Method for automatically controlling an electric steering system for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling an electric steering system (4) of a motor vehicle (2), comprising the following recurrent actions - detecting the angular position of a steering wheel (6) of the motor vehicle; - controlling the angular position of steered wheels (8, 9) of the motor vehicle on the basis of the detected angular position of the steering wheel; characterized in that when the steering wheel reaches an angular stop position while the steered wheels are in a partial steering position, said steered wheels are controlled in such a way as to continue their steering towards a maximum steering position on condition that the steering wheel remains in the angular stop position.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF ELECTRIC STEERING FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention claims priority from French application 2304151 filed on April 25, 2023 (04 / 25 / 2023), the content of which (text, drawings and claims) is incorporated herein by reference.

[0005] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of electrically controlled steering systems for motor vehicles.

[0006] Prior art

[0007] Car manufacturers are offering more motor vehicles with electric drive functions, also known as "drive-by-wire" driving functions, which may include steer-by-wire control functions provided by electric power steering units without a steering column, i.e. having no mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels.

[0008] Conventionally, in a classic steering system with a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels, the steering wheel / wheel turning angle ratio is fixed and mechanically defined by the rack and pinion connection.

[0009] On the other hand, in a vehicle with a drive-by-wire steering system, the steering wheel / wheel angle ratio is not fixed by the mechanics, since there is no longer a physical link between the steering wheel and the wheels. This makes it possible to make this ratio variable and suitable for different use cases.

[0010] For example, it becomes possible to make this ratio more direct during "parking" maneuvers at low speeds of the motor vehicle, the steering angle required to carry out the maneuvers is therefore less important, or to make it less direct during the rolling phase at higher speeds (e.g. on the motorway) where a greater steering angle is required to turn, which increases the angular resolution available to the steering wheel. Thus, it is possible to ensure maximum maneuverability gain for low speeds, while maintaining limited lateral liveliness for higher speeds.

[0011] In addition, a reduced steering wheel rotation range (for example less than approximately 180°) thanks to a more direct ratio makes it possible to exploit new steering wheel shapes, no longer necessarily circular since there would no longer be any need for hand relays.

[0012] However, a good compromise must be found between, on the one hand, the gain in maneuverability and the associated reduction in the steering wheel rotation range, and on the other hand, the limitation of lateral liveliness, particularly for intermediate speeds between 10 km / h and 30 km / h, in which the motor vehicle speed is sufficiently high to cause significant lateral liveliness, and the driver may still need to reach the maximum steering angle of the wheels (e.g. to be able to make a quick U-turn at 20 km / h).

[0013] Published patent document WO 2020 / 02204 A1 discloses a steer-by-wire steering system in which the gear ratio is correlated with speed and steering wheel angle. The document discloses two characteristic curves for a ratio between the wheel steering angle and the steering wheel angle, including a non-linear curve for high speeds that rises slowly at small steering wheel angles, and rises more steeply at large steering angles.

[0014] However, the solution proposed by the document does not solve the technical problem, because the evolution of the gear ratio according to the non-linear curve implies a steering speed of the wheels which risks increasing and accelerating sharply, for a steering wheel rotation speed which remains constant. This increases the lateral liveliness of the vehicle for a constant steering wheel rotation speed, which constitutes a dangerous phenomenon because it is uncomfortable and difficult for the driver to control. This non-linearity is all the more accentuated as the variation of the ratio is strong depending on the steering wheel angle. In particular, if the objective is to reduce the steering wheel rotation range below approximately 180° in order to exploit new steering wheel shapes, then the associated non-linearity is not acceptable for an average driver. Presentation of the invention

[0015] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned state of the art. More particularly, the invention aims to propose a simple, efficient and economical solution for ensuring the control of an electrically controlled steering system of a motor vehicle, in order to achieve a good compromise between, on the one hand, a gain in maneuverability and the reduction of the angular range of rotation of the steering wheel, and, on the other hand, a limitation of the lateral liveliness of the motor vehicle.

[0016] To this end, the invention relates to a method for controlling an electric steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising the following recurring actions:

[0017] - detection of the angular position of a steering wheel of the motor vehicle;

[0018] - control of the angular position of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle, as a function of the detected angular position of the steering wheel; remarkable in that when the steering wheel reaches an angular stop position while the steered wheels are in a partial steering position, said steered wheels are controlled so as to continue their steering towards a maximum steering position provided that the steering wheel remains in the angular stop position.

