US 11,970,222 B2
End stop return function for vehicle steering
Stefan Berkner, Gifhorn (DE); Jens Zientek, Sommersdorf (DE); and Barbara Neef, Gifhorn (DE)
Assigned to VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed by Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Wolfsburg (DE)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/355,619.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 208 261.8 (DE), filed on Jul. 1, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0001919 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 5/04 (2006.01); B62D 6/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 5/0469 (2013.01) [B62D 5/0466 (2013.01); B62D 6/008 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for actuating a vehicle steering actuator coupled to a steering gear, the method comprising:
providing a second control variable of a normal operation return function to the vehicle steering actuator, wherein the second control variable causes the vehicle steering actuator to generate a normal operation force that returns the steering gear to a defined position independent of a limit distance from an end stop;
determining whether the steering gear is below the limit distance from the end stop;
determining whether a hands-off autonomous parking function is inactive;
in case the steering gear is below the limit distance and the autonomous parking function is determined to be inactive: providing a first control variable of an end stop return function to the vehicle steering actuator, wherein the first control variable causes the vehicle steering actuator to generate a return force component in the direction of the defined position, which return force component is additional to the normal operation force; and
otherwise: operating the normal operation return function so that no additional return force component is generated.