Abstract: A parking braking system for a brake in a vehicle wherein, upon moving a parking brake selector to a park position, the brake is arranged to be mechanically locked or latched into place by means of a variable position park latch mechanism which is adapted to co-operate with an operating member of the brake so as to set the park load on the brake at a desired level. The parking braking system includes a control system which has a brake level determining means (134) to determine the brake load level at which the brake is to be parked and a control means (136) for controlling the actuation of the latching mechanism, or a combination of several latching mechanisms, to selectively maintain that brake load level during a parking phase. In order to determine the park load level to which the brake should be applied in a given situation, there is provided a static mode 1 which generates a signal representative of the static condition of the vehicle or a static compensation signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a low speed operation of a vehicle. A speed activation switch is activated. A target vehicle speed is calculated in response to an accelerator pedal demand as determined by an accelerator pedal position where each respective accelerator pedal position is associated with a respective predetermined target vehicle speed. A vehicle turning geometry is determined in response to a steering wheel angle input. A target wheel speed of each of a plurality of vehicle wheels is calculated as a function of the target vehicle speed and turning geometry. An actual wheel speed of each wheel is measured. A net torque is determined in response to the target wheel speeds and actual wheel speeds. An engine output torque and a braking torque are determined in response to the net torque. The engine output torque and the total vehicle braking torque are controlled for cooperatively maintaining the target vehicle speed.

Abstract: A driving force control apparatus is configured to automatically apply a braking force to a plurality of wheels in order to descend down a hill at a constant speed, such that the wheels can be prevented from being locked by the braking force, and the vehicle speed can be prevented from increasing. In order for a vehicle to travel at a preset speed, the vehicle driving force control apparatus detects the speeds of the wheels subjected to a braking force, and switches the vehicle from a four-wheel drive (4WD) mode in which driving force is distributed to all of the wheels to a two-wheel drive (2WD) mode in which driving force is distributed to only the front wheels. The switch is made when the vehicle speed is equal to or less than a lower limit threshold. The front wheels are prevented from locking, and increases in the vehicle speed are suppressed.

Abstract: A brake fluid pressure retaining unit is provided which allows a relief pressure to be variable only by use of a low-cost electromagnetic valve without using an expensive relief valve and orifice. The brake fluid pressure retaining unit includes an electromagnetic valve which is provided midway in a brake fluid channel connecting a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder and is capable of freely opening/closing the brake fluid channel by passing current though a solenoid coil; and an electromagnetic valve control section which detects a release signal indicative of releasing brake operation detected by a brake operation detecting section and passes current through the solenoid coil while referring to current values corresponding to a target maintaining fluid pressure to maintain a predetermined braking force.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining when vehicle powertrain torque is being used to substantially maintain a vehicle at a substantially zero speed on a graded surface, and to shift the supplied torque from the powertrain to another vehicle system or component. A vehicle controller determines that the powertrain system is supplying a hold torque, which has a magnitude sufficient to substantially maintain the vehicle at a substantially zero speed on the graded surface. A brake torque at a magnitude at least equivalent to the hold torque is automatically applied from the vehicle brake system to thereby maintain the vehicle at the substantially zero speed. Thus, the powertrain system can remove the torque it is supplying to hold the vehicle at the substantially zero speed.

Abstract: The invention is directed toward methods for operating a series hybrid vehicle in a manner that responds to the operator's demand for power output, while maximizing engine efficiency and minimizing disruptions in vehicle drivability. According to principles of the present invention, when the driver of a series hybrid vehicle makes a demand for power output, whether the secondary power source(s) is supplied with secondary energy stored in an energy storage device(s), direct input energy generated by an engine(s), or both, depends on the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device(s) alone, and in combination with vehicle speed. During the time that the engine is used to generate secondary energy, the power efficiency level at which the engine is operated also depends on the vehicle speed and the amount of available secondary energy stored in the vehicle's secondary storage device alone, and in combination with vehicle speed.

