Antiskid, Antilock, Or Brake Slip Control Patents (Class 701/71)
  • Patent number: 8588997
    Abstract: A control circuit for operating the lights of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the rear lights of the vehicle are controlled by the control circuit. The control circuit illuminates two or more of the vehicle lights in a common pattern to indicate a specific vehicle operation. When the vehicle simultaneously performs two operations, the controller may transition the lights to illuminate in different patterns to clearly indicate the separate vehicle operations. The controller may further provide for adjusting the light intensity of one or more of the lights. The lights may be adjusted to have a similar intensity to prevent confusion when the different lights are used in combination to indicate a vehicle operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Custom Dynamics LLC
    Inventors: David T. Pribula, Jonathan Mahtaban
  • Patent number: 8589049
    Abstract: System and method for controlling vehicle operating characteristics. The method includes receiving, at a vehicle, global positioning system (GPS) data, and, based on the received GPS data, determining the vehicle's location. The method also identifies terrain map information associated with the vehicle's determined location and determines a terrain based on the terrain map information. The method then modifies one or more vehicle operating characteristics based on the determined terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: William C. Craig
  • Patent number: 8573709
    Abstract: In a braking control apparatus for an electric vehicle, a target braking torque command value calculation section calculates a target braking torque command value on a basis of at least one of a state of road wheels and a braking request by a vehicle driver, a frequency component decomposition section decomposes a target braking torque command value into a first frequency component lower than a resonance frequency of a drive train and a second frequency component equal to or higher than the first frequency component, and a braking force control section provides an electrical braking torque for road wheels on a basis of a motor torque command value corresponding to the first frequency component and provides a frictional braking torque for the road wheels on a basis of a frictional braking torque command value corresponding to the second frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Suzuki, Jun Kubo
  • Patent number: 8577588
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a seat defining a driver seat portion and a passenger seat portion, an electronic stability system, adapted to receive inputs from a load sensor, a wheel rotation sensor and a lateral acceleration sensor, the electronic stability system adapted to provide outputs to at least one of the brake system for braking the vehicle, and the engine control unit to change the power output transmitted to the wheels by the engine, the electronic stability system using a first calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a non-loaded state and a second calibration to determine the outputs when the load sensor is in a loaded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Inc.
    Inventor: Mario Dagenais
  • Patent number: 8560173
    Abstract: A control system in a straddle-type vehicle is provided. The control system includes front and rear wheels, comprises a load distribution changing section which changes a ground load distribution between the front and rear wheels during driving of the vehicle; a slip suppressing condition determiner section which determines whether or not a suppressing condition used to suppress a slip of one of the front and rear wheels is met, during driving of the vehicle; and a load distribution control section which controls the load distribution changing section to make the ground load of the one of the front and rear wheels greater when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is met, than when the slip suppressing condition determiner section determines that the suppressing condition is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshimoto Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8550570
    Abstract: A dump truck is provided with service brakes provided on front wheels, and a separating block that separates and outputs hydraulic oil into each of the service brakes. The separating block is offset in a vehicle width direction from an exhaust pipe that is arranged substantially in a middle of the dump truck in the vehicle width direction. Hydraulic lines that connect the separating block and each of the service brakes are arranged to pass through the middle of the dump truck in the vehicle width direction, and are installed in a row between the separating block and the middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8548707
    Abstract: In a braking system and a method for braking a vehicle having a hybrid drive, at least one wheel, preferably at least the wheels of one axle, is brakable by a regenerative brake and by a service brake. The braking system includes a vehicle stability control system, which ascertains state variables describing a driving dynamics of the vehicle, for which there exist threshold values and/or threshold value combinations. The vehicle stability control system is arranged such that when reaching, exceeding and/or undershooting one of the threshold values or one of the threshold value combinations a wheel-specific braking force control is effected. A predefined maximum regenerative braking force is determined on the basis of the state variables ascertained by the vehicle stability control system and the regenerative brake is controlled such that the regenerative braking force exerted on the at least one wheel does not exceed the determined predefined maximum regenerative braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Bastian Witte
