Patent ID: 7207411

Claim:
A steer unit for steer-by-wire comprising: angle sensing means ( 12 ) for detecting an angular position of a steering wheel ( 11 ); processing means ( 10 ) connected to the angle sensing means ( 12 ) and connectable to a wheel position sensor ( 22 ), the wheel position sensor ( 22 ) being arranged for providing an output signal representing the angular position of steered wheels ( 20 ) of a vehicle, the processing means ( 10 ) being connectable to a steering actuator ( 21 ) mechanically coupled to the steered wheels ( 20 ), the processing means ( 10 ) being arranged for driving the steering actuator ( 21 ) dependent on the angular position of the steering wheel ( 11 ); friction means ( 14 ) for providing a friction force on the steering wheel ( 11 ), the friction means ( 14 ) being connected to the processing means ( 10 ), the processing means ( 10 ) being arranged for driving the friction means ( 14 ) in dependence of the wheel position sensor output signal, wherein, the processing means ( 10 ) are arranged to energise the friction means ( 14 ) at variable end-stops, and the processing means ( 10 ) are arranged to increase the friction on the steering wheel ( 11 ) when a rotation rate of the steering wheel ( 11 ), as determined from the angle sensing means ( 12 ), is greater than a corresponding maximum rotation rate of the steering actuator ( 21 ).