Abstract: The control device for a vehicle (1) includes a driving force distribution control part (250, 210) that controls distribution of a driving force from a drive source (203) to wheels (Wf1, Wf2, Wr1, Wr2). The control device for the vehicle includes a road surface information acquisition part (12) acquiring road surface information ahead in a traveling direction of the vehicle (1); and a rut determination part (150) performing rut determination to determine whether a rut is present on a road surface ahead in the traveling direction of the vehicle based on the road surface information acquired by the road surface information acquisition part (12). The driving force distribution control part (250, 210) performs control to change distribution of the driving force to the wheels (Wf1, Wf2, Wr1, Wr2) when determination made by the rut determination part (150) changes between that a rut is present and that no rut is present.

Abstract: A sliding makeup implement includes a pair of case members that are obtained by dividing a case into two in a protruding direction of a rod-shaped core, one divided case member being slidably combined with the other divided case member. Sliding grooves are respectively formed in inner surfaces of the divided case members for arranging the rod-shaped core so that the core can be advanced and retracted in an axial direction. A core holder is movable along the sliding grooves and holds the core at a base end thereof. Coupling means for pushing out the core by means of one case member and for bringing the one case member and the core into a coupled state when the pushed-out core is returned to its original position, and for bringing the one case member and the core into an uncoupled state when the core is left at the pushed-out position.

Abstract: A sliding makeup implement includes a pair of case members that are obtained by dividing a case into two in a protruding direction of a rod-shaped core, one divided case member being slidably combined with the other divided case member. Sliding grooves are respectively formed in inner surfaces of the divided case members for arranging the rod-shaped core so that the core can be advanced and retracted in an axial direction. A core holder is movable along the sliding grooves and holds the core at a base end thereof. Coupling means for pushing out the core by means of one case member and for bringing the one case member and the core into a coupled state when the pushed-out core is returned to its original position, and for bringing the one case member and the core into an uncoupled state when the core is left at the pushed-out position.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle motion control system that comprises a plurality of vehicle behavior control units that are controlled in a mutually coordinated manner, and is configured to operate as designed even when one of the vehicle motion control units should fail. If a RTC-ECU (61) has ceased a control action thereof owing to a failure thereof, a VSA-ECU (31) retains the last received coordination control signal from the RTC-ECU in EEPROM (37) so that the VSA-ECU (31) is enabled to continue the coordinated control according to the retained coordination control signal. At the same time, the VSA-ECU (31) transmits the coordination control signal retained in the EEPROM onto a CAN so that the transmitted coordination control signal may be used by other ECUS of other vehicle behavior control units such as an ATTS-ECU (41) and a STG-ECU (51). In this manner, the behavior of the vehicle may be optimized by the coordination control of the VSA unit and other vehicle behavior control units.

Abstract: Provided is a vehicle motion control system that comprises a plurality of vehicle behavior control units that are controlled in a mutually coordinated manner, and is configured to operate as designed even when one of the vehicle motion control units should fail. If a RTC-ECU (61) has ceased a control action thereof owing to a failure thereof, a VSA-ECU (31) retains the last received coordination control signal from the RTC-ECU in EEPROM (37) so that the VSA-ECU (31) is enabled to continue the coordinated control according to the retained coordination control signal. At the same time, the VSA-ECU (31) transmits the coordination control signal retained in the EEPROM onto a CAN so that the transmitted coordination control signal may be used by other ECUS of other vehicle behavior control units such as an ATTS-ECU (41) and a STG-ECU (51). In this manner, the behavior of the vehicle may be optimized by the coordination control of the VSA unit and other vehicle behavior control units.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which a torque generated in an engine is transmitted to driven wheels through a torque converter and an automatic transmission, when a speed ratio e in the torque converter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.85), and the accuracy of estimating a capacity &tgr; of the torque converter is low, an estimated engine torque Ti is multiplied by a torque ratio k of the torque converter to estimate a drive torque Td. When the speed ratio e in the torque converter is smaller than the predetermined value, and a response lag is produced in the transmission of the engine torque, a drive torque Td is estimated from an engine rotational sped Ne and the speed ratio e in the torque converter. During shifting of the automatic transmission, a drive torque Td is estimated from a wheel speed V. Thus, a correct drive torque can be estimated.

Abstract: The engagement force of an electromagnetic clutch can be precisely controlled at a target engagement force by a simple structure even when an air gap of the electromagnetic clutch varies. An electromagnetic clutch control system includes magnetic flux density sensors, a target engagement force calculating device, a target magnetic flux density calculating device, and a feedback control device. The target magnetic flux density calculating device calculates a target magnetic flux density &phgr;t based on a target engagement force Tt of electromagnetic clutches calculated by the target engagement force calculating device. The current supplied to the electromagnetic clutches is feedback controlled by the feedback control device so that an actual magnetic flux density &phgr; detected by the magnetic flux density sensors agrees with the target magnetic flux density &phgr;t.

Abstract: A driving force distribution device which controls the engagement forces of electromagnetic clutches and which govern the torque distribution between the driving wheels of a vehicle by calculating a target magnetic flux density and converting the same into a target excitation current. Since the relationship between the target magnetic flux density and the target excitation current changes according to a decrease in the air gaps accompanying wear of the frictional engagement members of the electromagnetic clutches, a relationship between the magnetic flux density and the excitation current is determined by applying current to the electromagnetic clutches when torque distribution control is not being carried out such as when the system is started, and the target excitation current is calculated from the target magnetic flux density based on the determined relationship.