  • Patent number: 8543301
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a slip detection section arranged to detect a slip of a driving wheel based on the rotation speed of the driving wheel and the vehicle speed, and an engine control section arranged and programmed to perform control to decrease the output of an engine when the slip of the driving wheel is detected by the slip detection section. When the automatic clutch is in a half clutch state and the slip of the driving wheel is detected, the engine control section executes neither ignition retarding control on an ignition device nor a fuel injection amount decreasing control on a fuel injection valve, and executes control to decrease an opening of a throttle valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kengo Minami
  • Patent number: 8543295
    Abstract: An electronically controlled speed limiting system for a turf maintenance machine includes at least one traction motor rotating a wheel. At least one hydraulic pump in fluid communication with the traction motor provides hydraulic fluid to operate the traction motor. At least one actuator in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump varies an output of the hydraulic pump. A controller in communication with the actuator commands the actuator to control the output of the hydraulic pump and thereby an operating speed of the wheel. A brake is activated by the controller if a wheel speed sensor signals the wheel is slip-spinning, to mitigate turf damage. A steering position sensor signal is used by the controller to modify brake activation during machine turns. An inclinometer signal is used by the controller to automatically reduce machine speed on inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Inventors: Christian Stanton Carver Bryant, Bryan E. Holby, Lynn G. Westbrook, Brian Melka
  • Publication number: 20130245907
    Abstract: A system and method for adjusting a yaw of an aircraft having an antilock braking system is disclosed. The antilock braking system includes a controller configured to receive a directional input from a rudder. The controller is further configured to deliver a braking output to at least one of a left wheel brake and a right wheel brake. A position of the rudder indicates a pilot's desired steering response, and to allow for braking optimization by the antilock braking system, the pilot depresses fully the left wheel brake pedal and the right wheel brake pedal. The controller receives the directional input after both the right wheel brake pedal and the left wheel brake pedal have been fully depressed. The controller then delivers the braking output and a pressure on one of the left wheel brake and the right wheel brake is reduced in accordance with the directional input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Gary E. McKay
  • Patent number: 8538653
    Abstract: Disclosed is a brake control apparatus which includes a brake booster for augmenting deceleration, and which addresses the problem in conventional brake control apparatuses that deceleration and pedal reaction force depend on driver brake pedal input, and thus the pedal response and the ride comfort from the feeling of deceleration are affected by the manner in which the brake pedal is actuated by the driver. The brake control apparatus comprises a pedal reaction force generation unit for generating a pedal reaction force on the brake pedal, and a brake control unit for controlling the brake force in such a way as to suppress driver brake input fluctuations, wherein the pedal reaction force generation unit suppresses pedal reaction force fluctuations in accordance with specific deceleration and pedal reaction force characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Miyajima, Masatsugu Arai, Toshiyuki Innami, Kimio Nishino, Norikazu Matsuzaki, Masayuki Kikawa, Makoto Yamakado
  • 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: 8538635
    Abstract: A vehicle speed estimator includes a unit that selects a minimum rotation speed among rotation speeds of wheels detected by a rotation speed detector and calculates a reference wheel speed of a construction vehicle at every predetermined time. The unit includes: a variable filter processor that performs a low-pass filter processing to the minimum rotation speed, the variable filter processor having a variable time constant; and a time constant changer that changes the time constant of the variable filter processor in accordance with travel conditions of the construction vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Uematsu, Kazuhiro Hatake, Azumi Nomura
  • Patent number: 8532896
    Abstract: A method of and system for detecting absolute acceleration along various axes relative to a desired movement vector while moving relative to a gravity source includes steps of determining a vertical acceleration, perpendicular to the desired movement vector and substantially anti-parallel to a gravitational acceleration due to the gravity source; determining a longitudinal acceleration, parallel to the desired movement vector and to output at vertical acceleration signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal; determining an inclination of the desired movement vector relative to the gravitational acceleration; and processing the vertical acceleration signal, the longitudinal acceleration signal, and the inclination signal to produce an absolute vertical acceleration signal and an absolute longitudinal acceleration signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Vision Works IP Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred S. Braunberger, Beau M. Braunberger
  • Patent number: 8532900
