Attitude Change Suppressive Control (e.g., Antiroll Or Antipitch) Patents (Class 701/38)
  • Patent number: 8447466
    Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure in a compressed-air accumulator of a level-control system of a motor vehicle utilizing a pressure-control apparatus constructed and arranged to adjust the accumulator pressure according to a predetermined index pressure value. The index pressure value is automatically determined by a computing device based on the relative level and/or the load of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Meier, Olaf Thielking
  • Patent number: 8442720
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Jeffrey Rupp
  • Patent number: 8437912
    Abstract: A high efficiency vehicle propulsion system to propel a vehicle using a hydraulic motor pump functioning as motor connected to the vehicle wheels. Vehicle braking and deceleration energy is recaptured using the same hydraulic motor pump functioning as a pump and stored in an inertia wheel configured as a gyroscope. Energy is stored in and retrieved from the inertia wheel by the use of a hydraulic motor pump functioning as a motor to store energy in the inertia wheel of the gyroscope or as a pump or to retrieve energy from the inertial wheel of the gyroscope. Energy to serve the system is derived from the use of a small engine running infrequently and intermittently. Additional energy is retrieved by the use of an active shock absorption system. Energy management and vehicle propulsion are controlled by a central computer processing signals derived from action of an on-board operator, an on-board program of from a remote source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventor: Gerald Frank Simons
  • Patent number: 8437907
    Abstract: In a method for determining a roadway state (STATE) of a roadway on which a vehicle (10) is travelling which has at least one wheel (14) and an acceleration sensor (24) which is assigned to the wheel (14), in order to determine a vertical component of an acceleration of the wheel (14), a characteristic value which is representative of the roadway state (STATE) is determined as a function of a measured signal (AC_VERT) of the acceleration sensor (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ning Bian, Celine Gamulescu, Andreas Mayer, Thomas Schweiger
  • Patent number: 8437950
    Abstract: A method for increasing the driving stability of a vehicle, particularly of a commercial vehicle, which counteracts a vehicle instability by a control intervention in a control system operating the drive and/or the brakes of the vehicle, in which the control intervention occurs as a function of the ratio between the height of the center of gravity of the vehicle and a spring constant of the vehicle suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Schramm, Falk Hecker, Matthias Horn, Ulrich Guecker, Stefan Hummel
  • Patent number: 8428807
    Abstract: Process for determining at least one state of motion of a vehicle body (10) of a vehicle (1), which has at least one wheel (2) spring-mounted on the vehicle body (10) via a wheel suspension (6), wherein an inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of a path or angle sensor (21), an inward deflection velocity (?rel) of the wheel (2) is determined by differentiating the inward deflection (zrel) of the wheel (2) over time, a vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) is measured by means of an acceleration sensor (22), a vertical velocity (?wheel) of the wheel (2) is determined by integrating the vertical acceleration ({umlaut over (z)}wheel) of the wheel (2) over time, and a vertical velocity (?body) of the vehicle body (10) is calculated by forming a difference of the vertical velocity (?wheel) of wheel (2) and the inward deflection velocity (?rel) of wheel (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Andreas Gärtner, Eberhard Hees, Stefan Rappelt
  • Patent number: 8423244
    Abstract: A method and device for controlled damping of a vehicle stores a set of controller parameters R1 to Rn for controlling the damping of the unloaded vehicle as a function of the dynamic driving situation thereof 1 to n, detect a loading condition b of the vehicle, adapt the set of controller parameters R1 to Rn as a function of the detected loading condition b to a set of controlled parameters R1b to Rnb, and dams the vehicle as a function of the set of controller parameters R1b to Rnb as a function of the dynamic driving situation thereon 1 to n.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Proemm, Alexander Meske, Martin Froehlich
  • Patent number: 8417417
    Abstract: A method to control a vehicle includes monitoring desired vehicle force and moment, monitoring real-time corner constraints upon vehicle dynamics which includes monitoring corner states of health for the vehicle, and monitoring corner capacities for the vehicle. The method further includes determining a desired corner force and moment distribution based upon the desired vehicle force and moment and the real-time corner constraints, and controlling the vehicle based upon the desired corner force and moment distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Shih-Ken Chen, Weiwen Deng, Youssef A. Ghoneim, Nikolai K. Moshohuk, Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 8412435
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for detecting if a vehicle has spun. A normal force and a lateral force of each of a front and rear axle of a vehicle is estimated. A coefficient of friction representative of a surface is estimated. Lateral momenta of the front and rear axles based on the coefficient of friction and the normal and lateral forces is calculated. Whether a surplus momentum is present, is determined. If the surplus momentum is present, a yaw rate of the vehicle is integrated respect to time to obtain a vehicle rotation estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel S. Maitlen