Abstract: A brake system is provided with a brake pressure control device which is light in weight and low in cost and which is capable of selectively performing a brake assist control and a slope starting control. An electromagnetic pressure control valve for generating a control differential pressure is connected between a master cylinder and wheel cylinders, and the control differential pressure is set to an assist increase pressure under the brake assist control. A brake fluid supply device such as a motor-driven pump is operated in the brake pressure control device to supply brake fluid between the electromagnetic pressure control valve and each of the wheel cylinders. The fluid pressure applied to the wheel cylinders is increased by the assist increase pressure than the fluid pressure delivered from the master cylinder, so that a large brake force is applied to road wheels. On the other hand, the brake fluid supply device is also operated under the brake assist control.

Abstract: A control device for an electric vehicle stopping at a slope road which reduces a power consumption of the electric motor when the vehicle is stopping at the slope road with the generation of a drive torque. The device judges the stopping state of the vehicle at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree is not zero, that the drive torque is not zero, and that a vehicle speed is zero continues for a predetermined time, applies a hydraulic pressure P relative to wheel cylinder, and decreases the drive torque outputting to the motor to be zero. The device judges a release of the stopping state at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree becomes greater than a throttle opening degree under the vehicle stopping state at the slope road, recovers the drive torque, and gradually releases an application of the hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder.

Abstract: An electric parking brake system for a vehicle includes an electric control unit that controls a brake device and an operating element for actuating the electric parking brake system. When the vehicle is in a resting position, actuation of the operating element alternatively applies and releases the electric parking brake according to the driver's request. The electric parking brake system includes a parking operative mode and several starting operative modes. The electric parking brake system includes at least one distance sensor for enabling a controlled power braking involving dynamics and slip control when the vehicle is moving to avoid a potential collision with an obstacle, especially when parking the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of maintaining the effect of the engine brake of a vehicle during hill descent by way of an active, electronically controlled intervention of the brakes on at least one wheel. The present invention is characterized by a determination of the status of the wheels split into ‘stable wheels’ and ‘unstable wheels’ and the deceleration of all stable wheels (11 to 14) in the event of at least one unstable wheel, on which the condition Vunstable<Ki×Vref occurs, wherein Vunstable=speed of the unstable wheel Vref=medium wheel speed of the stable wheels Ki=correction factor (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A control device for an electric vehicle stopping at a slope road which reduces a power consumption of the electric motor when the vehicle is stopping at the slope road with the generation of a drive torque. The device judges the stopping state of the vehicle at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree is not zero, that the drive torque is not zero, and that a vehicle speed is zero continues for a predetermined time, applies a hydraulic pressure P relative to wheel cylinder, and decreases the drive torque outputting to the motor to be zero. The device judges a release of the stopping state at the slope road when a condition that a throttle opening degree becomes greater than a throttle opening degree under the vehicle stopping state at the slope road, recovers the drive torque, and gradually releases an application of the hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder.

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.

Abstract: A method for determining parameters for the viscosity or temperature of a brake fluid of a vehicle by way of a predetermined pressure build-up within time limits in at least one defined section of a brake circuit and for detecting a pressure in the said section and/or a time which is required for the build-up of the said pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides start-up assistance for a motor vehicle having braking equipment which, in the stationary state of the mo-or vehicle, automatically or under the control of a vehicle driver summons up braking forces needed for the stationary state. To assist start-up of the motor vehicle through a reduction of the braking forces generated in the stationary state, a start-up request of a vehicle driver is determined when defined conditions, which are to be met for start-up of the motor vehicle, exist in the stationary state. Once a start-up request has been recognized, the operating state of the motor vehicle is checked until an operating state required for start-up exists. Once such an operating state is reached, the braking equipment of the motor vehicle is controlled in such a way that its braking forces generated in the stationary state are reduced to allow start-up of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for controlling a braking equipment of a motor vehicle in order to activate the braking equipment at a standstill of the motor vehicle such that braking forces are built up which are necessary to keep the motor vehicle in a state of standstill. To this end it is established on the basis of vehicle movements whether the vehicle is at a standstill. If vehicle movements are detected that cannot occur during driving modes of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle is in a state of standstill. Subsequently, the braking equipment, and in particular a holding brake mechanism included in the braking equipment, are activated. In order to provide braking forces keeping the motor vehicle at a standstill also when it is on a slope, the braking equipment, and in particular the holding brake mechanism, are controlled in response of the vehicle inclination present in the state of standstill.

