With Yaw Control Patents (Class 303/140)
  • Patent number: 6193331
    Abstract: A first fluid line couples first and second wheel cylinders. A second fluid line couples third and fourth wheel cylinders. A first pressure increasing unit increases pressure applied to the first and second wheel cylinders to a second pressure level which is greater than a first pressure generated by a master cylinder. When the first pressure increasing unit is in operation, a pressure difference setting unit sets a difference between pressure applied to the first and second wheel cylinders and pressure applied to the third and fourth wheel cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Syuichi Yonemura, Youichi Abe, Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6183052
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the turning behavior of a vehicle controls the braking forces of diagonally located wheels of the vehicle independently of depression of a brake pedal to produce a target braking force difference between the controlled wheels when the vehicle is turning, thereby applying a desired yaw moment to the vehicle. The braking forces of the controlled wheels are determined taking account of actual braking forces of respective non-controlled wheels which are located on the other, right or left side of the corresponding controlled wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaharu Harada, Katsushi Matsuda, Kunio Sakata
  • Patent number: 6185497
    Abstract: A vehicle behavior control apparatus is provided which is designed to estimate the state of behavior of a vehicle body and to apply the brakes to wheels for suppressing an unwanted change in behavior of the vehicle body. The apparatus determines a lateral momentum of the vehicle body during traveling to estimate the state of behavior of the vehicle body based on the speeds of the wheels and calculates a target braking effort to be produced by each of the brake actuators based on the state of behavior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Taniguchi, Tomohiro Katou, Tosirou Nagata, Nobuyoshi Onogi
  • Patent number: 6176555
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for controlling the handling dynamics of a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, fitted with an ABS system. The method requires varying the brake pressure of the vehicle in the event of an impending wheel lock up to prevent excessive wheel slippage. The method and apparatus are configured such that any decrease in the roll-over stability of the vehicle while negotiating a curve is detected with an ABS system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Akos Semsey
  • Patent number: 6178367
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor-driven vehicle includes a brake device driven by a brake cable to stop the motor-driven vehicle from moving, two electrically conductive friction means respectively fastened to the brake device and driven by the brake device to press on two opposite sides of a metal part of wheel means of the motor-driven vehicle in stopping the motor-driven vehicle from moving, a main processor, which controls the operation of the motor of the motor-driven vehicle, and two electric wires respectively connected between the electrically conductive friction means and two opposite terminals of the main processor; wherein when the electrically conductive friction means are forced by the brake device to press on the two opposite sides of the metal part of the wheel means of the motor-driven vehicle, the main processing unit is induced to cut off power supply from the motor of the motor-driven vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Shu-Shien Li
  • Patent number: 6169951
    Abstract: An improved vehicle active brake control based on an estimate of vehicle yaw rate, wherein the estimate is based on the speeds of the un-driven wheels, but compensated to reflect slipping of the un-driven wheels during braking. Prior to braking, the yaw rate is estimated solely on the basis of the measured speeds of the un-driven wheels. During braking, the slip speeds of the un-driven wheels are estimated based on the measured speeds, the reference speed of the vehicle and the previous estimate of yaw rate, and used to compute a new yaw rate that is compensated for the estimated slip speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Youssef Ahmed Ghoneim, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Patent number: 6155655
    Abstract: A braking force control system and method of a vehicle comprises a steering angle detecting section for detecting a steering angle, a vehicle speed detecting section for detecting a vehicle speed, an actual yaw rate detecting section for detecting an actual yaw rate, a target yaw rate calculating section for calculating a target yaw rate, a target yaw rate restricting section for restricting the target yaw rate to an upper limit value, a yaw rate deviation calculating section for calculating a yaw rate deviation of the actual yaw rate and the target yaw rate, a target braking force calculating section for calculating a target braking force, a braking wheel determining section for determining a braking wheel, an output judging section for judging whether the yaw rate deviation is in a control zone or in a noncontrol zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Matsuno
  • Patent number: 6149251
