Brake Force Or Pressure Determined From Speed Sensors Patents (Class 303/167)
  • Patent number: 11597384
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for performing a braking operation of a vehicle when an object is detected in front of the vehicle. The method includes acquiring at least one image of an external environment of the vehicle, determining a road condition of a road of the external environment of the vehicle based on the acquired at least one image, obtaining, based on the determined road condition and from memory, a braking table of one or more braking tables including distances and corresponding vehicle speeds at which the braking operation is performed, acquiring a speed of the vehicle and a distance between a preceding object and the vehicle, comparing the acquired speed of the vehicle and the acquired distance between the preceding object and the vehicle to the braking table, and sending, based on the comparison, an instruction to perform the braking operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Mirian Rodriguez Romero, Ovidiu Buzdugan-Romcea
  • Patent number: 10657446
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a computer implemented image reconstruction system that includes an input interface to receive measurements of a scene. A memory to store a sparsity enforcing neural network (SENN) formed by layers of nodes propagating messages through the layers. Wherein at least one node of the SENN modifies an incoming message with a non-linear function to produce an outgoing message and propagates the outgoing message to another node of the SENN. Wherein the non-linear function is a dual-projection function that limits the incoming message if the incoming message exceeds a threshold. Such that, the SENN is trained to reconstruct an image of the scene from the measurements of the scene. A processor to process the measurements with the SENN to reconstruct the image of the scene. Finally, an output interface to render the reconstructed image of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Ulugbek Kamilov, Hassan Mansour, Dehong Liu
  • Patent number: 9796364
    Abstract: A disk brake system includes a magnetically encoded disk brake rotor having at least one magnetized section encoded therein and a disk brake caliper comprising a plurality of disk brake pads attached thereto, the disk brake pads positioned adjacently to the disk brake rotor and configured to frictionally engage the disk brake rotor upon operation of the disk brake caliper. The disk brake system further comprises a sensor assembly mounted proximately to the disk brake rotor and comprising at least one magnetic field sensor configured to detect the at least one magnetic field, and a controller configured to receive signals from the at least one magnetic field sensor. The controller is further configured to enable selective operation of the disk brake caliper based on the signals received from the at least one magnetic field sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Ayman M. El-Refaie, Christof Martin Sihler
  • Patent number: 9174534
    Abstract: A method is described for estimating longitudinal velocity of a vehicle on a road surface. The method includes obtaining a measured value of vehicle acceleration, which is dependent on longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle and vertical acceleration of the vehicle when a slope of the road surface is non-zero. The method includes determining an initial estimate of the slope. The method includes determining a difference between the initial estimate of the slope and a prior estimate of the slope and, based on the difference, setting a current estimate of the slope to be equal to the initial estimate or the prior estimate. The method includes estimating the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle based on the current estimate of the slope and the measured value of vehicle acceleration. The method includes controlling at least one wheel of the plurality of wheels based on the estimated longitudinal velocity of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: e-AAM Driveline Systems AB
    Inventors: Yunlong Gao, Matthijs Klomp
  • Patent number: 9022487
    Abstract: A system and method for brake assisted turning are provided. One system includes a pedal operated braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to brakes of a vehicle when one or more brake pedals are pressed. The system also includes a steer assist braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to the brakes of the vehicle based at least partly on a steering angle. The system includes hydraulic shut-off circuitry configured to selectively enable and disable operation of the steer assist braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Jerry Lee Brinkley, Benjamin Lee McCash, Adam Robert Rusciolelli
  • Patent number: 8768595
    Abstract: A vehicle braking force control device which, at a normal time, performs antilock brake control when the slip ratio of a wheel has become equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. The control device acquires from the engine control unit an accelerator pedal position signal corresponding to an accelerator pedal position, a clutch connection signal corresponding to a state of connection of a clutch, and a power transmission signal corresponding to a state of power transmission of a transmission. When engine braking is large on the basis of the accelerator pedal position signal, the clutch connection signal, and the power transmission signal, the vehicle braking force control device changes the predetermined threshold value to an offset threshold value that makes it harder to perform the antilock brake control than at the normal time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Bosch Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Ogawa, Kazuhiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8622179
