From Split Coefficient Of Friction (mu) Patents (Class 303/148)
  • Patent number: 10343661
    Abstract: The hydraulic pressure controlling unit is capable of execute a first control, a second control, and a third control. The third control is configured to be started under condition that during the second control, an anti-lock brake control on the wheel brake on the high-? road side is started, the acceptable differential pressure is equal to or larger than a first threshold, or a steering angle of a steering is equal to or larger than a second threshold. During the third control, the hydraulic pressure controlling unit is configured to decrease the hydraulic pressure of the wheel brake on the high-? road side if the vehicle state deciding unit decides that the vehicle is in an unstable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYSTEMS JAPAN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Keisuke Wakizaka
  • Patent number: 10315634
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for adapting a control strategy of a slip-control system of a brake system of a vehicle in a ?-split situation, in which different wheel-specific brake pressures, are set at opposite wheels of a vehicle axle. The resulting brake pressure difference is limited. In some examples, to generate a brake pressure request, a maximum pressure difference value deviating from a reference pressure difference with a predefined tolerance value is determined on a wheel-specific basis for the wheels lying opposite one another. The reference pressure difference corresponds to the value of the current low-pass-filtered brake pressure difference, and the brake pressure request for each wheel is determined as a minimum of the wheel-specific brake pressure determined from the control strategy of the slip-control system, and from the sum of the average brake pressure of the wheel lying opposite and the wheel-specific maximum pressure difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Henning Kerber, Mario Roszyk, Jochen Müller, Arne Cornils, Dieter Burkhard
  • Patent number: 10029678
    Abstract: Traction control unit interposed between torque allocation unit and torque control unit for left and right wheels and each configured to inhibit a slip of the drive wheel during acceleration or deceleration are provided. A longitudinal force estimation unit for estimating longitudinal forces acting on the respective left and right wheels and longitudinal force coincidence control unit are provided. The longitudinal force coincidence control unit compares absolute values of the longitudinal forces on the left and right wheels estimated by the longitudinal force estimation unit, and provides a driving torque command that generates a longitudinal force equal to the longitudinal force whose absolute value is smaller, to the torque control unit for the drive wheel at which the absolute value is larger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Mogi
  • Patent number: 9428193
    Abstract: A method comprising: applying a brake force to all four wheels of a motor vehicle to stop the vehicle while torque continues to be applied to its driven wheels; and preventing wheel slippage of the driven wheels by reducing the applied torque when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped from moving in a forward direction. In this way, unintentional lateral movement of the vehicle due to creep torque applied to the driven wheels on slippery surfaces can be prevented or corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Ross Dykstra Pursifull, Ralph Wayne Cunningham
  • Patent number: 9248814
    Abstract: A wheel deceleration calculating sections individually calculate, as negative values, wheel decelerations of front and rear wheels. If, at a time when the antilock braking control for at least one of the right and left front wheels is started or at a time when the antilock braking control for at least one of the right and left rear wheels is started, (i) a maximum value of the wheel decelerations calculated by the wheel deceleration calculating sections is equal to or larger than a first predetermined value and (ii) a difference between the wheel decelerations of the right and left front wheels or the right and left rear wheels which are in an antilock braking control state is equal to or larger than a second predetermined value, a split road determining section determines that road surfaces constitute a split road.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NISSIN KOGYO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomonori Hirose
  • Patent number: 8955923
    Abstract: A brake system for a motor vehicle, in particular for a utility vehicle, with a device for reducing the yawing moment on the front axle of the vehicle, characterized in that a device for measuring the slip and/or a device for measuring the load on the rear axle or on two running wheels of the rear axle of the vehicle arranged on sides opposite one another is present and a regulating or control device for influencing the brake pressure on the front wheels is present which limits the brake pressure on the front wheels depending on the measured slip and/or depending on the measured load on the rear axle or on the running wheels of the rear axle, the regulating or control device multiplying the difference of the brake pressures on the front wheels by a value which is smaller than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Adnan Mustapha, Dieter Woerner
  • Patent number: 8775040
    Abstract: A vehicle control system obtains an index indicating a running condition of a vehicle on the basis of a vehicle parameter indicating a motion of the vehicle and then sets a running characteristic of the vehicle in accordance with the index. The vehicle control system includes a noise reduction unit that is configured to obtain the index on the basis of the vehicle parameter of which a fluctuating component that fluctuates because of a driver's driving operation or the influence of a running road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shin Noumura, Ken Koibuchi, Keisuke Takeuchi, Toshio Tanahashi, Hiroyuki Hanamura, Yoji Takanami, Norimi Asahara, Kaiji Itabashi