[0019] Advantageously, the angular position control of the steered wheels comprises a directional signal transmitted exclusively electrically, i.e. without parallel mechanical coupling (without mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the wheels).

[0020] Preferably, the angular stop position of the steering wheel corresponds to the limit angle measured from a neutral angular position (central at 0°) of the steering wheel, said angle being between 90° and 270°, and more preferably equal to 180°.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the steering from the partial steering position to the maximum steering position is at a speed corresponding to an average steering speed before the partial steering position.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the control of the angular position of the steered wheels as a function of the detected angular position of the steering wheel is according to a nominal ratio between an angular value of rotation of the steering wheel and an angular value of rotation of the steered wheels, said nominal ratio being variable with the speed of the motor vehicle.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the nominal ratio is between 6 and 20, and decreases with the speed of the motor vehicle.

[0024] According to one embodiment, when the steering wheel is straightened from the stop angular position, the steered wheels are deflected according to a transient ratio between an angular value of rotation of the steering wheel and an angular value of rotation of the steered wheels, said transient ratio being less than the nominal ratio so that the angular position of the steered wheels converges towards an angular position corresponding to the angular position of the steering wheel and the nominal ratio.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the transient ratio is constant or increases until convergence.

[0026] According to one embodiment, when the steering wheel is straightened from the stop angular position to a neutral position, the steered wheels are deflected according to the nominal ratio and this including after the steering wheel reaches said neutral position, up to a neutral angular position of the steered wheels.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the steering wheel reaches an angular stop position while the steered wheels are in the partial steering position when the vehicle is traveling at a speed greater than 10 km / h.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the partial steering position forms a steering angle which is between 70 and 80% of a maximum steering angle.

[0029] Advantageously, the steering angle is presented between the steered wheels and a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

[0030] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising:

[0031] - a steering wheel coupled to an angular position sensor of said steering wheel;

[0032] - steering wheels;

[0033] - an electric device for controlling the angular position of the steered wheels;

[0034] - a vehicle steering control unit, electrically connected to the position sensor and to the electrical control device; remarkable in that the control unit is configured to execute the method according to the invention. The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the method for controlling an electric steering system makes it possible to optimize the compromise between lateral liveliness and maneuverability / reduction of the steering wheel rotation range without requiring the addition of an additional system to the motor vehicle.

[0035] Thus, the driver can advantageously maneuver without causing excessive lateral liveliness, while having the maximum steering angle of the motor vehicle available when steering accessible with a reduced steering wheel rotation range, for example, less than approximately 180°, which allows the use of a non-circular steering wheel, and this is possible at least thanks to the continuity of the steering by means of the nominal ratio beyond the angular stop position of the steering wheel. The invention also makes it possible to limit the lateral liveliness when the wheels are de-steering by means of the transient ratio Rt.

[0036] Brief description of the drawings

[0037] [Fig 1] schematically represents an electrically controlled steering system of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0038] [Fig 2] is a graphical representation of the evolution, as a function of time, of the steering angle of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle of FIG. 1, according to a gear ratio between an angular value of rotation of the steering wheel and an angular value of rotation of said steered wheels, according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0039] [Fig 3] is a graphical representation of the evolution of the steering angle of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle of figure 1 according to the gear ratio between the angle of the steering wheel and the steered wheels, according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0040] [Fig 4] is a graphical representation of the evolution of the steering angle of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle of figure 1 according to the gear ratio between the angle of the steering wheel and the steered wheels, according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0041] [Fig 5] is a graphical representation of the evolution of the steering angle of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle of figure 1 according to the gear ratio between the angle of the steering wheel and the steered wheels, according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; Detailed description

[0042] Figure 1 schematically represents an electrically controlled steering system 4 of a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention.

[0043] This is an electric power steering system without mechanical connection between the steering wheel 6 and the right 8 and left 9 front steering wheels of the motor vehicle 2.

[0044] The steering 4 comprises an electric actuator for steering the FWA steered wheels of the motor vehicle 2, and an electric actuator for the HWA steered steering wheel, capable of being driven in rotation in a nominal angular range having two limit angular positions of the steering wheel 6.

[0045] The wheel actuator is commonly referred to as FWA, an acronym taken from the English name: "Front Wheel Actuator", and the steering wheel actuator is commonly referred to as HWA for: "Hand Wheel Actuator".