    Abstract: A parking brake control device performs a releasing control with good precision by more precisely maintaining clearance between a friction-applying member and a friction-applied member. During a releasing control, a timing at which a braking force generated by an electric parking brake 2 drops to zero is detected based on a change in a motor current, and a second releasing operation time is set according to the magnitude of the motor current at the time the braking force drops to zero. This makes it possible for the second releasing operation time to be set in accordance with fluctuations in a motor load due to temperature changes or the like. Therefore, a clearance between a brake pad and a brake disc can be kept constant according to the motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Watanabe, Tetsuaki Tsuzuki, Kazuma Kondo, Kentaro Yuasa
  • Patent number: 8602509
    Abstract: A protection device for a brake which is cooled by a coolant in a vehicle, the brake having a first active state in which a brake pressure is established in the brake for braking of the vehicle. The device comprises a sensor for measuring the temperature of the coolant of the brake, and a control arrangement interacting with the temperature sensor and the brake in order to reduce or remove the brake pressure of the brake in the first active state in the event of a temperature of the coolant in excess of a predefined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment AB
    Inventor: Jonny Strandberg
  • Patent number: 8606478
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for controlling a foundation brake of a vehicle having at least one foundation brake device, wherein the usability of the foundation brake is limited to a predetermined total application-time of the foundation brake within a predetermined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Jens Samsioe, Peter Lingman
  • Publication number: 20130293000
    Abstract: A vehicle anti-lock braking system includes at least one automatic hydraulic brake adjuster (AHBA) coupled in flow communication with at least one braking mechanism configured to interact with a vehicle wheel. The system also includes at least one pressure regulating device coupled in flow communication with the at least one AHBA. The system further includes at least one wheel speed sensor coupled to the vehicle wheel. The system also includes a control unit communicatively coupled to the at least one pressure regulating device and the at least one wheel speed sensor. The control unit is configured to actuate the at least one pressure regulating device at least partially as a function of the rotational speed of the vehicle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Damian Paul Kubick, Terrence Christopher Donelson, Michael James Donelson
  • Patent number: 8538654
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein may be useful for braking systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. A method is disclosed comprising determining, at a brake controller, an aircraft reference speed for an aircraft having a first wheel and a second wheel, identifying, at the brake controller, a state comprising the first wheel having a different rotational velocity than the second wheel, wherein the difference in rotational velocity sums to about zero, calculating, at the brake controller, a compensation factor for at least one of the first wheel and the second wheel, and adjusting, at the brake controller, a locked wheel trigger velocity in accordance with the compensation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Eric D. Cahill
  • Patent number: 8527176
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring pressure in a pressure regulation unit of a motor vehicle braking system, without using pressure sensors and having a motor pump unit with an electric motor and a hydraulic pump. The steps include producing a relative motor characteristic diagram for a series of the units. The diagram includes the data of motor-rotational-speed-dependent parameters, intensity of the motor actuation, and parameters relating to the level of the motor load. Further steps include; determining individual motor characteristic variables, determining a current rotational-speed-dependent parameter of an individual motor during the operation of the pump, and calculating a pressure which is characteristic of the braking system, by means of the diagram parameter of the individual motor and the value of the current motor actuation which determines the intensity of the motor actuation, wherein the individual motor characteristic variables are taken into account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Jochen Zimmermann, Michael Stein
  • Patent number: 8517476
    Abstract: A brake controller reduces a hydraulic pressure applied to a wheel cylinder by opening or closing a pressure-reducing linear control valve, a regulator cut valve, and a master cut valve arranged in a hydraulic circuit. A brake ECU detects a state of a vehicle, estimates a degree of influence of noise due to reduction in wheel cylinder pressure on the vehicle on the basis of the detected state of the vehicle, and then selects any of the electromagnetic valves, that is, the pressure-reducing linear control valve, the regulator cut valve and the master cut valve, to reduce the wheel cylinder pressure on the basis of the estimated result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Okano, Eiji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8483922