    Abstract: A device and a process for controlling the braking force at at least one wheel of a vehicle include at least a first arrangement for determining a criterion which describes and/or influences the vehicle movement, a second arrangement for determining a variable which describes the wheel dynamics of the wheel in question, and a third arrangement with which it is determined, at least as a function of the criterion which was determined, whether a driver-independent brake intervention at a wheel is foreseeable. Furthermore, the device and the process contain a fourth arrangement with which a slight activation of the actuators assigned to the wheel, with variable duration, can be performed if the requirement of a foreseeable driver-independent brake intervention is met, this activation occurring before this driver-independent brake intervention. The duration of the slight activation of the actuators is determined at least as a function of the variables which describe the wheel dynamics of the wheel in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gebhard Wuerth, Elmar Mueller, Frank Leibeling, Dieter Schuetz
  • Patent number: 6144904
    Abstract: A system and method for enabling an abrupt bias fault in a vehicle motion sensor (24), such as a yaw rate sensor or a lateral acceleration sensor to be both quickly and accurately diagnosed. When a potential fault is first indicated, it is signaled as true only if the vehicle is in a stable state and vehicle vibration is ruled out as a cause of abrupt signal change. Processing of signals is conducted by microprocessor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongtei Eric Tseng
  • Patent number: 6141616
    Abstract: A wheel braking system for a motor vehicle includes sensors, controllable actuators, and an electronic control device for regulating the rpm of a vehicle wheel when an actual driving state of the vehicle differs from a specified desired driving state calculated as a function of the driving parameters, using a mathematical vehicle model. An automatic correction of the vehicle model, corresponding to a deviation of the desired driving state specified at the moment from the actual driving state at the moment, is performed during vehicle operation if an ideal driving condition exists. The ideal driving condition is a driving state in which it is known that no deviation that leads to regulation occurs. At least one condition is defined by which it is detected whether ideal driving condition exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Auffhammer, Stefan Pavic
  • Patent number: 6132014
    Abstract: A turning state of a vehicle is detected to specify an outer side front wheel and an inner side rear wheel of a turning circle. A controlling device controls the brake fluid pressures of wheel cylinders of the specified wheels so that the brake fluid pressure of the wheel cylinder of one of the specified wheels is made smaller than a master cylinder pressure while substantially simultaneously the brake fluid pressure of the wheel cylinder of the other wheel of the specified wheels is made larger than the master cylinder pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Kiso, Kazutoshi Yogo, Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6131688
    Abstract: A driftout control device of a four wheel steered vehicle has a brake/traction system for selectively applying a braking or a traction force to each of the four wheels, and a steering system for selectively steering a pair of front and a pair of rear wheels separately, wherein the driftout control device includes a first controller for controlling the brake/traction system so as selectively to generate a turn assist yaw moment in the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling the steering system so as selectively to steer the pair of rear wheels in a same steering direction as a steering of the pair of front wheels for a turn running of the vehicle when the first controller is controlling the brake/traction system for generation of the turn assist yaw moment, so that an anti-turn yaw moment generated by the rear wheels steered in the same direction as the front wheels is canceled by an increased generation of the turn assist yaw moment, while ensuring a larger centripetal side force at the rear wheels t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiki Fukada
  • Patent number: 6123398
    Abstract: A difference rotation generating apparatus which generates a difference rotation between the left and right idler wheels by an output torque of an electric motor. When the driving condition of the vehicle is power-off state or when the slip angle is above a predetermined value, a yawing moment to decrease the slip angle is generated by an independent operation of the left and right brakes. When the slip angle is below the predetermined value, the difference rotation generating apparatus is operated to thereby generate the yawing moment to decrease the slip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kentaro Arai, Tetsuro Hamada
  • Patent number: 6122584
    Abstract: A brake system control method, comprising the steps of: measuring a longitudinal speed and steering angle of the vehicle; specifying an un-damped natural frequency and a damping ratio for a linear reference model of said vehicle; determining a first gain parameter relating a desired value of steady state lateral velocity to the vehicle steering angle; computing a desired lateral velocity as a function of said first gain parameter, the measured longitudinal speed, the measured steering angle, and the specified un-damped natural frequency and damping ratio; determining a second gain parameter relating a desired value of steady state yaw rate to the vehicle steering angle; computing a desired yaw rate as a function of said second gain parameter, the measured longitudinal speed and steering angle, and the specified un-damped natural frequency and damping ratio; measuring a lateral acceleration and yaw rate of said vehicle, and forming a yaw rate command for said vehicle based at least part in a first deviation be