  • Patent number: 8706378
    Abstract: The vehicle described herein employs a mu logic module. The mu logic module monitors vehicle operating conditions, and based on those operating conditions determines a road surface mu in response to a wheel slip event. The road surface mu is then used to determine a drive force to minimize or control the wheel slip event. The mu logic module continually monitors and adjusts the drive force provided to at least one of the wheels to maximize the applied drive force, while stabilizing and controlling wheel slip events to ensure safe operation of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan Choby
  • Patent number: 8571732
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle skid control device that avoids a skid erroneous judgment in a high revolution range of a motor. The vehicle skid control device detects the number of revolutions of the motor. When the number of revolutions of the motor is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value Nm, the vehicle skid control device prohibits a skid judgment. When the number of revolutions of the motor is smaller than the predetermined threshold value Nm, the vehicle skid control device permits the skid judgment. When the number of revolutions of the motor is equal to or larger than the threshold value Nm, the skid judgment is prohibited. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the skid erroneous judgment in the high revolution range with the number of revolutions equal to or larger than Nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Michio Yoshida, Kenji Umayahara, Tomoyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 8567875
    Abstract: An anti-skid control device or an automatic brake control device gradually increases a W/C pressure for a boost control valve for a front wheel FR or FL on a high-? surface, by repeating a cycle in which the differential pressure for the boost control valve at the high-? surface side is kept at the first differential pressure for a first period, and after that kept at the second differential pressure for a second period. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the individual variation in the capability for W/C pressure boosting, and accordingly to suppress the difference of the W/C pressures between the right front wheel and the left front wheel. Thus, it is possible to suppress the yaw torque applied to the vehicle and therefore to suppress the spin of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mototsugu Sawada, Toru Minematsu
  • Patent number: 8500220
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle braking system having regulating devices determining the transversely dynamic behavior of the vehicle, in order to maintain or restore stable vehicle behavior, by setting the braking torque on individual vehicle wheels independently of the driver. The performance of the braking system is controlled in this manner to help prevent vehicle rollover (overturning laterally) when negotiating curves. This is accomplished by generating a braking torque on the front wheel on the outside of the curve (or increasing a braking torque that is already set).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Einig, Josef Knechtges
  • Patent number: 8463462
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that may he useful for testing braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A system is disclosed that allows for built in testing. For example, a method if provided comprising sending, from a brake controller, a test command set to at least one of an electromechanical actuator (EMAC) and a brake servo valve (BSV) in response to a landing gear retraction, receiving, at the brake controller, feedback from the at least one of the EMAC and the BSV in response to the test command set, and comparing, at the brake controller, the feedback with a predetermined signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8412435
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program product is provided for detecting if a vehicle has spun. A normal force and a lateral force of each of a front and rear axle of a vehicle is estimated. A coefficient of friction representative of a surface is estimated. Lateral momenta of the front and rear axles based on the coefficient of friction and the normal and lateral forces is calculated. Whether a surplus momentum is present, is determined. If the surplus momentum is present, a yaw rate of the vehicle is integrated respect to time to obtain a vehicle rotation estimation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel S. Maitlen
  • Patent number: 8121758
    Abstract: A vehicle (10) includes a control system (18) that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines an axle torque, and longitudinal forces at each tire in response to the axle torque. Lateral forces at each tire are determined in response to the longitudinal forces. The control system of the vehicle is determined in response to the longitudinal and lateral forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: Jianbo Lu
  • Patent number: 8116942
    Abstract: A steering angle control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating means calculating a longitudinal force, a second calculating device calculating a longitudinal force difference between at least one of right side wheels and at least one of left side wheels based on the longitudinal force, a third calculating device calculating a contribution rate of front wheels at a steering angle control and a contribution rate of rear wheels at the steering angle control, a fourth calculating device calculating a front wheel correction steering angle and a rear wheel correction steering angle based on the contribution rate of the front wheel, the contribution rate of the rear wheel, and a state quantity including the longitudinal force difference, and a driving device outputting a control command value based on the front wheel correction steering angle and the rear wheel correction steering angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Hiroaki Aizawa
