Having Particular Means To Determine A Reference Value For Wheel Slippage Or Pseudo-vehicle Speed Patents (Class 701/74)
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Patent number: 8634939Abstract: Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle speed during a downhill travel. Based on the estimated grade of the downhill travel and further based on an input received from the operator, different combinations of an engine braking torque and a regenerative braking torque are used to maintain the vehicle speed during the downhill travel. A battery rate of charging is also adjusted based on the duration or distance of the downhill travel, as indicated by the operator input.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Matthew Allen Warner, Mathew Alan Boesch, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Patent number: 8620555Abstract: A method for assessing slippage of wheels in a vehicle includes the steps of measuring, via a sensor, an initial value of vehicle speed, determining, via a processor, at least one of a minimum vehicle speed and a maximum vehicle speed, and determining, via the processor, wheel slip using the initial value and the at least one of the minimum vehicle speed and the maximum vehicle speed.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Mahir Hodzic, Eric J. Holdorf, Eric E. Krueger, Kevin S. Kidston
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Patent number: 8612088Abstract: A system for determining if a tire of a vehicle is improperly inflated. The system includes a radar, a wheel speed sensor, and a controller. The radar is configured to emit a signal to detect a reflection of the signal off of an object positioned perpendicular to the vehicle, and to output an indication of a speed of the vehicle. The wheel speed sensor is configured to sense a speed of a wheel of the vehicle. The controller is configured to receive the indication of the speed of the vehicle from the radar, to calculate a speed of the vehicle based on the sensed speed of the wheel, and to determine a tire of the wheel is improperly inflated when the speed of the vehicle calculated using the wheel speed sensor varies by more than a predetermined amount from the speed of the vehicle determined using the radar signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Kenneth Milburn
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Publication number: 20130325280Abstract: A brake ECU acquires the vehicle load (WW) (step S142), and sets a higher start-time criterion value (KT2) when the load (WW) is heavy than when the load (WW) is light (step S144). The brake ECU initiates auxiliary control when the period since the deceleration of the vehicle exceeded a first deceleration determination value is less than or equal to the start-time criterion value (KT2) and the G sensor value exceeds a second deceleration determination value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: Advics Co. LtdInventors: Masato Terasaka, Yusuke Takeya
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Publication number: 20130325279Abstract: A vehicular display apparatus on a vehicle includes a display device which displays a magnitude of an acceleration which is being detected by an acceleration sensor on a display unit, and also displays a magnitude of an acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor when an ESC controller generated a braking force on road wheels on the display unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Naotoshi Fujimoto, Kentaro Kegai, Naoki Shibata
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Patent number: 8600609Abstract: A method for operating a longitudinal driver assist system of an automobile, in particular an ACC system, wherein environmental data of the automobile are evaluated with respect to travel in a longitudinal convoy with at least three automobiles which include the automobile and at least two additional automobiles, which are driving immediately behind one another and each have an active longitudinal driver assist system. A convoy value is formed, and at least one operating parameter of the driver assist system is adapted depending on the convoy value.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Audi AGInventors: Manfred Holzmann, Carmen Staudte
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Patent number: 8585156Abstract: A travel control device for a work vehicle includes: a hydraulic pump; a plurality of hydraulic motors connected to the hydraulic pump in parallel through a closed-circuit connection, that drive different wheels with pressure oil delivered from the hydraulic pump; a slip detection device that detects a slip occurring at each of the wheels; and a flow control device that reduces, upon detection of a slip occurring at any of the wheels by the slip detection device, a quantity of pressure oil supplied to a hydraulic motor for driving the wheel at which the slip has been detected, among the plurality of hydraulic motors.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Udagawa, Eiji Egawa, Tsukasa Toyooka, Makoto Sugaya, Hideo Sorata, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Akira Nakayama, Kazuo Takiguchi, Kensuke Satou
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Patent number: 8577576Abstract: An inverted pendulum type vehicle includes a travelling motion unit capable of moving on a floor surface, an actuator for driving the travelling motion unit, a base body mounted with the travelling motion unit and the actuator, a tilt detector configured to detect a tilt of the base body, and a controller configured to control the actuator. The controller controls an operation of an actuator so as to restrict a representative point velocity which is a travelling velocity of a predefined representative point located above a ground contact point of the vehicle and is determined according to a travelling velocity of the travelling motion unit and a tilt of the base body.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2009Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Kazushi Akimoto, Hideo Murakami
