Abstract: A system is disclosed for controlling the roll of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a selective lock connected between an unsprung portion of the vehicle and a sprung portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for testing the continuity of a coil that is subjected to a high frequency pulse modulated current that includes sensing a coil voltage, determining a ratio of the sensed coil voltage to the supply voltage and comparing the ratio to a threshold to determine whether the solenoid coil is functional.

Abstract: The output of a wheel speed sensor is sampled at dithered time intervals and the samples used to construct a pair of histograms representing high and low sample values. A minimum voltage threshold is determined as a function of the output voltage associated with the dominate histogram value for the low sample values. The output voltage associated with the dominant histogram value for the high sample values is compared to the minimum voltage threshold to determine whether a potential sensor wiring problem is developing.

Abstract: A system and method for organizing and analyzing field warranty data including a warranty interface provided with warranty data from a warranty group. The warranty interface being capable of allowing a user to select prioritization data, and then displaying a list of warranty data items related to the prioritization data by relevance. The user selects a warranty data item, and then selects a dynamic report template from a list of dynamic report templates and criteria to produce an analysis report.

Abstract: A drum-in-hat disc brake assembly has a disc service brake and a drum-in-hat parking and emergency brake, and includes a backing plate, a pair of parking and emergency brake shoes secured to the backing plate, and a parking and emergency brake actuator. The parking and emergency brake actuator includes a first body portion and a second body portion pivotally mounted to the first body portion. A boss extends between the first body portion and the second body portion. The boss is selectively movable between a plurality of positions and defines a first distance between the first body portion and the second body portion. A lever arm is pivotally mounted to the second body portion and is connected to a parking and emergency brake cable.

Abstract: A vehicle Active Roll Control System having a two stage spool valve that provides hydraulic fluid at different pressures to front and rear actuators for varying the torque applied to associated roll bars.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a soft-stop control to the vehicle brake actuators of a vehicle during a vehicle stop operation. A brake apply operation is detected. A determination is made whether the vehicle speed is below a first threshold stopping speed. Braking pressure to the vehicle actuators is reduced as a function of vehicle speed, vehicle deceleration, and brake apply pressure if the vehicle speed is below the first threshold stopping speed.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a rollover event of a vehicle. A lateral kinetic energy of the vehicle is determined in response to vehicle longitudinal velocity and vehicle side slip angle. A lateral acceleration of the vehicle is measured. A tire normal force is measured. A rollover potentiality index is determined in response to the lateral kinetic energy and the lateral acceleration. A rollover index is determined by weighting the rollover potentiality index by a factor of the lateral acceleration and by a factor of the tire normal force. A comparison is made to determine if the rollover index is above a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting a fault condition in a hydraulic brake system of a vehicle having a first hydraulic brake circuit and a second hydraulic brake circuit. A correlation ratio is determined between a measured pressure and the actual vehicle acceleration. A first wheel velocity differential is determined and a second wheel velocity differential is determined. A weighting value is selected in response to determining whether the correlation ratio is within the predetermined range and whether the first wheel velocity differential and the second wheel velocity differential are opposite signs. The selected weighting value is added to a fault counter. A determination is made whether the fault counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. A fault condition is detected in response to the fault counter greater than or equal to the first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a vehicle system that includes at least one acceleration sensor and at least one angular rate sensor for generating data concerning motion of the vehicle relative to vehicle reference axes.

Abstract: A vehicle climate control system operates an evaporator at a minimum temperature adjusted by a temperature offset. The control system determines a desired temperature and a blend potentiometer position that is indicative of the desired temperature. The control system determines a target temperature for the evaporator according to the blend potentiometer position, and calculates the temperature offset according to the target temperature and the blend potentiometer position. A blend door position is controlled according to the blend potentiometer position, the target temperature, the temperature offset, and heater core air temperature in order to optimize the operation of the evaporator.

Abstract: A control valve includes a magnetic pole member. An armature is slidably supported relative to the magnetic pole member for movement between a fully open position and a closed position. A biasing spring is disposed between the magnetic pole member and the armature for forcing the armature away from the magnetic pole member. A coil is placed about the magnetic pole member and the armature for inducing a magnetic field for moving the armature toward the magnetic pole member. One of either of the magnetic pole member or the armature has a recess for non-contactingly receiving the other when the armature moves between the fully open and closed positions. The control valve can be embodied as a normally open valve or a normally closed valve. The use of dual lateral poles and triple lateral poles create a flat magnetic force versus travel curve thereby allowing for greater proportional control of the valve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a proportional microvalve having a first, second and third layer, and having high aspect ratio geometries. The first layer defines a cavity with inlet and outlet ports. The second layer, doped to have a low resistivity and bonded between the first and third layers, defines a cavity having a flow area to permit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports. The second layer further defines an actuatable displaceable member, and one or more thermal actuators for actuating the displaceable member to a position between and including an open and a closed position to permit or occlude fluid flow. The third layer provides one wall of the cavity and provides electrical contacts for electrically heating the thermally expandable actuators. The thermal actuators and the displaceable member have high aspect ratios and are formed by deep reactive ion etching such that they are displaceable in the plane of the second layer while being very stiff out of the plane.