Abstract: The engagement force of an electromagnetic clutch can be precisely controlled at a target engagement force by a simple structure even when an air gap of the electromagnetic clutch varies. An electromagnetic clutch control system includes magnetic flux density sensors, a target engagement force calculating device, a target magnetic flux density calculating device, and a feedback control device. The target magnetic flux density calculating device calculates a target magnetic flux density &phgr;t based on a target engagement force Tt of electromagnetic clutches calculated by the target engagement force calculating device. The current supplied to the electromagnetic clutches is feedback controlled by the feedback control device so that an actual magnetic flux density &phgr; detected by the magnetic flux density sensors agrees with the target magnetic flux density &phgr;t.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which a torque generated in an engine is transmitted to driven wheels through a torque converter and an automatic transmission, when a speed ratio e in the torque converter is equal to or larger than a predetermined value (e.g., 0.85), and the accuracy of estimating a capacity &tgr; of the torque converter is low, an estimated engine torque Ti is multiplied by a torque ratio k of the torque converter to estimate a drive torque Td. When the speed ratio e in the torque converter is smaller than the predetermined value, and a response lag is produced in the transmission of the engine torque, a drive torque Td is estimated from an engine rotational sped Ne and the speed ratio e in the torque converter. During shifting of the automatic transmission, a drive torque Td is estimated from a wheel speed V. Thus, a correct drive torque can be estimated.

Abstract: A driving force distribution device which controls the engagement forces of electromagnetic clutches and which govern the torque distribution between the driving wheels of a vehicle by calculating a target magnetic flux density and converting the same into a target excitation current. Since the relationship between the target magnetic flux density and the target excitation current changes according to a decrease in the air gaps accompanying wear of the frictional engagement members of the electromagnetic clutches, a relationship between the magnetic flux density and the excitation current is determined by applying current to the electromagnetic clutches when torque distribution control is not being carried out such as when the system is started, and the target excitation current is calculated from the target magnetic flux density based on the determined relationship.

Abstract: In a front and rear wheel steering system for steering rear wheels of a vehicle at a certain ratio to front wheels of the vehicle, the rear wheel steering angle is determined according to the steering input and/or the operating conditions of the vehicle, additionally, taking into account the kind of the particular tires that are being used. In particular, it is advantageous to distinguish between normal tires and studless tires as they demonstrate significantly different properties. The kind of tires can be identified either by computing the frictional coefficient of the road surface or by a manual switch. Thus, the handling of the vehicle can be kept unchanged without regard to the kind of the tires that are being used.

Abstract: The road friction is determined from the deviation of the estimated yaw rate under a standard condition from the actually measured yaw rate. The system for determining the road friction includes a parameter identification unit which determines a parameter of a variation term defined in the transfer function of the model for the vehicle response. The variation term may consist of a zero-th order or a first-order transfer function which would not cause any large computation load, and may not depend on the vehicle speed. The determined road friction may be used for controlling the rear wheel steering angle of a four wheel steering vehicle.

Abstract: To the end of ensuring a brisk maneuverability of a front and rear wheel steering vehicle without causing any unstable behavior of the vehicle, the rear wheels are steered in an opposite phase relationship to the front wheels to offset an under-steer tendency of the vehicle when a lateral acceleration acting on the vehicle is between a first prescribed value and a second prescribed value higher than the first prescribed value, and the vehicle would otherwise demonstrate an under-steer tendency, and in a same phase relationship to the front wheels to prevent an excessive slip angle from developing in the rear wheels when the detected lateral acceleration is greater than the second prescribed value, and the slip angle of the rear wheels would otherwise develop an excessive slip angle.

Abstract: In a control system for a front and rear wheel steering vehicle which steers the rear wheels so as to cancel a deviation of an actual yaw rate from a standard yaw rate which can be computed from the steering input, the vehicle speed and other parameters, there is provided a feature to automatically and manually cancel the yaw rate feedback control. If the actual yaw rate continues to exceed a threshold level for more than a certain time period, the yaw rate feedback is canceled gradually so as not to cause any abrupt change in the handling of the vehicle. Alternatively, if the vehicle operator wishes to operate the vehicle under extreme conditions, he may manually cancel the yaw rate feedback control so as to avoid undesirable interference or conflict between the manual steering effort and the yaw rate feedback control action. Thus, the maneuverability of the vehicle under extreme conditions can be improved without losing the benefits of the yaw rate feedback control.

Abstract: An actuator for effecting a steering action is controlled by a feed-forward variable based on a target steering angle, a state feedback control variable based on an actual steering angle, and an integral control variable given as a sum of an integrated value of a deviation between the target steering angle and the actual steering angle, and an integrated value cancelling variable based on the target steering angle. The integral control variable is disregarded when the detected load is greater than the threshold value. Typically, the integrated value cancelling variable consists of a feedback state variable based on the actual steering angle. Thus, by disregarding the integral control variable in a low speed condition that involves a high load condition but does not require a high tracking capability, the need for the output capacity of the actuator can be substantially reduced without creating substantially any ill effect.

Abstract: A steering angle of rear wheels are steered according to a deviation between an ideal yaw rate response and an actual yaw rate response to the given steering wheel input. By combining feedback control and feed forward control, immunity from external disturbances and lateral stability can be both ensured each at a high level over the entire range of vehicle speed. By appropriately selecting the transfer function of the control system, it is possible to achieve desired responsiveness and stability. Furthermore, the vehicle response in the range where the cornering force of tires tends to saturate can be improved, and it is therefore possible to neutralize the steering property over the entire vehicle speed range.