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Patent number: 8577588Abstract: A vehicle comprising a seat defining a driver seat portion and a passenger seat portion, an electronic stability system, adapted to receive inputs from a load sensor, a wheel rotation sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor, the electronic stability system adapted to provide outputs to at least one of the brake system for braking the vehicle, and the engine control unit to change the power output transmitted to the wheels by the engine, the electronic stability system using a first calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a non-loaded state and a second calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a loaded state.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventor: Mario Dagenais
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Patent number: 8571732Abstract: Provided is a vehicle skid control device that avoids a skid erroneous judgment in a high revolution range of a motor. The vehicle skid control device detects the number of revolutions of the motor. When the number of revolutions of the motor is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value Nm, the vehicle skid control device prohibits a skid judgment. When the number of revolutions of the motor is smaller than the predetermined threshold value Nm, the vehicle skid control device permits the skid judgment. When the number of revolutions of the motor is equal to or larger than the threshold value Nm, the skid judgment is prohibited. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the skid erroneous judgment in the high revolution range with the number of revolutions equal to or larger than Nm.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2008Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Michio Yoshida, Kenji Umayahara, Tomoyuki Nishida
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Patent number: 8527177Abstract: A control system for controlling a vehicle includes a wheel speed indicator for each of at least two wheels of the vehicle, a vehicle speed indicator, and a processor programmed to include a validation unit. The validation unit performs a first test of a road grip condition of each wheel based on slip information of the vehicle. The vehicle speed indicator produces an instantaneous vehicle speed estimation based on at least one circumferential wheel speed indication ascertained by the validation unit of the processor.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2008Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignees: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Jean-Louis Linda, Daniel Walser
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Patent number: 8521392Abstract: In order to cause a computer to execute integral calculation of an integrand, to thereby calculate a value of a second variable used at each calculation time point, the integrand being defined by: a first variable to which a value is given at all calculation time points; and the second variable to which only an initial value is given, the following processing is executed. First, a partial derivative which is obtained by partially differentiating the integrand for the second variable is read out from a storage device. At each calculation time point, the initial value or a value of the second variable calculated at a last calculation time point and a value of the first variable given at a current calculation time point are substituted into each of the integrand and the partial derivative, to thereby calculate a value of the integrand and a value of the partial derivative at the current calculation time point.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Toshihiro Aono
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Publication number: 20130218436Abstract: An electric motor for rotating a wheel of a vehicle, the electric motor having a rotor, a stator and coil windings, a first sensor arranged to output a first signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator, a second sensor arranged to output a second signal indicative of a position of the rotor relative to the stator; wherein the first sensor and second sensor are offset with respect to each other such that upon rotation of the rotor relative to the stator the first output signal and second output signal allow the direction of the rotor to be determined; wherein the first output signal and second output signal are used for controlling current in the coil windings and at least one of the first output signal and second output signal are provided to a vehicle braking system to allow the vehicle braking system to determine a wheel lock condition or an onset of a wheel lock condition, wherein the onset of a wheel lock condition is determined based on predetermined criteria.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2011Publication date: August 22, 2013Applicant: PROTEAN ELECTRICInventor: Rupert Paul Kirby
