Abstract: A vehicle front-view monitoring system takes fail-safe measures when a fail-safe measure-interruption requirement using first parameter are met on a monitored image for a predetermined first period. The functions interrupted by the fail-safe measure is resumed when d fail-safe measure-release requirement using second parameter which is different from the first parameter is met within a predetermined second period after the fail-safe measure-interruption requirement has been met. The first period is variable in accordance with how accurately lane marking on a road in the monitored image is recognized.

Abstract: A vehicle front-view monitoring system determines whether there is a fail occurring on the monitoring system based on luminance data on an image of a front view taken by camera and takes fail-safe measures if the fail is occurring. The luminance data indicates luminance-distribution characteristic values indicating horizontal luminance-distribution on the image. A fail can be determined based on a parameter obtained by normalizing the luminance-distribution characteristic values by a shutter speed for the camera equipment.

Abstract: In the case that a brake controller is installed to a 4 wheel driven vehicle, braking force control should be carried out effectively enough so that running stability of the vehicle can be up-graded at cornering. The brake controller 40 calculates differential value of aimed yaw rate, differential value of predicted yaw rate on low friction road and deflection of the two differential values. And also it calculates deflection of real yaw rate and aimed yaw rate. Then the brake controller 40 determines aimed braking force and applies the aimed braking force to a selected wheel to carry out braking control. The torque distribution controller 70 receives control parameters and signals of status of brake control and carries out torque distribution control based on the parameters and signals through the hydraulic multi-plate clutch 21.

Abstract: When an accelerator pedal is released, or when a brake pedal is depressed and if braking force is lower than a reference braking force corresponding to a braking force immediately before causing a wheel lock, differential limiting force of a center differential is set to a predetermined value so as to retain an under-steer condition while engine brake is applied. When the brake pedal is depressed and if braking force is higher than the reference braking force, differential limiting force of the center differential is set to zero so as to assist an anti-lock brake system. Further, the reference braking force can be determined according to a road friction coefficient, a grade of road, a lateral acceleration and the like. Further, the predetermined value of the differential limiting force may be a constant value or may be a value corresponding to a front-to-rear weight distribution ratio.

Abstract: In a four wheel drive vehicle, a driving force distribution control apparatus estimates a road friction coefficient and controls a transfer clutch of a center differential based on the estimated road friction coefficient so that a driving force distribution on the rear wheel side becomes larger as the estimated road friction coefficient becomes small. An initial value of the road friction coefficient is established to be a low value such as 0.3 when a wiper switch is turned on, an outside air temperature is low, a traction control apparatus operates, an anti-lock brake control apparatus operates, a braking force control apparatus operates, a slip detecting apparatus detects a slip and a transmission control unit outputs a signal and is established to be an intermediate value such as 0.5 when an initial start judgment section judges an initial start of the engine after a long period of stop.

Abstract: A braking force control system and method of a vehicle includes a vehicle speed detecting section, a steering angle detecting section, a yaw rate detecting section, a target yaw rate calculating section, a yaw rate deviation calculating section, turning requirement detecting means for detecting a driver's requirement to turn the vehicle, brake pressure correction coefficient generating section, a target braking force calculating section, a braking force correction section for correcting the braking force according to the driver's requirement to turn the vehicle, a braking wheel determining section for determining an object wheel to apply brakes, an output judging section, a brake signal outputting section and a brake drive apparatus for applying brake pressure to the wheel cylinder of the object wheel. Whereby, the driver can make a sharp turn even when the normal braking force control is operative.

Abstract: An automatic brake control system of a vehicle for automatically applying brake when said vehicle comes near to an obstacle ahead comprises an own vehicle speed detector for detecting a speed of the vehicle, a distance detector for detecting a distance between the own vehicle and the obstacle, an obstacle speed calculating device for calculating a speed of the obstacle based on the speed of the vehicle and the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle, a stop control judging device for making a comparison of the distance between the vehicle and the obstacle with a threshold distance, a target deceleration establishing apparatus based on the comparison for establishing a target deceleration to a first deceleration when the distance is smaller than the threshold distance and to a second deceleration when the distance is larger than the threshold distance and a brake drive controller for performing a deceleration control so as to generate a brake fluid pressure corresponding to the target deceleration in a b

Abstract: When a vehicle is moving out of a lane of a road, an image processing computer unit judges the hazardous condition. Then, a power steering control computer unit calculates a correction reaction force based on the steering angular velocity and increases a steering reaction force so as to generate a large steering effort. This lane moving-out prevention system is constituted such that only when the steering angular velocity is large, i.e., when a driver turns a steering wheel sharply, the steering reaction force is increased, thereby no additional reaction force is produced when the driver makes a normal turn.

