Abstract: A brake system control for use in a vehicle with four wheels comprising the steps of: determining a desired yaw rate (454); determining a yaw torque command responsive to the desired yaw rate (806); if the vehicle is in an anti-lock braking mode during driver commanded braking, applying the yaw torque command to only one of the four wheels to release brake pressure in said one of the four wheels (258-266, 274, 278, 280, 410-418); if the vehicle is in a positive acceleration traction control mode during driver commanded acceleration, applying the yaw torque command to only one of the four wheels to apply brake pressure in said one of the four wheels (258-266, 288-292, 410-418); and if the vehicle is not in the anti-lock braking mode or in the positive acceleration traction control mode, then: (i) determining whether a vehicle brake pedal is depressed (370); (ii) if the vehicle brake pedal is depressed, applying brake force to the vehicle wheels responsive to the depression of the brake pedal (374, 412, 418), w

Abstract: In a vehicle with an active brake control system a control method comprising to the steps of: determining individual wheel speeds of the vehicle wheels responsive to sensor output signals (1016, 1018); determining a vehicle reference velocity responsive to the individual wheel speeds (1002-1012); measuring vehicle yaw rate (1128); determining a delta velocity for each wheel responsive to the individual wheel speed for the wheel and the vehicle reference velocity (326); and when the active brake control system is in the active state for at least one of the wheels, (a) setting a base delta velocity for the one wheel equal to the delta velocity for the one wheel immediately prior to the active brake control obtaining the active state for the one wheel (200); (b) determining a control term responsive to the measured vehicle yaw rate (806), wherein the control term represents a desired delta velocity for the one wheel; (c) setting a first target change in delta velocity responsive to the base delta velocity and th

Abstract: A sensor-responsive control method for use on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring a vehicle yaw rate; measuring a vehicle lateral acceleration; responsive to the measured yaw rate and lateral acceleration, estimating a steering wheel angle; determining an error signal responsive to the difference between the estimated steering wheel angle and an adaptive steering position signal; and updating the adaptive steering position signal responsive to the error signal, wherein the adaptive steering position signal is quickly determined after the vehicle begins to move.

Abstract: A brake control system method according to the steps of: determining driver commanded yaw rate; measuring actual yaw rate; determining a yaw rate error; determining, in response to vehicle conditions, a yaw rate dead band wherein the yaw rate dead band varies with vehicle conditions; comparing the yaw rate error to the dead band; and if the yaw rate error exceeds the dead band, controlling the vehicle responsive to the yaw rate error, wherein yaw rate control only occurs when the yaw rate error exceeds the dead band.

Abstract: In a vehicle with first and second front vehicle wheels and third and fourth rear vehicle wheels and at least one member of a first group comprising anti-lock brake control and positive acceleration traction control, a brake control method comprising the steps of: determining a desired vehicle yaw rate; determining an actual vehicle yaw rate; responsive to the desired and actual vehicle yaw rates, determining an axle command; responsive to the desired and actual vehicle yaw rates, determining a torque command; applying the axle command during activation of one of the anti-lock brake control and the positive acceleration traction control to one member of a second group comprising (i) the two front wheels and (ii) the two rear wheels, wherein wheel-to-road traction is increased and a difference between desired vehicle yaw rate and actual vehicle yaw rate is minimized; and applying the torque command to at least one of the vehicle wheels independently of the axle command to create a yaw torque moment on the vehi

Abstract: A comprehensive diagnostic for an active brake control system for automatically increasing braking at selected wheels of an automotive vehicle in response to detected vehicle turning maneuvers provides a hierarchy of diagnostic procedures for diagnosing local transducer and transducer circuit fault conditions, for diagnosing lack of correlation between transducers and subsystems, and for diagnosing low system level performance. Transducers or subsystems are isolated and indicated as the source of diagnosed low system performance to facilitate fault treatment procedures. Active brake control system authority is automatically reduced for at least the duration of diagnosed fault conditions.

Abstract: A vehicle yaw rate control method comprising the steps of: first estimating vehicle yaw rate responsive to a first set of criteria; second estimating vehicle yaw rate responsive to a second set of criteria, wherein the first set of criteria includes a first vehicle condition not included in the second set of criteria and wherein the second set of criteria includes a second vehicle condition not included in the first set of criteria; measuring vehicle yaw rate using a yaw rate sensor; and indicating a reverse travel condition if both of the first and second estimates have signs opposite to a sign of the measured vehicle yaw rate.