    Abstract: The work vehicle includes a braking device, a lubricant feeding section, and a controlling section. The controlling section configured to execute a first control in which an amount of the lubricant fed to the braking device is controlled based on a temperature of a rotating member of the braking device. The controlling section sets the amount of the lubricant to a predetermined first feed amount when the braking device is in a braking state, calculates the temperature of the rotating member, and makes a decision in the first control, based on the calculated temperature of the rotating member, to change the amount of the lubricant from the first feed amount to a second feed amount, which is smaller than the first feed amount, when the braking device is switched from the braking state to a non-braking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Kure, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Shigeru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8433491
    Abstract: A deceleration system may be used for decreasing a speed of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels. The deceleration system may include a brake command receiving device configured to receive a brake command for decelerating the vehicle, a brake command sensor configured to determine a brake magnitude and a brake rate based on the brake command, a control device configured to generate a plurality of electronic brake signals based on the brake magnitude and the brake rate, and a plurality of braking devices, each of which is configured to receive one of the plurality of electronic brake signals, convert the respective electronic brake signal to a mechanical brake force, and impart the mechanical brake force to at least one of a rotor or a drum of the respective wheel, thereby causing a deceleration of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Casel Glenn Burnett
  • Patent number: 8412433
    Abstract: A motion control device for a vehicle includes a vehicle speed obtaining device, a curvature obtaining device for obtaining a bending grade of a curve existing ahead of the vehicle, a position obtaining device for obtaining a relative position between the vehicle and the curve, a determination device for determining an appropriate vehicle speed for the vehicle passing through the curve based on the bending grade, a speed reduction control device for executing a speed reduction control for reducing the vehicle speed based on the vehicle speed and the relative position so that the vehicle passes through the curve at the appropriate vehicle speed, and a gradient obtaining device for obtain a gradient of the road on the curve existing in a traveling direction of the vehicle, wherein the determination device determines the appropriate vehicle speed based on the gradient of the road in addition to the bending grade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Keita Nakano, Yosuke Kuki, Takayuki Miyajima, Yoshito Kondo, Atsushi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8346453
    Abstract: A braking force control device for a vehicle comprises a controller that includes an automatic-brake selective-actuation section configured to compare a manual braking force created by a manual brake device with a required braking force for an automatic brake device and to selectively actuate the automatic brake device when the required braking force exceeds the manual braking force; a braking-force-difference time-rate-of-change calculation section configured to calculate a braking-force-difference time-rate-of-change corresponding to a rate of change per unit time in a difference, which difference is obtained by subtracting the required braking force from the manual braking force; and a required braking force control section configured to correct the required braking force to reduce the required braking force when selectively actuating the automatic brake device and to correct a reducing amount of the required braking force to decrease the reducing amount of the required braking force as the braking-force-d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ishimoto
  • Patent number: 8255137
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle 20, when an ECO switch 88 is “on” when a brake demand operation is performed by a driver, a target regeneration distribution rate d is set using an ECO mode regeneration distribution rate setting map that gives priority to energy efficiency in comparison to a normal regeneration distribution rate setting map that is used when the ECO switch 88 is “off” and a braking force demand BF* that is based on the brake demand operation of the driver (S150), and a motor MG2 and a brake unit 90 are controlled so that the braking force demand BF* is obtained based on the target regeneration distribution rate d (S160 to S230).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Jinno, Tadashi Nakagawa, Masahiko Maeda, Hideaki Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 8239112
    Abstract: A method for estimating a brake pressure, a longitudinal tire force and a tire-road ? during periods of antilock control that measures deceleration of a wheel during a period of constant brake pressure, reduces a brake pressure to cause slip on the wheel to begin reducing, measures reacceleration of the wheel after a point in time in which the change in brake pressure is completed, calculates a change in acceleration based on the measured reacceleration and the measured deceleration, estimates a change in brake pressure from a proportional relationship between the change in acceleration and a brake pressure value, estimates a brake pressure from the relationship between a time for valve activation during a change in acceleration and the change in brake pressure. The method also estimates a longitudinal tire force from a mathematical relationship between the change in acceleration, a tire radius, and the estimated brake pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: John Patrick Joyce
  • Patent number: 8204663
