Vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282970-A1
Application number	US-201615085490-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 30, 2016
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus includes a front wheel steering mechanism having a right wheel steering portion and a left wheel steering portion that are independently operable relative to one another. A load detection device measures a condition indicative of vehicle loads at one of the following: the left and right suspension structures and the front wheel steering mechanism. A controller in electronic communication with a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism and the load detection device, calculates toe angle adjustments for each of the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion in response to determining a load on each of a left front wheel and a right front wheel based on signals from the load detection device. The controller further makes the toe angle adjustments via changes in turning and steering movements effected by the front wheel steering mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus, comprising:
a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly; a front wheel steering mechanism in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism having a right wheel steering portion and a left wheel steering portion, the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion being independently operable relative to one another; a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left wheel steering portion; a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right wheel steering portion; a left front suspension structure coupled to the left front wheel; a right front suspension structure coupled to the right front wheel; a load detection device configured to measure a condition indicative of vehicle loads at one of the following: the left and right suspension structures and the front wheel steering mechanism; and a controller in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism and the load detection device, the controller calculating toe angle adjustments for each of the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion in response to determining a load on each of the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on signals from the load detection device, the controller further making the toe angle adjustments via changes in turning and steering movements effected by the front wheel steering mechanism.

2 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the load detection device includes sensors installed to coil springs of the left and right suspension structures, and the controller determines the load on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on measurements of the sensors installed to the coil springs.

3 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the front wheel steering mechanism includes a right side electric motor that effects positioning of the right wheel steering portion and a left side electric motor that effects positioning of the left wheel steering portion, the load detection device includes left and right detection circuits that measure resistive forces within each of the right side electric motor and the left side electric motor, and the controller determines the load on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on measurements of the resistive forces of the left and right detection circuits.

4 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the load detection device includes a right side sensor installed to a connecting arm of the right side steering portion and a left side sensor installed to a connecting arm of the left side steering portion, the right side sensor and the left side sensor being configured to measure strain on each of the connecting arms, and the controller determines the load on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on signals from the left and right side sensors.

5 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a vehicle speed sensor; and a vehicle yaw sensor, the controller being connected to both the vehicle speed sensor and the vehicle yaw sensor, the controller further determining the loads on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on measurements from the vehicle speed sensor and the vehicle yaw sensor.

6 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a rear wheel steering mechanism in electronic communication with the steer-by- wire steering wheel assembly, the rear wheel steering mechanism having a right rear wheel steering portion and a left rear wheel steering portion, the right rear wheel steering portion and the left rear wheel steering portion being independently operable relative to one another; a left rear wheel rotatably coupled to the left rear wheel steering portion; a right rear wheel rotatably coupled to the right rear wheel steering portion; a left rear suspension structure coupled to the left rear wheel; a right rear suspension structure coupled to the right rear wheel; and a second load detection device configured to measure a condition indicative of vehicle loads at one of the following: the left rear and right rear suspension structures and the rear wheel steering mechanism, wherein the controller is in electronic communication with the rear wheel steering mechanism and the second load detection device, the controller calculating and effecting toe angle adjustments of each of the right rear wheel steering portion and the left rear wheel steering portion in response to determining a load on the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel based on measurements from the second load detection device.

7 . A vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus, comprising:
a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly; a front wheel steering mechanism in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism having a right wheel steering portion and a left wheel steering portion, the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion being independently operable relative to one another; a left front wheel rotatably supported by a left front steering knuckle having a wheel bearing assembly coupled to the left wheel steering portion; a right front wheel rotatably supported by a left front steering knuckle having a wheel bearing assembly coupled to the right wheel steering portion; a left front suspension structure coupled to the left front wheel; a right front suspension structure coupled to the right front wheel; a load detection device configured to measure a condition indicative of vehicle loads, the load detection device being spaced apart from and separate from the left and right front steering knuckles; and a controller in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly, the front wheel steering mechanism and the load detection device, the controller calculating toe angle adjustments for each of the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion in response to determining loads on each of the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on signals from the load detection device.

8 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the load detection device includes sensors installed to coil springs of the left and right suspension structures, and the controller determines the load on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on measurements of the sensors installed to the coil springs.

9 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the front wheel steering mechanism includes a right side electric motor that effects positioning of the right wheel steering portion and a left side electric motor that effects positioning of the left wheel steering portion, the load detection device includes left and right detection circuits that measure resistive forces within each of the right side electric motor and the left side electric motor, and the controller determines the load on the left front wheel and the right front wheel based on measurements of the resistive forces of the left and right detection circuits.

10 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
the load detection device includes a right side sensor installed to a connecting arm of the right side steering portion and a left side sensor installed to a connecting arm of the left side steering portion

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Yanez Andre

Classifications

• B62D6/002 Primary

  computing target steering angles for front or rear wheels (B62D7/159 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D7/18

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B62D5/0418

  Electric motor acting on road wheel carriers · CPC title

• B62D5/001

  Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup · CPC title

• B62D17/00

  Means on vehicles for adjusting camber, castor, or toe-in · CPC title