[0046] In this configuration, each of the wheel and steering wheel actuators may comprise a receiver (angular position sensor) and a transmitter, so as to actuate the front wheels 8, 9 by means of a rack 10 following receipt of an angular position of the steering wheel, and vice versa.

[0047] Preferably, the electric steering system 4 is controlled by a control unit 12 of the motor vehicle 2, directly connected to each of the actuators FWA and HWA, respectively by means of an input 12.1 for a signal representative of the angular position of the steering wheel 6, and an output 12.2 for a signal controlling the steered wheels 8, 9.

[0048] The control unit 12 further comprises a control signal output to the steering wheel 6 and a signal input representative of the angular position of the steered wheels 8, 9.

[0049] The steering wheel 6 may comprise physical or virtual stops. Preferably, the HWA actuator of the steering wheel 6 is configured to generate maximum force feedback at the two limit angular positions of the steering wheel 6, so as to form two virtual end-of-travel stops of the steering wheel.

[0050] Figures 2 to 5 are a graphical representation of the evolution over time of the steering angle of the steered wheels of the motor vehicle of Figure 1 depending on the gear ratio between the angle of the steering wheel and the steered wheels, according to four different embodiments 100, 200, 300 and 400, which will be detailed below.

[0051] The gear ratio is established according to the invention in order to ensure a good compromise between gain in maneuverability and limitation of the lateral liveliness of the vehicle for speeds between 10 km / h and 30 km / h.

[0052] As an example, and to facilitate the illustration of the evolution of the steering angle according to the ratio, we consider that the motor vehicle is traveling at a constant speed of 20 km / h, and includes: a maximum steering angle of 30°; a maximum steering wheel rotation angle of 180° (presented between its neutral position at 0° and its stop).

[0053] In order to allow the driver to have the maximum steering angle of the wheels (in the event of a quick U-turn, for example) while respecting the maximum steering wheel rotation angle (180°), the steering wheel / wheel steering angle ratio must be equal to 6:

[0054] AnqleVolant 180

[0055] Ratio [° / °] = — — - - - = — = 6 [° / °]

[0056] Wheel Steer 30

[0057] However, with such a low ratio at 20 km / h, even small turns of the steering wheel can cause significant lateral liveliness of the motor vehicle.

[0058] A ratio allowing sufficient comfort could be, for example, a ratio equal to 8. But in this case, the achievable wheel turning would be reduced to 22.5° instead of 30°:

[0059] AngleV olant 180

[0060] BraquaqeRoue = - = - = 22.5 °

[0061] Ratio 8

[0062] Referring to Figure 2, it can be seen that the slope of the wheel steering curve with a ratio equal to 8 7° (designated R8) is lower than that with a ratio equal to 6 7° (designated R6). For this purpose, the wheel steering speed, and therefore the lateral liveliness of the vehicle, are limited. On the other hand, at a front steering angle of 180°, the wheel steering stops at 22.5° with the ratio R8, i.e. a loss of 25% of steering capacity.

[0063] In this regard, the present invention proposes an electric steering control method for establishing a nominal ratio Rn providing sufficient comfort during steering, and from which steering can be carried out even after reaching the steering wheel stop (at 180°), and this up to the maximum steering angle (at 30°). Thus, the driver can advantageously maneuver without causing excessive lateral liveliness, while having the maximum steering angle of 30°, without the phenomenon of acceleration of the steering of the wheels inherent in a solution with variable ratio.

[0064] The nominal ratio Rn corresponds in the example given to the ratio R8, but this can be between 2 and 40, and preferably between 3 and 25, and even more preferably between 6 and 20, depending on the speed and / or the motor vehicle and / or the desired steering comfort.

[0065] - From 0 to t1, the driver turns the steering wheel at a constant speed, and the wheels turn with a constant R8 ratio.

[0066] - At t1, the driver reaches the steering wheel's stop angular position at 180°, and the wheels have turned 22.5°, which corresponds to 75% of the maximum turning capacity; this is a partial turning position of the steering wheels.

[0067] - From t1 to t2, the steering wheel remains in the stop angular position (180°) and the wheels continue to turn until reaching 30° (100% of the turn) at t2.