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Patent number: 8494710Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying a spatial relationship between a frame of reference associated with an accelerometer mounted in a vehicle and a frame of reference associated with the vehicle Accelerometer data is received from an accelerometer and vehicle data is received from a vehicle network of the vehicle, a long term average of the accelerometer data is used to determine the direction of gravity in the frame of reference of the vehicle. In addition the vehicle date is used to determine changes in speed of the vehicle, and thus to determine the direction of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in the frame of reference of the vehicle. From these determined directions, the spatial relationship between the frames of reference may be determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Assignee: Trimble Navigation LimitedInventor: Richard Harvie
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Publication number: 20130173134Abstract: A vehicle braking control device includes first and second deceleration calculation units, an assist control unit, and a termination determination unit. The first deceleration calculation unit calculates a first estimated vehicle body deceleration using a wheel speed sensor detection signal. The second deceleration calculation unit calculates a second estimated vehicle body deceleration using a vehicle body acceleration sensor detection signal. The assist control unit initiates assist control, which assists increasing a braking force when the first estimated vehicle body deceleration exceeds a first deceleration determination value and the second estimated vehicle body deceleration exceeds a second deceleration determination value. The termination determination unit determines whether or not a termination condition of the assist control is satisfied based on at least one of the first and the second estimated vehicle body decelerations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2012Publication date: July 4, 2013Applicant: ADVICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Terasaka, Yusuke Takeya
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Patent number: 8478483Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a skid occurred on a four-wheel drive vehicle having a prime mover and a transmission, an actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio between the rear right/left wheel speeds is calculated based on detected front and rear wheel rotational speeds, a front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving is calculated by retrieving characteristics of a front/rear wheel slip ratio set with respect to a rear right/left wheel speed ratio using the calculated actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio, an actual front/rear wheel slip ratio is calculated based on the detected front wheel rotational speed and the rear wheel rotational speed, and occurrence of skid is then determined based on a difference between the calculated front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving and the calculated actual front/rear wheel slip ratio.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuichiro Takemori, Masatoshi Noguchi, Yuzo Okubo
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Patent number: 8473174Abstract: In a method for determining the vehicle longitudinal velocity in a vehicle, a wheel longitudinal force is determined in an estimation equation as a function of the wheel speeds and the vehicle longitudinal velocity is ascertained as a function of the wheel longitudinal force.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Patrick Kroeger, Sergey Antonov
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Patent number: 8463498Abstract: A method for controlling the side slip angle of a rear-wheel drive vehicle when turning; the control method provides for the steps of: detecting the position of an accelerator control which is displaced along a predetermined stroke; using a first initial part of the stroke of the accelerator control for directly controlling the generation of the drive torque so that the generated drive torque depends on the position of the accelerator control; and using a second final part of the stroke of the accelerator control to directly control a side slip angle of the vehicle when turning so that the side slip angle depends on the position of the accelerator control.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2008Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.Inventors: Amedeo Visconti, Martino Cavanna
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Patent number: 8457858Abstract: A front/rear driving/braking force control unit 30 calculates driving/braking forces of front and rear axles that minimize energy loss realizing a target steering characteristic as first front/rear driving/braking forces Fxfte, Fxrte and calculates driving/braking forces of the front and rear axles that realize the target steering characteristic and maximize the sum of maximum tire lateral forces of the front and rear axles as second front/rear driving/braking forces Fxftp, Fxrtp.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Matsuno
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Patent number: 8442737Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle braking system for motor vehicles including a hybrid or electric drive and hydraulically actutable wheel brakes on the front axle, wherein the wheels associated with the rear axle are driven at least partially by an electric motor that can be operated as a generator to recover braking energy and, in generator mode, exerts a braking force on the vehicle wheel associated with the respective axle, thereby generating a drag torque including the braking torque and the regeneration torque of the electric drive, the drag torque being separately regulatable on the front and rear axles. To prevent overbraking of the rear axle and a loss of driving stability of the vehicle, a regeneration torque acting on the rear axle is controlled or regulated such that the drag torque acting on the rear axle does not exceed a maximum drag torque value associated with that axle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Frank Seurer, Daniel Fischer, Stefan Stölzl
