JP2010195142A - Electric power steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To let a driver have operation feeling of a steering wheel having no incompatible sense according to the road surface state by changing auxiliary torque in a direction for returning the steering wheel to a neutral position according to the road surface state. <P>SOLUTION: The electric power steering device 10 includes: a road surface state presumption part 40 for presuming at least the road surface state; and an auxiliary torque setting part 42 for setting the auxiliary torque generated on an actuator 24 based on at least a speed of the vehicle, a steering angle and the presumed road surface state. The auxiliary torque setting part 42 sets a size of the auxiliary torque in a direction for returning at least the steering wheel 12 to the neutral position so as to make it different according to the presumed road surface state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric power steering apparatus, for example, to transmit the power of an electric motor to a steering system as an auxiliary force so that the vehicle can be turned with a light steering force on the steering wheel, thereby reducing the operation load on the steering wheel. The present invention relates to a power steering device.

  In the electric power steering apparatus, basically, as the vehicle speed decreases, the assist amount by the electric motor with respect to the steering force (steering torque) of the steering wheel, in other words, the assist current supplied to the electric motor increases. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  This patent document 1 discloses a steering characteristic setting method for an electric power steering in which the driver can reset the characteristic of the assist current with respect to the steering torque using the vehicle speed as a parameter.

  Conventionally, the reference yaw rate obtained from the rudder angle and the vehicle speed sensor is compared with the actual yaw rate obtained from the yaw rate sensor, and when it is determined from the comparison result that there is an oversteer tendency, it is supplied to the electric motor. A vehicle steering apparatus is disclosed in which the value of the assist current is reduced (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP 2002-293257 A JP-A-11-78951

  By the way, when the vehicle is running on a slippery road surface, such as a snowy road, a road wet with rain, or a road surface with low friction resistance (so-called low μ road) such as off-road, the steering wheel is rotated to the right, for example. In such a case, since an oversteer tendency tends to occur, for example, in the apparatus shown in Patent Document 2, the value of the assist current supplied to the electric motor is lowered. That is, the increase width of the assist current with respect to the increase of the steering angle is set to be small, and thereby the operation load on the steering wheel is somewhat increased, and the oversteer tendency on the low μ road can be suppressed.

  However, for example, when the steering wheel travels in a state where a certain steering angle other than the neutral position is maintained, the self-alignment torque from the low μ road is small, so the steering wheel easily moves, There is a problem that it becomes difficult to maintain a constant steering angle.

  In other words, when the steering wheel is rotated on a low μ road, although the steering wheel feels heavy, it feels light when the steering wheel is maintained at a constant steering angle. There is a problem that an uncomfortable feeling is caused in the operation with the steering wheel.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and by changing the auxiliary torque in the direction of returning the steering wheel to the neutral position according to the road surface condition, the steering wheel operation without feeling uncomfortable according to the road surface condition is achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric power steering device capable of giving a driver a sense.

  An electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention includes a wheel steering mechanism that transmits a steering torque generated when a driver steers a steering wheel of a vehicle to the wheels of the vehicle to steer the wheels, and the steering wheel. An electric power steering apparatus comprising: a steering angle sensor that detects a steering angle of the vehicle; a vehicle speed sensor that detects a speed of the vehicle; and an actuator that generates an auxiliary torque according to the speed of the vehicle and the steering angle. A road surface state estimating unit that estimates a road surface state; and an auxiliary torque setting unit that sets the auxiliary torque generated by the actuator based on at least the speed of the vehicle, the steering angle, and the estimated road surface state. And the auxiliary torque setting unit returns at least the steering wheel to the neutral position. The magnitude of the assist torque, and setting to be different depending on the estimated road surface condition.

  As a result, when the vehicle is traveling on a slippery road surface such as a snowy road, for example, if the steering wheel is to be maintained at a certain steering angle other than the neutral position, the steering wheel is returned to the neutral position. The auxiliary torque can be set large, and the inconvenience that the steering wheel easily moves can be avoided.

  That is, by changing the auxiliary torque in the direction to return the steering wheel to the neutral position according to the road surface state, the driver can have a sense of operation of the steering wheel without a sense of incongruity according to the road surface state.

  In the present invention, the auxiliary torque setting unit includes a first setting unit for generating a first auxiliary torque in the steering direction of the steering wheel by the actuator, and the steering wheel is set to a neutral position by the actuator. A second setting unit for generating a second auxiliary torque in the returning direction, wherein the second setting unit varies the magnitude of the second auxiliary torque according to the estimated road surface condition. Features.

