Attitude Change Suppressive Control (e.g., Antiroll Or Antipitch) Patents (Class 701/38)
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8249775
    Abstract: A vehicle includes: at least three wheels, of which at least two wheels are situated on either side of the center of gravity of the vehicle's longitudinal axis and wherein at least one of the wheels has a steering effect on the direction of the vehicle, a frame having a tilting frame section, rotatable in the longitudinal axis relative to the road surface, a steering element mounted so as to rotate relative to the tilting frame section, one or more tilting elements connected to the tilting frame section and the wheels for exerting a tilting movement between the tilting frame section and the road surface, a speed sensor, a steering sensor for determining the force/torque or size of the steering wheel movement for achieving a change in the direction of the steerable wheel or wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Brinks Westmaas B.V.
    Inventor: Christopher Ralph Van Den Brink
  • Patent number: 8239096
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Shinya Imura, Masato Abe
  • Patent number: 8224524
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second rotary bodies in contact with a road surface. The vehicle also includes a rotation sensor that detects a rotational state of each of the first and second rotary bodies. Additionally, the vehicle includes a turning sensor that detects a physical quantity representing a turning state of the vehicle on the road surface. The vehicle also includes a calculation unit that calculates a predicted value of a turning parameter representing a turning amount of the vehicle by use of a difference between first and second physical quantities which represent the rotational states of the first and second rotary bodies. In addition, the vehicle includes a slip detection unit that detects occurrence of a slip of the first or second rotary body by comparing the predicted value with an actual measured value of the turning parameter obtained by receiving an output signal of the turning sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Issei Nakashima, Toshio Fuwa
  • Patent number: 8224534
    Abstract: The system and method automatically controls the position of at least one deck plate of a harvesting unit of a corn header so as to increase the width of a stalk receiving channel or reduce pinching forces between the plates when entering a stand of corn to facilitate alignment with the corn rows, and to change the position after a suitable time period or other condition or event, to narrow the channel width and/or increase pinching force, to reduce kernel loss while also monitoring forces exerted against the plates by the stalks and responsively adjusting the plate position for maintaining a desired force on the stalks or width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Trevor L. Kowalchuk
  • Patent number: 8204650
    Abstract: The invention relates to an active chassis stabilization system including a hydraulic pressure supply unit, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a front axle, a hydraulic stabilizer assembly which is associated with a rear axle, and a control unit. The active chassis stabilization system is a two-channel system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Kesselgruber, Harry A. Hunnicutt
  • Patent number: 8200452
    Abstract: To provide an attitude-angle detecting apparatus, which detects an attitude angle of a mobile object during movement with good accuracy by correcting an output value from an acceleration sensor, and to provide a method for the same. It is characterized in that it comprises an acceleration sensor for measuring an acceleration being applied to a mobile object, a yaw-rate sensor for measuring a yaw rate of the mobile object, a speed sensor for measuring a speed of the mobile object, a mobile-component acceleration calculating means for calculating an actual acceleration from the speed, calculating a centrifugal force from the yaw rate and the speed and calculating a mobile-component acceleration, a resultant force of the actual speed and the centrifugal force, and an attitude-angle calculating means for calculating an attitude angle from a gravitational acceleration, which is obtainable by correcting the acceleration with the mobile-component acceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Ueda, Iwao Maeda, Kiyomi Nagamiya, Naoto Shibata
  • Patent number: 8195361
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle, including: four displacement force generators each having an electromagnetic motor and configured to generate, based on a motor force generated by the motor, a displacement force forcing sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle toward or away from each other; and a controller configured to control the displacement force generated by controlling operation of the motor is disclosed. The controller includes a target-value determining portion configured to determine a target value of a displacement-force-relating amount of each of the four displacement force generators, and a target-value reducing portion configured to reduce the target value of the displacement-force-relating amount of a subjected device as one of the four displacement force generators, in accordance with a certain rule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Kajino, Jaesung Cho