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Patent number: 8437907Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 31, 2007Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbHInventors: Ning Bian, Celine Gamulescu, Andreas Mayer, Thomas Schweiger
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Publication number: 20130103280Abstract: A method for determining a vehicle reference speed (VREF) in a brake system of amotorized single-track vehicle (201), of a type having an anti-lock control system (203). The slip control (204) can be carried out at one wheel (VR) of the motor vehicle depending on the vehicle reference speed (VREF). A sensor (202) for measuring the wheel speed (v) is arranged on this slip-controllable wheel (VR) and comprises the steps of forming a first wheel speed signal (vfilt—gradlim) by low-pass filtering of the measured wheel speed (v). Wherein the negative gradient of the first wheel speed signal (vfilt—gradlim) is limited to a predetermined gradient limit value (?vmax—n/T), and that the first wheel speed signal (vfilt—gradlim) is used as a wheel-specific vehicle reference speed (VREF, 3, 42, 62, 102, 110, 122, 123, 142) for slip control of the wheel (VR).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2011Publication date: April 25, 2013Applicant: Continental Teve AG & Co.oHGInventors: Georg Roll, Hans-Georg Ihrig, Dirk Wetzel
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Patent number: 8428841Abstract: A vehicle motion control device is provided. The vehicle motion control device includes a steering angle deviation calculating unit which calculates a steering angle deviation of the vehicle, a frictional coefficient calculating unit which calculates each of road surface frictional coefficients for a traveling road surface of four wheels; and a pressure increasing and reducing controlling unit which performs a split control including applying a pressure increasing limitation of a pressure increasing control in an anti-skid control to a front wheel at a side of the traveling road surface having higher road surface frictional coefficient between the right and left wheels based on an absolute value of the steering angle deviation such that a pressure increasing gradient in the pressure increasing control is smaller as the absolute value is larger.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken Kudo, Masato Terasaka, Takuo Kitano
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Patent number: 8423228Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a decrease in air pressure of a tire attached to a vehicle includes a rotation speed detection means for periodically detecting rotation speeds of tires of respective wheels of the vehicle; a rotation wheel speed ratio calculation means for calculating a rotation wheel speed ratio between front wheels and rear wheels of the vehicle; a wheel torque calculation means for calculating a wheel torque of the vehicle; an initialization means for obtaining a relation at a normal internal pressure between the wheel torque and the rotation wheel speed ratio; a comparison means for comparing the rotation wheel speed ratio with the rotation wheel speed ratio at a normal internal pressure obtained from the wheel torque and the relation; and a determination means for correcting the comparison result by a front-to-rear direction acceleration and determining whether there is a tire having a decreased air pressure or not.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Yuji Oshiro
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Publication number: 20130060441Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A method is disclosed comprising determining, at a brake controller, an aircraft reference speed for an aircraft having a first wheel and a second wheel, identifying, at the brake controller, a state comprising the first wheel having a different rotational velocity than the second wheel, wherein the difference in rotational velocity sums to about zero, calculating, at the brake controller, a compensation factor for at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel, and adjusting, at the brake controller, a locked wheel trigger velocity in accordance with the compensation factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Applicant: GOODRICH CORPORATIONInventor: Eric D. Cahill
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Patent number: 8380378Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling an Anti-lock Brake system (ABS) of an electronic brake, which is driven using an electric motor. In ABS braking in which braking and braking-release motions are repeated according to a wheel slip value, the electric motor is controlled in a re-braking section to link a position of a brake pad with a change in wheel speed, to enhance ABS control responsiveness and to reduce stopping distance with maximized brake force.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Mando CorporationInventor: Myoung June Kim