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William Chin-Woei Lin, Youssef Ahmed Ghoneim, Hsien Heng Chen, Yuen-Kwok Chin, David Michael Sidlosky
  • Patent number: 6106080
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brake control system for a vehicle, which includes a master cylinder for pressurizing the brake fluid to discharge a master cylinder pressure in response to depression of a brake pedal, a modulator disposed between the master cylinder and a wheel brake cylinder for selecting a pressure control mode out of rapid pressure increase, pulse pressure increase, pulse pressure decrease, rapid pressure decrease and hold modes, a hydraulic pressure pump for discharging the pressurized brake fluid to the wheel brake cylinder through the modulator, and a reservoir for storing the brake fluid drained from the wheel brake cylinder through the modulator. A normally open first switching valve is disposed between the master cylinder and the modulator, and a normally closed second switching valve is disposed between the master cylinder and an inlet of the pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki, Satoshi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6101434
    Abstract: A behavior control device of a vehicle adapted to detect a first yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate detected by a yaw rate sensor relative to a standard yaw rate estimated from a steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor, and also detect at least one of a second yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate estimated from wheel rotation speed of a pair of left and right wheels from the standard yaw rate and a third yaw rate deviation of a yaw rate estimated from a lateral acceleration detected by a lateral acceleration sensor and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed sensor from the standard yaw rate, and execute a yaw rate suppress control such as a spin or driftout suppress control, when the first yaw rate deviation exceeds a threshold value determined therefor and at least one of the second and third yaw rate deviations also exceeds a threshold value determined therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Irie, Yoshiaki Matsuo
  • Patent number: 6092882
    Abstract: A braking force control system and method of a vehicle comprises a steering angle detecting section for detecting a steering angle, a vehicle speed detecting section for detecting a vehicle speed, an actual yaw rate detecting section for detecting an actual yaw rate, a target yaw rate calculating section for calculating a target yaw rate, a target yaw rate restricting section for restricting the target yaw rate to an upper limit value, a yaw rate deviation calculating section for calculating a yaw rate deviation of the actual yaw rate and the target yaw rate, a target braking force calculating section for calculating a target braking force, a braking wheel determining section for determining a braking wheel, an output judging section for judging whether the yaw rate deviation is in a control zone or in a noncontrol zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Matsuno
  • Patent number: 6089680
    Abstract: A stability control system for controlling an running attitude of a vehicle by applying braking force selectively and independently to the wheels so as to direct the vehicle toward a target direction applies braking force independently to a front wheel at the inner side of the cornering path to impart a yaw moment to the vehicle so that the inner front wheel yields a wheel slip ratio less than an upper limit of understeer wheel slip ratio which is set to be smaller than a wheel slip ratio at which each wheel provides the maximum force in the running direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Yoshioka, Tomohiko Adachi
  • Patent number: 6082830
    Abstract: Electronic control of the supply pressure of the pump is suggested with respect to a hydraulic brake system which is used for brake slip control, traction slip control and further driving stability control operations. Means of action include, for example, the control or reduction of the motor current of the pump, electromagnetic closure of the suction valve of the pump or a brief change-over of the separating valve in the brake line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventors: Peter Volz, Dieter Dinkel, Hans-Dieter Reinartz
  • Patent number: 6079800
    Abstract: An improved active brake control for carrying out a desired wheel speed differential for enhanced vehicle lateral stability while maintaining suitable front-to-rear brake pressure proportioning. During driver braking, the target speeds for the wheels of the driven axle during active brake control are determined as a combined function of the wheel speeds of the un-driven axle and the desired wheel speed differential. Specifically, the target speeds for the driven wheels are determined according to the measured speeds of the corresponding un-driven wheels, and one of the target speeds is reduced to reflect the desired wheel speed differential. If the desired wheel speed differential is designed to produce a clockwise yaw moment, the target speed for the driven wheel on the right-hand side of the vehicle is reduced; if the differential is designed to produce a counter-clockwise yaw moment, the target speed for the driven wheel on the left-hand side of the vehicle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: William Chin-Woei Lin, Youssef Ahmed Ghoneim, David Michael Sidlosky, Yuen-Kwok Chin