  • Publication number: 20130079988
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control apparatus, which is configured to be used with a vehicle including a brake force control unit capable of generating a brake force during a steering operation of the vehicle, includes a plurality of force generation apparatuses disposed between a vehicle body of the vehicle and a plurality of axles, each of which is capable of generating an adjustable force between the vehicle body and each wheel of the vehicle, a force adjustment unit configured to adjust the force of each of the force generation apparatuses, and a target pitch state calculation unit configured to calculate a target pitch state from a state in which the vehicle body turns. The force adjustment unit adjusts the force of each of the force generation apparatuses so that a pitch state of the vehicle body approaches the target pitch state calculated by the target pitch state calculation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130060423
    Abstract: The land vehicle includes a body, a controllable suspension system, the controllable suspension system for controlling suspension movements between the body and land engagers. The land vehicle includes a computer system and suspension sensors located proximate the land engagers for measuring suspension parameters representative of suspension movements between the body and the land engagers and outputting a plurality of suspension sensor measurement output signals. The land vehicle includes controllable force suspension members located proximate the land engagers and the suspension sensors, the controllable force suspension members applying suspension travel forces between the body and the land engagers to control the suspension movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: LORD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mark Jolly
  • Patent number: 8380395
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus including a road wheel speed detecting section, a vehicle body speed detecting section, a slip ratio calculating section configured to calculate slip ratios which are ratios of respective road wheel speeds with respect to vehicle body speed, an anti-skid brake control section configured to control wheel cylinder fluid pressures for respective wheel cylinders such that the slip ratios fall within a predetermined range, a wheel cylinder fluid pressure acquiring section, damping force variable shock absorbers which are disposed between the respective road wheels and the vehicle body and constructed to variably adjust respective damping force characteristics thereof, and a damping force variable shock absorber control section configured to set the damping force characteristics in accordance with the acquired wheel cylinder fluid pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kashiwamura, Hiroyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8378803
    Abstract: A vehicle safety system comprising a microprocessor; a first sensor operatively connected to the microprocessor, the first sensor functions to detect a degree of deviation of yaw or pitch or roll of the vehicle relative to a control value of 0; wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive a first signal from the first sensor, the first signal being the degree of deviation; wherein when the first signal is between 31 and 45 degrees the microprocessor is configured to generate a first output command to a speaker to play a first alarm sound; wherein when the first signal is 46 degrees or more the microprocessor is configured to generate a second output command to the speaker to play a second alarm sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Inventor: Craig A. Keiser
  • Publication number: 20130041545
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for affecting the cornering performance of a motor vehicle, a transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle is determined, a desired transverse tilt of the motor vehicle defined based on the determined transverse acceleration, at least one actuator of an active suspension system of the motor vehicle is adjusted so that the motor vehicle assumes the desired transverse tilt, and an additional actuator intervening in the steering system of the motor vehicle. A yaw movement of the motor vehicle caused by the adjustment of the at least one actuator of the active suspension system is at least partially compensated by the additional actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Michael Bär, Karl-Heinz Meitinger
  • Patent number: 8370025
    Abstract: A target value for yaw angle velocity gain is computed according to a map expressing a relationship between steering wheel angle and yaw angle velocity gain predetermined such that a direction as seen from a driver of a target destination point for vehicle travel at a predetermined time after a forward gaze and a direction as seen from the driver are caused to match each other, and a steering gear ratio is controlled accordingly. A target value for a steering wheel torque corresponding to the detected steering wheel angle and the acquired yaw angular velocity is set, based on a relationship between yaw angular velocity and resistance-feel level predetermined such that the resistance feel level for a driver monotonically increases with increasing yaw angular velocity. Control is then preformed so as to realize the steering wheel torque target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Eiichi Ono, Yuji Muragishi, Daisuke Yamada, Shinsuke Sato
