point 356 where q.sub.e 
is located and the node 360 where T is located. In other words, an 
"inverse" resonance would be present in the overall servo control loop 
whereat the steering shaft torque would virtually disappear at the 
resonant frequency. 
In any case, the preferred modest value for u utilized herein enables a 
relatively low-frequency unity gain crossover for the internal open loop 
gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e, as indicated by reference numerals 554 and 556 in 
FIGS. 10A and 11A, respectively. As indicated by reference numerals 558 
and 560 in FIGS. 10B and 11B, again at 0 and 100 mph, respectively, this 
results in a sharp drop in phase angle at the high "Q" resonant frequency. 
Thus, the preferred compensation utilized in conjunction with the internal 
feedback gain factor 1/Kq' (block 512) comprises a dominant low-frequency 
zero. This is needed to advance the phase angle to a positive value before 
the hydromechanical resonance, thereby maintaining adequate phase margin 
following that resonance (as indicated by reference numerals 562 and 566 
in FIG. 10B and reference numerals 564 and 568 in FIG. 11B, respectively). 
However, it is necessary to reduce the internal open loop gain following 
the resonance in order for it to decisively pass through unity gain, as 
indicated by reference numerals 554 and 556. This is accomplished in a 
commingled manner by higher frequency zeros and poles comprised in the 
compensation terms f.sub.i, and K.sub.qc ' utilized herein with the 
exemplary values given above. 
Even with such compensation, only relatively modest phase margins (on the 
order of 40.infin. to 50.infin.) are achieved at unity gain, as indicated 
by reference numerals 566 and 568 in FIGS. 10B and 11B, respectively. In 
conjunction with the modest internal open loop gain V.sub.f /V.sub.e, this 
results in a relatively modest increase in the closed loop gain P.sub.p 
/V.sub.i of the internal servo control loop, as indicated by reference 
numerals 570 and 572 in FIGS. 10A and 11A, respectively. Corresponding 
perturbations in q.sub.e or T are dramatically moderated with reference to 
those hypothesized above. They are of substantially non-existent "Q" 
appearing at frequencies of about 6 and 4 Hz (554 and 556). 
Thus, the hydromechanical resonance is substantially contained within the 
internal control loop, and substantially transparent as viewed from the 
steering wheel 12. More particularly, smooth and stable overall control of 
the power steering system 10 of the present invention, free of any shudder 
characteristics, is demonstrated by the large phase margins for the open 
loop gain T/T.sub.e as described above with reference to FIGS. 6A and B, 
and 7A and B, and shown again for convenience in FIGS. 10A and B, and 11A 
and B, along with the closed loop gain X.sub.r /T, (Because the curves 
presented in FIGS. 10A and B, and 11A and B are associated with actual 
steering assist a lower value for B, of 3.5 in.-lb.-sec. is used.) The 
fact that no higher frequency resonances are present in the closed loop 
gain X.sub.r /T.sub.s is due to the acceptable phase margins of a little 
over 40.infin. at about 16 and 14 Hz in the curves depicting open loop 
gain q.sub.f /q.sub.e, as indicated by reference numerals 578 and 580 in 
FIGS. 10B and 11B, and 582 and 584 in FIGS. 10A and 11A, respectively. In 
addition to smooth and stable overall control, however, these values 
indicate that the system 10 of the present invention is also able to 
withstand external perturbations (for example, such as from chuckhole 
impacts and the like) in a controlled and stable manner. 
Actual static values K.sub.qs for K.sub.q (that is, values of K.sub.q less 
any applied compensation) can be determined according to the formula: 
EQU K.sub.qs =(F.sub.h (u+1)d)/(A V.sub.i) 
where, in general, the particular value for the ratio F.sub.h /V.sub.i is 
dependent upon the individual characteristics of any particular host 
vehicle model being considered, and the other values being defined above. 
For instance, that ratio preferably has a zero value on center in order to 
obtain the on center pressure signal P.sub.p values of zero described 
above. As a particular example for assisted steering, however, the 
algorithm 
EQU (F.sub.h /V.sub.i)667+5867/e.sup.(v/15) 
yields typical values for K.sub.qs, K.sub.q and K.sub.q ', wherein e is the 
base of the natural logarithm, v is the instant vehicle speed in mph, and 
u=2, d=0.0207 in..sup.3 /rad. and A=1.511 in..sup.2 are taken as presumed 
values. The resulting calculated values for K.sub.q and K.sub.q ' are 
shown in FIG. 12, indicated by the curves 586 and 588, respectively 
(K.sub.q ', of course, equals K.sub.qs /u.). 
