Appeal No. 2006-0373 Παγε 3
Application No. 10/181,625
BACKGROUND
The appellants' invention relates to a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle. A steer-
by-wire system is one in which, in normal operation, there is no direct mechanical
connection between the steering wheel and the steered wheels (appellants'
specification, page 1). Instead, the steering applied to the steering wheel by the driver
is detected by rotary angle sensors at the steering column and processed by a control
unit which transmits control signals accordingly to a steering actuator acting on the
steered wheels of the vehicle. A steering wheel actuator 9, having a rotor and a stator,
provides feedback to the steering wheel 1 in the form of a moment to simulate the
contact with the road for the driver (specification, page 1). Additionally, the steering
system is provided with a braking device 10 acting on the steering column, said braking
device being actuated as a function of the torque transmitted from the stator to the
steering column (specification, page 3). The braking device serves as a steering stop
and serves to block the steering wheel 1. Once the steering wheel has executed a
plurality of revolutions in one direction the braking device 10 is activated and thus
prevents further rotation of the steering wheel (specification, page 10). There are two
embodiments of the braking device disclosed and illustrated in the present application.
In the embodiment of Figures 4a-4c, the steering wheel actuator is integrated with the
braking device and the torque transmitted by the steering wheel actuator to the steering
column is used directly to actuate the braking device. In the embodiment of Figures 3a-
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Last modified: November 3, 2007