Abstract: A braking force control system comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting an actual yaw rate of a vehicle, a target yaw rate calculating section for detecting a vehicle speed and a steering angle to calculate a target yaw rate, a yaw-rate difference calculating section for calculating a difference in yaw rate by subtracting the target yaw rate from the actual yaw rate, and a braked-wheel discriminating section for selecting a rear-inside wheel as a braked wheel when the sign of the actual yaw rate is different from that of the difference in yaw rate, and for selecting a front-outside wheel as the braked wheel when the sign of the actual yaw rate is the same as that of the difference in yaw rate. Therefore, when the vehicle is in an under-steering tendency, the rear-inside wheel is selected, and when it is in an over-steering tendency, the front-outside wheel is selected.

Abstract: A traction control system and method of a four-wheel drive vehicle comprises an engine control apparatus, a brake drive apparatus for automatically and independently applying brake to each of four wheels, wheel speed detecting means, vehicle speed detecting means, steering angle detecting means, yaw rate detecting means, target yaw rate calculating means, yaw rate deviation calculating means, slip amount calculating means for calculating an actual slip amount, reference slip amount storing means for memorizing a reference slip amount, target slip amount determining means for determining a target slip amount based on the reference slip amount, traction control judging means for outputting a traction control signal when a traction control is needed, target braking force calculating means, target engine torque calculating means. When a traction control is needed, the target slip amount determining means determine a target slip amount of a wheel needing the traction control.

Abstract: In a vehicle motion control system, a target rear-wheel steering-angle calculating section calculates a target rear-wheel steering angle, a rear-wheel steering-quantity setting section sets a rear-wheel steering quantity, and a rear-wheel steering signal output section outputs a rear-wheel steering quantity to a motor driving section to perform a steering angle control. In addition, a front-and-rear wheel steering response-parameter calculating section calculates a response parameter, and a front-and-rear wheel steering target yaw-rate calculating section calculates a target yaw rate. A yaw-rate difference calculating section calculates a yaw-rate difference, a target braking-force calculating section calculates a target braking force, and a braked-wheel discriminating section selects a wheel to be braked.

Abstract: A braking force control system and method of a vehicle comprises an estimated yaw rate calculating section for calculating an estimated yaw rate on a road surface having low friction coefficient, a target yaw rate differential calculating section for calculating a target yaw rate differential, an estimated yaw rate differential calculating section for calculating an estimated yaw rate differential, a yaw rate differential deviation calculating section for calculating a deviation of the both differentials, a first target braking force calculating section for calculating a first target braking force, a yaw rate deviation calculating section for calculating a deviation of an actual yaw rate and a target yaw rate, a second target braking force calculating section for calculating a second target braking force, a final target braking force calculating section for calculating a final target braking force based on the first and second target braking forces.

Abstract: An active suspension system of a vehicle has a feed back control system for controlling four suspensions for the four wheels to maintain a reference vehicle height responsive to detected vertical relative displacements between the wheels and the vehicle body at said suspensions, and a feed forward control system for controlling the suspension to maintain an intended rolling of the vehicle responsive to detected lateral acceleration. There is further provided a circuit for changing the reference vehicle height which is responsive to the absolute value of the detected lateral acceleration, and operates to reduce the reference vehicle height with increase of the absolute value so that the vehicle body is lowered while the rolling is maintained whereby a better driver's sensation during a vehicle turn is obtained and the capability of turning of the vehicle is improved.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having a vehicle height adjusting device, wherein the height of each suspension is controlled so as to attain a set reference vehicle height, reaction forces of respective suspensions are detected and a difference between the detected reaction forces is calculated according to a formula, while the vehicle is stationary or is being driven straight. When the difference exceeds a predetermined value, it is determined that there are imbalances of the road surface contact loads of the wheels. Upon the determination of imbalances, the reference vehicle height is increased for some suspensions and decreased for other suspensions to eliminate the imbalances. The determination of imbalances is made when a value given by a formula including the integrated values for the suspensions exceeds a predetermined value, and then reference vehicle height is increased and decreased for the suspensions to eliminate the imbalances.