  In the present invention, the second auxiliary torque setting unit may operate during a period in which the steering angle is other than 0 ° and the change in the steering angle is substantially constant.

  Further, in the present invention, the second auxiliary torque setting unit is configured such that the second auxiliary torque with respect to a relative steering angle when the estimated road surface state is a road surface state with a low friction coefficient is the low estimated road surface state. You may set so that it may become larger than the said 2nd auxiliary | assistant torque with respect to the relative steering angle except the road surface state of a friction coefficient.

  The present invention further includes a yaw rate sensor that outputs an actual yaw rate, and the road surface state estimation unit calculates a reference yaw rate based on a rudder angle from the rudder angle sensor and a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor. The road surface condition may be estimated based on the obtained standard yaw rate and the actual yaw rate from the yaw rate sensor.

  As described above, according to the electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention, the auxiliary torque in the direction to return the steering wheel to the neutral position can be changed according to the road surface state, and there is no sense of incongruity according to the road surface state. The driver can have a sense of operation.

It is a lineblock diagram showing the electric power steering device concerning this embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a controller. FIG. 3A is a characteristic diagram showing the first map, and FIG. 3B is a characteristic diagram showing the second map. FIG. 4A is a characteristic diagram showing the third map, and FIG. 4B is a characteristic diagram showing the fourth map. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the electric power steering apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment.

  Embodiments of an electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  The electric power steering apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment transmits a steering torque generated when the driver steers the steering wheel 12 of the vehicle to the wheel 14 of the vehicle to steer the wheel 14. 16, steering torque sensor 18 for detecting steering torque, steering angle sensor 20 for detecting the steering angle and steering direction of steering wheel 12, and neutral position memory for storing steering angle information of steering wheel 12 during straight traveling Part 21, a vehicle speed sensor 22 for detecting the speed of the vehicle (vehicle speed), an auxiliary torque corresponding to the vehicle speed and the steering angle, and an operation torque based on at least the steering torque and the auxiliary torque through the wheel steering mechanism 16. 14 and an actuator 24 for controlling the drive of at least the actuator 24.

  A yaw rate sensor 28 is installed near the center of gravity of the vehicle. The yaw rate sensor 28 outputs a signal (actual yaw rate) corresponding to the yaw rate (rotational angular velocity) around the vertical (center of gravity) axis of the vehicle center of gravity.

  The wheel steering mechanism 16 has a rack and pinion mechanism including a pinion 16a and a rack 16b. In this case, the steering torque is transmitted to the wheel steering mechanism 16 via the steering shaft 30 and the steering torque sensor 18. The rotational force received by the pinion 16a from the steering shaft 30 is converted into the linear motion of the rack 16b in the axial direction, and the traveling direction of the wheel 14 (front wheel) is changed via the tie rod 32.

  The actuator 24 includes an electric motor 34 that rotationally drives the rack 16 b based on a drive current (assist current) from the controller 26.

  Then, in order to reduce the operation load on the steering wheel 12, the steering torque value and the torque direction detected by the steering torque sensor 18 are input to the controller 26.

  In addition to the steering torque, the controller 26 receives vehicle speed information from the vehicle speed sensor 22, steering angle information from the steering angle sensor 20, and information (actual yaw rate) from the yaw rate sensor 28. The controller 26 determines a current value Ie (assist current value) for assisting a manual steering force of the steering wheel 12 according to the input information, and outputs the current value Ie to the electric motor 34. The electric motor 34 generates an auxiliary torque corresponding to the supplied current value Ie. Thereby, the operation torque based on the steering torque by the driver and the auxiliary torque by the electric motor 34 is applied to the rack 16b, and the wheels 14 can be easily steered. That is, the operation load on the steering wheel 12 by the driver is reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the electric power steering apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is generated in a controller 26 by a road surface state estimation unit 40 that estimates a road surface state in which the vehicle is traveling and an actuator 24. An auxiliary torque setting unit that sets the auxiliary torque to be set based on at least the vehicle speed, the steering angle, and the estimated road surface state. The auxiliary torque setting unit 42 sets at least the magnitude of the auxiliary torque in the direction to return the steering wheel 12 to the neutral position in accordance with the estimated road surface state. Details of the auxiliary torque setting unit 42 will be described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the road surface state estimation unit 40 includes a standard yaw rate calculation unit 44 that calculates a standard yaw rate Ra based on the steering angle information Sa from the steering angle sensor 20 and the vehicle speed information Sb from the vehicle speed sensor 22. A comparison unit 46 that compares the reference yaw rate Ra and the actual yaw rate Rb from the yaw rate sensor 28 and outputs a signal corresponding to the comparison result is provided.