Abstract: An engine control system for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as driving force sources, for permitting stopping and starting of the engine in accordance with predetermined drive conditions. The system includes a booster for receiving a negative pressure supplied by an operation of the engine, a pressure detector for detecting a pressure supplied to the brake booster, a throttle-opening state detector for detecting a throttle opening state and an engine-operation enable/disable determining device for determining whether or not to operate the engine when the engine is stopped, based on the throttle opening state detected by the throttle-opening-state detector and the pressure detected by the pressure detector.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes a vehicle sensor to sense a vehicle condition, and a control unit to start a hill hold control to hold a vehicle in a stop state by a braking force produced by a brake actuator even after an end of the driver's braking operation, in accordance with a hill hold control start adjustment parameter determined from the sensed vehicle condition. The parameter may be a variable indicative of a gradient of a road.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for vehicles BU, in which plurality systems of individually separated brake fluid pressure passages BC(A), BC(B) are arranged, and each passage is provided with at least one brake fluid pressure retaining means RU(A), RU(B) for continuously retaining brake fluid pressure within a wheel cylinder WC(A), WC(B) arranged in the brake fluid pressure passage after a depression of a brake pedal BP is released and for releasing the retained brake fluid pressure in response to an increase of a starting driving force of the vehicle, wherein the release of the retained brake fluid pressure is carried out in a time differential manner at each brake fluid pressure retaining means.

Abstract: A device for limiting a rollback speed vvof a motor vehicle having means for detecting the rollback speed vv and means for acting upon a brake of the motor vehicle in response to reaching or exceeding a preadjustable limit speed vlimit, it being possible for the limit speed vlimit to be adjusted as a function of a quantity describing a tendency to tilt or a tilting behavior of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A system for regulating braking power in a braking system with self-acting brake intervention wherein the wheels at the front and rear axles are stopped in the event that the vehicle is parked. The braking power (BVA) at the wheels of the front axle is reduced during a steering operation, in order to reduce the steering power. At the same time, the braking power (BHA) at the rear axle of the vehicle is increased, in order to safely hold the vehicle in a parked position.

Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle brake (10) has a hydraulic chamber (16) which sealingly accommodates a brake piston (18) which can slide along an axis (A). The brake piston (18) acts upon a friction member and can be moved by means of hydraulic pressure which is supplied to the hydraulic chamber (16) into an actuating position in which it presses the friction member against a rotor (brake disk, brake drum, etc.). In order to be able to use the vehicle brake (10) besides its function as a hydraulic service brake also as a parking brake, a spindle/nut arrangement (24) is provided which is driven by an electric motor (42) and arranged coaxial to the axis (A) of the brake piston (18), the nut (30) of which arrangement (24) is secured against rotation, and by rotation of the spindle (26) as a function of the sense of rotation can either be moved into contact with the brake piston (18) or be moved away from the brake piston (18) translatorily along the axis (A).

Abstract: A method and a device for setting the braking action on the wheels of a motor vehicle is described where at least two wheels are arranged on a rear axle and two wheels are arranged on the front axle. A wheel quantity representing the stability of one wheel is formed at least as a function of the wheel slip. This wheel quantity (as a first comparison quantity) is compared with an appropriate threshold value (as a second comparison quantity). Depending on the result of this comparison, the braking action is set. A friction quantity representing the friction coefficient on one wheel or on several wheels of the rear axle is determined. Depending on this friction quantity describing the friction conditions on the rear wheels, at least one of the comparison values (friction value and/or threshold value) on one wheel or several wheels of the front axle is modified.