    Abstract: An accelerator pedal device for a vehicle, performing a pedal reaction force control method. The accelerator pedal device is provided with an engine speed detection unit that detects the engine speed (Ne) and a reaction force control unit that controls, on the basis of the engine speed (Ne), a pedal reaction force (Fr) applied by a reaction force application unit. The reaction force control unit limits the reduction ratio of the pedal reaction force (Fr) when the reduction ratio of the engine speed (Ne) is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Maruyama, Yutaka Horiuchi, Takashi Yanagi, Hiroaki Sasaki
  • 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: 8521390
    Abstract: Hydraulic brake system and method for controlling a hydraulic brake system for a land craft, in which a quantity of hydraulic fluid delivered to wheel brakes during pressure build-up phases in antilock braking mode is limited so that substantially no hydraulic fluid thereof can flow to a master cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Steven Keen, Josef Knechtges, Michael Schwarz, Thorsten Valder
  • Patent number: 8521389
    Abstract: Methods and valve arrangements for controlling the flow of pressurized air from a tractor to a trailer reservoir and to a trailer spring brake chamber. In one exemplary embodiment, pressurized air from a tractor is supplied from a tractor to the trailer reservoir and to the trailer spring brake in different filling modes based on a user input. In another exemplary embodiment, pressurized service air is used to charge or partially charge the trailer reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Travis G Ramler, Richard J. Conklin
  • Patent number: 8521384
    Abstract: A turf maintenance vehicle all-wheel drive traction control system includes a primary wheel propelling the vehicle. A first motor rotates the primary wheel. A traction control system has a first portion communicating with the first motor to monitor either a first motor current demand or a rotational speed of the primary wheel or the first motor and generates a traction control value. A secondary wheel rotated by a second motor steers the vehicle in a vehicle non-slip condition. A traction control system second portion determines a secondary wheel steering angle value. A speed threshold limit stored in the traction control system compared to the traction control value generates a slippage occurrence message indicative of a primary wheel traction loss event. A second motor drive signal created by comparing the steering angle value and the slippage occurrence message energizes the second motor during the traction loss event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Sean C. O'Connor, Gregory Merriweather, Harry L. Derby, V, Martin M. Carlson, Kenneth R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8504273
    Abstract: A process is provided for limiting a torque or an amount characteristic thereof of a control loop used for stabilizing a vehicle. A coefficient of friction is detected according to the process. The coefficient of friction is estimated by way of vehicle-internal quantities. As a function of the coefficient of friction, a limit value is determined for the torque or the amount characteristic thereof. The torque or the amount characteristic thereof will subsequently be limited to the limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Bonfigt, Ralf Pillmeier, Silvia Moradiellos Rios, Manfred Wachinger
  • Patent number: 8494727
    Abstract: In order to achieve a solution which assists a farmer in working land in a way which reduces the risk of soil compaction of the land there is, among others, a method of determining a work trajectory to be followed by an agricultural work vehicle. The method includes accessing a soil carry capacity map of an area of land to be worked by the agricultural work vehicle, receiving load data of the agricultural work vehicle so as to determine the agricultural work vehicle load and determining the work trajectory to be followed by the agricultural work vehicle. The work trajectory is determined by correlating the soil carry capacity map and the load data of the agricultural work vehicle, so as to optimize that the area to be worked with low carry capacity is worked with low agricultural work vehicle load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Aarhus Universitet
    Inventors: Ole Green, Dionysios D. Bochtis
  • Patent number: 8489265
    Abstract: A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a control system, a traction motor, and an engine includes generating an activation signal during a predetermined vehicle maneuver. The predetermined vehicle maneuver is a threshold hard braking maneuver on a surface having a low coefficient of friction. The method also includes processing the activation signal using the control system, and using the traction motor to command an injection or a passing of a feed-forward torque to the driveline of the vehicle. The feed-forward torque is in the same direction as the engine torque, and prevents a drive shaft of the engine from spinning in reverse during the maneuver. The method may include generating the activation signal in response to detecting an active state of the ABS controller. A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine, a traction motor, and a control system configured to execute the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Robert L. Morris, Pinaki Gupta, Gil J. Mendoza
  • Patent number: 8489299
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining a signal representing motor vehicle acceleration. The method involves obtaining a high pass filtered vehicle acceleration signal and a low pass filtered vehicle acceleration signal. One of these signals (preferably the high pass filtered signal) is obtained based upon the net driving force applied to the vehicle, which can be used to obtain an estimate of acceleration by means of an adoptive vehicle model (28). The other signal is obtained by measurement, for example by differentiating a measured vehicle speed signal with respect to time. Adding the two filtered signals together gives a vehicle acceleration signal of potentially good quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Torotrak (Development) Limited