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Patent number: 8380417Abstract: A traction control system includes a master cylinder containing brake fluid, braking devices configured to apply braking force to associated wheels of the vehicle, a brake pedal operable by a driver of the vehicle to generate braking force by pressurizing the brake fluid, and an inlet valves for storing pressurized brake fluid to apply and temporarily hold a braking force at a slipping driven wheel. A method of providing traction control for a vehicle includes manually switching the vehicle from a normal operating mode to a traction control mode, sensing the slippage of a driven wheel, applying a braking force to the slipping driven wheel in response to a driver of the vehicle pressing a brake pedal, maintaining the braking force on the slipping driven wheel after the brake pedal is released, and gradually releasing the braking force as the slipping driven wheel gains traction.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2009Date of Patent: February 19, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Robert Kaster
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Publication number: 20120323459Abstract: Control to inhibit a slip of a wheel by controlling braking/driving force generated at the wheel is performed when a slip ratio of the wheel of a vehicle according to a running state of the vehicle becomes larger than a slip ratio threshold value set in advance or when a ratio between wheel acceleration of the wheel and a vehicle speed of the vehicle according to the running state of the vehicle becomes larger than a ratio threshold value. Therefore, it is possible to improve control accuracy when controlling a slip state of the wheel by decreasing an effect of operation by a driver and a road surface and the like, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2010Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryosuke Okubo
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Publication number: 20120323460Abstract: An actual slip ratio of a wheel is estimated from a slip ratio speed of a wheel calculated according to a running state of a vehicle based on relationship between a slip ratio of the wheel of the vehicle and the slip ratio speed of the wheel set in advance. Typically, the actual slip ratio is estimated supposing that the slip ratio of the wheel calculated according to the running state of the vehicle, when a change rate of the slip ratio speed becomes larger than a predetermined value set in advance, is a reference slip ratio determined in advance according to the relationship between the slip ratio and the slip ratio speed set in advance. Therefore, it is possible to improve control accuracy when controlling a state of the vehicle by decreasing an effect of operation by a driver and a road surface, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2010Publication date: December 20, 2012Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Ryosuke Okubo
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Patent number: 8315758Abstract: A road surface frictional coefficient estimating apparatus has a device for determining a first estimated value of a yaw moment Mnsp_estm generated at an NSP of a vehicle due to the resultant force of road surface reaction forces acting on each wheel by using, for example, a frictional coefficient estimated value that has been determined, and a device for determining a second estimated value of a yaw moment Mnsp_sens generated at the NSP from the observed value of motional state amounts defining an inertial force moment at the NSP. The increasing/decreasing manipulated variable of the frictional coefficient estimated value is sequentially determined on an error (Mnsp_sens?Mnsp_estm) such that the error is converged to zero, and the road surface frictional coefficient is updated on the basis of the increasing/decreasing manipulated variable.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Hiroyuki Urabe, Osamu Yano, Yoshihiro Mori, Tomoya Ushimura
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Patent number: 8311699Abstract: A method of testing a braking device in a drivetrain of a vehicle which includes at least one tractive element coupled to a traction motor. The method includes: (a) applying the braking device to a tractive element of the vehicle; (b) using an electronic controller, causing the traction motor to apply a predetermined force to the tractive element; and (c) using the controller, monitoring the tractive element for movement while the force is being applied. A dynamic braking or “retarder” function may also be tested. A system for carrying out the method is provided.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Timothy Warren Brown, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Henry Todd Young
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Publication number: 20120277966Abstract: A control unit for brake-slip-controlled operation of the brake device in a state in which braking torque is transferred from the rear to the front wheels by the coupling arrangement, at least one rotational speed sensor in a drive train of the vehicle for inputting into the control unit rotational speed signals representing the rotational behavior of the coupled front wheels and rear wheels, at least one acceleration sensor for inputting into the control unit acceleration signals representing the vehicle longitudinal acceleration, and/or a vehicle GPS device for inputting into the control unit position signals representing positions of the vehicle, the control unit determining at least one first variable, which is characteristic of a vehicle reference speed and/or a vehicle reference acceleration, based on the acceleration and/or position signals, and so as to determine a second variable, which is characteristic of the rotational behavior of the coupled front and rear wheels, based on the rotational speed siType: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Michael Herges, Andreas Wimmer