  • Patent number: 8191975
    Abstract: A method and system for assessing and preventing overturn of a vehicle, the method and system being particularly suitable for use with commercial vehicles with brake systems typically used in North America, wherein a vehicle equipped with single brake pressure modulator is controlled to increase or decrease brake pressure, depending on braking state, to test vehicle wheel speed by response. If the vehicle wheel speed response indicates the inside wheels of the vehicle are off the ground or only lightly loaded, it may be assumed that the vehicle is approaching overturning. A braking intervention may be then executed by the single brake pressure modulator to prevent the incipient overturn event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: William P. Amato
  • Patent number: 8190327
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. The inventive device comprises a calculator (CSS) which can calculate a control value (ER) for an actuator (M) of a shock absorber (AM) of the suspension (S) as a function of at least one modal body shell speed calculated from a modal body shell acceleration. The invention is characterized by a sensor (CAP-DEB) for sensing wheel (A,B, C, D) travel in relation to the body shell, which is connected to a first means (CAL) for calculating the modal body shell acceleration from the travel measurement (DEB) provided by the sensor (CAP-DEB).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 8180527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the assistance of a driver of a vehicle during a journey along a road, in which bend data indicating the course of a bend in the road extending in front of the vehicle seen in the direction of travel and road condition data indicating the condition of the road surface disposed in front of the vehicle seen in the direction of travel are determined and a recommended maximum speed allowing a safe driving through the bend is determined with reference to the bend data and to the road condition data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Mueller-Schneiders, Sharmila Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8170746
    Abstract: A method for identifying unstable driving states is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: (a) detecting whether the magnitude of a difference between a first value of a driving state variable that is detected by means of a first sensor, and a second value of the driving states variable that is calculated from measured values of at least one further sensor, increases over time, (b) filtering the difference by means of a delay element after it has been established that the difference has increased, (c) comparing the filters difference and the unfiltered difference, and (d) establishing the presence of an unstable driving states when the comparison shows that a deviation between the filtered difference and the unfiltered difference exceeds a predefined threshold value. The method enables an unstable driving state to be identified even when a driving states variable has an offset error which is of the desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Continetal Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Michael Gärtner
  • Patent number: 8170749
    Abstract: A target roll angle of the vehicle is computed based on an actual lateral acceleration at the centroid of the vehicle, and the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at the centroid is corrected by use of lateral acceleration correction amounts based on a yaw rate of the vehicle, whereby the lateral accelerations of the vehicle at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position are computed. Subsequently, target anti-roll moments at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position are computed based on the target roll angle and the accelerations of the vehicle at the front wheel position and the rear wheel position, and active stabilizer apparatuses of the front and rear wheels are controlled based on these target anti-roll moments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8165750
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichiro Tsukasaki, Masaru Kogure
  • Patent number: 8165749
    Abstract: A control system for an adjustable damping force damper of a suspension apparatus of a vehicle, includes a lateral acceleration detecting unit detecting a lateral acceleration of the vehicle at a gravity point thereof, a yaw rate detecting unit detecting a yaw rate of the vehicle and a control unit controlling a damping force of the damper. The control unit calculates a first target damping force based on an output of the lateral acceleration detecting unit, calculates a second target damping force based on a lateral acceleration at an axel position which is estimated by an output of the yaw rate detecting unit, compares an absolute value of the first target damping force with that of the second target damping force and sets a target controlling value of the damping force in accordance with the first or second target damping force which has a larger absolute value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Masaki Izawa, Takafumi Kato
  • Patent number: 8165751
    Abstract: A method for rollover sensing (12) that may be used in the determination of when to deploy restraints in a vehicle is disclosed herein. The method for rollover sensing (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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Fubang Wu, Cliff Chou, Thiag Subbian