  The reference yaw rate calculation unit 44 obtains a reference yaw rate other than the low μ road corresponding to the rudder angle and the vehicle speed by an experiment or the like in advance, and stores it in the memory 50 of the controller 26 as a map 48. The standard yaw rate Ra corresponding to the steering angle information Sa and the vehicle speed information Sb is read or approximated to obtain the standard yaw rate Ra.

  The comparison unit 46 outputs a first estimation signal S1 indicating that the road surface is a low μ road when the actual yaw rate Rb> the reference yaw rate Ra, and the road surface is low μ when the actual yaw rate Rb ≦ the reference yaw rate Ra. A second estimation signal S2 indicating that the vehicle is other than a road is output.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary torque setting unit 42 selectively activates the first setting unit 52A, the second setting unit 52B, and the first setting unit 52A and the second setting unit 52B. Unit 54, activation determination unit 56 for determining the same, and first auxiliary torque Sj1 from first setting unit 52A or second auxiliary torque Sj2 from second setting unit 52B to current value Ie (assist current value). A current conversion unit 58 that converts and outputs the electric motor 34. An output signal (first estimation signal S1 or second estimation signal S2) from the comparison unit 46 in the road surface state estimation unit 40 is supplied to the first setting unit 52A and the second setting unit 52B. .

  The activation determining unit 56 activates the first setting unit 52A or the second setting unit 52B based on the steering angle information from the steering angle sensor 20, in this example, the differential information (steering angular velocity information Sc) of the steering angle. An activation signal indicating the setting unit to be output is output.

  Specifically, first, when the driver rotates the steering wheel 12 leftward or rightward, the steering angle sensor 20 outputs information on the steering angle changing with time and information on the steering direction. It becomes. Among them, the steering angle is input to the subsequent differentiation circuit 60 and output as the steering angular velocity information Sc. When the steering angle changes with time, the steering angular velocity information Sc having a value corresponding to the change is output.

  On the other hand, when the driver maintains the steering wheel 12 in a state where a certain steering angle other than the neutral position is maintained, the steering angle shows a substantially constant value, and the steering angular velocity information Sc is centered on zero. And a value whose amplitude is displaced to ± m is output. The range of ± m is, for example, a range of ± 5 ° to ± 10 ° when converted by a steering angle. Therefore, in the following description, if the value of the steering angular velocity information Sc is a value whose center is 0 and the amplitude is displaced to ± m, it is described as “the steering angle is a substantially constant value”.

  Then, the activation determination unit 56 captures the steering angular velocity information Sc at a predetermined time interval, and if the steering angle changes with the passage of time (right rotation or left rotation), over the period during which the steering angle changes. Then, a signal (first activation signal Sd1) indicating that the first setting unit 52A is to be operated is output. On the other hand, if the steering angular velocity information Sc is captured at a predetermined time interval and the steering angle is substantially constant, a signal indicating that the second setting unit 52B is operated over a period in which the steering angle is maintained substantially constant. (Second activation signal Sd2) is output. In addition, as said predetermined time interval, 30-100 msec is employable, for example.

  The selective activation unit 54 activates the first setting unit 52A when the first activation signal Sd1 is output from the activation determination unit 56, and operates the first setting unit 52A over a period during which the first activation signal Sd1 is supplied. Let While the first setting unit 52A is operating, when the second activation signal Sd2 is output from the activation determination unit 56, the second setting unit 52B is activated instead of the first setting unit 52A, and the second activation signal is output. The second setting unit 52B is operated over a period during which the signal Sd2 is supplied. Similarly, when the first activation signal Sd1 is output from the activation determination unit 56 while the second setting unit 52B is operating, the first setting unit 52A is activated instead of the second setting unit 52B, The first setting unit 52A is operated over a period during which the first activation signal Sd1 is supplied.

  The first setting unit 52A includes a reference position storage unit 62 in which information on the reference position (steering angle information) is stored.

  Examples of the reference position include a steering angle when traveling straight ahead and a steering angle when the steering angle is other than 0 ° and the change in the steering angle is substantially constant. Therefore, during straight running, the steering angle information of the steering wheel 12 stored in the neutral position storage unit 21 is stored as the reference position information, the steering angle is other than 0 °, and the change of the steering angle is changed. When the angle is substantially constant, the tilt angle information is set by a reference position setting unit 64 of the second setting unit 52B described later. This reference position is used to calculate an auxiliary torque (first auxiliary torque Sj1) in the steering direction of the steering wheel 12. That is, by taking the difference (absolute value) between the current steering angle and the reference position, the relative steering angle necessary for calculating the first auxiliary torque Sj1 is obtained.

