Patent ID: 6907334

Claim:
An electric power steering apparatus comprising: an electric motor for assisting a steering force of a steering member; a driving circuit for driving said electric motor; power connecting means for connecting a power supply and said driving circuit; short-circuit detecting means for detecting a short-circuit failure on said driving circuit and a short-circuit failure on a wiring connecting said driving circuit and said electric motor; and power off means for disconnecting the connection between said power connecting means and said power supply when said short-circuit detecting means detects a short-circuit failure, said electric power steering apparatus further comprising: current detecting means for detecting a current value of a current flowing between said electric motor and said driving circuit after said power off means disconnects the connection between said power supply and said driving circuit with said power connecting means; and current cutting means for, when said current detecting means detects a current value exceeding a predetermined value, irreversibly cutting off said current whose current value exceeds said predetermined value.