IP Library Granted Patent US 9,545,947
Granted Patent B2
US 9,545,947 · App. 14/223,049 · Granted Jan 17, 2017

Output stage control in the event of a fault

Inventor: Markus Weber (Goeppingen, DE)
Assignee: Robert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
B62D5/0487B62D5/0481B62D5/0484
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,545,947
App. No.
14/223,049
Granted
Jan 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for implementing a transition from a functioning steering assistance system to a deactivated steering assistance system when a fault occurs, comprising the following steps: establishing the fault of the steering assistance system; establishing that all high-side power switches are functional (first case), or establishing that all low-side power switches are functional (second case); and in the first case: opening all high-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the low-side power switches; or in the second case: opening all low-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the high-side power switches.

Claims (16)

1. A method for implementing a peakless transition in required manual torque when transitioning, due to a fault, from a functioning steering assistance system to a deactivated steering assistance system, comprising the following steps:

establishing the fault of the steering assistance system;

while occurrence of said fault is established, establishing that all high-side power switches are functional (first case) or establishing that all low-side power switches are functional (second case); and

while occurrence of said fault is established, dissipating energy from a driving motor of the steering assistance system to achieve a smooth transition without peaks in required manual torque to transition from said functioning steering assistance system to said deactivated steering system by in the first case: opening all high-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the low-side power switches; or in the second case: opening all low-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the high-side power switches.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein, in the first case, not all low-side power switches, and in the second case not all high-side power switches, are controlled in a PWM-like manner, but in each case one or more power switches is continuously turned on.

3. A steering system comprising a control unit for a vehicle, wherein the control unit comprises a memory means having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being configured to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

4. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores program code means which upon execution by a computer performs the steps for implementing a peakless transition in required manual torque when transitioning, due to a fault, from a functioning steering assistance system to a deactivated steering assistance system, comprising:

establishing the fault of the steering assistance system;

while occurrence of said fault is established, establishing that all high-side power switches are functional (first case) or establishing that all low-side power switches are functional (second case); and

while occurrence of said fault is established, dissipating energy from a driving motor of the steering assistance system to achieve a smooth transition without peaks in required manual torque to transition from said functioning steering assistance system to said deactivated steering system by in the first case: opening all high-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the low-side power switches; or in the second case: opening all low-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the high-side power switches.

5. A steering system comprising a control unit for a vehicle, wherein the control unit comprises a memory means having a computer program stored thereon, the computer program being configured to carry out the method according to claim 2 .

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores program code means which upon execution by a computer performs the steps for implementing a peakless transition in required manual torque when transitioning, due to a fault, from a functioning steering assistance system to a deactivated steering assistance system, comprising:

establishing the fault of the steering assistance system;

while occurrence of said fault is established, establishing that all high-side power switches are functional (first case) or establishing that all low-side power switches are functional (second case); and

while occurrence of said fault is established, dissipating energy from a driving motor of the steering assistance system to achieve a smooth transition without peaks in required manual torque to transition from said functioning steering assistance system to said deactivated steering system by in the first case: opening all high-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the low-side power switches; or in the second case: opening all low-side power switches and performing PWM-like control of the high-side power switches; and

wherein, in the first case, not all low-side power switches, and in the second case not all high-side power switches, are controlled in a PWM-like manner, but in each case one or more power switches is continuously turned on.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 21, 2015
From: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
To: ROBERT BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE STEERING GMBH
Reel/Frame 035749/0247 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2014
From: WEBER, MARKUS
To: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 032683/0262 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 103 698 · Apr 12, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140309890A1 · Oct 16, 2014