IP Library Granted Patent US 11,465,666
Granted Patent B2
US 11,465,666 · App. 16/370,211 · Granted Oct 11, 2022

Steering system

Inventors: Norihiro Ochi (Nara, JP); Yousuke Nishimura (Kariya, JP); Yasuyuki Nozawa (Kashihara, JP); Kei Kitahara (Shiki-gun, JP); Takeshi Watanabe (Kashihara, JP)
Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
B62D1/183B62D1/10B62D1/181B62D1/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,465,666
App. No.
16/370,211
Granted
Oct 11, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A steering system includes: a variable mechanism that reversibly changes a configuration of an operating member between a configuration for automated driving and a configuration for manual driving, the configuration including at least one of a position, an orientation, and a shape; a variable drive source; a receiver that receives an operation of a driver; and a controller that controls the variable drive source to cause the variable mechanism to return the configuration of the operating member to the configuration for manual driving, when the receiver receives the operation of the driver in a period when the configuration of the operating member is being changed.

Claims (18)

1. A steering system for use in steering a vehicle, the steering system comprising:

a variable mechanism that reversibly changes a configuration of an operating member between a configuration for automated driving and a configuration for manual driving, the configuration including at least one of a position, an orientation, and a shape;

a variable drive source with a motor that drives the variable mechanism;

a receiver that receives an operation of a driver based on a change in current that flows through the motor in response to a force applied by the driver to the operating member; and

a controller that controls the variable drive source to cause the variable mechanism to return the configuration of the operating member to the configuration for manual driving when the receiver receives the operation of the driver in a period when the variable mechanism is changing the configuration of the operating member from the configuration for manual driving to the configuration for automated driving.

2. The steering system according to claim 1 , wherein

the variable mechanism includes an advance-retract mechanism that causes the operating member to advance and retract and a folding mechanism that folds the operating member by tilting the operating member relative to the advance-retract mechanism, and

the motor drives the advance-retract mechanism or the folding mechanism.

3. The steering system according to claim 2 , further comprising

a reaction-force generating device that includes a reaction force motor and applies a force to the operating member in a direction opposite to a force applied by the driver to rotate the operating member, wherein

the receiver receives the operation of the driver based on a change in current that flows through the reaction force motor in response to the force applied by the driver to the operating member in the period when the configuration of the operating member is being changed to the configuration for automated driving.

4. A steering system for use in steering a vehicle, the steering system comprising:

a variable mechanism that reversibly changes a configuration of an operating member between a configuration for automated driving and a configuration for manual driving, the configuration including at least one of a position, an orientation, and a shape;

a variable drive source that drives the variable mechanism;

a receiver that receives an operation of a driver;

a controller that controls the variable drive source to cause the variable mechanism to return the configuration of the operating member to the configuration for manual driving when the receiver receives the operation of the driver in a period when the variable mechanism is changing the configuration of the operating member from the configuration for manual driving to the configuration for automated driving; and

a reaction-force generating device that includes a reaction force motor and applies a force to the operating member in a direction opposite to a force applied by the driver to rotate the operating member, wherein

the receiver receives the operation of the driver based on a change in current that flows through the reaction force motor in response to the force applied by the driver to the operating member in the period when the configuration of the operating member is being changed to the configuration for automated driving.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Feb 18, 2022
From: JTEKT CORPORATION
To: JTEKT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 060263/0275 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2019
From: OCHI, NORIHIRO; NISHIMURA, YOUSUKE; NOZAWA, YASUYUKI; KITAHARA, KEI; WATANABE, TAKESHI
To: JTEKT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048744/0127 →