Abstract: A type of driving controller for a vehicle that makes use of a combination of a generator and an AC motor to perform stable motor torque control. Target output electric power that should be output from the generator is computed on the basis of the motor's necessary electric power, and the generator is controlled at the operating point where the torque instruction value computed on the basis of the target output electric power can be generated at good efficiency. Also, the torque instruction value of the motor is computed on the basis of present output voltage and output current of the generator, and the motor is controlled on the basis of the torque instruction value.

Abstract: In driving force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, an internal combustion engine drives mainly driven wheels of the vehicle, a generator is driven by the internal combustion engine, a motor is driven by a power of the generator, the motor is capable of driving other wheels than the mainly driven wheels, a condenser electrically connected to the generator in parallel with the motor, and a condenser controlling section (8G) connects the condenser to the motor in a case where a vehicle speed (Vv) is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed and disconnects the condenser from the motor and the generator in a case where the vehicle speed is in excess of the predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: In drive controlling apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, at least one couple of road wheels constitutes one pair of parallel road wheels with respect to a vehicular width direction, a plurality of motors driving independently and separately each road wheel of the pair of parallel road wheels are provided, and a power supply supplies an electric power to the plurality of motors, the plurality of motors driving respective road wheels of the pair of parallel road wheels being enabled to constitute a serial circuit with respect to the power supply.

Abstract: There is provided a driving force control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, including an internal combustion engine to rotate main drive wheels of the vehicle by engine torque, a generator driven by the engine; a motor powered by the generator to rotate subsidiary drive wheels of the vehicle by motor torque in a four-wheel drive state, a detecting section to detect a vehicle start failure under which the vehicle has failed to make a start in response to a vehicle starting operation in the four-wheel drive state, and a motor torque characteristic changing section to change a target torque characteristic of the motor to a higher level so as to increase the motor torque upon detection of the vehicle start failure.

Abstract: A type of driving controller for a vehicle that makes use of a combination of a generator and an AC motor to perform stable motor torque control. Target output electric power that should be output from the generator is computed on the basis of the motor's necessary electric power, and the generator is controlled at the operating point where the torque instruction value computed on the basis of the target output electric power can be generated at good efficiency. Also, the torque instruction value of the motor is computed on the basis of present output voltage and output current of the generator, and the motor is controlled on the basis of the torque instruction value.

Abstract: There is provided a driving force control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, including an internal combustion engine to rotate main drive wheels of the vehicle by engine torque, a generator driven by the engine; a motor powered by the generator to rotate subsidiary drive wheels of the vehicle by motor torque in a four-wheel drive state, a detecting section to detect a vehicle start failure under which the vehicle has failed to make a start in response to a vehicle starting operation in the four-wheel drive state, and a motor torque characteristic changing section to change a target torque characteristic of the motor to a higher level so as to increase the motor torque upon detection of the vehicle start failure.

Abstract: In driving force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, an internal combustion engine drives mainly driven wheels of the vehicle, a generator is driven by the internal combustion engine, a motor is driven by a power of the generator, the motor is capable of driving other wheels than the mainly driven wheels, a condenser electrically connected to the generator in parallel with the motor, and a condenser controlling section (8G) connects the condenser to the motor in a case where a vehicle speed (Vv) is equal to or lower than a predetermined vehicle speed and disconnects the condenser from the motor and the generator in a case where the vehicle speed is in excess of the predetermined vehicle speed.

Abstract: In drive controlling apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, at least one couple of road wheels constitutes one pair of parallel road wheels with respect to a vehicular width direction, a plurality of motors driving independently and separately each road wheel of the pair of parallel road wheels are provided, and a power supply supplies an electric power to the plurality of motors, the plurality of motors driving respective road wheels of the pair of parallel road wheels being enabled to constitute a serial circuit with respect to the power supply.

Abstract: In an anti-skid controlling system and method for an automotive vehicle, the anti-skid control mode is gradually changed from an anti-skid control mode common to each rear tire wheel on the basis of a larger slip rate of both rear tire wheels to an anti-skid control mode for each individual rear tire wheel on the basis of each tire wheel slip rate when the lateral acceleration applied to the vehicle is increased.

Abstract: A control system for distributing braking forces applied to a front wheel and a rear wheel in an automotive vehicle, comprises a fluid pressure control valve normally controlling a brake fluid pressure distribution between front and rear wheels such that a rear-wheel brake fluid pressure is less than a front-wheel brake fluid pressure in a range exceeding a critical fluid pressure across which the brake fluid pressure distribution between the front and rear wheels is essentially varied, a lateral acceleration sensor for monitoring a degree of turn of the vehicle, and a set of reversible motor and return spring for varying the critical fluid pressure in dependence on the degree of turn of the vehicle such that the critical fluid pressure is set at a higher level than a given reference critical fluid pressure which reference fluid pressure is set in the fluid pressure control valve in a straight-ahead driving state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A control system for distributing braking forces applied to left and right wheels in an automotive vehicle, comprises two fluid pressure control valves, normally controlling a left-wheel brake fluid pressure distribution between front and rear-left wheels and a right-wheel brake fluid pressure distribution between front and rear-right wheels such that a rear-wheel brake fluid pressure is less than a front-wheel brake fluid pressure in a range above a respective critical fluid pressure at which the brake fluid pressure distribution between front and rear wheels is essentially varied, a lateral acceleration sensor for monitoring a degree of turn of the vehicle, and a set of reversible motors and return springs employed in each fluid pressure control valve for varying the respective critical fluid pressures independently of each other depending on the degree of turning such that the critical fluid pressure of the outer-wheel side is set at a higher level than the critical fluid pressure of the inner-wheel side.