  • Patent number: 6070952
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a braking force control system for an automotive vehicle having a hydraulic braking pressure control apparatus which is provided for applying the braking force to each of front and rear wheels of the vehicle at least in response to depression of a brake pedal. A desired yaw rate is set in accordance with a motion of the vehicle, and an actual yaw rate of the vehicle is measured. A varying rate of the desired yaw rate is calculated, and a varying rate of the actual yaw rate is calculated. Then, a deviation between the varying rate of the desired yaw rate and the varying rate of the actual yaw rate is calculated. And, a limitation unit is provided for actuating the hydraulic braking pressure control apparatus to limit the varying rate of the actual yaw rate by applying the braking force to at least one of the wheels, when the deviation exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Masanobu Fukami, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6039411
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a brake control system, which includes a first pressure circuit and a second pressure circuit for communicating a master cylinder with two sets of wheel cylinders, respectively. In each pressure circuit, a modulator is arranged to modulate the braking pressure in each wheel cylinder, a pressure pump is disposed to supply pressurized brake fluid to each wheel cylinder through each modulator, a normally open first valve is arranged to open or close a first passage for communicating the master cylinder with the modulator, and a normally closed second valve is arranged to open or close a second passage for communicating a reservoir directly with the inlet of each pump, or communicating the reservoir with it through the master cylinder. The pressurized brake fluid is supplied to each pressure circuit including the second valve at the inlet of the pump to perform an auxiliary pressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Takayuki Itoh, Masanobu Fukami, Satoshi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 6035251
    Abstract: A brake system control for use in a vehicle with wheels, wheel brakes and a body, comprising the steps of: measuring a plurality of vehicle parameters; responsive to the measured parameters, determining at least a vehicle yaw rate, a vehicle slip angle, a desired yaw rate and a desired slip angle; responsive to the measured parameters, estimating a coefficient of adhesion between the vehicle wheels and a road surface; implementing a control responsive to the vehicle yaw rate and the desired yaw rate with a first authority and responsive to the vehicle slip angle and the desired slip angle with a second authority, wherein the first authority increases as the estimated coefficient of adhesion increases and decreases as the estimated coefficient of adhesion decreases; and controlling the wheel brakes responsive to the control to reduce a first difference between the vehicle yaw rate and the desired yaw rate and to reduce a second difference between the vehicle slip angle and the desired slip angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Aleksander Boguslaw Hac, John Francis Hoying, Rowland Curl Augustus, Joachim Busshardt, Sean Padraig O'Connell, William Chin-Woei Lin, Youssef Ahmed Ghoneim, Hsien Heng Chen, David Michael Sidlosky, Yuen-Kwok Chin, David John Barta
  • Patent number: 6033040
    Abstract: A left hydraulic pump 3L connected to a left wheel and a right hydraulic pump 3R connected to a right wheel are interconnected by a first oil passage 21 and a second oil passage 22 to constitute a closed circuit. First and second variable throttle valves 8L and 8R are mounted between the first and second oil passages 21 and 22 and a tank 6. A first on-off valve 11L is disposed between two working chambers 9L.sub.2 and 9L.sub.3 of the left hydraulic pump 3L and the second oil passage 22, and a second on-off valve 11R is disposed between two working chambers 9R.sub.2 and 9R.sub.3 of the right hydraulic pump 3R and the first oil passage 21. For example, if the first variable throttle valve 8L is throttled, the pressure in the first oil passage 21 is risen to open the first on-off valve 11L, thereby increasing the amount of oil discharged from the first hydraulic pump 3L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Inagaki, Hideaki Shibue
  • Patent number: 6027184
    Abstract: A first fluid line couples first and second wheel cylinders. A second fluid line couples third and fourth wheel cylinders. A first pressure increasing unit increases pressure applied to the first and second wheel cylinders to a second pressure level which is greater than a first pressure generated by a master cylinder. When the first pressure increasing unit is in operation, a pressure difference setting unit sets a difference between pressure applied to the first and second wheel cylinders and pressure applied to the third and fourth wheel cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Syuichi Yonemura, Youichi Abe, Mamoru Sawada
  • Patent number: 6017101