  • Publication number: 20130030649
    Abstract: A control system in a straddle-type vehicle is provided. The control system includes front and rear wheels, comprises a load distribution changing section which changes a ground load distribution between the front and rear wheels during driving of the vehicle; a slip suppressing condition determiner section which determines whether or not a suppressing condition used to suppress a slip of one of the front and rear wheels is met, during driving of the vehicle; and a load distribution control section which controls the load distribution changing section to make the ground load of the one of the front and rear wheels greater when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is met, than when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is not met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8364370
    Abstract: When a target yaw moment Ms is computed, an estimated lateral acceleration GH and estimated deceleration GT of a host vehicle are determined beforehand according to target yaw moment Ms, and when the estimated lateral acceleration GH is smaller than a threshold preset on the basis of the estimated deceleration GT the target yaw moment Ms is corrected to a smaller limit value Msm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yonezawa, Kou Sato
  • Patent number: 8364346
    Abstract: A method and device for roll stabilization of a motor vehicle are provided. On the basis of a measured transverse acceleration or a calculated transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle, actuating signals are generated for actuators which are associated with a front axle and a rear axle of the motor vehicle and which provide support torques on the front axle and/or on the rear axle for roll stabilization. To ensure a satisfactory self-steering effect of the motor vehicle, a torque distribution between the support torque provided on the front axle and the support torque provided on the rear axle is modified on the basis of a first signal which allows conclusions to be drawn concerning the actuation of a gas pedal, and/or on the basis of a second signal which allows conclusions to be drawn concerning the actuation of a brake pedal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Fischlein, Robert Ferger-Andrews
  • Patent number: 8355844
    Abstract: The vehicle motion control apparatus includes a control unit 37A and sensors 2, 3, 4, 30, 31, 32, 33, etc. The actual state quantity obtaining unit 52 calculates a vehicle body actual slip angle ?z_act, etc. The reference dynamic-characteristic model calculating unit 54 calculates a reference vehicle body slip angle ?z_d, etc. by using a dynamic characteristic model. The vehicle motion control apparatus also includes a first anti-spin target yaw moment FB unit 68 which calculates a first anti-spin•target yaw moment Mc1_asp based on the vehicle body actual slip angle ?z_act and a second anti-spin target yaw moment FB unit 82 which calculates a second anti-spin•target yaw moment Mc2_asp based on a lateral acceleration Gs, a vehicle speed Vact and an actual yaw rate ?act.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Mori, Yuuji Sakaki, Noriaki Suzuki, Teppei Komori, Hisanori Yanagida
  • Patent number: 8352122
    Abstract: An engine control apparatus that effectively suppresses a rise in rotation number of an engine in a jump of a vehicle. An engine control apparatus includes an acceleration detecting device for detecting an acceleration component of gravity acceleration in a perpendicular direction of the vehicle body based on a signal inputted from an acceleration sensor, and a control circuit for judging whether the vehicle has jumped or not based on the acceleration component to be detected. The control circuit suppresses a rise in rotation number of the engine when the vehicle is judged to have jumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiko Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8346439
    Abstract: A system and method of activating a restraint system of a vehicle is described. The method includes generating a vehicle speed signal that represents a longitudinal speed of a vehicle, generating a lateral acceleration signal that represents a lateral acceleration of the vehicle, filtering the lateral acceleration signal to generate a filtered lateral acceleration signal, comparing the filtered lateral acceleration signal to a predetermined lateral acceleration enable threshold, estimating a lateral speed of the vehicle based on the vehicle speed signal when the filtered lateral acceleration exceeds the predetermined lateral acceleration enable threshold, and activating a restraint system of the vehicle based in part on the estimated lateral velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Andres, Patrick Messi, Eric Mertz, Holger Faisst
  • Publication number: 20120323445
    Abstract: In a motion control system for a vehicle including control means for controlling a yaw moment of the vehicle; first detection means for detecting a longitudinal velocity (V) of the vehicle; second detection means for detecting a lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle; and third detection means for detecting a yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) of the vehicle, the yaw moment of the vehicle is controlled by the control means so that a difference between the yaw angular acceleration (r_dot) detected by the third detection means and a value (Gy_dot/V) obtained by the lateral jerk (Gy_dot) of the vehicle detected by the second detection means by the longitudinal velocity (V) detected by the first detection means becomes small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto YAMAKADO, Shinya IMURA, Masato ABE