  • Publication number: 20120095647
    Abstract: A communication system for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor configured to emit a periodic function with a parameter correlated to the speed of the vehicle, an acceleration monitoring system, a braking system engagement detector to detect a braking status of the vehicle, an alerting device capable of signaling other drivers of a deceleration condition of the vehicle, and a control device. The acceleration monitoring system is configured to compute the acceleration of the vehicle from variations in the parameter of the periodic function of the vehicle speed sensor and to output a deceleration status of the vehicle. The control device is coupled to the acceleration monitoring system, the braking system engagement detector, and the alerting device, wherein the acceleration monitoring system sends signals to the control device and the control device operates the alerting device in a manner dependent on the deceleration status of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: VISION WORKS IP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alfred S. Braunberger, Beau M. Braunberger
  • Patent number: 8151098
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for processing a periodic signal outputted from a signal source has a central processing unit and a task switch timer. The central processing unit performs multiple tasks including a signal processing task in parallel. In the signal processing task, the central processing unit starts to process the periodic signal after performing a synchronization processing to synchronize with the periodic signal, setting the task switch timer to a predetermined time upon completion of the synchronization processing, and enabling an interrupt to the central processing unit upon completion of the synchronization processing. The task switch timer disables the interrupt to the central processing unit immediately before expiring. The task switch timer outputs a task switch signal to the central processing unit when expiring, so that the central processing unit switches to the signal processing task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akimasa Niwa, Masahiro Kamiya, Hideaki Ishihara, Yoshinori Teshima
  • Publication number: 20120078470
    Abstract: A vehicle attitude controller capable of improving turning operability, steering stability, and ride quality of a vehicle. In a normal-operation region, a pitch control unit for calculating a target pitch rate in accordance with a roll rate performs control in priority to a roll suppression section. In this case, a target damping force calculated in the pitch control unit is weighed to control a damping-force characteristic of the dampers so that a pitch rate becomes equal to the target pitch rate. In a critical region in which a road-surface gripping state of the vehicle tires is bad, the roll suppression section performs control in priority to the pitch control unit so as to weigh a target damping force calculated in the roll suppression section. As a result, the damping-force characteristic of the dampers is controlled so as to increase the amount of roll suppression control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Ryusuke HIRAO, Toru Uchino
  • Patent number: 8140221
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a vehicle body and a chassis that has at least one wheel suspension device for two opposing wheel. An adjusting device is assigned to each of the wheels. The adjusting devices are coupled to one another by a stabilizer. At least two stabilizer bearings are provided for rotatable support of the stabilizer, and at least one coupling device is provided on the vehicle body for variable torque support of the stabilizer. Accordingly, a reliable level lifting function is provided, based on a sturdy configuration that is both space-saving and weight-saving. The coupling device for torque support of the stabilizer on the vehicle body may have a switchable blocking device and/or at least one spring mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Becker, Matthias Dietz, Achim Schulz, Thorsten Koch, Thomas Hunn
  • Patent number: 8135511
    Abstract: An electronic control system, electronic control unit and an associated methodology for adapting a vehicle system are provided. A visual sensor detects a three dimensional profile of an occupant of a vehicle. An electronic control unit determines at least one of three dimensional locations and orientations of a plurality of body parts of the occupant of the vehicle, a body-volume of the occupant of the vehicle and body dynamics of the occupant of the vehicle based on the three dimensional profile detected by the visual sensor. The electronic control unit adapts a vehicle system based on at least one of the determined three dimensional locations and orientations, the determined body-volume and the determined body dynamics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America (TEMA)
    Inventors: David Demirdjian, Chenna K. Varri, Danil Prokhorov
  • Publication number: 20120053791