Abstract: A closed loop steer by wire control system has three main components, a steering wheel unit, a roadwheel unit, and a master control unit. Signals generated by sensors in the steering wheel unit and roadwheel unit are passed back to the master control unit for processing. These signals include tie-rod force signals, and a steering wheel position signal. The master control unit uses these signals to calculate a steering wheel reaction torque signal which is sent back to the steering wheel unit to provide the operator with tactile feedback, while roadwheel command signals are sent to roadwheel units to provide steering direction. An Ackerman correction unit is also used to correct the left and right roadwheel positions to track about a common center.

Abstract: An automatic retarder controller for a vehicle, which can prevent overheating, and can more precisely control the vehicle speed to remain constant. For this purpose, in the automatic retarder controller which is mounted on a load-carrying vehicle together with a cooled retarder (31) for exerting a braking force in response to a driving signal, and which automatically controls the driving signal so that the slope descending speed of the vehicle remains nearly constant, a detector for detecting the loading weight of the vehicle is included, and the controller impresses the gain corresponding to the detected loading weight upon the driving signal while the controller controls the vehicle speed to remain constant.

Abstract: When it is detected that a vehicle is running on a road surface which has a coefficient of friction sufficiently low as to invite ready road wheel slippage, a control which enables the vehicle to automatically follow a preceding vehicle at a predetermined inter-vehicle distance, is inhibited. In one embodiment, when a request for vehicle follow-up is issued by the driver, and the follow-up is inhibited, the driver is informed of the low frictional coefficient of the road and is required to issue a confirmation that follow-up is required before its implementation can be carried out.

Abstract: The processing for controlling brake systems, which can control the release time of the brake force in consideration of the gradient degree and the load and vehicle weight when the vehicle starts after a stop, so as to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward on the slope, comprising the steps of determining if conditions of a vehicle are suitable for entering a slope start control mode; determining if air pressure in air tanks are maintained over a predetermined pressure after entering the slope start control mode, when it has been determined that the conditions of the vehicle were suitable for the slope start control mode; maintaining brake force by controlling of solenoid valves without brake pedal operation, when it has been determined that the air pressure in the air tanks were maintained over the predetermined pressure; determining if conditions of doors and transmission gear position, clutch stroke, and acceleration pedal operation are suitable for the vehicle's start, while maintaining the brake

Abstract: A method for controlling the speed of an off-the-road vehicle traveling on a gradient permits a constant downhill speed to be maintained. The vehicle speed can be set to a constant descending speed by an electronic system through active braking intervention, without requiring actuation of the brake by the driver. The vehicle in which the method is practiced has several forward speeds and one reverse speed within a low-range traveling phase. The constant descending speed is dependent upon the position of the gas pedal and upon the currently engaged gear of the low-range traveling phase. The method for use in off-the-road vehicles is particularly advantageous for situations in which the braking action of the engine on steep gradients is no longer sufficient to decelerate the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a braking control system for controlling a braking force applied to each wheel of a vehicle. A steep slope detector GD is provided for determining whether the vehicle is on a steep slope, when the rear end of the vehicle is located downward. The wheel speeds of rear wheels RR, RL are held to be zero by a stop holding device SH which is adapted to supply the hydraulic braking pressure discharged from an auxiliary pressure source AS to the rear wheel brake cylinders RR, RL, when the steep slope detector GD determines that the vehicle is on the steep hill, with the rear end of the vehicle located downward, and a braking operation sensor BD detects the depression of the brake pedal BP, with the rear end of the vehicle located downward, and when it is determined that the wheel speeds of front wheels FR, FL are zero and that the wheel speeds of the rear wheels RR, RL are not zero.

Abstract: An automatic brake control system for a vehicle in which the brakes 16, 17 are controlled by a control unit 22 to limit vehicle speed when descending a hill is provided with an input from a sensor on the gear selector 28. The control unit has a vehicle speed characteristic associated with each gear, the characteristics relating vehicle speed as controlled by the brake system to the position of the accelerator pedal, and having a different minimum speed for each gear.