    Abstract: If a driver's sudden operation of a steering handle to avoid an obstacle is detected based on outputs from a steering speed sensor (S.sub.1), a steering torque sensor (S.sub.2) and/or a steering torque variation amount sensor (S.sub.7), a master cylinder produces a braking hydraulic pressure by a command from an electronic control unit without depression of brake pedal by a driver. A hydraulic pressure control device (4) transmits the braking hydraulic pressure to brake calipers of inner wheels during turning of the vehicle to brake the inner wheels. This causes a yaw moment to be generated so as to turn the direction of advancement of the vehicle to an inward in a turning direction. Thus, the steering operation can be assisted by such yaw moment to avoid the obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohei Matsuda
  • Patent number: 6015193
    Abstract: The invention relates to a braking and steering system for a vehicle which provides at least fail-safe braking and steering. In a fault-tolerant, preferably redundant, computing unit, a desired braking effect is determined at least for each wheel of the vehicle, and a desired steering effect is determined for each wheel with a steering function, in each case in response to sensor signals. The braking function and the steering function for the wheels are regulated or controlled by means of adjusting systems on the basis of the determined desired braking effect and desired steering effect. The adjusting system for the braking function contains a service brake and that for the steering function additionally contains a steering adjuster. A fault-tolerant communication device connects the adjusting systems to the computing unit. The energy supply of the computing unit and of the adjusting systems is designed with fault tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Vogel, Thomas Thurner
  • Patent number: 6015192
    Abstract: A system for a wheeled vehicle includes sensors for determining wheel speed, wheel load and wheel longitudinal driving or braking force of each wheel, and an estimating or controlling unit for estimating a vehicle body speed and/or a road surface friction coefficient from sensor output signals. The estimating unit determines a coordinate pair of a wheel speed value and a longitudinal force coefficient value for each wheel, and plots the coordinate pairs of the individual wheels as a set of points in a plane rectangular coordinate axis. The unit determines a regression line closely fit to the point set and obtains the estimates of the vehicle body speed and friction coefficient from the intercept of the regression line on the coordinate axis of the wheel speed and the slope of the regression line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Fukumura
  • Patent number: 6012783
    Abstract: Process for temperature-dependent actuation of a supplemental pressure medium source in slippage-controlled motor vehicle braking systems. The invention pertains to a process for operating a slippage-controlled motor vehicle braking system with regulation of driving dynamics. In such systems it has thus far been proposed to turn on supplemental pressure medium sources to support the supply pump when regulation starts, in order to shorten the regulation time. Practical studies have shown that such supplemental sources are, first of all, not needed for each regulation process and, second, cause disruptive noise. The invention thus proposes to turn on the supplemental pressure medium source only in the presence of special situations, such as if the pressure medium is very viscous due to low temperatures. Advantageous refinements are concerned with determination of the temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schwarzer, Thomas Krull, Johannes Graber
  • Patent number: 6003959
    Abstract: A vehicle dynamics control system for an automotive vehicle with a parallel split layout of brake circuits comprises a tandem master cylinder, a hydraulic pump fluidly disposed in one brake circuit, a selector valve for selecting a brake-fluid pressure to be fed to a first brake line from between the fluid pressure generated from the pump and the master-cylinder pressure, a plurality of pressure control valves for regulating a fluid pressure in each individual wheel-brake cylinder, vehicle sensors for detecting a vehicle's cornering behavior, and a control unit being responsive to the sensor's input information for controlling the respective control valves associated with the front wheel-brake cylinders. The control unit operates to supply the fluid pressure generated from the pump to an inner front wheel-brake cylinder in the vehicle understeer on turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Unisia Jecs Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Katayose, Masamichi Imamura
  • Patent number: 5964819
    Abstract: A vehicle yawing behavior control apparatus for controlling the vehicle behavior to bring the actual vehicle yawing motion into agreement with the calculated target value calculated based on the parameters representing a condition of vehicle movement. At least vehicle yaw rate and slip angle representing an actual value of vehicle yawing motion is detected. When the detected vehicle slip angle is directed outside with respect to the vehicle movement and is greater than a reference slip angle, the calculated target vehicle yawing motion value is corrected outside with respect to the vehicle movement to a greater degree at a greater deviation of the detected vehicle slip angle from the reference slip angle. The reference slip angle is increased as the calculated target vehicle yawing motion value increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Genpei Naito
  • Patent number: 5957987
