Patent ID: 7708109

Claim:
An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle having a steering system and a torsion bar provided in the middle of a steering transmitting system connecting a steering wheel to a steered wheel, the apparatus comprising: a steering force assisting device having a motor, wherein the steering force assisting device provides an assist force that assists the steering operation to the steering system using the motor as a drive source; a torque sensor that detects steering torque based on a torsion angle of the torsion bar; a control section that controls the assist force generated by the steering force assisting device based on the detected steering torque; and a deflection sensing section that senses deflection in an orientation of the vehicle, wherein the control section reduces the assist force generated by the steering force assisting device when the deflection sensing section senses a deflection and braking of the vehicle occurs when a steering angle of the steering wheel is within a predetermined angle range in the vicinity of neutral.