    Inventor: Stephen William Murray
  • Patent number: 8482397
    Abstract: A deceleration-activated brake light system for a vehicle featuring a speed sensor, a brake sensor, a throttle sensor, and an engine brake switch; and a microcontroller operatively connected to a standard relay switch functioning to activate a standard brake light system of the vehicle, the microcontroller is configured to receive input signals from the sensors when the sensors detect deceleration of the vehicle more than a predetermined percent, coasting of the vehicle more than a predetermined amount of time, application of the brake pedal; or engagement of the auxiliary brake whereupon the microcontroller generates an output command to the relay to cause activation of the standard brake light system of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventor: Rex M. Tajiri
  • Patent number: 8478483
    Abstract: In an apparatus for detecting a skid occurred on a four-wheel drive vehicle having a prime mover and a transmission, an actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio between the rear right/left wheel speeds is calculated based on detected front and rear wheel rotational speeds, a front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving is calculated by retrieving characteristics of a front/rear wheel slip ratio set with respect to a rear right/left wheel speed ratio using the calculated actual rear right/left wheel speed ratio, an actual front/rear wheel slip ratio is calculated based on the detected front wheel rotational speed and the rear wheel rotational speed, and occurrence of skid is then determined based on a difference between the calculated front/rear wheel slip ratio during grip-driving and the calculated actual front/rear wheel slip ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Takemori, Masatoshi Noguchi, Yuzo Okubo
  • Publication number: 20130166166
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to tire localization in tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). In embodiments, a TPMS includes a wheel unit and a control unit. Each wheel unit collects acceleration data and transmits that data to the control unit for processing. The control unit processes the data and, using additional data received from another vehicle system, for example an antilock braking system (ABS) or electronic stability control (ESC) system, correlates the data in order to localize each wheel unit to a particular wheel of the vehicle. Advantages include increased processing power at the control unit as compared to the wheel unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Christoph Steiner, Ralf-Rainer Schledz
  • Patent number: 8473160
    Abstract: A steering operation force detection device for a steering wheel including a steering wheel rim having a right-side rim section and a left-side rim section. The device includes load cells that detect six component forces of the steering operation force acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section consisting of forces in three axial directions and moments about three axes. The device includes a steering angle detection sensor that detects a steering angle of the steering wheel, and an inertial force component correcting unit that derives an inertial force component acting on the right-side rim section and the left-side rim section due to rotation of the steering wheel, based on an amount of displacement of the steering angle detected by the steering angle detection sensor, and that corrects the component force detected by the load cells to eliminate an effect of the derived inertial force component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Kuramori
  • 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: 8463498
    Abstract: A method for controlling the side slip angle of a rear-wheel drive vehicle when turning; the control method provides for the steps of: detecting the position of an accelerator control which is displaced along a predetermined stroke; using a first initial part of the stroke of the accelerator control for directly controlling the generation of the drive torque so that the generated drive torque depends on the position of the accelerator control; and using a second final part of the stroke of the accelerator control to directly control a side slip angle of the vehicle when turning so that the side slip angle depends on the position of the accelerator control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Amedeo Visconti, Martino Cavanna
  • Publication number: 20130144500
    Abstract: Disclosed is a braking force distribution control device for a vehicle which has a braking apparatus capable of individually controlling braking forces of the wheels as required. Front or rear wheels having higher braking force sharing rate being referred to control reference wheels and the front or rear wheels having lower braking force sharing rate are referred to control object wheels. A difference value between braking slip index values of the left and right wheels of said control object wheels is referred to a reference difference value. A braking force distribution control is executed on the control object wheels so that the magnitude relationship in wheel speeds of the left and right wheels of the control object wheels is converse to that of the left and right wheels of the control reference wheels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventor: Yoshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8457855