  • Publication number: 20120310479
    Abstract: Disclosed is a damping force control device for a vehicle that controls the damping coefficient of a damping force generation device on the basis of a final target control amount that is based on the target control amount for attitude control, which suppresses changes in the vehicle body attitude in at least the rolling direction, and the target control amount for riding comfort control, which increases riding comfort with regards to vehicle body vibrations in at least the rolling direction. The target control amount for riding comfort control is a control amount calculated as the total of a fixed basic control amount and a variable control amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yanqing Liu, Yuichi Mizuta, Motohiko Honma, Jin Hozumi, Masaaki Tabata
  • Publication number: 20120310478
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises at least one steering wheel, at least two other wheels, control means suitable for being operated by a driver to steer the steering wheel, a frame supported by said wheels and tiltable with respect to the ground when the vehicle steers and first actuating means to control the tilting position of said frame. In particular, vehicle comprises a decoupling device to decouple the angular position of control means to the angular position of steering wheel and a control unit configured to activate first actuating means when control means are operated by the driver before said steering wheel substantially changes its angular position at least when said vehicle turns running above a given speed threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Stefano Carabelli, Pietro Macchi
  • Patent number: 8322728
    Abstract: The present invention provides a suspension control apparatus requiring a reduced number of sensors. A pitch rate estimating unit 21 calculates a pitch rate used for creating a control instruction value, with use of a wheel-speed time-rate-of change obtained based on wheel speeds vcFL and vcFR detected by wheel speed sensors 7FL and 7FR, and an estimated forward/backward acceleration aes calculated by a forward/backward acceleration estimating unit 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Hirao, Takahide Kobayashi, Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 8326495
    Abstract: In a regulating system and method of regulating the chassis of a motor vehicle, sensor data which are present for regulating the suspension and the damping of a vehicle body vehicle and describe the suspension state are forwarded to the regulating module of an antilock brake system. A state of the motor vehicle with regard to a brow situation can be determined from the sensor data. The sensor data or the state with regard to the brow situation are/is taken into consideration in the regulating module of the antilock brake system when determining control signals for regulating the brake pressure in brake apparatuses which are assigned to the wheels, in particular in the brake cylinders. This increases the driving safety considerably when driving over a brow and immediately after driving over a brow and increases the efficiency and reliability of the antilock brake system substantially in corresponding driving situations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Steinle
  • Patent number: 8326488
    Abstract: A height controlling apparatus for controlling at least one actual height as a relative position of (a) a body of a vehicle and (b) at least one wheel of the vehicle relative to each other, the apparatus including at least one height controlling actuator which changes the at least one actual height; and an actuator control device which controls the at least one height controlling actuator so that the at least one actual height approaches at least one target height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Onuma, Masaaki Tabata, Takenari Yamaguchi, Masaki Kanatani, Atsushi Mizuta, Hideki Ohashi, Koutaro Okimura
  • Patent number: 8326487
    Abstract: A method for estimating the normal force at a wheel of a vehicle and the vertical acceleration of the vehicle that has particular application for ride and stability control of the vehicle. The method includes obtaining a suspension displacement value from at least one of a plurality of suspension displacement sensors mounted on the vehicle and estimating a spring force acting on a spring of a suspension element of the vehicle, a damper force acting on a damper of the suspension element of the vehicle, and a force acting at a center of a wheel. The method further includes determining a normal force at the wheel of the vehicle and a vertical acceleration of the vehicle based on the spring force, the damper force and the force at the center of the wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nikolai K. Moschuk, Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 8321089
    Abstract: The vehicle motion control device obtains a physical quantity representing a state of a motion of a vehicle in a direction of a lateral overturn. When the obtained physical quantity is larger than or equal to a motion state threshold and the vehicle motion control device is thereby in an anti-lateral overturn, the vehicle motion control device determines the target slip ratio at a present calculation period based on a largest value of the slip ratio corresponding, according to the predetermined relation between the physical quantity and the slip ratio, to the physical quantity obtained during a time range between the present calculation period and a past time instance when the vehicle motion control device enters the anti-lateral overturn mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kato