Abstract: A method is provided for vehicle stability control of a vehicle where the vehicle includes a slip control braking system that applies independent braking pressure to respective vehicle brakes of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a steering system for applying steering intervention for stability control. The method includes detecting a split-mu braking condition and applying a steering assist torque to the steering system. A determination is made whether a steering wheel angle condition is within a predetermined threshold. An aggressive braking strategy is applied if the steering wheel angle condition is within the predetermined threshold, else applying a non-aggressive braking strategy.

Abstract: A brake module provides a first circuit, a second circuit, and a third circuit of pressurized brake fluid. A first set and second set of brake actuators are operated by the application of pressurized brake fluid. A first and second fluid separator unit are integrated between the first and second circuit, and the first and third circuit, respectively, for substantially preventing any intermixing of pressurized brake fluid between the first, second, and third circuits. The first and second fluid separator units include a moveable pressure boundary which enables the second circuit and third circuit of pressurized brake fluid to selectively act upon the first set and second set of brake actuators in response to the first circuit of pressurized brake fluid acting upon the first and second fluid separator units. At least one proportional valve selectively controls the pressurized brake fluid of the first circuit for acting on the first and the second fluid separator units.

Abstract: A turn control system is provided having four wheels and a steering wheel that controls the vehicle steering. A steering wheel angle sensor senses an angle of rotation of the steering wheel. An acceleration sensing device senses an acceleration demand. A wheel speed sensing device senses a wheel speed for each of the four wheels. A turn control activation switch enables the turn control system and shifts a vehicle transmission to one of a low or reverse operating gear. A brake control module calculates a target vehicle speed, a vehicle turning geometry, and target wheel speeds. A braking torque command signal is generated for modulating the brake torque. An engine torque command signal is generated for modulating an engine torque for producing the target vehicle speed. A respective additional braking torque is applied to at least one of the wheels for reducing the vehicle turning radius while maintaining the vehicle target speed.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a low speed operation of a vehicle. A speed activation switch is activated. A target vehicle speed is calculated in response to an accelerator pedal demand as determined by an accelerator pedal position where each respective accelerator pedal position is associated with a respective predetermined target vehicle speed. A vehicle turning geometry is determined in response to a steering wheel angle input. A target wheel speed of each of a plurality of vehicle wheels is calculated as a function of the target vehicle speed and turning geometry. An actual wheel speed of each wheel is measured. A net torque is determined in response to the target wheel speeds and actual wheel speeds. An engine output torque and a braking torque are determined in response to the net torque. The engine output torque and the total vehicle braking torque are controlled for cooperatively maintaining the target vehicle speed.

Abstract: A brake pad clip for a disc brake assembly is disposed between a caliper member and a brake pad. A U-shaped section includes a base portion with opposing symmetrical leg portions extending at substantially right angles from the base portion. The U-shaped section is adapted to receive a portion of a brake pad therebetween. A first abutment portion extends from the base portion in an opposing direction from the leg portions. A second abutment portion is in spaced relation to the first abutment portion and extends from the base portion in an opposing direction of the leg portions. The first abutment portion and the second abutment portion are adapted to receive a portion of a caliper member.

Abstract: A method of controlling an advanced chassis control system of a vehicle such as an anti-lock brake system, traction control system, vehicle stability control system, or roll control system affecting the vehicle dynamic performance and safety is disclosed. A control unit controls the operation of the advanced chassis control system based at least in part upon predictions of force generating characteristics of tires of the vehicle and driver input signals. The advanced chassis control system of the vehicle is controlled in one manner if the tire is determined to be inflated, controlled in another, different manner if the tire is determined to be deflated. During normal driving, the chassis control systems can operate to control the vehicle according to the desires of the driver while accounting for at least one tire being deflated. During braking the controller can act to distribute braking forces in order to divert forces from the deflated tire to the inflated tires.

Abstract: A fluid actuator and retainer assembly, such as a master cylinder assembly for a vehicular braking system, includes a housing having a groove, a cylinder provided within the housing, and a piston assembly. The piston assembly includes a piston disposed within the cylinder for sliding movement relative thereto and a rod connected to the piston and extending from the cylinder and the housing. A retaining structure includes a rod engagement surface in contact with the rod, a plurality of engagement fingers extending from the rod engagement surface, and a detent extending from each of the plurality of engagement fingers into cooperation with the groove to retain the piston assembly in position relative to the cylinder housing.