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus controlling a driving force or a braking force to be applied to a vehicle and conducting a vehicle control based on wheel speeds includes a detecting means detecting the wheel speed of each wheel provided at the vehicle, a storing means storing a predetermined valid wheel speed for each wheel, a determining means determining whether a difference between the detected wheel speed and a maximum wheel speed of the wheel speeds lies in a predetermined range, and an updating means updating the valid wheel speed based on the detected wheel speed of the wheel, when the detected wheel speed is lower than the predetermined valid wheel speed which is currently stored, in case that a result determined by the determining means is positive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhito Ishida, Gen Inoue
  • Patent number: 8185288
    Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle having a sensor device for providing a first and second sensor signal, a first and a second brake control device, which are directly connected to the sensor device and to provide a corresponding control signal for the first and/or second sensor signal, and a first and a second signal line for transmitting the control signal, the first signal line directly connecting the first brake control device to a first and second wheel actuator device and the second signal line directly connecting the second brake control device to a third and fourth wheel actuator device, the four wheel actuator devices exerting a braking torque corresponding to the control signal on the associated wheel, and the first wheel actuator device being directly connected to the second brake control device and/or the sensor device. A method for operating a brake system for a vehicle is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Strengert, Peter Blessing, Dirk Hofmann, Werner Harter
  • Patent number: 8180544
    Abstract: An optimization system is provided for a braking schedule of a powered system traveling along a route. The braking schedule is based on at least one predetermined characteristic of the powered system and is configured to be enacted in a braking region along the route. The optimization system includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter related to the operation of the powered system. Additionally, the system includes a processor coupled to the sensor, to receive parameter data. The processor compares the measured parameter with an expected parameter, which is based on the at least one predetermined characteristic of the powered system. The processor adjusts the at least one predetermined characteristic based on the comparison, and adjusts the braking schedule based on the adjustment to the at least one predetermined characteristic. A method is also provided for optimizing a braking schedule of a powered system traveling along a route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Forrest Noffsinger, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, David Michael Peltz
  • Patent number: 8170767
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling vehicle stability may comprise determining whether a vehicle is oversteering or understeering and, if the vehicle is oversteering or understeering, determining an amount by which to reduce a speed of the vehicle to correct for understeering or oversteering and applying brake pressure to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle to reduce vehicle speed. The method and system also may comprise determining an engine torque reduction amount based on vehicle oversteer or understeer conditions, reducing engine torque by the determined amount or to zero if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than an actual engine torque, and applying braking to at least the rear brakes of the vehicle if the determined amount of engine torque reduction is greater than the actual engine torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Carr Meyers, Daniel Domek Eisele, Todd Allen Brown, Li Xu, Albert Chenouda Salib
  • Patent number: 8144004
    Abstract: The embodiments of the invention are directed to a method and apparatus to generate pulsing lights where parameters such as frequency, degree of brightness, and the number of pulses vary depending on the duration of the brake pedal application, the time interval between consecutive brake applications, and the deceleration rate of the vehicle, as well as optionally its distance from other vehicles. The brake light control system incorporates a microprocessor having multiple inputs, including a brake pedal sensor, and its output connected via an amplifying circuit to the lights. Other inputs of the microprocessor include a deceleration sensor, a distance sensor, and an optional manual pushbutton or switch located within the driver's reach. The lights controlled by the system may include brake lights, emergency lights, or additional lights shaped into a warning triangle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: BLC Paws, LLC
    Inventors: Waldemar Polak, Adam Polak, J. Lee Edwards, Piotr Folkert, M. Lee Jones
  • Patent number: 8121770
    Abstract: A method for adapting a closing boundary for a proportional spool valve includes generating or detecting a pressure command signal. Next a pressure error is obtained by subtracting an actual wheel brake pressure from its pressure command. Then a modified pressure error is calculated a modified pressure error is calculated in such a way that steady state pressure errors resulting from mismatched feedforward term, control deadzone and other factors are subtracted from measured pressure error to leave the only error to be that due to boundary deviation. An estimator is then used to estimate an apply boundary deviation or a release boundary deviation of the spool valve, as appropriate. A boundary table is updated using the resultant boundary deviation estimate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventor: Yuhong Zheng