  Then, as described above, the first setting unit 52A operates during a period in which the steering wheel 12 is being steered in a direction in which the steering angle changes with the passage of time, and the first setting unit 52A starts from the comparison unit 46 of the road surface state estimation unit 40. When the 1 estimation signal S1 is supplied, it is determined that the road surface state is a low μ road, and the increase width of the auxiliary torque Sj with respect to the increase of the relative steering angle is set small. In this embodiment, the first auxiliary torque Sj1 is calculated from the first map 66A (see FIG. 3A) using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed as parameters. In the first map 66A (and the second map 66B: see FIG. 3B), the first auxiliary torque Sj1 has the steering direction of the steering wheel 12 as the positive direction, and the first auxiliary torque Sj1 in the steering direction of the steering wheel 12 Is given. In the first map 66A, the increase width d1 in the positive direction of the first auxiliary torque Sj1 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is smaller than the increase width d2 in the normal case (see the second map 66B in FIG. 3B). In addition, the peak value of the first auxiliary torque Sj1 is set lower as the vehicle speed increases. The first map 66A is stored in the memory 50 of the controller 26 together with a second map 66B to a fourth map 66D described later.

  On the contrary, when the second estimation signal S2 is supplied from the comparison unit 46, it is determined that the road surface condition is other than the low μ road, and the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed are used as parameters from the second map 66B (see FIG. 3B). First auxiliary torque Sj1 is calculated. In the second map 66B, as shown in FIG. 3B, the increase width d2 in the positive direction of the first auxiliary torque Sj1 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is larger than the increase width d1 in the case of a low μ road (see FIG. 3A) The peak value of the first auxiliary torque Sj1 is set lower as the vehicle speed increases.

  On the other hand, the second setting unit 52B includes a reference position setting unit 64 that sets reference position information (steering angle information). The reference position setting unit 64 acquires current steering angle information from the steering angle sensor 20 when the second setting unit 52B is activated by the selection activation unit 54, and uses the steering angle information as a reference position as a reference position. Store (overwrite) in the storage unit 62. However, the relative steering angle used in the second setting unit 52B differs from the case of the first setting unit 52A, and the difference between the current steering angle and the neutral position (the steering angle stored in the neutral position storage unit 21). (Absolute value).

  Then, as described above, the second setting unit 52B operates during a period in which the steering angle is other than 0 ° and the change in the steering angle is substantially constant, and the comparison unit 46 of the road surface state estimation unit 40 is operated. When the first estimation signal S1 is supplied from, the road surface state is determined to be a low μ road, and the increase amount in the negative direction of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is set large. In this embodiment, the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is calculated from the third map 66C (see FIG. 4A) using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed as parameters. In the third map 66C (and the fourth map 66D: see FIG. 4B), the second auxiliary torque Sj2 has a negative direction in which the steering wheel 12 is returned to the neutral position, and a direction in which the steering wheel 12 is returned to the neutral position. 2 shows that the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is applied. In the third map 66C, as shown in FIG. 4A, the increase width d3 in the negative direction of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is an increase width d1 in the first setting unit 52A (see FIG. 3A). The peak value of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is set lower as the vehicle speed increases.

  On the contrary, when the second estimation signal S2 is supplied from the comparison unit 46, it is determined that the road surface condition is other than the low μ road, and the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is determined from the fourth map 66D using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed as parameters. Is calculated. In the fourth map 66D, as shown in FIG. 4B, the increase width d4 in the negative direction of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is the increase width d2 in the first setting unit 52A (see FIG. 3B). The peak value of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is set lower as the vehicle speed is smaller and the vehicle speed is higher.

  The first auxiliary torque Sj1 output from the first setting unit 52A or the second auxiliary torque Sj2 output from the second setting unit 52B is supplied to the current conversion unit 58 together with positive / negative sign information. The current converter 58 converts the supplied first auxiliary torque Sj1 or second auxiliary torque Sj2 into a current value Ie (assist current value) and outputs the current value Ie to the electric motor 34. In the conversion to the current value Ie, the current direction (the rotation direction of the electric motor 34) is also set based on the steering direction Se from the steering angle sensor 20 and positive / negative sign information.