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Patent number: 8301324Abstract: A vehicle includes a traction motor, a transmission, a speed encoder for the motor, and a control system. The control system compensates for angular wobble in an encoder signal. The control system receives, via a hybrid control processor (HCP), the encoder signal from the speed encoder, and determines a set of wobble characteristics of the encoder signal below a threshold motor speed. The control system also calculates a wobble-compensated speed value via the HCP using the wobble characteristics, and uses the wobble-compensated speed value as at least part of the input signals when controlling the motor. A lookup table tabulates a learned wobble value relative to the angular position value, and a learned wobble value is subtracted from a current angular wobble value to generate an error-adjusted wobble value. A method compensates for wobble in the encoder signal using the above control system.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventor: Robert L. Morris
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Patent number: 8280565Abstract: A drive control apparatus for an electric car as can correct a synchronizing frequency without employing beacons, is proposed. A wheel-diameter correction information output means includes wheel-diameter information calculation means for calculating wheel-diameter calculation information expressive of a wheel diameter of an electric car, on the basis of two-phase current information. The wheel-diameter correction information output means also includes selection output means. The selection output means selects a wheel-diameter data output WD1, the wheel-diameter calculation information WD2 based on the wheel-diameter calculation means, or wheel-diameter default information WD0, and it outputs wheel-diameter correction information WD. A synchronizing-frequency calculation means outputs synchronizing frequency information FM on the basis of axle rotational-frequency information FR and the wheel-diameter correction information WD.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroyuki Kayano, Tsuneyasu Kakizaki
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Patent number: 8280601Abstract: A vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on characteristic maneuvers. The system includes a plurality of vehicle sensors that detect various vehicle parameters. A maneuver identification processor receives the sensor signals to identify a characteristic maneuver of the vehicle and provides a maneuver identifier signal of the maneuver. A style characterization processor receives the maneuver identifier signals, sensor signals from the vehicle sensors and the traffic and road condition signals, and classifies driving style based on the signals to classify the style of the driver driving the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jihua Huang, William C. Lin, Yuen-Kwok Chin
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Patent number: 8271175Abstract: A control means for controlling actuators of a vehicle creates a time series of a future behavior of the vehicle using a vehicle model. A state amount of the vehicle model is initialized on the basis of a state amount of the vehicle, and the future behavior is created starting from the initial state amount. The future behavior is created such that operation commands of the actuators in the vehicle model at the current time coincide with or approximate basic values based on operation of a manipulating device, such as a steering wheel of the vehicle. It is evaluated whether vehicle motion, road surface reaction force, and wheel sliding, in the created future behavior satisfy predetermined restrictive conditions. Based on the evaluation result, the operation commands of the actuators are successively decided. This permits ideal travel of the vehicle to be achieved by properly predicting future behaviors of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Yasuji Shibahata
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Patent number: 8260535Abstract: A vehicle comprising a seat defining a driver seat portion and a passenger seat portion, an electronic stability system, adapted to receive inputs from a load sensor, a wheel rotation sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor, the electronic stability system adapted to provide outputs to at least one of the brake system for braking the vehicle, and the engine control unit to change the power output transmitted to the wheels by the engine, the electronic stability system using a first calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a non-loaded state and a second calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a loaded state.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.Inventor: Mario Dagenais
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Patent number: 8260519Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of wheel covers and vehicles having at least one wheel cover. One embodiment of a vehicle having at least one wheel mounted for rotation about an axle comprises a body structure having a portion of which is adjacent to the wheel, a mounting structure fixed to the portion of the body structure that is adjacent to the wheel and a wheel cover attached to the body structure via the mounting structure. The mounting structure is configured to permit movement of the wheel cover between an extended position in which the wheel cover overlays at least a first portion of the wheel and a retracted position in which the wheel cover does not overlay the first portion of the wheel. Also disclosed are methods of selectively covering a vehicle wheel.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventor: Elijah Canfield