  • Patent number: 8096624
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a vehicle includes a first calculating portion for calculating a master cylinder pressure, a first determining portion for determining whether or not the brake operation is performed, a second calculating portion for calculating a target wheel cylinder pressure, a third calculating portion for calculating a controlled pressure, a controlling portion for controlling a pressure difference control valve, a second determining portion for determining whether or not the vehicle is stopped, and a driving portion for specifying a drive pattern of a motor to a first motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is not stopped, the motor driving a pump for discharging a brake fluid, the driving means specifying the drive pattern to a second motor drive pattern in a case where the vehicle is stopped, the driving means driving the motor based on the motor driving pattern specified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Niino, Takashi Sato, Yoichi Miyawaki
  • Patent number: 8042887
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for controlling brakes of a vehicle having wheels, the apparatus including a stopped-state detecting portion which detects, based on a speed of at least one of the wheels detected by at least one wheel-speed sensor, a stopped state of the vehicle; an operation-force limiting portion which limits, based on a detection of the stopped state of the vehicle by the stopped-state detecting portion, an operation force of at least one of the brakes, such that an upper limit of the operation force is an intermediate level of an operation-force range used when the stopped state is not detected; a sensor ignoring portion which ignores, when an electric voltage supplied from a power source to the at least one wheel-speed sensor is not higher than a reference value, the at least one wheel-speed sensor; a limitation canceling portion which cancels, when the sensor ignoring portion ignores the at least one wheel-speed sensor, a limitation of the operation force by the operation-force limiting portio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamamoto, Masaaki Komazawa, Yasushi Hanaki
  • Patent number: 8042888
    Abstract: A wheel position identification apparatus includes: braking force fluctuation generating means controlling the braking force-applying means to generate a braking force fluctuation of the wheel independently. The apparatus further includes response probability obtaining means for obtaining a presence, or an absence, of a response of the wheel relative to the braking force fluctuation based upon a wheel rotational speed fluctuation of the wheel. The wheel rotational speed fluctuation is obtained from a rotation state sensor mounted on each wheel. The apparatus still further includes associating means for associating the wheel with the braking force-applying means respectively. The association is based upon a combination of a presence, or an absence, of the braking force fluctuation at each braking force-applying means and the presence, or the absence, of the response obtained by the response probability obtaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeyasu Taguchi
  • Patent number: 8013759
    Abstract: A transmitter unit has a housing adapted to be coupled in association with a trailing vehicle. The housing also has a multiple axis accelerometer adapted to sense the status of the transmitter unit and a trailing vehicle. The housing also has electronic components coupled with the accelerometer. A receiver unit has a housing adapted to be coupled in association with a leading vehicle. A user in audio proximity to the receiver unit is wirelessly signaled in the event of an anomaly at the transmitter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Inventors: James D. Aid, Norman F. Cameron, Shahid Q. Din
  • Patent number: 7983827
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus for a wheeled vehicle includes wheel cylinders; a pump hydraulically connected to the wheel cylinders for pressurizing the wheel cylinders; a motor for driving the pump; control valves hydraulically connected between the pump and respective ones of the wheel cylinders for allowing fluid communication therebetween with respective variable cross-sectional flow areas; a pressure sensor for measuring an internal pressure of each of the wheel cylinders; and a control unit. The control unit performs wheel cylinder pressure control of controlling the internal pressures of the wheel cylinders by the motor and the control valves so as to conform the measured internal pressures of the wheel cylinders to respective ones of desired internal pressures of the wheel cylinders. During the wheel cylinder pressure control, the control unit constantly keeps a condition that the cross-sectional flow area of at least one of the control valves is maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Nakada, Katsuya Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7962270
    Abstract: A method for controlling an automotive hydraulic pump, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated to increase the pressure in a hydraulic accumulator associated therewith once the pressure falls below a predetermined lower pressure threshold, and the hydraulic pump is switched off once the pressure exceeds a predetermined upper pressure threshold value (P_O). The solution is to reduce fuel consumption of the vehicle, wherein the hydraulic pump is activated during different operating phases of the vehicle at different lower pressure values (P_U1, P_U2) in the event of a hydraulic pressure drop in the hydraulic accumulator of the hydraulic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Florian Schneider, Thomas Jäger, Marcus Gansohr
