초록 ▼

According to the invention, there is provided is a vehicle steering system which can improve the resistance of a vehicle against external disturbances such as crosswind, and can prevent the operability of the steering system from being seriously affected by a failure in a part of the system related

According to the invention, there is provided is a vehicle steering system which can improve the resistance of a vehicle against external disturbances such as crosswind, and can prevent the operability of the steering system from being seriously affected by a failure in a part of the system related to the generation of steering reaction such as a lateral acceleration sensor, a yaw rate sensor or a reaction control unit. Because the assisting steering torque continues to be produced even when a failure has occurred in a part related to the generation of steering reaction. Therefore, a fail-safe feature can be obtained, and unnecessary loss of the operability of the steering system can be avoided. By reducing the assisting steering torque from the normal level, which is effective when the sensors are operating normally, at such a time, the driveability of the steering system similar to that under the normal condition can be ensured.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A vehicle steering system, comprising:power means for applying a steering torque to steerable wheels of a vehicle;power assist control means for detecting a steering torque input produced by a steering effort made by a vehicle operator, and producing a command to said power

[ What we claim is:] [1.] A vehicle steering system, comprising:power means for applying a steering torque to steerable wheels of a vehicle;power assist control means for detecting a steering torque input produced by a steering effort made by a vehicle operator, and producing a command to said power means to produce an assisting steering torque according to detected steering torque input;reaction control means for producing a command to said power means to produce a steering wheel reaction in response to a turning maneuver of said vehicle;failure detecting means for detecting a failure of said reaction control means; andmeans for prohibiting said reaction control means from producing said command to said power means to produce said steering wheel reaction when said failure detecting means has detected a failure in said reaction control means.