  • Patent number: 8100482
    Abstract: A brake hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a vehicle includes anti-skid control means for executing an anti-skid control including a pressure reducing control and a pressure increasing control for one of front wheels at which an anti-skid control start condition is established, yaw moment control means for executing a yaw moment control, while the anti-skid control has been executed only for a first front wheel, for a second front wheel, wheel cylinder pressure estimated value calculating means, pressure difference estimated value calculating means, pressure increasing control means, and the pressure difference estimated value calculating means including pressure difference at specific time calculating means for calculating a pressure difference estimated value at specific time on the basis of a pressure difference estimated value at the first front wheel and a wheel cylinder pressure difference between the wheel cylinder pressure estimated values at the second front wheel and the first front wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kito, Katsuo Obai, Masato Terasaka
  • Patent number: 8090492
    Abstract: The apparatus comprises a measured signal detector 11, a vehicle parameter obtainer 12, a sideslip angle temporary estimator 13, a sideslip angle differential corresponding value computer 14 and a sideslip angle real estimator 15. A sideslip angle temporary estimate value is computed from one or plural vehicle parameters including at least the mass. A sideslip angle differential corresponding value is computed from a measured signal and the vehicle parameters including no mass. A sideslip angle is derived from the sideslip angle temporary estimate value and the sideslip angle differential corresponding value. A sideslip can be detected without a steering angle detection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: National University Corporation Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
    Inventors: Masao Nagai, Yohei Michitsuji, Pongsathorn Raksincharoensak
  • Patent number: 8078361
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for assisting an operator of a vehicle in adjusting a nominal steering angle at steerable wheels of the vehicle for the vehicle stabilization. An additional steering torque is applied to the steering line of the vehicle, which is determined dependent on a difference between a nominal steering angle and an instantaneous steering angle. The method is characterized in that a value of a load moment acting on the steering line of the vehicle is estimated, and that the additional steering torque is established dependent on the estimated value for the load moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co., OHG
    Inventors: Fred Galkowski, Thomas Berthold, Thomas Raste, Urs Bauer
  • Patent number: 8068967
    Abstract: To determine an inhomogeneous roadway in ?-split situation during active ABS control and active yaw torque control (YTC) of a front wheel (HM-wheel) on the high-coefficient-of-friction side, it is arranged that at least the following conditions must be satisfied before the ?-split situation is flagged: a) a front wheel (LM wheel) undergoes ABS control in a pressure reduction phase; a1) the LM front wheel is in the first ABS control cycle; b) the LM front wheel exhibits a deceleration exceeding a defined threshold; c) the locking pressure level of the LM front wheel is lower than a defined threshold; d) the front wheel on the high-coefficient-of-friction side (HM wheel) exhibits a filtered deceleration that is lower than a defined threshold; e) the vehicle deceleration calculated by ABS is lower than a defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Christof Schütz, Yann Andrè, Robert Gutwein
  • Patent number: 8060275
    Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle comprises disabling diagnostic operation, such as a misfire monitor, based on road roughness. In one example, the disabling of the diagnostic operation is based on brake actuation and degradation of an anti-lock braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jahan Asgari, Timothy Feldkamp, Craig Stephens, Moses Fridman, Davor Hrovat, Arthur Varady, Mitch McConnell
  • Patent number: 7974761
    Abstract: According to the present invention, when a target braking/driving force and a vehicle target yaw moment required to a vehicle cannot be achieved through a control of a braking/driving forces of wheels, in a rectangular coordinate of the braking/driving force and the yaw moment, a polygon indicating the maximum range of the braking/driving force and the yaw moment attainable by the braking/driving forces of the wheels, and an ellipse that crosses each side of the polygon and has a major axis and a minor axis aligning with the coordinate axis of the rectangular coordinate are set, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Maeda, Kazuya Okumura, Michitaka Tsuchida, Yoshio Uragami, Kensuke Yoshizue, Satoshi Ando, Koji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7894631
    Abstract: There is provided an obstacle detection apparatus for detecting an obstacle based on an image of periphery of a vehicle and a distance to an obstacle present in the vehicle's periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiaki Kakinami
  • Patent number: 7860623
    Abstract: A process for increasing the stability of a vehicle upon acceleration on a roadway with a non-homogenous coefficient of friction, whereby a drive wheel is acted on by a braking force on a side with a low coefficient of friction by means of a drive slip regulation. A value (pASR) is determined which corresponds to the braking force (FB,ASR) set by the drive slip regulation (ASR). The value determined (pASR) is used for the determination of a disrupting yaw momentum (MZ), and a control portion (??Z) of a supplemental steering angle (??) is determined in dependence on the disrupting yaw momentum (MZ). An apparatus for the implementation of the process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Urs Bauer, Georg Roll, Schahrad Schafiyha, Stephan Capellaro, Michael Gille, Matthias Muntu