  Here, the operation of the electric power steering apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, in step S1 of FIG. 5, the selection activation unit 54 determines whether or not the steering angle is substantially constant. This determination is performed based on whether the second activation signal Sd2 is output from the activation determination unit 56 or whether the first activation signal Sd1 is output.

  When the steering angle is not substantially constant, that is, when the first activation signal Sd1 is output from the activation determination unit 56, the process proceeds to step S2, and the selection activation unit 54 activates the first setting unit 52A.

  Thereafter, in step S3, the first setting unit 52A determines whether or not the traveling road surface state is a low μ road. This determination is made based on whether or not the first estimation signal S1 is supplied from the comparison unit 46 of the road surface state estimation unit 40.

  When it is determined that the road is a low μ road, the process proceeds to the next step S4, and the first setting unit 52A reads the first map 66A (see FIG. 3A) from the memory 50.

  Then, in the next step S5, the first setting unit 52A calculates the difference (absolute value) between the steering angle information Sa from the steering angle sensor 20 and the reference position stored in the reference position storage unit 62, and performs relative processing. The steering angle is obtained, and the first auxiliary torque Sj1 is calculated from the first map 66A and output using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed information Sb from the vehicle speed sensor 22 as parameters.

  When it is determined in step S3 described above that the road is not a low μ road, the process proceeds to step S6, and the first setting unit 52A reads the second map 66B (see FIG. 3B) from the memory 50.

  In the next step S7, the first setting unit 52A calculates and outputs the first auxiliary torque Sj1 from the second map 66B using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed information Sb from the vehicle speed sensor 22 as parameters, as in step S5. To do.

  In step S <b> 8, the current converter 58 converts the obtained first auxiliary torque Sj <b> 1 into a current value Ie (assist current value) and outputs the current value Ie to the electric motor 34. The electric motor 34 rotationally drives the rack 16b based on the supplied current value Ie and the current direction, whereby the operation load on the steering wheel 12 by the driver is reduced according to the road surface condition. That is, since the first map 66A is used on the low μ road, the increase width of the assist current with respect to the increase of the steering angle is set to be small, and thereby the operation load on the steering wheel is somewhat increased. On the other hand, since the second map 66B is used except for the low μ road, the increase width of the assist current with respect to the increase of the steering angle is set larger than that in the case of the low μ road. And operation becomes easy.

  When it is determined in step S1 described above that the steering angle is substantially constant, that is, when the second activation signal Sd2 is output from the activation determination unit 56, the process proceeds to step S9, where the selection activation unit 54 Instead of the first setting unit 52A, the second setting unit 52B is activated. Note that the second setting unit 52B stores the steering angle information Sa from the steering angle sensor 20 in the reference position storage unit 62 of the first setting unit 52A as a reference position when activated.

  Thereafter, in step S10, the second setting unit 52B determines whether or not the traveling road surface state is a low μ road. This determination is made based on whether or not the first estimation signal S1 is supplied from the comparison unit 46 of the road surface state estimation unit 40.

  If it is determined that the road is a low μ road, the process proceeds to the next step S11, and the second setting unit 52B reads the third map 66C (see FIG. 4A) from the memory 50.

  Then, in the next step S12, the second setting unit 52B calculates a difference (absolute value) between the steering angle information Sa from the steering angle sensor 20 and the neutral position stored in the neutral position storage unit 21 to perform relative processing. The steering angle is obtained, and the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is calculated and output from the third map 66C using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed information Sb from the vehicle speed sensor 22 as parameters.

  If it is determined in step S10 described above that the road is not a low μ road, the process proceeds to step S14, and the second setting unit 52B reads the fourth map 66D (see FIG. 4B) from the memory 50.

  In the next step S14, the second setting unit 52B calculates and outputs the second auxiliary torque Sj2 from the fourth map 66D using the relative steering angle and the vehicle speed information Sb from the vehicle speed sensor 22 as parameters, as in step S12. To do.

  In step S15, the current converter 58 converts the obtained second auxiliary torque Sj2 into a current value Ie (assist current value) and outputs the current value Ie to the electric motor 34. The electric motor 34 rotationally drives the rack 16b based on the supplied current value Ie and the current direction, and thereby the operation of the driver to maintain the steering wheel 12 at a certain steering angle other than the neutral position. The load will increase or decrease depending on the road surface condition.