  • Patent number: 8321088
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining a lateral tire force, a front lateral tire force, a rear lateral tire force, and determining a linear sideslip angle from the front lateral tire force and the rear lateral tire force. The method further includes determining a linear lateral velocity in response to the linear sideslip angle and controlling the vehicle in response to the linear sideslip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Todd Brown, Joseph C. Meyers, Jianbo Lu
  • Publication number: 20120296521
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a motor vehicle, especially for a commercial vehicle that has a box body supportable on a chassis, with at least one detection means generating detection data for detecting the road profile in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel and a control device for controlling at least one controllable spring and/or damper unit depending on the detected data, wherein the at least one spring and/or damper unit for suspension and damping of the box body in the direction of a vertical axis of the vehicle can be connected to the box body and the chassis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Bodo Hanisch, Martin Schumacher, Georg Hoppe
  • Patent number: 8315765
    Abstract: In a method for reducing the rollover risk in vehicles, at least one state variable which characterizes the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is ascertained and is used as the basis for an intervention into the steering system and the braking system which stabilizes the vehicle. A multivariable control is carried out in which two control loops are superimposed, the first control loop being based on control of the yaw rate and the second control loop being based on control of the transverse acceleration. The steering system as well as the braking system may be adjusted via the first and second control loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Gerdes, Frank Niewels, Sylvia Futterer, Peter Ziegler
  • Patent number: 8311706
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Jeffrey Rupp
  • Patent number: 8311705
    Abstract: A Constant Force Control methodology and system utilizing integrated sensors and unique control algorithms to determine required applied force to mitigate shock events in an adaptive energy absorption system, typically comprising of a spring and an adjustable energy absorber or damper element. By utilizing an expected acceleration profile and event duration for an anticipated shock event an acceleration amplitude can be determined from a measure impact velocity. From this and a measured payload mass a system controller can determine the force necessary to be applied by the energy absorber in order to stop the payload over the full desired length of the available energy absorber stroke in order to minimize the forces experienced by the payload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: Techno-Sciences, Inc., University of Maryland
    Inventors: Gang Wang, Norman Wereley, Gregory Hiemenz, Young-Tai Choi
  • Patent number: 8306696
    Abstract: A method and system for positioning a vehicle chassis in approximate alignment with a predetermined datum are provided. The vehicle includes a first longitudinal end adapted to be pivotally connected to a substantially fixed point and a second longitudinal end including at least one axle and an operatively associated two-corner fluid suspension system. According to the method, the fluid suspension system controls the alignment of the vehicle chassis to be aligned with an artificial horizon represented as the predetermined datum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Driveright Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Holbrook, Joseph A. Bounds
  • Patent number: 8306697
    Abstract: An integrated stability control system using the signals from an integrated sensing system for an automotive vehicle includes a plurality of sensors sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors include an IMU sensor cluster, a steering angle sensor, wheel speed sensors, any other sensors required by subsystem controls. The signals used in the integrated stability controls include the sensor signals; the roll and pitch attitudes of the vehicle body with respect to the average road surface; the road surface mu estimation; the desired sideslip angle and desired yaw rate from a four-wheel reference vehicle model; the actual vehicle body sideslip angle projected on the moving road plane; and the global attitudes. The demand yaw moment used to counteract the undesired vehicle lateral motions (under-steer or over-steer or excessive side sliding motion) are computed from the above-mentioned variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Brown
  • Patent number: 8306695
    Abstract: A vehicle for transporting a wind turbine blade. The vehicle comprises a blade connection device for connecting a first end of the blade to the vehicle, wherein the blade connection device comprise a tilting device for elevating an opposite end of the blade and wherein a tip end of the blade is orientated in a forward direction of the vehicle. A control system for controlling the tilting device of a vehicle and a method for transporting a wind turbine blade are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Gunnar Kamp Storgaard Pedersen
  • Publication number: 20120277953