  • Patent number: 7775608
    Abstract: A method for controlling a brake pressure in at least two wheel brakes preferably mounted on one axle of the vehicle, is performed during a braking operation on a road surface having a heterogeneous coefficient of friction. This method works as follows: A low coefficient of friction side and/or a high coefficient of friction side is detected, a stability index representing the driving state of the vehicle is formed, the stability index is evaluated on the basis of the low coefficient of friction side and/or of the high coefficient of friction side and the brake pressure is altered in at least one wheel brake as a function of the value of the stability index and as a function of the result of the evaluation of the stability index on the basis of the low coefficient of friction side and/or the high coefficient of friction side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventors: Holger Schmidt, Anthony Dollet, Urs Bauer, Stephan Capellaro
  • Patent number: 7751961
    Abstract: A method for classifying a road surface condition by estimating the maximum tire/road surface coefficient of friction and actively inducing acceleration or deceleration. In one embodiment, the induced acceleration/deceleration is provided by applying torque to the driven wheels of the vehicle. The speeds of the driven and non-driven wheels are measured. The tire/road surface coefficient of friction and the driven wheel slip ratio are calculated from the wheel speeds. The tire/road surface coefficient of friction and the wheel slip ratio are used to determine the slope of the wheel slip/coefficient of friction curve, which is used to classify the road surface condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Mutasim A. Salman, Sarmad Y. Hermiz
  • Patent number: 7734405
    Abstract: A method for providing enhanced stability, control and management for a prime mover connected to an auxiliary vehicle is disclosed. An auxiliary vehicle is connected to a prime mover with an auxiliary stability enhancing system and an electronic stability enhancing system, including at least one processor with a memory having computer instructions stored thereon. The processor communicates with a plurality of sensors to detect force values and motions values, and communicates with database storage containing specifications and characteristics representing the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to compare the force and motion values with the specifications to determine if any values exceed known preset threshold values for the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle. A calculated response, and a location for applying the response, is determined by using a computer model of the prime mover and auxiliary vehicle to reduce the detected force or motion value that exceeds the preset threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Tandy Engineering & Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Frank Tandy, Jr., Donald Frank Tandy, Sr.
  • Patent number: 7712845
    Abstract: A method of selective, automatic application of one rear brake of a motor vehicle under appropriate vehicle operating conditions in response to intent of a driver to make a turn, whereby the rotational speed of the selected braked rear wheel is reduced so as to reduce the turn radius of the vehicle. Vehicle sensor outputs and calculated parameters in conjunction with vehicle systems such as, but not limited to, ESC, ABS, and traction control are used to determine if appropriate vehicle operating conditions exist to actuate the present invention. The method of the present invention is implemented via an algorithmic control, preferably within an ESC system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Mackovjak, Robert L. Nisonger, Mario B. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7661772
    Abstract: A method to improve the braking behavior of a vehicle is provided, in which it is not permitted to exceed a maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the braking pressures on the two wheels of one axle, and in which the maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the wheels of one axle is a function of at least one variable describing the vehicle dynamics. When an unstable behavior of the vehicle is recognized, the maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the wheels of the axle is maintained or reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: A. Holger Heinemann
  • Patent number: 7401870
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a controllable suspension component includes applying brake-steer to at least one wheel, generating a suspension control signal in response to the brake-steer signal, and allowing at least one wheel coupled to the suspension component to articulate to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hongtei E Tseng, Timothy G. Offerle, Gregory P. Brown
  • Patent number: 7401871
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a vehicle with a trailer comprises determining the presence of a trailer, determining a vehicle velocity, determining a steering wheel angle, and determining a rear axle side slip angle. When the rear axle side slip angle is above a predetermined value, the vehicle velocity is above a velocity threshold, and the steering wheel is about zero, brake-steer is applied to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Timothy G. Offerle
  • Patent number: 7331642
    Abstract: A method is provided for vehicle stability control of a vehicle where the vehicle includes a slip control braking system that applies independent braking pressure to respective vehicle brakes of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a steering system for applying steering intervention for stability control. The method includes detecting a split-mu braking condition and applying a steering assist torque to the steering system. A determination is made whether a steering wheel angle condition is within a predetermined threshold. An aggressive braking strategy is applied if the steering wheel angle condition is within the predetermined threshold, else applying a non-aggressive braking strategy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Joe Miller