    Abstract: To control a wheel load of a wheel according to a lateral acceleration of a vehicle so as to enhance stability of the vehicle, provided is a suspension control apparatus, which is configured to control a wheel-load adjusting mechanism in at least one of the following manners: the wheel load of a front wheel is increased or is made unlikely to be reduced relative to the wheel load of a rear wheel when an absolute value of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is increasing; and the wheel load of the rear wheel is increased or is made unlikely to be reduced relative to the wheel load of the front wheel when the absolute value of the lateral acceleration of the vehicle is reducing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Naofumi HARADA
  • Publication number: 20120046831
    Abstract: A first stabilizer (SBr) is disposed on an axle for driving wheels, a second stabilizer (SBf) is disposed on a different axle from the axle for driving wheels, a stabilizer control unit (RT, FT) is provided for adjusting torsional rigidity of the first stabilizer and second stabilizer, a turning state amount obtaining unit is provided for obtaining a turning state amount of the vehicle, and an accelerating operation amount obtaining unit is provided for obtaining an accelerating operation amount operated by a vehicle driver. Based on these obtained results, the torsional rigidity of at least one of the first stabilizer and second stabilizer is adjusted by the stabilizer control unit, when the turning state amount of the vehicle is equal to or more than a predetermined turning state amount, and the accelerating operation amount is equal to or more than a predetermined accelerating operation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: ADVICS CO., LTD., AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Hidaka, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Keita Nakano, Chihiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 8121758
    Abstract: A vehicle (10) includes a control system (18) that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines an axle torque, and longitudinal forces at each tire in response to the axle torque. Lateral forces at each tire are determined in response to the longitudinal forces. The control system of the vehicle is determined in response to the longitudinal and lateral forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: Jianbo Lu
  • Patent number: 8116939
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle, including (a) four displacement force generators (152) each configured to generate a displacement force forcing sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle toward or away from each other; and (b) a control unit (200) configured to control the displacement force that is to be generated by each displacement force generator. The control unit is capable of executing a plurality of vibration damping controls concurrently with each other, by controlling the displacement force, so as to damp a composite vibration containing a plurality of different vehicle-body vibrations which are to be damped by the respective vibration damping controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidenori Kajino, Jae-Sung Cho
  • Patent number: 8112200
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Yamakado, Shinya Imura, Masato Abe
  • Patent number: 8112199
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a means for measuring the travel (DEB(A)) and travel speed (VDEB(A)) of the right and left wheels on a front and/or rear axle system in relation to the body shell, a means (61, 62) for detecting a wide range of wheel movement when the travel (DEB(A)) and speed values exceed a threshold, and a means (64) for calculating a set value (ERGD) for the shock absorber actuator when a wide range of wheel movement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Publication number: 20120029770
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle body attitude control apparatus capable of improvement of cornering operability, steering stability, and a ride comfort while a vehicle is running. A controller includes a gain, a determination unit, a multiplication unit, an FF control unit, a difference calculation unit, an FB control unit, an average value calculation unit, a target damping force calculation unit, and a damper instruction value calculation unit so as to enable such control that a pitch rate and a roll rate are set into a proportional relationship while the vehicle is cornering. The controller calculates a target pitch rate proportional to the roll rate, variably controls a damping force characteristic of a damping force variable damper disposed at each of front left, front right, rear left, and rear right wheels so as to achieve the target pitch rate, and generates a pitch moment to be applied to the vehicle body accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Ryusuke HIRAO, Makoto Yamakado, Nobuyuki Ichimaru
  • Publication number: 20120029769
    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: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Shih-Ken Chen, Weiwen Deng, Youssef A. Ghoneim, Nikolai K. Moshohuk, Flavio Nardi, Jihan Ryu, Kevin A. O'Dea
  • Patent number: 8108102