[0068] Between t1 and t2, the steering wheel converges towards the maximum steering angle while the driver no longer turns the steering wheel. In order to make this phenomenon as imperceptible as possible for the driver, it is possible to advantageously adapt the dynamics of this convergence according to various criteria: by defining a speed of convergence of the steering wheel (between t1 and t2) so that it is similar to the steering speed of the wheels preceding t1. For example, by taking a sliding average over x samples of the steering speed of the wheels preceding t1. It can also be a gain on this average, or even to impose a predefined convergence profile; and / or following a steering angle lower than the maximum steering angle, if it is not necessary to have the maximum steering angle (beyond 20 km / h for example), the steering wheel does not need to converge up to 100% of the maximum steering angle.The duration of the phenomenon is thus reduced; and / or depending on the speed of the vehicle; the selected driving mode (normal, comfort, sport, etc.); the type of vehicle; the characteristics of the ground connection; or any other relevant information relating to the steering of the wheels. Alternatively, the steered wheels can be controlled to continue their steering towards their maximum steering position, even from an angular position of the steering wheel located before the stop of said steering wheel, i.e. at a steering wheel angle lower than that of its stop (for example, at a steering wheel angle approximately 10% lower than the stop limit angle). This makes it possible to further optimize the steering control in order to minimize the liveliness of the motor vehicle as much as possible.

[0069] - From t2 to t3, the steering wheel is at 180° and the wheels are at the maximum turning position of 30°.

[0070] From t3 to t6, the driver turns the steering wheel from 180° to 0° with a constant rotation speed, this involves turning the wheels towards their initial position, advantageously carried out according to a transient ratio Rt.

[0071] It should be noted that the different embodiments 100, 200, 300, 400 (illustrated according to figures 2 to 5) propose an identical steering solution up to the maximum steering position (from 0 to t1). These embodiments differ only in the management of the steering of the wheels between t3 and t6.

[0072] These different embodiments suggest starting the deflection of the wheels from the steering wheel stop (at 180° in the example). However, it is possible, alternatively, to control the deflection of the wheels towards their neutral steering position, from a steering wheel angle less than that of its stop (for example, at a steering wheel angle less than approximately 10% of the limit angle of the stop).

[0073] In the configuration illustrated in Figure 2, the transient ratio Rt is decomposed as follows:

[0074] - From t3 to t4, the transient ratio Rt corresponds to the ratio R6.

[0075] - From t4 to t5, the wheel deflection accelerates so as to gradually converge towards the nominal steering angle defined by the ratio R8.

[0076] A front steering angle of 126° at t4 can be defined as the trigger for the acceleration of the convergence of the ratio R6 to R8.

[0077] The value of the decrease in the transient ratio Rt when converging towards R8 can be adjusted to best suit each situation and each vehicle.

[0078] From t5 to t6, the wheel deflection ends with the ratio R8. Thus, from t3 to t6 the transient ratio Rt increases progressively from the ratio R6 to the ratio R8.

[0079] Alternatively, the second embodiment 200 of the invention provides constant deflection and preferably with a fixed ratio corresponding to the ratio R6, as illustrated in Figure 3.

[0080] Indeed, the transient ratio Rt may not converge towards R8 during de-steering unlike the first embodiment. To this end, a ratio change can be made at t6 instantly when the steering wheel reaches its central position (AV equal to 0°) so as to return to the ratio R8 corresponding to the nominal ratio Rn in order to be ready for the next turning of the wheels. Advantageously, the instantaneous return of the nominal ratio to the central position of the steering wheel makes the ratio change imperceptible to the driver.

[0081] Advantageously, the constancy of the transient ratio Rt during de-steering makes it possible to avoid any risk of acceleration of de-steering of the wheels, in particular if the driver quickly returns the steering wheel to 0° with a constant rotation speed.

[0082] Conversely, if the driver continues the maneuver for a long time without returning the steering wheel to 0°, it is preferable for the transient ratio Rt (corresponding here to R6) to increase slowly to reach the nominal ratio (here R8) as illustrated in figure 4, so that the driver does not drive for too long with the ratio R6, which could cause excessive lateral liveliness of the motor vehicle.

[0083] In this third embodiment 300, it can be noted that the driver has stopped turning the steering wheel (at t5) while the transient ratio Rt has not yet had time to converge towards the nominal ratio Rn (R8), the wheels therefore continue to turn slightly after the steering wheel has stopped rotating.

[0084] In this respect, the convergence speed of the transient ratio Rt towards the ratio R8 is preferentially adjusted between t3 and t5, so as to limit the delay phenomenon between t5 and t6, while avoiding excessive acceleration of the wheel steering.