  • Patent number: 7914085
    Abstract: In brake control system and method for an automotive vehicle, a vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to zero during a start of braking, the vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to be gradually larger along with at least one of a decrease in the traveling velocity of the vehicle and an increase in a braking passage time in a first region in which a traveling velocity of the vehicle is equal to or higher than a first predetermined traveling velocity, and the vehicle body deceleration increment correction quantity is set to a substantially constant value in a second region in which the traveling velocity of the vehicle is lower than the first predetermined traveling velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tsunehara
  • Patent number: 7917273
    Abstract: A process for assisting the driving of a vehicle in a situation of following a queue. The vehicle is provided with a braking system and a plurality of sensors measuring values of variables defining an instantaneous state of the vehicle. The process includes the steps of: comparing the state of the vehicle with an entry state by testing a plurality of entry conditions; when the entry conditions are simultaneously verified, comparing the state of the vehicle with an exit state by testing a plurality of exit conditions; while at least one exit condition is not verified, generating a braking force value (F); and transmitting the value of the braking force generated as the target braking force (Ftarget) to the braking system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventors: Belen Alvarez, Xavier Marie Groult, Frederic Vantalon
  • Publication number: 20110036674
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hydraulic brake device 4, 5 that generates a braking force corresponding to an operation of a brake pedal 1 performed while the vehicle is traveling, a brake lock means 6 for applying a hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 and releasing the hydraulic lock, a brake pedal operation detection means 22 for detecting an operation of the brake pedal 1, and a control means 10 for controlling the brake lock means 6 so as to apply the hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 upon detecting via the brake pedal operation detection means 22 a predetermined depressing operation of the brake pedal 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki KODAKA, Hidetoshi Satake, Kazuhiro Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7865289
    Abstract: A method of distribution braking between the brakes of an aircraft. The method includes a first step of estimating a braking force objective and a steering torque objective to be achieved by the brakes of the aircraft. It also includes the steps of defining at least two groups of brakes (12, 13) and determining, for each group, a braking level that is to be achieved by the group. The braking levels being calculated in such a manner that braking performed in application of the braking levels is, at least under normal operating conditions of the brakes, in compliance with a braking force objective and with a steering torque objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Messier-Bugatti
    Inventors: Stéphane Dellac, Arnaud Jacquet, Gérard Léon Gissinger, Michel Basset, Yann Chamaillard, Jean-Pierre Garcia
  • Patent number: 7841674
    Abstract: An electronic brake control device for a wheeled vehicle that operates in a off-road driving mode. The device including one or more inputs for receiving sensor signals to determine wheel speed, wheel retardation, and wheel acceleration, a primary control logic for modulating brake pressure during time periods under normal vehicle operating conditions, a secondary control logic for modulating brake pressure under off-road vehicle operating conditions when the off-road mode is activated, and a processing unit that calculates a vehicle reference speed and a wheel slip of each sensed and antilock brake system controlled wheel, compares the actual vehicle speed to the vehicle reference speed, and calculates at least one of a variable wheel slip threshold and a variable time period for an extended wheel slippage for controlling at least one of the individual wheel slip and the time period for an extended wheel slip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Bendrx Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Hermann J. Goebels, Andreas Ziegler
  • Patent number: 7756619
    Abstract: An active vibration insulator includes an electromagnetic actuator, a controller, and a bad-roads processor. The electromagnetic actuator generates vibrating forces depending on electric-current supplies. The controller carries out vibrating-forces generation control. In the vibrating-forces generation control, the electric-current supplies are made variable so as to actively inhibit vibrations generated by an on-vehicle vibration generating source of a vehicle from transmitting to a specific part of the vehicle based on cyclic pulsating signals output from the on-vehicle vibration generating source. Thus, the controller lets the electromagnetic actuator generate the vibrating forces. The bad-roads processor stops the vibrating-forces generation control effected by the controller when the vehicle travels on bad roads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ichikawa, Takayoshi Yasuda, Hideki Oshima, Takehiko Fushimi, Daichi Mizushima, Kenichi Sato
  • Patent number: 7731305