    Abstract: A sprung mass velocity estimating apparatus used in a four-wheeled vehicle to estimate a sprung mass velocity of a point of a vehicle body corresponding to each wheel of the vehicle, includes a state quantity detecting unit which detects a state quantity of the vehicle, a base value calculating unit which calculates a sprung mass velocity base value for each of the four vehicle body points based on a detection result of the state quantity detecting unit by using a prescribed oscillation model, and a sprung mass velocity calculating unit which calculates the sprung mass velocity for each vehicle body point by mutually adjusting the sprung mass velocity base values for the four vehicle body points such that the four vehicle body points are located on a common flat plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Furuichi, Koji Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8108098
    Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer code product for a data processing system provide feedback to an operator of a vehicle indicating the appropriateness of an attempted actuation of a vehicle control. A current operating state of the vehicle is first identified. Responsive to identifying the current operating state, preferred control actions corresponding to the current operating state are identified. Responsive to receiving a notification of an attempted actuation of the vehicle control, the attempted actuation is compared to the preferred control actions. If the attempted actuation is one of the preferred control actions, an indicator is illuminated with a first color. If the attempted actuation is not one of the preferred control actions, the indicator is illuminated with a second color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Rhonda L. Childress, David Bruce Kumhyr, Pamela Ann Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 8108104
    Abstract: A rollover stability control system for a vehicle may include an object information device. An active suspension or an active steering system may be coupled to a wheel of the vehicle. The rollover system may include a lateral support system. A controller determines that an obstacle is an imminent tripping obstacle and raises or steers the wheel, to prevent the wheel from colliding with the obstacle, or deploys the lateral support system in response to a rollover notification signal and the determination. A rollover stability control system for a vehicle may include a chassis and a driving surface wheel. A wheel assembly is coupled to the chassis inward from the driving surface wheel relative to a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle. The wheel assembly contacts the driving surface when a roll angle of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Eric Tseng, Michael Fodor
  • Patent number: 8108097
    Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle dynamics in a motor vehicle, at least one sensor recording at least one measured value; at least one actuator for controlling vehicle dynamics being driven as a function of the at least one measured value; at least one image sensor system generating image information from the motor-vehicle surround for controlling vehicle dynamics; at least two image sensors being provided which essentially record the same scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Mattes, Thomas Herrmann
  • Patent number: 8103409
    Abstract: A vehicle height control apparatus includes a suspension controller for controlling vehicle height, a lateral acceleration sensor, a braking controller determining a road surface condition on the basis of a difference between a lateral acceleration measured by the lateral acceleration sensor and a lateral acceleration calculated using a vehicle speed and a steering angle, the braking controller determining vehicle height information to be reflected in the suspension controller on the basis of the measured lateral acceleration and a roll angle presumed on the basis of the determined road surface condition and the measured lateral acceleration, and an interface unit performing data communication between the braking controller and the suspension controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Bon Gyeong Koo
  • Patent number: 8096624
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating portion for calculating a master cylinder pressure, a first determining portion for determining whether or not the brake operation is performed, a second calculating portion for calculating a target wheel cylinder pressure, a third calculating portion for calculating a controlled pressure, a controlling portion for controlling a pressure difference control valve, a second determining portion for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and a driving portion for specifying a drive pattern of a motor to a first motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is not stopped, the motor driving a pump for discharging a brake fluid, the driving means specifying the drive pattern to a second motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is stopped, the driving means driving the motor based on the motor driving pattern specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato, Yoichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 8095269
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a method includes accessing data associated with one or more vehicle parameters and determining, based on the data associated with the one or more vehicle parameters, if a vehicle rollover is imminent. The method includes determining, in response to a determination that a vehicle rollover is imminent, a roll countering solution. The method includes determining, based on the roll countering solution, one or more vehicle thrusters to execute the determined roll countering solution. The method includes signaling the one or more vehicle thrusters to discharge to execute the determined roll countering solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: James A. Pruett, Timothy E. Adams, Christopher T. Moshenrose