Abstract: A brake control system for preventing a rear-wheel lock in an automotive vehicle comprises a fluid pressure control valve controlling a brake fluid pressure distribution between front and rear wheels such that a rear wheel-cylinder brake fluid pressure is kept substantially constant in a range above a critical fluid pressure at which the brake fluid pressure distribution is essentially varied, a longitudinal acceleration sensor for monitoring a deceleration of the vehicle body, and a set of reversible motor and return spring for increasing the critical fluid pressure in accordance with an increase in the deceleration of the vehicle body only when the deceleration is increased.

Abstract: An automotive activity control system controls vehicular driving activity, such as power distribution for delivering driving torque generated by prime mover of the vehicle to primary and secondary driving wheels, vehicular braking operation for preventing the road wheels from causing skidding during braking operation, vehicular attitude. The control system includes acceleration sensor, such as a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, a vertical acceleration sensor for monitoring a vehicular driving behavior and providing control parameter for activity control. The control system detects faulty condition of the acceleration sensor for taking place fail-safe operation. Particularly, the control system detects faulty condition of the acceleration sensor to generate sensor signal representative of abnormal or impossible acceleration resulting in malfunction of activity control.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for a multiple task control system which has a plurality of control channels for performing mutually independent and mutually distinct control functions detects failure in one of the control channels. In response, the fail-safe system discriminates between a failure which occurs at a common sensor which is commonly utilized for more than one control channels or a common control channel which are commonly used for more than one control channels, and a failure at other sensors for monitoring parameters to be used for a singular control channel or individual control channel for single control function. The fail-safe system performs mutually distinct modes of fail-safe operation depending upon the result of the discrimination.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system has a plurality of wheel speed sensors for monitoring rotation speed of each of the associated wheels independently of the others. Projected vehicle speed representative data is derived on the basis of one of the wheel speed indicative data representing the highest wheel speed. Wheel slippage criteria providing references for judgement whether wheel slip magnitude is in excess of a predetermined magnitude, are derived on the basis of the projected vehicle speed representative data. The system includes means for monitoring vehicular cornering behavior for making correction of said wheel slippage criteria on the basis of the magnitude of wheel speed difference between inner and outer wheels at a corner or curve for adapting respective wheel slippage criteria to the vehicular cornering behavior.

Abstract: A driving force distribution control system for a vehicle includes a torque distributing clutch for varying a driving force transmitted to a secondary drive wheels in response to a control signal, sensors for determining a wheel speed difference between the wheel speed of primary drive wheels and the wheel speed of the secondary drive wheels, and a longitudinal acceleration, and a control unit for controlling the clutch engagement force of the torque distributing clutch by producing the control signal. The control unit has a first control mode for normally controlling the clutch engagement force in accordance with the wheel speed difference, and a second control mode for controlling the clutch engagement force in accordance with the longitudinal acceleration so as to prevent undesired hunting when a wheel spin of the primary or secondary drive wheels is detected.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for an anti-skid brake control system includes a switch disposed within a power supply circuit of the anti-skid brake control system for connecting and disconnecting a vehicle battery to the anti-skid control system. A battery voltage monitor produces a disabling signal when the battery voltage drops below a predetermined battery voltage threshold. A gating circuit is disposed between the battery voltage monitor and the anti-skid control system to selectably transmit the disabling signal to the latter. The gating circuit receives as input the output of the anti-skid brake control system, and thus responds to operation of the anti-skid control system by blocking transmission of the disabling signal. Thus, the gating circuit allows the disabling signal to be transmitted to the anti-skid control system only while the anti-skid control system is inoperative. The switch disconnects the battery from the anti-skid control system in response to the disabling signal.

Abstract: A power distribution control system for an automotive vehicle, takes an approach for projecting vehicle speed representative value on the basis of a wheel speed latched immediately before initiation of wheel speed variation irrespective of the vehicle speed, and a predetermined variation rate of the vehicle speed. The vehicle speed representative value is derived as a function of time by taking the latched wheel speed as an initial value. The projected vehicle speed data is utilized with other preselected power distribution control parameters for controlling distribution ratio of driving power for a primary and a subsidiary driving wheels.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for a control system including a microcomputer which can output a microcomputer reset signal only once or repeatedly if a program run pulse signal outputted from the microcomputer stops oscillating for longer than a first predetermined time interval T.sub.1 and an additional trouble detection command signal if the program run pulse signal stops oscillating for longer than a second predetermined time interval T.sub.2 which is longer than time interval T.sub.1. In response to this trouble detection command signal, an alarm lamp is lit up and/or the control system is disabled.

Abstract: A control system for a four wheel steering system detects the occurrence of wheel slippage for sampling wheel speed data immediately before the occurrence of wheel slippage. The control system projects a vehicle speed on the basis of the sampled wheel speed data and a predetermined variation rate of the vehicle speed, and derives toe angle variation magnitude of a subsidiary steerable wheel on the basis of the projected vehicle speed and a steering angle of a primary steerable wheel.