  Then, after the process of step S8 or step S15 described above, the process proceeds to the next step S16, and the controller 26 determines whether or not there is an end request (stop of the vehicle, power off, etc.). If there is no termination request, the processing from step S1 described above is repeated, and the operation in the electric power steering apparatus 10 is terminated when the termination request is made.

  In the electric power steering apparatus 10, as described above, the magnitude of the auxiliary torque in the direction in which the steering wheel 12 is returned to the neutral position can be varied according to the road surface condition. Therefore, when rotating the steering wheel on a low μ road, the steering wheel feels heavy, and even when the steering wheel is maintained at a constant steering angle, it feels heavy. There is no sense of incongruity in wheel operation. Of course, when the steering wheel is intended to maintain a certain steering angle other than the neutral position, the inconvenience that the steering wheel easily moves can be avoided.

  Thus, in the present embodiment, the auxiliary torque in the direction to return the steering wheel to the neutral position can be changed according to the road surface condition, and the driver has a sense of operation of the steering wheel without a sense of incongruity according to the road surface condition. Can be made.

  In the above-described example, as shown in FIG. 4B, as the fourth map 66D, the increase width d4 in the negative direction of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 with respect to the increase in the relative steering angle is the increase width d2 (see FIG. 3B), and the peak value of the second auxiliary torque Sj2 is set lower as the vehicle speed is higher. Therefore, for example, when driving on a high μ road (a road surface with high frictional resistance) such as a dry road or off-road, if the steering wheel is to maintain a certain steering angle other than the neutral position, the steering wheel The auxiliary torque in the direction to return the wheel to the neutral position is set to be small. As a result, when the steering wheel is rotated on a high μ road, the steering wheel feels light, and even when the steering wheel is maintained at a constant steering angle, it feels light. There is no sense of incongruity in operation with the steering wheel.

  The electric power steering apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can of course have various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electric power steering apparatus 12 ... Steering wheel 14 ... Wheel 16 ... Wheel steering mechanism 18 ... Steering torque sensor 20 ... Steering angle sensor 22 ... Vehicle speed sensor 24 ... Actuator 26 ... Controller 28 ... Yaw rate sensor 34 ... Electric motor 40 ... Road surface State estimation unit 42 ... auxiliary torque setting unit 44 ... normative yaw rate calculation unit 46 ... comparison unit 52A ... first setting unit 52B ... second setting unit 54 ... selection activation unit 56 ... activation determination unit 58 ... current conversion unit

Claims (5)

A wheel steering mechanism for transmitting a steering torque generated by a driver steering a steering wheel of a vehicle to the wheels of the vehicle and turning the wheels;
A steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of the steering wheel;
A vehicle speed sensor for detecting the speed of the vehicle;
In the electric power steering apparatus having an actuator for generating an auxiliary torque according to the speed of the vehicle and the steering angle,
A road surface state estimating unit for estimating at least the road surface state;
An auxiliary torque setting unit configured to set the auxiliary torque generated by the actuator based on at least the speed of the vehicle, the steering angle, and the estimated road surface state;
The electric power steering device, wherein the auxiliary torque setting unit sets at least the magnitude of the auxiliary torque in a direction to return the steering wheel to a neutral position according to the estimated road surface state. The electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1,
The auxiliary torque setting unit includes:
A first setting unit for generating a first auxiliary torque in the steering direction of the steering wheel by the actuator;
A second setting unit for generating a second auxiliary torque in a direction to return the steering wheel to a neutral position by the actuator;
The electric power steering apparatus, wherein the second setting unit varies the magnitude of the second auxiliary torque according to the estimated road surface state. The electric power steering apparatus according to claim 2,
The electric power steering apparatus, wherein the second auxiliary torque setting unit operates during a period in which the steering angle is other than 0 ° and the change in the steering angle is substantially constant. In the electric power steering device according to claim 2 or 3,
The second auxiliary torque setting unit includes:
The second auxiliary torque with respect to the relative steering angle when the estimated road surface state is a low friction coefficient road surface state is the second auxiliary torque with respect to the relative steering angle when the estimated road surface state is other than the low friction coefficient road surface state. An electric power steering device, wherein the electric power steering device is set to be larger than the auxiliary torque. In the electric power steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Furthermore, it has a yaw rate sensor that outputs the actual yaw rate,
The road surface state estimation unit is
A standard yaw rate calculation unit that calculates a standard yaw rate based on a rudder angle from the rudder angle sensor and a vehicle speed from the vehicle speed sensor;
The electric power steering apparatus characterized by estimating the road surface state based on the obtained standard yaw rate and the actual yaw rate from the yaw rate sensor.

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