  • Patent number: 8090500
    Abstract: In a control device for controlling a variable damper of a vehicle suspension system, when a stroke speed of the damper is within a range including a zero stroke speed, the target damping force is determined as a force opposing a current movement of the damper without regards to the direction of the target damping force determined by a target damping force determining unit. Thereby, even when the wheels move vertically at short intervals, the control value is prevented from changing rapidly, and this allows a damping force of an appropriate level to be achieved in a stable manner at all times. Also, the target damping force when a stroke speed of the damper is within a range including a zero stroke speed may be selected to be a relatively high value or low value so that a desired vehicle behavior may be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigenobu Sekiya
  • Patent number: 8090501
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a variable damper of a wheel suspension system includes a first sensor detecting a first dynamic state variable of a vehicle body, a damping force base value determining unit determining a target damping force base value, a second sensor detecting a second dynamic state variable of the vehicle body; a correction value determining unit determining a damping force correction value, and a target damping force determining unit determining a target damping force. When the differential value of the lateral acceleration is relatively high (or the target damping force is high), a drive current to the variable damper is increased. The same is true when the vehicle is undergoing a pitching movement. The target damping force may be obtained by subtracting the damping force correction value from the target damping force base value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Furuichi, Takafumi Kato, Toshimitsu Kaji
  • Patent number: 8090499
    Abstract: A vehicle control system reduces vehicle rollback upon brake release. The control system includes a brake system, a vehicle grade measurement device and a controller that modulates applied brake pressure of the brake system based on a grade measurement of the grade measurement device. The controller actuates brake-hold device communicating with the brake system based on the grade measurement through pulse width modulation. The control system communicates with a motor generator and an engine to provide a start power to the engine upon brake release based on the grade measurement. Fuel injectors of the engine are enabled upon brake release based on the grade measurement. The control system further communicates with a transmission forward clutch to provide selective rotational communication between the transmission and the engine based on the grade measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Goro Tamai
  • Patent number: 8086370
    Abstract: A stabilizer system for an industrial vehicle includes one or more stabilizer cylinders mounted to the industrial vehicle, wherein the stabilizer cylinders are configured to contact the ground when deployed. The stabilizer system further includes a pressure sensor configured to determine a hydraulic system pressure, and a processor configured to calculate a stabilizing pressure to be applied to the one or more stabilizer cylinders. The stabilizing pressure is based on the hydraulic system pressure in order to improve a forward stability of the industrial vehicle when the one or more stabilizer cylinders are deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Eduard Tollenaar
  • Patent number: 8086376
    Abstract: An automobile rollover prediction and restraint device deployment system comprises a plurality of automobile data sensors to generate a plurality of data signals, and a controller to receive the data signals and configured to deploy resettable and non-resettable restraint devices. The controller is configured to activate at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals exceed a first threshold, indicating that the vehicle is in a position or undergoing movement that indicates a potential for vehicle rollover, and to de-activate the at least one resettable restraint device when one or more of the data signals fall below the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Robert William McCoy, Jialiang Le
  • Patent number: 8065056
    Abstract: A vehicle roll control system, comprising a front torsion bar(22), attached to the front hydraulic actuator (34) and a rear torsion bar (24) attached to the rear hydraulic actuator (34?). A pressure control valve (99) is fluidly connected between a pressure source (80) and a reservoir (81). A directional valve (82) is fluidly connected between the pressure control valve (99) and the hydraulic actuators (34,34?). A pressure relief valve (83,84) fluidly connects the directional valve to the pressure source (80) or the reservoir (81) and is actuated to create pressure differential between first fluid chambers (58,58?) of the hydraulic actuators (34,34?)and/or to create pressure differential between second fluid chambers (60,60?) of the hydraulic actuators (34,34?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: BWI Company Limited S.A.
