Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a first roll condition detector (64A), a second roll condition detector (64B), a third roll condition detector (64C), and a controller (26) that uses the roll condition generated by the roll condition detectors (64A-C) to determine a wheel lift condition. Other roll condition detectors may also be used in the wheel lift determination. The wheel lift conditions may be active or passive or both.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a roll rate sensor (34) for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller (26) determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a roll rate sensor (34) for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller (26) determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a roll rate sensor (34) for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller (26) determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a roll rate sensor (34) for generating a roll rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) for generating a lateral acceleration signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) for generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) for generating a yaw rate signal. A safety device or system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. The controller (26) determines an added mass and the height of the added mass on the vehicle, or a roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and/or a roll rate parameter that take into account the added mass and height from the roll rate, the lateral acceleration, the longitudinal acceleration, and the yaw rate of the vehicle, and controls the safety system in response thereto.

Abstract: A control system (11) for a vehicle (10) includes vehicle dynamics sensors (35-47) providing a vehicle dynamics signal. Tire monitoring system sensors (20) in each wheel generate tire signals including temperature, pressure and acceleration data. A controller (26) communicates with the tire monitoring system sensors (20) and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor, and generates a tire abnormality value as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signals. Tire multi-axis acceleration data is also used to detect a roadway departure, and an oversteer or understeer event.

Abstract: A vehicle network gateway providing off board diagnostic and computer based devices with access to vehicle network data such as signal values and diagnostic error information. The gateway eliminating the deleterious effects of electrical loading on the vehicle network and the introduction of noise onto the vehicle network by off board devices. The gateway adapted to bridge data between the vehicle networks and a variety of external networks including conventional wireless and hardwired networks providing wireless access of vehicle diagnostic data over external networks at vehicle repair and service centers.

Abstract: A method of controlling a controllable chassis system or a safety system (44) for a vehicle (10) includes determining an added mass placed on the vehicle and relative to a known vehicle mass. A vehicle characteristic is adjusted in response to the added mass. A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a sensor (20, 28-42) that generates a signal. A controller (26) determines added mass on the vehicle (10) in response to the signal and adjusts a vehicle characteristic in response to the added mass.

Abstract: A control system for controlling a safety system of an automotive vehicle having a transmission and a differential. The system includes left and right wheel speed sensors associated with respective vehicle wheels and generating left and right wheel speed signals, and a transmission output shaft speed sensor generating a transmission output shaft speed signal. A controller is coupled to the wheel speed sensors and the transmission output speed sensor, and determines a reference wheel speed for one of the left or right wheels as a function of the other of the left or right wheel speed signal and the transmission output shaft speed signal. The controller controls the safety system in response to the determined reference wheel speed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining a front lateral tire force, a rear lateral tire force, and determining a lineal sideslip angle from the front lateral tire force and the rear lateral tire force. The method also includes determining a load transfer correction. The method also includes determining a final linear lateral velocity in response to the linear sideslip angle and the load transfer correction and controlling the vehicle in response to the final linear lateral velocity.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system (19) includes a suspension (47). A lateral acceleration sensor (32) generates a lateral acceleration signal. A roll rate sensor (34) generates a roll rate signal. A controller (26) detects an irregularity in the suspension in response to the lateral acceleration signal and the roll rate signal. A method of detecting suspension irregularities in a vehicle (10) includes the generating of a lateral acceleration signal and a roll rate signal. Roll angle is determined in response to the lateral acceleration signal and roll rate signal. A roll gradient, a roll acceleration coefficient, and a roll damping parameter are determined in response to at least the roll angle. The roll gradient, the roll acceleration coefficient, and the roll damping parameter are compared to associated nominal values. A suspension irregularity is indicated in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A FET monitoring and protecting system (10) that includes a FET switch device (20). The FET switch device (20) includes a FET (22), a logic device (57), and a feedback status output (26). The logic device (57) is electrically coupled to the FET (22) and generates a feedback status signal. A counter (60) is incremented in response to an actual short circuit condition of the FET switch device (20). A controller (18) is electrically coupled to the feedback status output (26). The controller (18) permits the activation of the FET (22) in response to the feedback status signal and a value of the counter (60).