    Abstract: A method for controlling four semi-active suspensions of a vehicle comprising the steps of: determining, for each semi-active suspension, a first and a second signal representative of the acceleration and speed of the sprung mass; determining, for a pair of semi-active suspensions arranged on one side of the vehicle a third and a four signal representative of the acceleration and pitch speed; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a first damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the first and second signal squared; calculating for each semi-active suspension, a second damping coefficient as a function of the difference between the third and the four signal squared; for each semi-active suspension, comparing the first and the second damping coefficient for determining the higher coefficient; applying to each force generator device, an electronic control signal indicative of the respective high damping coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Sergio M. Savaresi, Cristiano Spelta, Diego Delvecchio, Gabriele Bonaccorso, Fabio Ghirardo, Sebastiano Campo
  • Patent number: 8296009
    Abstract: A suspension controller for controlling, based on a value detected by at least one sensor which is provided in a vehicle and which is configured to detect a detected portion, a suspension provided for a wheel of the vehicle which is located on a rear side of the detected portion and which is distant from the detected portion by a longitudinal distance in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, such that the suspension works in accordance with a control command value that is prepared based on the value detected by the at least one sensor. The suspension controller includes a gain determiner configured to determine a gain, for controlling the suspension based on the determined gain. The gain determiner is configured to determine the gain such that the determined gain is smaller when a previewable time is shorter than a threshold length of time, than when the previewable time is not shorter than the threshold length of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidenori Kajino
  • Patent number: 8296010
    Abstract: A suspension control apparatus enabling a driver to obtain an excellent driving feeling. The suspension control apparatus controls an actuator disposed between a vehicle body and a wheel of a vehicle. The suspension control apparatus includes a lateral acceleration detector operable to detect a lateral acceleration, a lateral jerk detector operable to detect a lateral jerk, and a suspension controller operable to control the actuator to change a pitch of the vehicle based the detected lateral acceleration and lateral jerk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryusuke Hirao, Masaaki Uchiyama, Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Takahide Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20120265402
    Abstract: Improved methods of controlling the stability of a vehicle are provided via the cooperative operation of vehicle stability control systems such as an Active Yaw Control system, Antilock Braking System, and Traction Control System. These methods use recognition of road surface information including the road friction coefficient (mu), wheel slippage, and yaw deviations. The methods then modify the settings of the active damping system and/or the distribution of drive torque, as necessary, to increase/reduce damping in the suspension and shift torque application at the wheels, thus preventing a significant shift of load in the vehicle and/or improving vehicle drivability and comfort. The adjustments of the active damping system or torque distribution temporarily override any characteristics that were pre-selected by the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: James W. Post, II, Xiaodi Kang, William Monsma
  • Publication number: 20120265401
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a vehicle. One system includes a plurality of sensors, an occupant restraint system, and a controller. The plurality of sensors are configured to sense operating parameters of the vehicle, and the occupant restraint system is configured to sense data about cargo located in the vehicle. The controller is configured to obtain the data about the cargo located in the vehicle, determine a control adjustment to account for an impact of the cargo on the vehicle's center of gravity based on the data about the cargo, and control the vehicle based on the control adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Frank-Juergen Stuetzler, Jason Trombley
  • Patent number: 8285449
    Abstract: A suspension ECU computes an actual roll angle and an actual pitch angle of a vehicle, and computes a difference between a target pitch angle and the actual pitch angle. The ECU then computes a total demanded damping force which must be cooperatively generated by shock absorbers so as to decrease the computed difference to zero, and distributes the total demanded damping force in proportion to the magnitude of a lateral acceleration such that a demanded damping force on the turn-locus inner side becomes greater than a demanded damping force on the turn-locus outer side. Further, the ECU determines whether or not the vehicle body is vibrating in the vertical direction as a result of input of a road surface disturbance, calculates a vibration-suppressing damping force needed for damping the vibration, and determines the demanded damping forces by use of the vibration-suppressing damping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikuhide Iyoda, Motohiko Honma
  • Publication number: 20120247888
