Vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282971-A1
Application number	US-201615085547-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. A left front wheel rotatably is coupled to the left wheel steering portion. A right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right wheel steering portion. A controller in electronic communication with a steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly and the front wheel steering mechanism operates the front wheel steering mechanism to turn the left front wheel and the right front wheel in accordance with Ackerman steering geometry. The controller is also configured to calculate toe angle adjustments for the right wheel steering portion relative to the left wheel steering portion and make the toe angle adjustments to right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion during turning and steering movements effected by the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion.

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; a left front wheel rotatably coupled to the left wheel steering portion; a right front wheel rotatably coupled to the right wheel steering portion; and a controller in electronic communication with the steer-by-wire steering wheel assembly and the front wheel steering mechanism, the controller being configured to operate the front wheel steering mechanism to turn the left front wheel and the right front wheel in accordance with Ackerman steering geometry, the controller also being configured to calculate toe angle adjustments for the right wheel steering portion relative to the left wheel steering portion and make the toe angle adjustments to right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion during turning and steering movements effected by the right wheel steering portion and the left wheel steering portion.

2 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the right wheel steering portion includes a first driven member and a right side electric motor with a driving gear engaged with the first driven member such that operation of the right side electric motor moves the first driven member, and the left wheel steering portion includes a second driven member and a left side electric motor with a driving gear engaged with the second driven member such that operation of the left side electric motor moves the second driven member.

3 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the front wheel steering mechanism includes a single housing with the first and second driven members being disposed within the single housing.

4 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the front wheel steering mechanism includes a first housing and a second housing separated from one another, the first housing having the first driven member disposed therein and the second housing having the second driven member disposed therein.

5 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the first driven member includes a hollow interior with internal spiral machine threads formed therein, and the driving gear of the first electric motor includes external spiral machine threads engaged with the internal spiral machine thread within the first driven member.

6 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the right wheel steering portion includes a first housing having a first driven member movably disposed therein, the left wheel steering portion including a second housing spaced apart from the first housing, the second housing having a second driven member movably disposed therein, and further comprising a hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the first housing and the second housing such that changes in hydraulic pressure effected by the hydraulic pump cause the first driven member and the second driven member to move within the first housing and the second housing, respectively.

7 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the front wheel steering mechanism includes a single housing, the right wheel steering portion includes a first driven member movably disposed within the single housing, the first driven member having external gear teeth and a hollow interior with internal spiral machine threads, and the left wheel steering portion includes a second driven member movably disposed within the single housing, the second driven member having external spiral machine threads engaged with the internal spiral machine thread within the first driven member.

8 . The vehicle adaptive steering control apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising
a first electric motor having a first driving gear engaged with the external gear teeth of the first driven member; and a second electric motor having a second driving gear contacting a sliding gear disposed on a portion of the second driven member, wherein the controller is configured to operate the first electric motor in order to effect steering and turning operations, and the controller is configured to operate the second electric motor in order to make toe angle adjustments.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Yanez Andre

Classifications

• B62D5/06

  fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle · CPC title

• B62D6/002 Primary

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

• B62D5/0421

  Electric motor acting on or near steering gear · CPC title