Patent ID: 7448464

Claim:
A steer-by-wire system comprising: a first shaft connected to a steering wheel, a first motor imparting a steer reaction to the first shaft, a second shaft connected to a steering gear, a second motor imparting a steer force to the second shaft, wherein the second motor is separate and distinct from the first motor, and a clutch mounted between the first and second shafts for connecting or disconnecting the first and second shafts, said clutch being normally in the disengaged state, with the steer reaction being imparted from the first motor to the first shaft and the steer force being imparted from the second motor to the second shaft, wherein said clutch is composed of a mechanical clutch section, an armature encompassing an outer circumference of the first shaft, and a solenoid coil for controlling said mechanical clutch section, wherein the armature is disposed between an axial end face of the second shaft and the solenoid coil, and wherein the clutch is a reverse actuation type clutch such that when the solenoid coil is in the energized state, the armature moves away from the solenoid coil and toward the axial end face of the second shaft and the mechanical clutch section is in the disengaged state, while when the solenoid coil is in the de-energized state, the armature moves away from the axial end face of the second shaft and toward the solenoid coil, and the mechanical clutch section is in the engaged state.