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a motion of a vehicle supported on steered and non-steered road wheels. A target vehicle motion value is calculated based on the steering angle and vehicle speed to provide a predetermined response characteristic related to a vehicle plane behavior. A target steering angle value for the non-steered road wheel to realize the vehicle plane behavior is calculated according to the target vehicle motion value. The non-steered road wheels are steered according to the calculated target steering angle value. The damping characteristic of the response characteristic is decreased as the vehicle speed increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sudo, Kazutaka Adachi, Ken Ito
  • Patent number: 5944394
    Abstract: A process for reducing yaw during braking in a vehicle having an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and traveling on a roadway having different coefficients of friction on opposite sides of the vehicle, is disclosed. The process comprises detecting the braking pressures in the wheels of the vehicle, calculating a permissible braking pressure difference, and adjusting the braking pressures in the wheel on the high friction side (high wheel) so as to maintain the permissible braking pressure difference. The permissible braking pressure difference is a variable value which depends mainly on the deregulating pressure (P.sub.max) at which the ABS begins to deregulate in the low wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Friederichs, Harald Koster, Konrad Rode, Hartmut Rosendahl
  • Patent number: 5941919
    Abstract: In a vehicle with a first operating mode in which all vehicle wheels have substantially no lateral movement on a road surface and a second operating mode in which at least some of the vehicle wheels have lateral movement on the road surface, and with an actuator capable of affecting vehicle yaw rate, a vehicle yaw rate control method comprising the steps of: measuring an actual vehicle yaw rate; measuring vehicle steering wheel position; in the second mode of operation, determining a desired yaw rate command linearly responsive to the measured steering wheel position; wherein the actuator is controlled to minimize a difference between the measured vehicle yaw rate and the desired vehicle yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Robert Pastor, Ronald Paul, Michael Douglas Rizzo, Edward John Bedner, Vivek Jaikamal, Kevin Austin O'Dea, Edmund Stanley Browalski, Howard Hans Ludwig, Scott Douglas Morrison, Hsien Heng Chen, Yuen-Kwok Chin, Youssef Ahmed Ghoneim, William Chin-Woei Lin, Mutasim Abdurrahman Salman, David Michael Sidlosky, Michael Paul Turski
  • Patent number: 5931880
    Abstract: The yawing motion, the float angle, the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle, the front wheel steering angle, and optionally the rear wheel steering angle are determined. When certain driving conditions are present, at least the variable representing the front skew stiffness is determined as a function of the determined variables. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the detection of the float angle is omitted. The variable representing the front skew stiffness is then calculated as a function of the detected yawing motion and the detected longitudinal velocity of the vehicle and as a function of a fixed, predefined value representing the rear skew stiffness. This calculation, too, occurs only when certain driving conditions are present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Jost Brachert
  • Patent number: 5931887
    Abstract: An active brake control method including an improved method of developing the desired state variables, enabling the system designer to specify the damping ratio and the un-damped natural frequency of desired vehicle performance. The desired state variables are determined by converting a linear time domain model into a transfer function model and solving for the lateral velocity and yaw rate as a function of the driver steering angle, the damping ratio, the un-damped natural frequency of the vehicle, and the transfer function zeros. The damping ratio, the un-damped natural frequency of the vehicle, and the transfer function zeros may either be computed or specified in a look-up table as a function of vehicle speed. This allows the system designer to provide increased damping at high vehicle speeds, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Aleksander Boguslaw Hac
  • Patent number: 5913578
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining stability of an automotive vehicle when the vehicle is in motion, by controlling a hydraulic braking pressure control apparatus to control a hydraulic braking pressure in each of wheel brake cylinders operatively mounted on each wheel of the vehicle to control a braking force applied thereto. A steering control unit and an anti-skid control unit are provided for actuating the apparatus to control the braking force applied to at least one of the wheels, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5908225
    Abstract: A process for ensuring a neutral vehicle handling during cornering and a simultaneous load change is provided by the operation of a vehicle system having at least one driven axle, an axle differential gear, wheel brakes for the selective deceleration of an individual wheel, a device for recognizing a cornering and a device for recognizing a coasting operation and for generating a signal corresponding to the intensity of the coasting operation. The problem of rear-wheel driven and front-wheel driven vehicles is the vehicle handling during cornering in the coasting operation. As a result, depending on the method of operation, an oversteering or understeering of the vehicle is caused. The process avoids these problems in that, during a cornering, a wheel of the driven axle is decelerated at least as a function of the coasting operation signal such that the moment generated thereby, such as a counter-yawing moment, compensates the yawing moment caused by the cornering during the coasting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kurt Meier