    Abstract: An accelerator reaction force control apparatus has an accelerator position detecting device that detects an accelerator position and a reaction force varying device that varies a reaction force of an accelerator. The reaction force varying device increases the accelerator's reaction force beyond a base reaction force in response to the accelerator position being equal to or larger than a reaction force increase threshold, and decreases the accelerator's reaction force toward the base reaction force in response to the accelerator position becoming equal to or smaller than a reaction force increase cancellation threshold after the reaction force has been increased beyond the base reaction force. The reaction force varying device varies a reaction force decrease rate at which the accelerator's reaction force is decreased based on an accelerator position change condition existing at a time when the accelerator position becomes equal to or smaller than the reaction force increase cancellation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Sakaguchi, Masao Shiomi, Masahiro Omori
  • Publication number: 20130133965
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a vehicle having a drive wheel mechanically coupled to a drive shaft of a hybrid power train. The hybrid power train includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft. The internal combustion engine including a compression braking device. The system includes an electric generator selectively coupled to the drive shaft and coupled to an electrical storage device. The system includes a brake pedal position sensor that provides a braking request value. The system includes a controller configured to interpret the braking request value, a regenerative braking capacity, and a compression braking capacity. The controller is further configured to provide a regenerative braking command and a compression braking command in response to the braking request value, the regenerative braking capacity and the compression braking capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 8442735
    Abstract: In one example, a first vehicle traveling on a road is provided. The vehicle comprises a communication device coupled in the first vehicle configured to receive information transmitted by a second vehicle traveling on the road, the information identifying road surface conditions experience by the second vehicle; and a controller configured to adjust a vehicle operating parameter of the first vehicle in response to receiving the transmitted information from the second vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Davor Hrovat, Michael Fodor, Mitch McConnell
  • Patent number: 8442699
    Abstract: An integrated control system includes a main control system controlling a driving system, a main control system controlling a brake system, and a main control system controlling a steering system, an adviser unit generating and providing information to be used at each control system based on environmental information around the vehicle or information related to a driver, an agent unit generating and providing information to be used at each of the main control systems to cause the vehicle to realize a predetermined behavior, and a supporter unit generating and providing information to be used at each of the main control systems based on the current dynamic state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideki Takamatsu, Masanori Hirose, Hiroshi Mizuno, Yoshiyuki Hashimoto, Hirotada Otake
  • Patent number: 8437907
    Abstract: In a method for determining a roadway state (STATE) of a roadway on which a vehicle (10) is travelling which has at least one wheel (14) and an acceleration sensor (24) which is assigned to the wheel (14), in order to determine a vertical component of an acceleration of the wheel (14), a characteristic value which is representative of the roadway state (STATE) is determined as a function of a measured signal (AC_VERT) of the acceleration sensor (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Ning Bian, Celine Gamulescu, Andreas Mayer, Thomas Schweiger
  • Publication number: 20130103274
    Abstract: The description relates to a method and a device for controlling at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) of a vehicle (60). The method comprises the following steps: emitting light (11) of at least one wavelength onto a road surface (1a) under the vehicle (60), detecting light (21, 31) of the at least one wavelength reflected by the road surface (1a), acquiring at least one piece of information (100) on the nature of the road surface (1a) using the detected reflected light (21, 31) of the at least one wavelength, transmitting (200) the at least one piece of information on the nature of the road surface (1a) to the at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) and modifying (300) at least one parameter of the at least one driver assistance system (82, 84, 86, 88) such that the at least one driver assistance system reacts depending on the nature of the road surface (1a).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: WABCO GMBH
    Inventors: Hartmut Binder, Karsten Breuer, Thomas Dieckmann, Bijan Gerami-Manesch, Daniel Hanslik, Guido Hoffmann, Heiko Kopper, Dirk Sendkuhler
  • Patent number: 8428840
    Abstract: An exemplary method for controlling torque at one or more wheels of a vehicle, including controlling both positive torque (acceleration) and negative torque (braking) with a single torque command. According to one embodiment, the method interprets the acceleration and braking intent of the driver, takes into consideration certain special conditions (e.g., vehicle dynamic conditions like wheel slip, over- and under-steer, etc.), and generates one or more individual torque commands that are sent to individual wheels or corners of the vehicle. The individual torque commands may address certain chassis and powertrain functions like acceleration and braking, and may provide full-feature torque control (i.e., acceleration, braking, vehicle dynamics, etc.) on an individual wheel basis. It is also possible for the method to be used in a system where a number of the common chassis, powertrain and/or vehicle dynamic modules have been integrated into a single torque control module or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. O'Dea, John F. Larsen, Edmund F. Gaffney, III, James Heath Holbrook, Benjamin A. C. Beacock, Sisira D. Adikari