  • Patent number: 7315777
    Abstract: A target resultant force to be applied to a vehicle body is calculated, the magnitude of a critical friction circle of each wheel is estimated, and a critical resultant force is estimated from the estimated magnitude of the critical friction circle. Subsequently, a ratio of the target resultant force to a critical resultant force is set as an effective road friction, and the magnitude of a tire force is set by using the magnitude of the critical friction circle and the effective road friction. The direction of the tire force of each wheel to be controlled is set based on the sum of products, which are calculated for all other wheels, of a distance from the position of the wheel to be controlled to the position of the other wheel in a direction of the resultant force, and the magnitude of the tire force of the other wheel. Cooperative control of steering and braking or steering and driving of each wheel to be controlled is performed based on the magnitude and direction of the tire force which have been set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventor: Eiichi Ono
  • Patent number: 7171296
    Abstract: An electronic control unit calculates a target yaw rate in accordance with a vehicle speed and a steering angle and calculates the yaw rate difference on the basis of the target yaw rate and an actual yaw rate. The electronic control unit estimates the grip factor of a front wheel to road surface and sets a distribution ratio for distribution of a vehicle-control target value among actuators of a steering system, a brake system, and a drive system in accordance with the estimated grip factor. The electronic control unit controls the actuators of the three systems in accordance with control instruction values distributed on the basis of the vehicle-control target value and the distribution ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kato, Minekazu Momiyama, Takayuki Ohta, Akira Kodama
  • Patent number: 7069135
    Abstract: A method for estimation of the maximum grip coefficient on the basis of knowledge of the forces and the self-alignment torque which are generated in the contact area of a tire, includes the steps of: selecting a plurality of fixed points in space, which lie at different azimuths along the circumference in at least one sidewall of the tire, carrying out a corresponding number of measurements of circumferential distance variation (extension or contraction) at these fixed points when the tire is rolling on the road, processing the measurement signals so as to extract the three components of a resultant of forces which are exerted by the road on the contact area of a tire and the self-alignment torque generated by the tire from them, processing the evaluation signals of the three components of a resultant of forces which are exerted by the road on the contact area of a tire and of the self-alignment torque generated by the tire so as to extract the said grip coefficient ? from them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: David Bertrand
  • Patent number: 7035725
    Abstract: The sliding, integral, and proportional controller for providing aircraft antiskid braking control includes a reference velocity subsystem, a velocity error ratio subsystem, and a main controller subsystem generating a control command output signal indicative of a command braking pressure. The main controller subsystem includes a one dimensional sliding mode controller subsystem to determine an estimated net wheel torque signal, an adaptive threshold subsystem for generating an adaptive threshold based upon the modified slip ratio signal and a clock signal, integral gain subsystems, a proportional controller subsystem, and a pressure limiter. A method for determining braking efficiency of an aircraft braking system independent of the specific conditions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventors: Duk-Hyun Park, Robert D. Cook
  • Patent number: 7035726
    Abstract: A steering characteristic control apparatus and method for a vehicle is disclosed which can carry out behavior control of the vehicle regarding a steering characteristic and so forth appropriately in accordance with the type of turning and the road surface situation. To this end, if the steering characteristic of the vehicle is placed into an oversteer or understeer state exceeding a reference level, then the control end condition when the steering characteristic is controlled to the neutral steer side by control of a braking mechanism is set in accordance with an estimated road surface ? state and the type of turning (steady turning or non-steady turning) of the vehicle. Upon steady turning, during traveling on a low ? road, it is set as the control end condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored sufficiently, but during traveling on a high ? road, it is set as the condition that the stability of the vehicle behavior is restored to some degree so that the control can be ended rapidly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation
    Inventor: Kunio Sakata
  • Patent number: 7013208
    Abstract: The sliding, integral, and proportional controller for providing aircraft antiskid braking control includes a reference velocity subsystem, a velocity error ratio subsystem, and a main controller subsystem generating a control command output signal indicative of a command braking pressure. The main controller subsystem includes a one dimensional sliding mode controller subsystem to determine an estimated net wheel torque signal, an adaptive threshold subsystem for generating an adaptive threshold based upon the modified slip ratio signal and a clock signal, integral gain subsystems, a proportional controller subsystem, and a pressure limiter. A method for determining braking efficiency of an aircraft braking system independent of the specific conditions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hydro-Air, Inc.