    Abstract: In an unstable driving situation of a vehicle with an electronically controlled hydraulic brake system with a front/rear split of brake circuits, for instance during a lane change, the inlet valve of one of the two front wheel brakes may be closed for the ESC in order to raise the pressure in only the other wheel brake of the brake circuit. If then the vehicle runs the risk of tipping over, ARP sets in. The vehicle path needs to be readjusted to reduce lateral forces. The ARP demands a pressure build-up in the curve-outer front wheel brake. The corresponding inlet valve will be opened for the ARP to allow a pressure build-up. However, the ESC may still demand a higher pressure on the initially actuated wheel brake to counter understeering. In this event, the inlet valve of the curve-inner wheel brake, which is under high pressure from the ESC intervention, will remain open to allow a cross-flow of brake fluid from the ESC wheel to the ARP wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Harrison, Thomas Alban
  • Patent number: 7717527
    Abstract: An electric brake system for an aircraft employs a brake control process to alleviate high dynamic structural loading of the aircraft landing gear caused by braking maneuvers. The system obtains and processes real-time data—which may include the current aircraft speed, the current brake pedal deflection position, and the current brake pedal deflection rate—to determine how best to control the onset of the brakes. The braking control scheme delays the onset of the desired braking condition to reduce high dynamic loading and lurching of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: T. Todd Griffith
  • Patent number: 7681962
    Abstract: A method for estimating master cylinder pressure during brake apply of a brake system of a vehicle, wherein the brake system includes a brake pedal. A first master cylinder pressure is estimated from brake pedal position during brake apply. A second master cylinder pressure is estimated from vehicle deceleration during brake apply. The master cylinder pressure is estimated during brake apply to be equal to the first master cylinder pressure when the vehicle deceleration is below a predetermined deceleration value. The master cylinder pressure is estimated during brake apply to be equal to a value which is less than the first master cylinder pressure and greater than or equal to the second master cylinder pressure when the vehicle deceleration is at or above the predetermined deceleration value. At least the estimated master cylinder pressure during brake apply is used to control the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventors: Bryan Todd Fulmer, Deron C. Littlejohn, Rebecca L Wang
  • Patent number: 7627415
    Abstract: In a device for securing the standstill of a motor vehicle with a distance-related longitudinal dynamic control module, which is contained in at least one electronic control unit and by which the motor vehicle is decelerated down to a standstill while maintaining a defined distance from a target object, at least until reaching the standstill, a nominal brake torque is defined by the longitudinal dynamic control module for a brake control module. At a defined first time after a detected standstill of the motor vehicle, the longitudinal dynamic control module transmits a transfer signal to the brake control module. Thereupon, independently of the predefinition of a nominal brake torque by the longitudinal dynamic control module, the brake control module alone builds up and/or holds a wheel brake torque in the sense of a parking brake function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Oliver Tschernoster, Carsten Hass, Sonja de Castro Bonfim, Leander Kempenaars, Christian Scheinost, Bartono Adiprasito, Maria-Christina Laiou, Andreas Pfeiffer
  • Publication number: 20090273231
    Abstract: A method of stopping a motor vehicle without jolting is described, which is characterized in that a sum of the hydraulic fluid pressures generated by a foot-force-actuable brake system and acting upon the braking devices of the motor vehicle during the stopping operation is reduced in a driver-independent manner by 30% to 70% in dependence upon a variable that is related to the vehicle velocity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: JOSEF KNECHTGES
  • Patent number: 7580785
    Abstract: In a vehicle dynamics control apparatus capable of balancing a vehicle dynamics stability control system and a lane deviation prevention control system, a cooperative control section is provided to make a cooperative control between lane deviation prevention control (LDP) and vehicle dynamics stability control (VDC). When a direction of yawing motion created by LDP control is opposite to a direction of yawing motion created by VDC control, the cooperative control section puts a higher priority on VDC control rather than LDP control. Conversely when the direction of yawing motion created by LDP control is identical to the direction of yawing motion created by VDC control, a higher one of the LDP desired yaw moment and the VDC desired yaw moment is selected as a final desired yaw moment, to prevent over-control, while keeping the effects obtained by both of VDC control and LDP control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Matsumoto, Genpei Naito, Satoshi Tange
  • Patent number: 7571033
    Abstract: System for detecting stability/instability of behavior of a motor vehicle upon occurrence of tire slip or lock. State of the motor vehicle is determined on the basis of an alignment torque (Ta) applied from a road and a side slip angle (?). By taking advantage of such torque/slip-angle characteristic that although the alignment torque is proportional to a side slip angle when the latter is small, the alignment torque becomes smaller as the side slip angle increases, a normal value is determined from a straight line slope and the side slip angle in a region where the latter is small. Unstable behavior of the motor vehicle is determined when deviation of actual measured value from the normal value increases. Further, unstable state is determined when the slope of the alignment torque for the slip angle departs significantly from that of approximate straight line slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7509204