  • Publication number: 20130085650
    Abstract: A vehicle brake control system includes a regenerative braking control component, a frictional braking control component, a calculating component and a controlling component. The regenerative braking control component controls a regenerative braking device to provide a regenerative braking torque. The frictional braking control component controls a frictional braking device to provide a frictional braking torque. The calculating component calculates a regenerative braking torque filter processing value based on a fluctuation frequency of the regenerative braking torque. The controlling component, during a first condition, operates a motorized power assist control device based on the regenerative braking torque filter processing value, instead of the regenerative braking torque, to moderate the frictional braking torque, such that the regenerative braking torque and the moderated frictional braking torque provide a target braking torque based on a braking operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kensuke Nakamura, Noriaki Fujiki, Keigo Ajiro
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130080014
    Abstract: A method and device for operating a brake-slip regulating arrangement of a vehicle brake system in various operating modes, in accordance with driving conditions, including: activating, in an on-road operating mode, the arrangement on at least one rear axle and one front axle, even in the off-road operating mode, the arrangement continues to operate on at least one rear axle of the vehicle until the brake slip on at least one wheel of a front axle is less than or equal to a specified brake-slip limit; if the specified brake-slip limit is exceeded by the brake slip on the at least one wheel of the front axle, putting the arrangement out of operation on the rear axle and is not put into operation again until the brake slip on the at least one wheel of the front axle is again less than or equal to the specified brake-slip limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Gerhard Wieder, Adnan Mustapha
  • Publication number: 20130073164
    Abstract: A method for avoiding reducing scoring of the brake disc or the brake drum of a vehicle driven under rainy conditions calculates a product of three parameters, and activates an automatic braking operation for the vehicle, regularly, whenever the product exceeds the pre-determined threshold level. The first parameter is a rain intensity based parameter, a measure of the current raining intensity. The second parameter is a brake-activation-free driving time parameter, representing the time elapsed since the braking system of the vehicle was activated last. The third parameter is a speed parameter, which represents a current speed of the vehicle. As the automatic braking operation is carried out, the particles of dust, water, snow and de-icing substances, adhered to the brake disc of the vehicle, and causing scoring of the brake disc, are quickly removed, thus, reducing disc scoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130035836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for automatically preventing aquaplaning during the driving operation of a motor vehicle on a route, which method provides according to the invention that a) information relating to a section of the route and regarding the risk of aquaplaning is provided in the motor vehicle, b) at least one sensor device for determining a wet pavement is provided, and c) an assistance function for preventing aquaplaning is carried out if there is a section of the route having a risk of aquaplaning and if a wet pavement is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicants: CONTINENTAL TEVES AG & CO OHG, CONTI TEMIC MICROELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Wilfried Mehr, Matthias Strauss, Alfred Eckert
  • Patent number: 8370040
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device has a engine that controls an engine based on a driving target controlled variable; a brake that controls a brake device based on a braking target controlled variable; and a automatic travel control that calculates the driving target controlled variable and/or braking target controlled variable so that a vehicle speed of a vehicle becomes a target vehicle speed, and outputs the driving target controlled variable to the engine and the braking target controlled variable to the brake, the vehicle travel control device being configured such that, upon detection of an acceleration operation during the vehicle travel control, the automatic travel control calculates a target vehicle speed for vehicle travel control by the brake device, so that the target vehicle speed becomes higher than a current vehicle speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gen Inoue, Yasuhito Ishida
  • Patent number: 8359147
    Abstract: A wheel speed transducer including a magnetic device associated with a wheel and a sensor device associated with the axle of the wheel provides data indicative of the velocity of the wheel. A processor located at the axle receives the wheel speed data and processes it to perform antiskid control functions. The velocity data is stored in a data concentrator also associated with the axle. A tire pressure sensor, a brake temperature sensor and a brake torque sensor, each associated with the wheel, send data to the processor at the axle, for storage in the data concentrator. A transmitting antenna associated with the axle and in communication with the data concentrator transmits stored data to a receiving antenna associated with the wheel. A data port at the wheel and in communication with the receiving antenna provides an interface to an external device for receiving the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.