    Inventors: Duk-Hyun Park, Robert D. Cook
  • Patent number: 6952635
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a road condition estimation apparatus for estimating a road condition for use in a vehicle having a steering control unit for actuating a device mechanically independent of a manually operated steering member to steer at least a wheel of front and rear wheels. The apparatus includes an actuating signal detection unit for detecting an actuating signal for actuating the device of the steering control unit, an aligning torque estimation unit for estimating an aligning torque produced on the wheel on the basis of the actuating signal detected by the actuating signal detection unit, and a vehicle state variable detection unit for detecting a state variable of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Toyoda Koki Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Eiichi Ono, Yuji Muragishi, Shinji Takeuchi, Minekazu Momiyama, Hiroaki Kato, Kenji Asano
  • Patent number: 6890041
    Abstract: Improved methods and systems for controlling hydraulically or electrically actuated anti-lock brake systems (ABS) on air and land vehicles requiring only measurement of wheel angular speed although brake torque measurements can also be employed if available. A sliding mode observer (SMO) based estimate of net or different wheel torque (road/tire torque minus applied brake torque) derived from the measured wheel speed is compared to a threshold differential wheel torque derived as a function of a “skid signal” also based on wheel speed only to generate a braking control signal. The braking control signal can be employed to rapidly and fully applying and releasing the brakes in a binary on-off manner and, as an additional option, possibly modulating the maximum available brake hydraulic pressure or electrical current when the brakes are in the “on” state in a continuous manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Inventors: William B. Ribbens, Ronald J. Fredricks
  • Patent number: 6880900
    Abstract: A target wheel cylinder pressure for each wheel is calculated according to an amount of braking operation performed by a vehicle operator. When anti-skid control is required, the wheel cylinder pressure is controlled to be equal to the target wheel cylinder pressure for reducing the brake slip of the wheel. When one of the rear-left and the rear-right wheels is anti-skid controlled, the target wheel cylinder pressure for the other wheel for which the anti-skid control is not performed is set to the same value as the target wheel cylinder pressure for the wheel for which the anti-skid control is performed. Linear valves are controlled based on the target wheel cylinder pressure, controlling the wheel cylinder pressures for the rear-left and the rear-right wheels to have substantially the same value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Hara, Toshihisa Nihei, Naruyuki Matsui, Masahiro Matsuura
  • Patent number: 6866349
    Abstract: A vehicle traction control system having capabilities for braking intervention and coefficient of friction detection is provided, a slipping wheel being braked by braking intervention if a slip threshold is exceeded. In order to improve the lateral stability of the vehicle when cornering on road surfaces having a low coefficient of friction, the slip threshold for the drive wheel on the outside of the curve is reduced independently of that of the drive wheel on the inside of the curve and is set to a lower value than that for the wheel on the inside of the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Sauter, Helmut Wandel
  • Patent number: 6742851
    Abstract: A detection device for detecting braking of a vehicle during cornering on a road surface where the coefficient of friction of the road surface on a wheel on the outside of a curve is lower than on a wheel on the inside of the curve includes a comparison device for comparing the brake force or the brake force reduction of at least one wheel on the outside of a curve with the brake force or the brake force reduction of at least one wheel on the inside of the curve, and a device for generating a detection signal or initiating appropriate measures when the brake force of at least one wheel on the outside of a curve is lower or reduced to a greater degree than the brake force of at least one wheel on the inside of the curve. A device for influencing yaw torques has a so-called detection device and a reduction device which reduces the brake force in a brake of a wheel on the inside of a curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OhG
    Inventors: Jürgen Woywod, Ralph Gronau, Georg Roll, Dirk Waldbauer
  • Patent number: 6684147
    Abstract: The sliding, integral, and proportional controller for providing aircraft antiskid braking control includes a reference velocity subsystem, a velocity error ratio subsystem, and a main controller subsystem generating a control command output signal indicative of a command braking pressure. The main controller subsystem includes a one dimensional sliding mode controller subsystem to determine an estimated net wheel torque signal, an adaptive threshold subsystem for generating an adaptive threshold based upon the modified slip ratio signal and a clock signal, integral gain subsystems, a proportional controller subsystem, and a pressure limiter. A method for determining braking efficiency of an aircraft braking system independent of the specific conditions is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventors: Duk-Hyun Park, Robert D. Cook
  • Patent number: 6681168