    Abstract: Shock absorbers of left and right front wheel suspensions and shock absorbers of left and right rear wheel suspensions each are constituted by a damping force adjustable hydraulic shock absorber provided with a frequency response unit. An actuator of a damping force variable mechanism provided to the shock absorber is driven and controlled by a controller. The controller variably adjusts the damping force between the soft side and the hard side by the damping force variable mechanism according to a vertical vibration when a vehicle body vertically vibrates at a low frequency. The controller does not adjust the damping force when the vehicle body vibrates at a higher frequency than the low frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Hiroshi CHIKUMA, Ryusuke Hirao, Nobuyuki Ichimaru, Masaaki Uchiyama
  • Publication number: 20120245795
    Abstract: A tractor is improved for suppressing pitching in which a front part of a traveling vehicle body is lifted upward, while a suspension mechanism effectively functions when work is carried out with a ground implement. When a raise control signal for raising the plow is detected in draft control for elevating/lowering the plow based on a draw load value detected by a draw load sensor, mode switching means suppresses or limits the suspension function, via control of the suspension control means to suppress an adverse event in which the front part of the traveling vehicle body is lifted upward. When the raise control signal is not detected, the mode switching means causes the suspension mechanism to effectively function via control of the suspension control means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: KUBOTA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Kenichi Iwami, Toshimitsu Yazaki, Atsushi Hayashi, Shinnosuke Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8275516
    Abstract: A rollover risk assessment system includes sensors and a processor for estimating rollover risk associated with maneuvering on varying terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Michael D Murphy
  • Patent number: 8258936
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for acquiring integrated operational data and support data regarding a vehicle. The apparatus comprising a network interface for communicating with the vehicle and a processor that is coupled to the network interface. The processor is configured to transmit a first request for operational data to the vehicle, receive the requested operational data from the vehicle, the requested operational data including at least one event indicator, and retrieve the support data that corresponds to a selected event indicator from a stored location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Pradeep Mahalingaiah
  • Patent number: 8251375
    Abstract: A body leaning control system includes a support mechanism arranged to support a pair of wheels to be movable up and down relative to a vehicle body, a resistance applying mechanism arranged to apply to the support mechanism a resistance to up-and-down motions of the pair of wheels, a lean amount acquiring device arranged to detect a lean amount of the vehicle body, and a controller arranged, based on detection results received from the lean amount acquiring device, to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body exceeds a first angle, and to set the resistance of the resistance applying mechanism to a second resistance smaller than the first resistance when the lean amount of the vehicle body is at the first angle or less. This system can conveniently inhibit the vehicle body from leaning in excess of the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Hara, Yasuhiro Oomura
  • Patent number: 8255119
    Abstract: A vehicle body slip angle-estimating device which, in estimating a vehicle body slip angle with an algorithm using a nonlinear model, is capable of accurately estimating a vehicle body slip angle irrespective of whether the frequency of occurrence of a state during traveling of the vehicle. A basic value-calculating section calculates a basic value of a vehicle body slip angle with an algorithm using a neural network model. A turning state-determining section determines whether the vehicle is in a predetermined limit turning traveling state. A correction value-calculating section calculates a correction value with an algorithm using a predetermined linear model when the vehicle is in the predetermined state. In the other cases, the correction value is set to 0. A straight traveling-determining section sets the angle to the sum of the basic value and the correction value when the vehicle is in a turning traveling state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Komori, Shusuke Akazaki, Takahide Mizuno
  • Patent number: 8249774
    Abstract: A toe angle changing control ECU for controlling a toe angle of wheels of a vehicle. The toe angle changing control ECU includes: a straight traveling state judging section for judging whether or not the vehicle is in a; a memory for storing the toe angle of the wheels while the vehicle is in the straight traveling state; and a toe angle setting section for setting the wheels to the toe angle stored in the memory when the straight traveling state judging section judges that the vehicle is in the straight traveling state. While in the straight traveling state, the wheels are set to a toe angle at which the wheels are substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, reducing the rolling resistance of the wheels, and improving fuel consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Suyama, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Horiuchi, Kenji Hattori