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Patent number: 8260515Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on characteristic curve-handling maneuvers and road and traffic conditions. The system includes a plurality of vehicle sensors that detect various vehicle parameters. A maneuver identification processor receives the sensor signals to identify a characteristic maneuver of the vehicle and provides a maneuver identifier signal of the maneuver. The system also includes a traffic and road condition recognition processor that receives the sensor signals, and provides traffic condition signals identifying traffic conditions and road condition signals identifying road conditions. A style characterization processor receives the maneuver identifier signals, sensor signals from the vehicle sensors and the traffic and road condition signals, and classifies driving style based on the signals to classify the style of the driver driving the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Jihua Huang, Yuen-Kwok Chin, William C. Lin
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Patent number: 8249790Abstract: It is predicted whether a spin amount is tending to diverge and a vehicle is tending to become unstable, or the spin amount is tending to converge and the vehicle is tending to become stable. When the convergent tendency is predicted, a correction to reduce the spin amount is performed. As a result, the performance of a braking force control can be made difficult when the spin amount is tending to converge. Thus, it is possible to prevent an anti-spin control from being performed when there is actually no need to perform the anti-spin control, such as when the vehicle posture is correcting.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2008Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Kato
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Patent number: 8244443Abstract: A slip suppression control system for a vehicle includes a monitored value detecting device for detecting a monitored value corresponding to a difference between a rotational speed of a front wheel and a rotational speed of a rear wheel of the vehicle, a threshold determiner unit configured to determine a relationship between the monitored value detected by the monitored value detecting device and a threshold; and a controller configured to initiate traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when the threshold determiner unit determines that the monitored value exceeds a predetermined start threshold, wherein the threshold determiner unit is configured to count a return time which lapses from when the monitored value exceeds the start threshold until the monitored value becomes smaller than second threshold; and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether or not to terminate the traction control based on the return time.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takeru Oshima, Tatsuya Hirokami
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Publication number: 20120203439Abstract: A method is described for controlling a vehicle having a pressure-medium-activated brake device which includes wheel brakes and brake circuits on each side, on only at least one rear axle, and having a drive engine which drives the rear wheels of the at least one rear axle, in which the rear wheels can be optionally or automatically coupled to or decoupled from front wheels of a front axle in order to transmit driving and/or braking power. Also described is a vehicle having a brake device which includes wheel brakes and brake circuits on each side on only at least one rear axle, and having a drive engine which drives the rear wheels of the at least one rear axle, in which the rear wheels can be optionally or automatically coupled to or decoupled from the front wheels of a front axle in order to transmit driving and/or braking power.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: August 9, 2012Inventors: Martin Mederer, Andreas Wimmer
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Patent number: 8239109Abstract: An anti-lock braking system (ABS) calculates driven wheel speed without any sensors on the driven axle assembly. A powertrain control module (PCM) receives signals from an output shaft speed (OSS) sensor and adds the speed and axle ratio information to a control network bus. Access to the CAN bus is provided to enable calculation of the rear wheel speed based on such information so that ABS may implement anti-lock braking functionality by taking into account such information.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2008Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Daniel Dunn, Charles Bannon, Douglas Marsden
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Patent number: 8229640Abstract: When determining that a vehicle is not skidding, the ECU carries out tight corner control if vehicle speed is smaller than the upper limit value of the vehicle speed range corresponding to the starting state of the vehicle and the steering wheel turning angle of a steering wheel is greater than or equal to the minimum value of the steering wheel turning angle at which the tight corner braking phenomenon may occur. When determining that the vehicle is skidding, the ECU inhibits the tight corner control even if the vehicle speed is smaller than the upper limit value and the steering wheel turning angle is greater than or equal to the minimum value of the steering wheel turning angle at which the tight corner braking phenomenon may occur.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Ryouhei Shigeta, Akihiro Ohno, Hiroyuki Ando, Masaki Mita, Tomohiro Nozu