Abstract: A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a controller (26) that determines whether or not a potential load change has occurred in a load change detector (59). A load change detector (59) may be coupled to various sensors to determine whether or not a change in load has occurred. If a change in load has occurred an adaptively determined roll condition parameter such as a roll acceleration coefficient, a roll rate parameter or a roll gradient may be reset. If a potential load change has not occurred, then a newly determined value for an adaptive roll condition may be included in a revised adaptive roll condition average. A safety device (44) may be controlled in response to the revised adaptive roll condition.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a receiver circuit (28). The vehicle (12) has a plurality of wheels (14A-14D). A plurality of antennas (31A-31D) are adjacent to one of the wheels (14A-14D). The plurality of antennas receive RF signals from a pressure sensor (16A). An adder circuit (30) is coupled to the receiver circuit and the plurality of antennas. The adder circuit receives the RF signals and adds them together to form a sum signal. The sum signal is coupled to the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A rollover sensing system (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The rollover sensing system (12) may include lateral acceleration sensors (22), a roll rate sensor (18), and a roll angle detector (20). A control circuit (16) determines a roll moment of inertia as a function of lateral acceleration, a trip point length as a function of the lateral acceleration, and a trip point angle as a function of the lateral acceleration. The control circuit (16) also determines a rollover threshold in response to a roll rate signal, a roll angle signal, the trip point length, the roll moment of inertia, and the trip point angle. The control circuit (16) further generates a control signal for a deployment circuit in response to the rollover threshold.

Abstract: A method of classifying objects within a vehicle (12) includes the detection of an object and the generation of an object detection signal in response to the detection. A range signal is generated in response to the object detection signal. An image detection signal is generated having an image representation of the object. The object detection signal is projected on an image plane (122) in response to the image detection signal to generate a fused image reference (120). A search region (144) is generated on the image plane (122) in the vicinity of the fused image reference (120). A vector of feature values is calculated via generation of a sum-array (152) and in response to the range signal and the image detection signal. The search region (144) is classified in response to the vector of feature values.

Abstract: A simulation system (30) for simulating an operation of an automotive vehicle includes an input (34) providing vehicle information and path information and a controller (38) having a vehicle computer model therein. The controller (38) is programmed to determine an initial steering wheel angle input to the computer model; determine a first steering wheel angle input to the computer model at a time later than the initial steering wheel angle input by comparing a look ahead point and an intended path; when the vehicle model is understeering, operate the computer model with the initial steering wheel angle input until an error of the first steering wheel angle and the initial is decreasing; when the error decreases, operate the computer model with the first steering wheel angle input; and generate an output in response to the vehicle model and the initial steering wheel input or the first steering wheel input.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for a motor vehicle having a monitoring unit which monitors a fault-free functionality of at least one operator control unit of the motor vehicle and generates warning signals in the case of limit-value functions of the at least one operator control unit. The monitoring unit generates tactile signals as warning signals so that degradation of performance of the at least one operator control unit can be communicated haptically to a driver of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A control system for a vehicle (10) is described for use in conjunction with the safety system (44) of the vehicle (10). A tire sensor or plurality of tire sensors generates tire force signals. The tire force signals may include lateral tire forces, longitudinal (or torque) tire forces, and normal tire forces. Based upon the tire force signals, a safety system (44) may be activated. The tire force sensors may be used to monitor various conditions including but not limited to sensing a roll condition, wheel lift detection, a trip event, oversteering and understeering conditions, pitch angle, bank angle, roll angle, and the position of the center of gravity of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control system (24) for controlling a safety system (40) of an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of wheel speed sensors (30) generating a plurality of wheel velocity signals, a steering angle sensor (39) generating a steering actuator angle signal, a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal, a lateral acceleration sensor (32) generating a lateral acceleration signal and a controller (26). The controller (26) generates a final reference vehicle velocity in response to the plurality of wheel speed signals, the steering angle signal, the yaw rate signal and the lateral acceleration signal. The controller (26) controls the safety system in response to the final reference vehicle velocity.