IP Library Granted Patent US 8,352,125
Granted Patent B2
US 8,352,125 · App. 13/317,625 · Granted Jan 8, 2013

Determination of a force acting on a steering mechanism

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,352,125
App. No.
13/317,625
Granted
Jan 8, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided is a way of using an estimator to determine a force (Fz), which acts from the outside on a steering gear of a steering device in a vehicle by way of a steering linkage, wherein a motor for generating a steering torque is assigned to the steering device. This is achieved by estimating the force (Fz) acting from the outside as a function of an effective motor torque (tor_RAeff), wherein the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) is determined as a function of a motor torque and an efficiency, the efficiency being determined as a function of the estimated force (Fz).

Claims (19)

1. A method using an estimator to determine a force (Fz), which acts from the outside on a steering gear of a steering device in a vehicle by way of a steering linkage, wherein a motor for generating a motor torque (tor_RA) is assigned to the steering device, wherein the force (Fz) acting from the outside is estimated by way of the estimator as a function of an effective motor torque (tor_RAeff), wherein the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) is determined as a function of an efficiency, the efficiency being determined as a function of the estimated force (Fz).

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the force (Fz) is estimated as a function of a steering angle.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the steering angle is a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor ( 7 ).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a total torque tor_Sum is generated as a sum of a steering torque (tor_TB) acting on the steering device by way of a steering shaft, and the motor torque (tor_RA), and the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) is determined as a function of the total torque tor_Sum.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the motor torque (tor_RA) describes an actual torque or a target torque.

6. The method according claim 1 , wherein the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) is determined as a function of a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the efficiency is determined by way of at least one characteristic curve.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the efficiency is determined as a function of a power flow direction of the motor.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the power flow direction is determined as a function of the motor torque (tor_RA) and a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor.

10. A non-transient computer-readable medium having a computer program product which can run on a control device for the control and/or regulation of a steering device, the control device comprising a microprocessor configured for executing the computer program product, wherein the computer program product programs the control device is programmed to carry out a method according to claim 1 .

11. A non-transient computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the computer program product is stored on a memory element.

12. A control device for the control/regulation of a steering device in a vehicle, wherein the steering device comprises a steering linkage, a steering gear and a motor, and wherein the steering device comprises means for detecting a motor torque (tor_RA) and an estimator for determining a force (Fz) acting from the outside on the steering gear, wherein the estimator is designed to determine the force (Fz) on the basis of an effective motor torque (tor_RAeff), and the control device has a processor that determines an efficiency as a function of the force (Fz) fed back by the estimator to the processor, and for determining the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) as a function of the motor torque (tor_RA) and the efficiency.

13. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein the estimator is designed to determine the force (Fz) as a function of a steering angle.

14. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein the steering angle is a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor ( 7 ).

15. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein the motor torque (tor_RA) is an actual torque or a target torque.

16. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is designed to determine the effective motor torque (tor_RAeff) as a function of a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor.

17. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein at least one characteristic curve for determining the efficiency is stored in the control device.

18. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein the processor is designed to determine the efficiency as a function of a power flow direction of the motor.

19. The control device according to claim 18 , wherein the processor is designed to determine the power flow direction as a function of the motor torque (tor_RA) and a rotor angle (ang_RA) of the motor.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 21, 2015
From: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
To: ROBERT BOSCH AUTOMOTIVE STEERING GMBH
Reel/Frame 035749/0293 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2011
From: GRUENER, STEFAN; WERNER, THOMAS
To: ZF LENKSYSTEME GMBH
Reel/Frame 027520/0316 →