    Abstract: A method of controlling a braking force applied to at least one wheel supporting a tire that includes steps of issuing a braking command (100), commanding an amount of tire stretch based on the braking command (102), estimating an amount of tire stretch for the tire based at least in part on wheel speed (104), and controlling the braking force applied to the wheel so that the estimated amount of tire stretch approaches the commanded amount of tire stretch (106). Also, a system (10) for controlling braking based on a determination of tire stretch that includes a tire stretch command generator (12) generating a tire stretch command based on a braking command, a reference velocity estimator (46) producing a first signal indicative of a velocity, a tire stretch estimator (30) producing a second signal indicative of an amount of tire stretch, and a brake force command generator (18) generating a brake force command based on the braking command, the first signal and the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Phillips, David A. Kolberg
  • Publication number: 20080303342
    Abstract: The present invention includes a hydraulic brake device 4, 5 that generates a braking force corresponding to an operation of a brake pedal 1 performed while the vehicle is traveling, a brake lock means 6 for applying a hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 and releasing the hydraulic lock, a brake pedal operation detection means 22 for detecting an operation of the brake pedal 1, and a control means 10 for controlling the brake lock means 6 so as to apply the hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 upon detecting via the brake pedal operation detection means 22 a predetermined depressing operation of the brake pedal 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Kodaka, Hidetoshi Satake, Kazuhiro Ichimura
  • Patent number: 7463963
    Abstract: A vehicle turning motion control apparatus includes a turning condition sensor to sense a turning condition of the vehicle; and a controller to start a decelerating control to produce the braking force with a brake actuator when the turning condition surpasses a deceleration start threshold. There is further provided an accelerator operation quantity sensor to sense a driver's accelerator operation quantity. The controller adjusts the deceleration start threshold toward the turning performance limit when the accelerator operation quantity increases, and to start a preload or preliminary pressure control to produce a preload before the deceleration control when the turning condition surpasses a preload start threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuya Higuchi
  • Patent number: 7448701
    Abstract: A vehicle brake system includes a brake actuator associated with a wheel, the brake actuator having at least one moveable brake component, and a brake control system operative to determine a target rotational velocity of the wheel based at least in part on a relationship between an actual tire/road friction force and a target tire/road friction force, the brake control system determining a target position of the at least one moveable brake component based at least in part upon the target rotational velocity. The brake control system is operable to control actuation of the brake actuator based at least in part upon the target position of the at least one moveable brake component and at least in part based upon a current position of the at least one moveable brake component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventors: Peter Nilsson, Ola Nockhammar
  • Publication number: 20080067867
    Abstract: A wheel position identification apparatus includes: braking force fluctuation generating means controlling the braking force-applying means to generate a braking force fluctuation of the wheel independently. The apparatus further includes response probability obtaining means for obtaining a presence, or an absence, of a response of the wheel relative to the braking force fluctuation based upon a wheel rotational speed fluctuation of the wheel. The wheel rotational speed fluctuation is obtained from a rotation state sensor mounted on each wheel. The apparatus still further includes associating means for associating the wheel with the braking force-applying means respectively. The association is based upon a combination of a presence, or an absence, of the braking force fluctuation at each braking force-applying means and the presence, or the absence, of the response obtained by the response probability obtaining means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventor: Takeyasu Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7322660
    Abstract: A method for electronically regulating brake force distribution to the front axle and the rear axle of a motor vehicle (EBV control), wherein the rotational behavior of the vehicle wheels is determined, compared with the vehicle speed or vehicle reference speed and/or with the changes of these variables, and evaluated to limit the slip on the rear-wheel brakes by modulating the braking pressure. The brake force distribution is controlled in dependence on the sum signals obtained by addition of acceleration values determined on each individual rear wheel and/or by addition of slip values determined on each individual rear wheel. It is particularly arranged for to weight the sum signals with variable sum factors and evaluate them as a criterion for triggering the EBV control (so-called EBV plus control).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OhG
    Inventors: Ivica Batistic, Holger Schmidt