Again, the particular compensation required will depend upon 
characteristics of the specific host vehicle and the perceived resonances 
which are to be counteracted by the system 10. It is believed that those 
skilled in this specialized art will be able to derive and employ 
compensation terms specific to any particular host vehicle by the use of 
commonly available modeling programs, in light of the present disclosure. 
FIG. 13 depicts a family of steering assist force-effort curves (where the 
steering assist force is F.sub.h, and the "effort" is the applied steering 
torque T.sub.s) obtained from the values for d, A, u, TT, R.sub.p, 
K.sub.q, K.sub.q ' and K.sub.c listed or graphically illustrated above. 
For brevity, only half of the entire field for the curves is shown in FIG. 
13, associated with turns in one direction; for turns in the opposite 
direction, the curves shown in the first quadrant would be again formed as 
real images in the third quadrant. In dependence upon steering wheel 
applied torque values and obtained via compensated voltage V.sub.c, the 
family of curves depicted in FIG. 13 is obtained by first suppressing 
K.sub.q to a nominal zero value associated with on-center steering as 
called for before. In FIG. 13, the zero value is maintained to a T.sub.s 
value of about 15 in.-lb., as indicated by reference numeral 620. A linear 
zone comprising static pressure-effort curve segment 622 is then plotted 
beginning at 15 in.-lb. This corresponds to the teachings presented above 
wherein the slope of curve 622 is F.sub.h /T.sub.s given by the equation: 
EQU (F.sub.h /T.sub.s)=(TT K.sub.q A)/((1+u)d) 
where in this case K.sub.q has a particular desired value corresponding to 
a particular vehicle speed as shown, for instance, in FIG. 12. 
Alternately, the desired instant value for K.sub.q could be zero for on 
center conditions, and/or corresponding to an instant position along a 
smooth blend from zero to that value required for the final desired slope 
of the curve 622, as a function of V.sub.TT values leading up to a 0.375 
Volt value (i.e., 15.times.0.025), as mentioned above. 
Concomitant with the subtraction of the tachometer feedback signal Vt from 
the compensated steering torque signal V.sub.c, more "effort" T.sub.s is 
required to generate the same value of steering assist force F.sub.h. 
Instant values of the rotational speed q.sub.m s of the electric motor 26 
are related to the rotational speed q.sub.s s of the steering wheel 12 by 
the equation: 
EQU ((.theta..sub.m s)/(.theta..sub.s s))=(A R.sub.p)/d 
And, the tachometer feedback signal V.sub.t is determined by the equation: 
EQU V.sub.t =(A R.sub.p .theta..sub.s s)/(d K.sub.c) 
Subtracting V.sub.t from the compensated signal V.sub.c, in order to form 
input signal V.sub.i, yields the family of curves shown in FIG. 13, 
wherein curves 624, 626, 628 and 630 depict the values of F.sub.h for 
steering wheel rotational velocities q, s of -800.infin./sec., 
-400.infin./sec., +400.infin./sec. and +800.infin./sec., respectively. 
(The polarity associated with the subtraction is, of course, dependent 
upon the direction of rotation of the motor 26.) It should be apparent 
that the curve 622 and the curves 624-630 reflect the suppression of the 
slope internal control loop gain value ICG to zero when the steering wheel 
12 is in an on-center position. At such an on-center position, for 
example, when the input signal V.sub.i (which equals V.sub.c -V.sub.t) is 
below a threshold value associated with a statically applied steering 
torque T.sub.s of less than about 15 in.-lb., the ratio F.sub.h /V.sub.i 
is suppressed to zero as mentioned above, resulting in a zero value for 
P.sub.p. When the input signal V.sub.i is above that threshold value, the 
curve 622 as well as the curves 624-630 are linear in the fashion shown. 
(The curves 624 and 626 remain linear for values of T.sub.s less than 15 
in.-lb. because the input signal V.sub.i still has a value above the 
threshold value.) Of course, the curves 622-630 could be shaped in any 
manner desired, thereby altering the handling characteristics of the host 
vehicle. In fact, the curves 622-630 are somewhat simplistic because in 
general, as is suggested above, K.sub.q is customized for values of T 
approaching 15 in.-lb. (or V.sub.TT approaching 0.375 Volts) in order to 
smoothly blend the on center condition into the linear zone static 
pressure-effort curve 622. 
Knowledge of the family of curves 624-630 which result from a non-infinite 
value for K.sub.c is important because the changes in torque between the 
curve 622 and the curves 624-630 for the same value of hydraulic force 
F.sub.h represent values of steering damping actually felt by the vehicle 
driver. This is equivalent to having a meaningful value for B.sub.s during 
macro steering maneuvers, in contrast to the incipient rack motion noted 
above with respect to damping in the steering yoke assembly. For instance, 
at a vehicle speed of 100 mph, the tachometer feedback damping constant 
K.sub.c of 1,000 rad./volt-sec. listed above results in damping equivalent 
to having a value of 0.92 in.-lb.-sec./rad. for B.sub.s. 