    Abstract: A traction control device for a vehicle that has at least one axle, to which two driven wheels are assigned, the traction control device, when one of the driven wheels of the axle shows a tendency to spin, regulating the kinematic behavior of the wheel tending to spin by building up a first wheel brake pressure such that the wheel tending to spin of the axle remains within a permissible slip range. In order to reduce disturbance torques caused by the first wheel brake pressure for a wheel that is not tending to spin of the axle, a second wheel brake pressure is built up, which is adjustable independently of the first wheel brake pressure. Also described is a method for controlling the slip of at least one driven wheel of an axle of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Polzin
  • Patent number: 6663113
    Abstract: A method for improving the traction between a road surface and a motor vehicle having a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels which engage the road, each front wheel mounted on a front axle, each rear wheel mounted on a rear axle, one of the axles being a driven axle, and a two-part undercarriage roll stabilizer system including a front and a rear undercarriage stabilizer, each the undercarriage stabilizer comprising an actuating drive operatively coupled to a the pair of wheels, and for reducing the stopping distance along the road in which the motor vehicle can be stopped. The method includes: determining a coefficient of friction between at least two wheels and the road surface; comparing the coefficients of friction; and tensioning the actuating drives diagonally, the wheel contact forces between diagonally opposite wheels and the road surface thereby being one of increased and decreased in response to the determined coefficient of friction between a wheel and the road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Armin Schülke, Armin-Maria Verhagen, Roland Stoller
  • Publication number: 20030214182
    Abstract: A vehicle traction control system having capabilities for braking intervention and coefficient of friction detection is provided, a slipping wheel being braked by braking intervention if a slip threshold is exceeded. In order to improve the lateral stability of the vehicle when cornering on road surfaces having a low coefficient of friction, the slip threshold for the drive wheel on the outside of the curve is reduced independently of that of the drive wheel on the inside of the curve and is set to a lower value than that for the wheel on the inside of the curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas Sauter, Helmut Wandel
  • Publication number: 20030111899
    Abstract: A method to improve the braking behavior of a vehicle is provided, in which it is not permitted to exceed a maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the braking pressures on the two wheels of one axle, and in which the maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the wheels of one axle is a function of at least one variable describing the vehicle dynamics. When an unstable behavior of the vehicle is recognized, the maximum allowable braking pressure difference between the wheels of the axle is maintained or reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventor: A. Holger Heinemann
  • Patent number: 6572202
    Abstract: A method and brake control system that calculates a target brake pressure of each wheel based on a braking amount by a vehicle operator and a product of a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a vehicle speed. The brake control system comprises a first detector that detects a lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a second detector that detects a speed of the vehicle. A controller is provided that controls a braking force applied to each of front wheels and rear wheels. The controller increases the braking force applied to the front wheels by a vehicle operator so that the ratio of the braking force applied to the front wheels versus the braking force applied to the rear wheels increases as a product of the detected lateral acceleration and the detected speed of the vehicle increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryochi Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20030074125
    Abstract: An improved anti-lock rear brake yaw control method utilizes a measure of braking intensity to regulate both the initiation of yaw control and the anti-lock braking control parameters once yaw control is initiated. The brake torque and the rate of brake pedal depression provide measures of braking intensity, and are used to develop variable slip and deceleration thresholds to which the rear wheel differential slip and deceleration are compared. The variable thresholds permit initiation of yaw control at relatively low levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration during panic braking, while requiring higher levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration to initiate yaw control during moderate braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Allen John Walenty, Kevin Gerard Leppek
  • Patent number: 6547343
    Abstract: A brake system control method, comprising the steps of: measuring a set of vehicle parameters including steering wheel angle, vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and vehicle yaw rate; responsive to the measured parameters using an observer to estimate lateral velocity of the vehicle, wherein the observer contains (a) an open loop dynamic model of the vehicle responsive to the measured vehicle speed and the measured yaw rate, (b) a closed loop term responsive to a first error between the measured yaw rate and a predicted yaw rate, a second error between a previously estimated lateral velocity and a predicted lateral velocity and a third error between the measured lateral acceleration and a predicted lateral acceleration; estimating a vehicle slip angle responsive to the estimate of lateral velocity; determining a control command responsive to the vehicle slip angle; and controlling an actuator responsive to the control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignees: General Motors Corporation, Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Aleksander Boguslaw Hac