[0085] Figure 5 is a graphical representation of the evolution of the steering of the wheels according to the gear ratio according to the fourth embodiment 400, in which the de-steering comprises a direct manipulation of the steering angle of the wheels. From t3 to t7, the driver turns the steering wheel from 180° to 0° with a constant rotation speed, and the wheels de-steer with a speed limited by means of the transient ratio Rt which is constant and identical to the ratio R8. Indeed, it is noted that the slope of the evolution of the steering angle of the wheels according to the transient ratio Rt is less steep than the evolution of said steering according to the ratio R6, which makes it possible to limit the lateral liveliness when the wheels disembark.

[0086] From t6 to t7, the steering wheel has reached 0° (at t6), but the wheels continue to turn to catch up with the instruction from the steering wheel.

[0087] Alternatively, the wheels may continue to turn when the steering wheel is stopped rotating at an angular position other than the neutral position at 0° (e.g. at 30°), so a delay may be made up between the steering angle of the wheels and the steering wheel after the latter has stopped rotating. In this respect, the transient ratio may converge towards the nominal ratio or towards an intermediate ratio close to the nominal ratio.

[0088] The setpoint delay created between the detected angular position of the steering wheel and the steering of the wheels, makes it possible to limit the steering speed of the wheels and therefore reduce the lateral liveliness of the vehicle when steering. It is possible to adjust the steering dynamics between t3 and t7 in order to best respond to the compromise between lateral liveliness and delay between the steering wheel angle and the steering angle of the wheels.

[0089] Advantageously, the invention presents a significant economic interest since the method for controlling an electric steering system makes it possible to optimize the compromise between lateral liveliness and maneuverability / reduction of the steering wheel rotation range without requiring the addition of an additional system to the motor vehicle. Indeed, the manipulation of the gear ratio proposed by the invention requires only minor modifications to software controlling the vehicle's steering control unit and is fully customizable to adapt to different vehicles.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Method for controlling an electric steering system (4) of a motor vehicle (2), comprising the following recurring actions: - detection of angular position of a steering wheel (6) of the motor vehicle (2); - control of the angular position of the steered wheels (8, 9) of the motor vehicle (2), as a function of the detected angular position of the steering wheel (6); characterized in that when the steering wheel (6) reaches an angular stop position while the steered wheels (8, 9) are in the partial steering position, said steered wheels (8, 9) are controlled so as to continue their steering towards a maximum steering position provided that the steering wheel (6) remains in the angular stop position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steering from the partial steering position to the maximum steering position is at a speed corresponding to an average steering speed before the partial steering position.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which the control of the angular position of the steered wheels (8, 9) as a function of the detected angular position of the steering wheel (6) is according to a nominal ratio (Rn) between an angular value of rotation of the steering wheel (6) and an angular value of rotation of the steered wheels (8, 9), said nominal ratio (Rn) being variable with the speed of the motor vehicle (2).

4. Method according to claim 3, in which the nominal ratio (Rn) is between 3 and 25, and decreases with the speed of the motor vehicle (2).

5. Method according to one of claims 3 and 4, wherein when the steering wheel (6) is straightened from the angular stop position, the steered wheels (8, 9) are deflected according to a transient ratio (Rt) between an angular value of rotation of the steering wheel (6) and an angular value of rotation of the steered wheels (8, 9), said transient ratio (Rt) being less than the nominal ratio (Rn) so that the angular position of the steered wheels (8, 9) converges towards an angular position corresponding to the angular position of the steering wheel (6) and to the nominal ratio (Rn).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transient ratio (Rt) is constant or increases until convergence.

7. Method according to one of claims 3 and 4, in which when the steering wheel (6) is straightened from the angular stop position to a neutral position, the steered wheels (8, 9) are deflected according to the nominal ratio (Rn) and this including after the steering wheel reaches said neutral position, up to a neutral angular position of the steered wheels (8, 9).

8. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the steering wheel (6) reaches an angular stop position while the steered wheels (8, 9) are in the partial steering position when the vehicle (2) is traveling at a speed greater than 10 km / h.

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, in which the partial steering position forms a steering angle which is between 70 and 80% of a maximum steering angle.

10. Motor vehicle (2) comprising: - a steering wheel (6) coupled to an angular position sensor of said steering wheel (6); - steering wheels (8, 9); - an electrical device (FWA) for controlling the angular position of the steered wheels (8, 9); - a control unit (12) for steering the vehicle (2), electrically connected to the position sensor and to the electrical control device (FWA); characterized in that the control unit (12) is configured to execute the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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