Patent ID: 7708108

Claim:
A vehicle steering control apparatus comprising: a driver operating unit configured to be operated by a driver; a steering unit arranged to be mechanically separated from the driver operating unit and configured to turn at least one steered wheel; a steering reaction force actuator operable to apply an operating reaction force to the driver operating unit; a steering actuator configured to apply a turning force to the steering unit; a clutch operable to mechanically connect and disconnect the driver operating unit and the steering unit to and from each other; an operating torque detector operable to detect an operating torque applied to the driver operating unit; and a controller configured to determine a drive torque value based on a drive torque imparted to the steering reaction force actuator, and determine that the clutch is in a connected state when a drive torque direction indicated by the drive torque value and an operating torque direction indicated by an operating torque detection value detected by the operating torque detector are different.