Of course, K.sub.c may be programmed with its value changing as a function 
of vehicle speed. Alternatively, values of K.sub.c used for negative 
steering wheel rotational speeds may be defined as selected functions of 
torque in order to avoid crossing over into the second and fourth 
quadrants, or even to avoid approaching the second and fourth quadrants as 
indicated by reference numeral 632, thereby avoiding the need to apply 
negative steering wheel torque in order to achieve full steering wheel 
recovery at the higher rotational speeds. This can be especially 
appropriate for customized K.sub.q curves utilized for blending the on 
center region into the linear zone as described above. 
Thus, the power steering system 10 of the present invention differs from 
the system disclosed in the Shimizu et al. '539 patent in a variety of 
ways, and possesses distinct advantages over that system. The system 10 
never measures the actual assistive torque and, indeed, never measures the 
actual motor torque of the electric motor 26 for any purpose related to 
the direct control of the system 10 at all, except insofar as current or 
voltage information about the electric motor 26 can incidentally be used 
in a redundant manner for safety, as described above. The system 10 never 
uses anything based on motor current for the purpose to which the actual 
assistive torque detecting means of the Shimizu et al. '539 patent is put. 
The control means 32 of the system 10 never generates a target value of 
any system quantity (such as pressure) and never generates an error signal 
based on the difference between actual and target values of that quantity. 
Instead, as described above, the system 10 of the present invention 
generates an error signal V.sub.e (equal to V.sub.i minus V.sub.f) in a 
way that is different from the way in which the error signal is generated 
in the Shimizu et al. '539 patent (based on the direct feedback of actual 
pressure, rather than on generating a difference between target and actual 
assistive torque), and controls the electric motor 26 in a different way 
(according to the desired gain, for example, and not according to a 
torque-difference error signal) to give a different result (most likely 
improved stability). 
Indeed, it appears that the Shimizu et al. '539 patent may be incorrect in 
utilizing a dynamic model which expressly ignores the rigidity of the 
tires and considers the torsion bar spring constant to be the dominant 
compliant element of the system. FIGS. 8 and 9 herein clearly show the 
dominant influence of K.sub.tp upon the system 10. Moreover, FIGS. 6A-7B 
and 10A-11B herein clearly show that the steering wheel related resonance 
can be controlled on solely a mechanical basis, while FIGS. 10A, 10B, 11A 
and 11B herein clearly show that the motor related resonance can be 
controlled solely on a servo control basis. It therefore appears clear 
that the two resonances can each be adequately controlled in completely 
different ways, strongly suggesting that they are not related as implied 
in FIG. 11 of the Shimizu et al. '539 patent, but instead arise from 
independent mechanical and hydromechanical causes, respectively, as 
identified herein. 
Again, the power steering system 10 of the present invention possesses 
numerous advantages over prior EPS systems. The system 10 provides full 
time independent verification of the instant values of steering boost, 
substantially eliminating concerns relating to auto-steer. The system 10 
also substantially eliminates low frequency stability control problems 
previously encountered in such systems. The reversible fluid pump, fluid 
lines and associated valves provide a completely new arrangement for 
coupling the drive motor of an EPS system to the balance of the system, 
such that concerns about mechanical over constraint, Coulomb friction, 
wear and backlash are eliminated. Advantageously, an optimum tactile 
relationship between the vehicle, the vehicle driver and the steering 
system is established by the linear relationship of the steering force 
output from the system 10 to the applied steering torque. The system 10 
possesses high efficiency and recovers a significant portion of the energy 
returned from the dirigible wheels when the host vehicle exits a turn. The 
system 10 draws significantly less current during parking maneuvers than 
is drawn by prior EHPS systems. The system naturally moves between its 
powered assist and energy regeneration modes in order to permit good 
steering control during both modes, and during changing between those 
modes. Such varying between modes is carried out with excellent 
smoothness. Finally, the system 10 of the present invention allows safe 
operation of the vehicle during failure of the powered assist provided by 
the system. 
Having described the invention, however, many modifications thereto will 
become immediately apparent to those skilled in the art to which it 
pertains, without deviation from the spirit of the invention. Such 
modifications fall within the scope of the invention. 
Industrial Applicability 
The instant system is capable of regenerating and recovering a substantial 
amount of the energy developed in vehicle power steering systems, and 
accordingly finds industrial application in motor vehicles and other 
devices having a powered assist generated as a function of applied torque.