Abstract: A method operates a motor vehicle such as an off-road vehicle with a brake system in which wheels on the same axle can be braked independently of one another. Vehicle-movement-stabilizing braking interventions are performed automatically by the brake system. For at least one vehicle-movement dynamics characteristic variable which is indicative of the tendency of the vehicle to tilt about the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, an associated tilting-prevention threshold value is prescribed. The respective characteristic-variable instantaneous value is continuously acquired and compared with the tilting-prevention threshold value. The wheels which are on the outside during cornering are, for the purpose of preventing tilting, braked as soon as an associated characteristic-variable instantaneous value exceeds the associated tilting-prevention threshold value.

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

Abstract: A regenerative braking control system for an electric vehicle which can be driven by operating an electric motor with electric energy supplied from an electric energy supply source mounted on the vehicle. A control unit (7) is designed so that regenerative braking force of the electric motor (2) is controlled in accordance with an inclination detected by an inclination detecting unit (28). This has made it possible to provide the electric vehicle with improved drivability and running performance.

Abstract: A process for controlling the speed of a vehicle travelling on a slope is disclosed. The vehicle is equipped with an electronic system which, through active brake intervention, adjusts the speed of the vehicle to a predetermined constant hill descent speed upon actuation of a hill descent control mode. The process comprises generating in the electronic system a continuously variable desired speed, and upon actuation of said hill descent control mode, the desired speed is continuously adjusted until it is equal to the predetermined constant hill descent speed. While the desired speed is being adjusted, the vehicle speed is continuously adjusted through active brake intervention until it is equal to the desired speed, so that after a transition period, the vehicle speed is equal to the predetermined constant hill descent speed.

Abstract: A brake control system is comprised of a vehicle environment recognition device for obtaining vehicle environment including a road condition, an actuator for applying hydraulic pressure set at a target value to each wheel cylinder, and a controller for calculating the target value on the basis of the vehicle environment. The controller controls the wheel cylinder pressure by driving the actuator so as to adjusting the wheel cylinder pressure at the target value. Therefore, it becomes possible to ensure the same braking distance by the same depression degree of the brake even in various road conditions.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for adjusting the speed of a vehicle travelling on a gradient to a predetermined desired speed, wherein the vehicle is equipped with an ABS and/or ASR system, comprises determining the actual speed of the vehicle travelling on a gradient, determining a control deviation for the vehicle, the control deviation being the difference between the actual speed of the vehicle and the desired speed, and actively applying the brakes of the vehicle when the control deviation is greater than a predetermined amount. Only the brakes of the downhill axle are braked so long as the control deviation is less than a predetermined control deviation, or so long as the slip of the braked wheels are less than a predetermined slip. The brakes of the uphill axle are applied only if the predetermined control deviation is exceeded.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle has brakes (14, 16, 17) controlled by an electronic control unit (22) and a hydraulic control system (20). A switch (32) can be used to cause the control unit to enter a hill descent control mode. In this mode the control unit controls the speed of the vehicle by keeping it at or below a threshold level to achieve controlled descent of a hill without the need for the driver to apply the brakes.

Abstract: An antilock brake system (ABS) control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle, having a slope identifier for determining the drive status of the vehicle along a slope before an ABS control is started, and a controller that changes the usual ABS control to a control in which the ABS control is restricted on condition that the state of the drive along the slope has been decided, whereby the braking distance of the vehicle during the drive along the slope can be shortened.

Abstract: A control system for use with an electronically-controlled automatic transmission provides for accurate determination of a full stop of a vehicle. The control system includes a device for computing the vehicle speed on the basis of a signal from a vehicle speed sensor, a device for determining whether or not the brake pedal is depressed, a device for computing deceleration from a first predetermined vehicle speed to a second predetermined, extremely low vehicle speed when the brake has been determined to be depressed, and a device for determining an estimated vehicle stop time starting with detection of the extremely low vehicle speed and ending with full stop of the vehicle, the estimated vehicle stop time corresponding to the above-computed deceleration.