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Patent number: 8229641Abstract: An aircraft braking control system for an aircraft braking system that comprises at least one first side braking unit (30L) for braking a respective wheel (22L) positioned on a first side of a longitudinal axis of an aircraft and at least one second side braking unit (30R) for braking a respective wheel (22R) positioned on a second side of said longitudinal axis, said braking control system comprising a brake control unit (40) operable to process respective measurements of performance of the braking units (30L, 30R) and according to the process results to provide command signals for controlling respective braking forces applied by said first and second braking units (30L, 30R) to reduce any difference between a first side braking force applied on the first side of the longitudinal axis by said at least one first side braking unit (30L) and a second side braking force applied on said second side by said at least one second side braking unit (30R).Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2007Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Meggitt Aerospace LimitedInventor: Michael Clothier
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Patent number: 8214125Abstract: A vehicle speed setting of cruise control is changed based on an operation by a driver. At this time, it is determined whether the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane or a traveling lane (S202). If the vehicle is traveling in a passing lane, the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is increased (S206). If a blinker on the passing lane side of the vehicle is on (S205), the speed at which the vehicle speed setting is changed is also increased (S206) even if the vehicle is traveling in the traveling lane.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Nanami
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Patent number: 8204663Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus controlling a driving force or a braking force to be applied to a vehicle and conducting a vehicle control based on wheel speeds includes a detecting means detecting the wheel speed of each wheel provided at the vehicle, a storing means storing a predetermined valid wheel speed for each wheel, a determining means determining whether a difference between the detected wheel speed and a maximum wheel speed of the wheel speeds lies in a predetermined range, and an updating means updating the valid wheel speed based on the detected wheel speed of the wheel, when the detected wheel speed is lower than the predetermined valid wheel speed which is currently stored, in case that a result determined by the determining means is positive.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuhito Ishida, Gen Inoue
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Patent number: 8195372Abstract: A braking control method that includes: (1) regularly updating a grip model representative of a relationship between a coefficient of friction and a wheel slip rate; (2) determining, with an iterative calculation process including a plurality of calculation cycles a variation of a braking setpoint in a given prediction horizon, the variation of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon being established using the regularly updated grip model and its characteristic shape and so that the variation of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon complies with the braking order and complies with a given calculation constraint which is function of the wheel slip rate; and (3) retaining as the generated braking setpoint a value of the braking setpoint in the given prediction horizon which corresponds to a first calculation cycle of the plurality of calculation cycles of the iterative calculation process.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Messier-Bugatti-DowtyInventors: Jean-Pierre Garcia, David Frank, Gérard Léon Gissinger, Michel Basset, Yann Chamaillard, Arnaud Jacquet
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Patent number: 8180548Abstract: A system, apparatus and method of controlling a brake system of a vehicle having a brake input device, such as a brake pedal, a plurality of rotating wheels and a plurality of brakes, each brake of the plurality of brakes corresponding to one wheel of the plurality of wheels, is provided. In controlling the brakes, data indicative of a deflection of the brake pedal is received, and the received data is used to derive a target deceleration rate. A braking command is provided to each of the plurality of brakes, wherein the braking command is varied for each brake to regulate a deceleration rate the vehicle in accordance with the target deceleration rate.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Goodrich CorporationInventor: Eric D. Cahill
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Patent number: 8175785Abstract: A system and related operating method for performance launch control of a vehicle begins by receiving a user-selected driving condition setting that is indicative of road conditions. The method also collects real-time vehicle status data during operation of the vehicle, and derives a target wheel slip profile from the user-selected driving condition setting and the real-time vehicle status data. The actual propulsion system torque of the vehicle is limited using the target wheel slip profile, resulting in improved performance for standstill launches.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Michael P. Turski, Kevin A. O'Dea, Eric E. Krueger