    Inventors: Philippe Germain, Christophe Cardon, Bruno Perree, Frederic Sauvage
  • Patent number: 8065057
    Abstract: A process for stabilizing the sway of a motor vehicle, in which adjusting signals are generated for actuators associated with a front axis and with a rear axis of the motor vehicle on the basis of a measured or a calculated transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle, which actuators make support moments available on the front axis and/or on the rear axis for stabilizing the sway. Accordingly the measured transverse acceleration and the calculated transverse acceleration are used in at least one speed range of the motor vehicle in such a manner to generate the adjusting signals for the actuators that either the calculated transverse acceleration or the measured transverse acceleration is used to generate the adjusting signals in dependence on an absolute value of the difference between the calculated transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle and the measured transverse acceleration of the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hartmut Fischlein, Robert Ferger-Andrews
  • Patent number: 8060277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling the suspension of the body shell of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the device comprises: a sensor for sensing wheel travel in relation to the body shell for each wheel, a first means (20, 21) for calculating a variable modal shock absorption gain bmod as a function of at least the travel measurements in order to calculate a first set modal shock absorption stress Fmod using formula: Fmod=?bmod·Vmod and a second means (22) for calculating the set force of the shock absorber as a function of the first stress Fmod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Peugeot Citroen Automobiles SA
    Inventor: Francois Poilbout
  • Patent number: 8050819
    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 (44) 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: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Suyama, Akiyoshi Kobayashi, Yutaka Horiuchi, Kenji Hattori
  • Patent number: 8050818
    Abstract: A roll stiffness control apparatus of a vehicle, which includes a controller that estimates a remaining capacity of front wheels to generate a lateral force and a remaining capacity of rear wheels to generate a lateral force, and that sets a roll stiffness distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels so as to reduce a difference between the remaining capacity of the front wheels to generate a lateral force and the remaining capacity of the rear wheels to generate a lateral force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8050857
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Keith Mattson, David Messih, Erik Chubb, Albert Salib
  • Patent number: 8046130
    Abstract: A motion control system is applied to a vehicle, which has front wheel side suspensions with an anti-dive geometry and rear wheel side suspensions with an anti-lift geometry. A degree of an anti-lift effect of the anti-lift geometry is larger than a degree of an anti-dive effect of the anti-dive geometry. Normally, a controller controls a hydraulic unit such that a brake force distribution between front wheels and rear wheels during a braking-period is adjusted to a basic distribution. In contrast, in a state where abrupt application of brakes is started, the controller controls the hydraulic unit such that the brake force distribution is adjusted to a first distribution, at which a brake force respectively applied to the rear wheels is larger than that of the basic distribution only for a predetermined short time period upon starting of the application of the brakes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahara, Haruo Arakawa, Takayuki Takeshita, Chihiro Nitta
  • Patent number: 8036791
    Abstract: A suspension ECU 13 calculates a target characteristic changing coefficient a_new for changing a target characteristic, which is represented by a quadratic function, by use of the maximum actual roll angle ?_max generated in a vehicle body during the current turning state and a turning pitch angle ?_fy_max which is a fraction of an actual pitch angle ? generated as a result of turning, and changes the target characteristic by use of the coefficient a_new. Subsequently, the suspension ECU 13 calculates the difference ?? between the actual pitch angle ? and a target pitch angle ?h corresponding to the actual roll angle ? on the basis of the changed target characteristic, and calculates a total demanded damping force F to be cooperatively generated by the shock absorbers so as to reduce the difference ?? to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Mizuta, Motohiko Honma, Wataru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8027765
    Abstract: A stabilizer system for a vehicle that includes a stabilizer bar and an actuator for changing stiffness of the stabilizer bar, an electric current to be supplied to an electric motor that is a drive source of the actuator is changed based on various parameters. The supply current is made smaller in a situation in which an operational direction of the actuator is toward a neutral position, than in another situation. Further, the supply current is made smaller with an increase in a distance of the operational position of the actuator from the neutral position. Moreover, the supply current is made larger with an increase in a steering speed. In detail, when the supply current is determined by multiplying a basic supply current by a control gain, the control gain is set to change depending upon the above-indicated parameter, whereby the supply current is changed based on the parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Urababa, Satoshi Suzuki, Yoshihiro Iida, Takashi Sugano