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Control unit in an electric power steering apparatus includes a motor drive inhibition section for inhibiting output of a motor control signal on the basis of at least a steering torque signal supplied from a steering torque sensor. The control unit also includes a zero-value setting section for, wh

Control unit in an electric power steering apparatus includes a motor drive inhibition section for inhibiting output of a motor control signal on the basis of at least a steering torque signal supplied from a steering torque sensor. The control unit also includes a zero-value setting section for, when drive inhibition signals are output by the motor drive inhibition section, setting a target motor current signal to a zero value irrespective of a value of the steering torque signal, and an inhibition cancellation section for cancelling the drive inhibition signals when an offset between the target motor current signal and the detected motor current signal becomes zero after the target motor current signal is set to the zero value by the zero-value setting section. With this arrangement, instructions can be communicated bidirectionally from the motor drive inhibition section to a main power steering control where an anomaly has occurred and from the main power steering control to the inhibition cancellation section, so that the inhibition of the motor drive can be canceled promptly.

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[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising:an electric motor for imparting an electric steering assist to a steering system of the vehicle;a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque manually applied to the vehicle steering system to output

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. An electric power steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising:an electric motor for imparting an electric steering assist to a steering system of the vehicle;a steering torque sensor for detecting steering torque manually applied to the vehicle steering system to output a steering torque signal;a motor current detector for detecting a motor current actually flowing through said electric motor to output a detected motor current signal;a control unit including a target motor current setting section for setting a target motor current signal on the basis of at least the steering torque signal output by said steering torque sensor, an offset calculator section for calculating an offset between the target motor current signal set by said target motor current setting section and the detected motor current signal output by said motor current detector to thereby output an offset signal indicative of the offset calculated thereby, a drive control section for generating a motor control signal on the basis of the offset signal output by said offset calculator section, and a motor drive inhibition section for, on the basis of at least the steering torque signal output by said steering torque sensor, outputting drive inhibition signals to inhibit output of the motor control signal by said drive control section; anda motor driver circuit for driving said electric motor in accordance with the motor control signal output by said drive control section,wherein said control unit further includes: a zero-value setting section for, when the drive inhibition signals are output by said motor drive inhibition section, setting the target motor current signal to a zero value irrespective of a value of the steering torque signal; andan inhibition cancellation section for cancelling the drive inhibition signals when the offset signal output by said offset calculator section becomes zero after the target motor current signal is set to the zero value by said zero-value setting section.