Patent ID: 8489280

Claim:
A method for determining an absolute rotational position of a vehicle handwheel, comprising: monitoring an amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel; monitoring a rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel; comparing the amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel to a threshold torque level; determining when the amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel is greater than or equal to the threshold torque level; comparing the rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel to a threshold rotational speed; determining when the rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel is less than or equal to the threshold rotational speed; setting an absolute rotational position value indicating the absolute rotational position of the vehicle handwheel equal to a predetermined steering travel limit of the vehicle handwheel; and storing the absolute rotational position value in a memory device; wherein the absolute rotational position value indicates the absolute rotational position of the vehicle handwheel when the amount of torque applied to the vehicle handwheel is greater than or equal to the threshold torque level, and the rotational speed of the vehicle handwheel is less than or equal to the threshold rotational speed.