Abstract: In a system for controlling active suspensions of a motor vehicle, having fluid suspensions for the respective wheels, a lateral acceleration sensor, control valves for the respective suspensions, and a controller for adjusting the control valves to charge and discharge a fluid into and out of the fluid suspensions so as to control the vehicle attitude, a shut-off valve is provided between each control valve and each fluid suspension. The shut-off valve is normally open to enable the control of the vehicle attitude in an active state. When the detected lateral acceleration of the vehicle during a turn exceeds a set reference lateral acceleration, an active-passive changeover circuit delivers a shut-off signal to each shut-off valve thereby to close the shut-off valve, whereby all the fluid suspensions are sealed so that the suspension system becomes a passive state.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a body height of a vehicle by supplying or discharging air into or from an air suspension system includes a controller for controlling a vertical vehicle body height to a predetermined set value responsive to a signal according to an adjustment amount of the vehicle body height obtained by subtracting an objective reference vehicle body height signal from a relative displacement signal. The apparatus further includes vehicle body height change control means connected to the controller for variably controlling a vehicle body height adjustment completion time and a vehicle body height adjusting speed responsive to the vehicle speed.

Abstract: In a system for controlling active suspensions of a motor vehicle, having fluid suspensions for the respective wheels, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, a lateral acceleration sensor, control valves for the respective suspensions, and a controller for producing a control quantity to adjust the control valves to charge and discharge fluid into and out of the fluid suspensions so as to control the vehicle attitude, the reaction force of each suspension is detected and a mean value of the suspension reaction force is calculated to determine the loading condition of the vehicle while the vehicle is driven straight ahead at a constant speed. The control quantity is corrected by a correcting circuit so as to match the loading condition of the vehicle whereby the vehicle attitude is precisely controlled so as to match the vehicle weight even in such a transient state as acceleration, deceleration and turning. The internal pressure of each suspension may be detected as the reaction force.

Abstract: In a system for controlling active suspensions of a motor vehicle, having fluid suspensions for the respective wheels, a longitudinal acceleration sensor, control valves for the respective suspensions, and a controller for adjusting the control valves to charge and discharge a fluid into and out of the fluid suspensions so as to control the vehicle attitude, a hysteresis circuit is provided to receive a longitudinal acceleration signal from the acceleration sensor, for hysteresis processing of the signal, whereby microvibration components included in the acceleration signal is removed. The width of hysteresis is increased as the vehicle speed increases because the amplitude of microvibration becomes larger as the vehicle speed increases. For more stable vehicle attitude control, a dead-zone circuit is provided to cut fluctuations of the hysteresis-processed signal within a specific width in the vicinity of zero.

Abstract: An active suspension system of an automotive vehicle having four air suspension units for four wheels has a first sensor for detecting vertical acceleration of the mass above each suspension unit spring, a second sensor for detecting the vertical relative displacement of the masses above and below each unit spring, a controller for operating in response to the output signals from the two sensors and a relative displacement velocity signal obtained by differentiation of the signal from the second sensor to generate an instruction air flow quantity signal, and a control valve operating in response to this flow quantity signal from each controller to control the charging or discharging of air into or from each unit. An auxiliary damper is provided in each unit to damp vibrations of relatively high frequencies.

Abstract: A control unit for an active suspension system of a vehicle. The control unit includes a longitudinal g sensor for sensing longitudinal g of the vehicle body to generate a longitudinal g signal; and a control instruction quantity calculating circuit for calculating a control instruction quantity of a fluid to be charged into or discharged from each of suspension units in response to the longitudinal g signal to generate and transmit a control instruction quantity signal representing the control instruction quantity to a fluid charge and discharge control circuit for controlling to charge into or discharge from each suspension unit, whereby the vehicle body is controlled in response to the longitudinal g so that the vehicle body is effectively held in an ordinary position.