  • Patent number: 5882092
    Abstract: A behavior control device of a vehicle having a device for estimating a drift-out value representative of drifting out state of the vehicle; a device for estimating slip angle of rear wheels; and a controller for controlling a brake system such that, when the drift-out value is greater than a threshold value determined therefor, a moment for yawing the vehicle body in a direction of suppressing the drifting out of the vehicle represented by the drift-out value is generated in accordance with the slip angle of the rear wheels, the yaw moment increases as the slip angle of the rear wheels increases, with a restriction that the yaw moment is no longer increased when the slip angle reaches a limit value representing a state that the cornering force of the rear wheels is substantially at a maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 5879061
    Abstract: A device for estimating reference wheel speed of each wheel of a vehicle having: a calculator for calculating slip angle of vehicle body based upon lateral acceleration, yaw rate, and vehicle speed; an estimator for estimating speed of vehicle body at its center of gravity based upon wheel speed and yaw rate; and a calculator for calculating the reference wheel speed of each of the front left, front right, rear left and rear right wheels based upon the vehicle body gravity center speed, steering angle, slip angle of vehicle body, yaw rate, a half track of a corresponding wheel, and a half wheel base of a corresponding wheel as follows:Vmfl=Vbc*cos (.delta.f-.beta.)-.gamma.*T*cos .delta.f+.gamma.*sin .delta.f*Lf;Vmfr=Vbc*cos (.delta.f-.beta.)+.gamma.*Tfl*cos .delta.f+.gamma.*sin .delta.f*Lf;Vmrl=Vbc*cos .beta.+.gamma.*TrlVmrr=Vbc*cos .beta.-.gamma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ken Koibuchi
  • Patent number: 5878357
    Abstract: A method is provided for a vehicle yaw rate estimation using two accelerometers and a steer angle sensor. The new method combines two complimentary approaches to yaw rate estimation using accelerometers. A kinematic yaw rate estimate is weighted with a vehicle lateral acceleration at the center of gravity, and steering angle and vehicle forward speed are incorporated into a Kalman filter for estimating vehicle yaw rate based upon the kinematic yaw rate estimate, the lateral acceleration at the center of gravity, the vehicle steering angle, and the vehicle forward speed. The method incorporates use of either one or two accelerometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva N. Sivashankar, Ali Galip Ulsoy, Davorin D. Hrovat
  • Patent number: 5868474
    Abstract: In a driving force control apparatus, a target driving torque To is obtained based on a value determined by subtracting a feedback correction torque T.sub.F corresponding to a slip amount DVS from a correction reference torque T.sub.BC corresponding to a vehicle body speed V.sub.B. Slip is suppressed by a throttle control so that the engine output is reduced to the target driving torque T.sub.O. A retard command is output when the slip amount DVS and a slip rate GDVS are greater than predetermined values to retard an ignition timing of the engine, thereby suppressing an abrupt slip. When it is determined that a right and left front wheel speed difference is large and the vehicle is running on a split road, a retard command is made difficult to be reset as compared to a case where the vehicle is not running on a split road. When it is detected that the driving wheels are vibrating, particularly a differential factor is decreased and regulated only to a component to reduce the target driving torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Abe, Yoshihito Ito
  • Patent number: 5863105
    Abstract: A turn control apparatus for a motor vehicle comprises an arithmetic operation section for acquiring a correction amount for the target slip ratio of a target wheel to be controlled based on the required yaw moment of the vehicle in a situation where an antiskid braking system (ABS) should be activated, a computing section for computing the target slip ratio upon reception of the correction amount from the arithmetic operation section, and a section for acquiring actuation modes and pulse widths for inlet and outlet valves for wheel brakes of the individual wheels, based on the target slip ratio when the ABS is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 5864769
    Abstract: In a brake control system for yaw control in a vehicle, the conditions for starting a brake operation are that the absolute value of a deviation between a target yaw rate determined in a target yaw rate determining device and an actual yaw rate detected by a yaw rate detecting device is equal to or greater than a preset deviation value and that the absolute yaw rate is equal to or greater than a preset value. The wheel brake for an outer wheel, during turning of the vehicle, is operated by the yaw control system based on the deviation between both the yaw rates. However, brake control does not occur when both of the yaw rates are the same in direction and are large. Thus, yaw control is conducted immediately when necessary, but the conduction of unnecessary yaw control is avoided, thereby reducing the frequency of the brake operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiromi Inagaki, Yoshimichi Kawamoto, Shinji Suto, Toshio Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5862503