    Inventors: John Gowan, Gary DeVlieg
  • Patent number: 8355844
    Abstract: The vehicle motion control apparatus includes a control unit 37A and sensors 2, 3, 4, 30, 31, 32, 33, etc. The actual state quantity obtaining unit 52 calculates a vehicle body actual slip angle ?z_act, etc. The reference dynamic-characteristic model calculating unit 54 calculates a reference vehicle body slip angle ?z_d, etc. by using a dynamic characteristic model. The vehicle motion control apparatus also includes a first anti-spin target yaw moment FB unit 68 which calculates a first anti-spin•target yaw moment Mc1_asp based on the vehicle body actual slip angle ?z_act and a second anti-spin target yaw moment FB unit 82 which calculates a second anti-spin•target yaw moment Mc2_asp based on a lateral acceleration Gs, a vehicle speed Vact and an actual yaw rate ?act.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Mori, Yuuji Sakaki, Noriaki Suzuki, Teppei Komori, Hisanori Yanagida
  • Patent number: 8352142
    Abstract: A brake control apparatus includes: a master cylinder; a wheel cylinder; a hydraulic pressure source; a control valve arranged to increase or reduce the pressure of the wheel cylinder; an outside gate valve arranged to connect or disconnect between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder; a brake operation sensing section configured to sense a driver's brake operation; and a control unit configured to control the hydraulic pressure source, the control valve, and the outside gate valve, to perform an automatic-brake pressure-increasing control to control the outside gate valve in a valve closing direction, to drive the hydraulic pressure source, and thereby to increase the pressure of the wheel cylinder in accordance with a vehicle condition, and to increase a driving quantity of the hydraulic pressure source when the brake operation is sensed during the automatic-brake pressure-increasing control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Nishida
  • Patent number: 8340881
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for assessing movement of a vehicle having a plurality of wheels. A plurality of wheel direction values are obtained. Each of the wheel direction values pertains to a direction of wheel rotation of a respective wheel. An average value of the wheel direction values is calculated. A direction of movement of the vehicle is obtained via a controller using the average value. In addition, a signed velocity is determined for and indicative of both forward and reverse motions using the wheel direction values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Kevin A. O'Dea, Hualin Tan
  • Patent number: 8340865
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle wheel spin control apparatus that, when it is determined that a wheel spin occurs, reduces engine torque to prevent the wheel spin, including: detecting driving control information and information on the state of a vehicle and determining whether basic conditions required to perform engine torque limit control to prevent the wheel spin are satisfied; when the basic conditions are satisfied, calculating a speed variation and the speed gradient value, and comparing the speed gradient value with a predetermined speed gradient value to determine whether a spin occurs; when it is determined that the spin occurs, using a torque gradient map set according to the current engine torque to perform the engine torque limit control; and when the vehicle speed is reduced by the engine torque limit control and cancellation conditions are satisfied, canceling the engine torque limit control and returning to normal control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyungsoo Lee
  • Publication number: 20120316731
    Abstract: A method of controlling a brake system comprises monitoring vehicle information with an electronic control unit. An algorithm is performed to detect the presence of a mini-spare tire assembly. A yaw offset value is pre-determined by the electronic control unit when a mini-spare tire assembly is detected at one of the steerable tire assembly locations. The yaw offset is then applied upon detection of a brake event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Allen Harrison, Kurt Myers Branson, Justin Audley Ruediger
  • Patent number: 8332111
    Abstract: A method for controlling a driveline having a transmission clutch includes locking the clutch before a driveline lash crossing occurs; maintaining a locked clutch during the lash crossing; after the lash crossing occurs, increasing a clutch capacity at a slower rate than a driveline twist torque rate; and after the lash crossing occurs, producing clutch slip by controlling engine torque and clutch capacity such that engine torque exceeds clutch capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander P. McDonnell, Terry G. Feldpausch, Bradley D. Riedle, Jeffrey A. Doering, Peter D. Kuechler, John E. Rollinger, David H. Schmitt