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the driving behavior of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has front and rear axles, each having a plurality of wheels. Each wheel-has a brake. Sensor are provided for measuring the rotational speed of each wheel, the vehicle yaw rate and the vehicle lateral acceleration. An anti-lock braking system provides first preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from locking during braking. A traction slip control system provides second preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from slipping during acceleration. A brake effort proportioning system provides third preset pressure values for distributing braking pressure between the wheels of the front axle and the wheels of the rear axle. A yawing moment controller provides fourth preset pressure values used to control each brake during cornering, to avoid application to the vehicle of an unbalanced moment which would cause the vehicle to understeer or oversteer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Alfred Eckert, Benno Lammen, Peter Wanke, Karl-Friedrick Worsdorfer, Thomas Geiger, Johannes Graber, Stefan Drumm, Thomas Kranz, C. Jan Neederkorn
  • Patent number: 5857754
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining vehicle stability by controlling the braking force applied to at least one of the driven wheels and non-driven wheels of a vehicle. A vehicle motion control is performed by applying the braking force to at least one wheel, on the basis of a condition of the vehicle in motion and irrespective of depression of a brake pedal. The braking force is applied to at least one wheel so as to cause an increase in turning radius, when an excessive oversteer occurs during vehicle motion. Whereas, the braking force is applied to at least one wheel so as to cause a decrease in turning radius, when an excessive understeer occurs during vehicle motion. In the case where an excessive braking to at least one of the driven wheels is detected, when an engine brake is exerted on the vehicle, a correction control is performed to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the non-driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masanobu Fukami, Kenji Tozu, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 5816669
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yutaka Hiwatashi, Koji Matsuno, Akira Takahashi, Munenori Matsuura
  • Patent number: 5782543
    Abstract: A stability control device for a vehicle is shown that estimates a liability of a vehicle body to drift-out in order to produce a drift-out quantity that generally increases along with the increase of the drift-out liability. A brake device selectively applies a variable braking force to each wheel, with the brake device including a manually controlled pressure source having a brake pedal and an accumulator pressure source. A controller controls the brake device according to the drift-out quantity so as to variably apply a braking force to a selected wheel for suppressing the vehicle body against drifting out. The controller controls the brake device by employing the manually controlled pressure source when the brake pedal is substantially stepped on, while employing the accumulator pressure source when the brake pedal is not substantially stepped on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shirou Monzaki, Mizuho Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5774821
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the driving behavior of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has front and rear axles, each having a plurality of wheels. Each wheel has a brake. Sensor are provided for measuring the rotational speed of each wheel, the vehicle yaw rate and the vehicle lateral acceleration. An anti-lock braking system provides first preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from locking during braking. A traction slip control system provides second preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from slipping during acceleration. A brake effort proportioning system provides third preset pressure values for distributing braking pressure between the wheels of the front axle and the wheels of the rear axle. A yawing moment controller provides fourth preset pressure values used to control each brake during cornering, to avoid application to the vehicle of an unbalanced moment which would cause the vehicle to understeer or oversteer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: ITT Automotive Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 5752752
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining vehicle stability by controlling the braking force applied to at least one wheel of a vehicle. A vehicle condition monitor monitors a condition of the vehicle in motion. A steering control unit actuates a braking unit to apply the braking force to at least one wheel on the basis of the output of the monitor and irrespective of depression of a brake pedal. An anti-skid control unit actuates the braking unit to control the braking force applied to at least one wheel in response to a rotational condition thereof during braking. A subordinate control unit actuates the braking unit to adjust the braking force control performed by the anti-skid control unit, in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the anti-skid control unit and the subordinate control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Tozu, Yoshiyuki Yasui, Masanobu Fukami, Takayuki Itoh, Norio Yamazaki