During Cornering Or Turning Of Vehicle Patents (Class 701/72)
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Publication number: 20090088939Abstract: A method of determining the location information of a plurality of wheels mounted on a vehicle by obtaining a relationship between the lateral location of a wheel and the polarity of a transverse acceleration transmitted by an accelerometer of a wheel in response to a lateral turn of the vehicle in a direction of a lateral side of the vehicle and determining the lateral location of a wheel with reference to the polarity of the transverse acceleration signal transmitted by the accelerometer of the wheel upon the vehicle undergoing a lateral turn.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Co. Ltd.Inventors: Kwan Wai To, Lap-Wai Lydia Leung, Ziyang Gao, Man Lung Sham, Chang Hwa Chung
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Patent number: 7512475Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for enabling a vehicle having adaptive cruise control to reduce its speed in a turn according to the vehicle's position within the turn as well as ignoring objects detected during the turn that are not in the vehicle's path. The method of the present invention includes the steps of operating the vehicle in an adaptive cruise control mode such that the vehicle is traveling at a set speed; determining whether the vehicle is in a turn in the vehicle's path by detecting change in the vehicle's lateral acceleration; and when the vehicle is determined to be in the turn, reducing the vehicle's speed according to the vehicle's position in the turn, monitoring for objects and maintaining the vehicle's speed if an object is positioned out of the path of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Perisho, Jr., Jeremy S. Greene
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Patent number: 7502676Abstract: An SAT estimator 16 estimates the SAT generated between the road surface and the tire. A slip angle arithmetic unit 18 estimates the front wheel slip angle. A lateral force detector 180 computes the lateral force generated in the wheels. An SAT model value arithmetic unit 22 computes the SAT model value from the slip angle estimate and the lateral force value. A front-rear direction quantity-of-state arithmetic unit 240 computes the front-rear direction quantity of state generated in the wheels. A grip level estimator 26 estimates the grip level from the SAT estimated by the SAT estimator 16, the SAT model value computed by the SAT model value arithmetic unit 22, and the front-rear direction quantity of state estimated by the front-rear direction quantity-of-state arithmetic unit 240.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2005Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventors: Eiichi Ono, Ken Koibuchi, Kenji Asano
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Patent number: 7499786Abstract: A system and a method for determining when to update a surface estimation value indicative of a condition of a roadway surface are provided. The method includes determining a front axle cornering force error value based on a predicted front axle cornering force value and a first front axle cornering force value. The method further includes determining a threshold yaw rate error value based on the front axle cornering force error value. The method further includes indicating that the surface estimation value is to be updated when a yaw rate error value is greater than the threshold yaw rate error value.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2006Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kevin A. O'Dea, Aleksander B. Hac, Todd A. Belvo
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Patent number: 7499780Abstract: A control apparatus of an electric power steering apparatus is provided in which a nonlinear element of a motor model of-the electric power steering apparatus is compensated beforehand to linearize the motor model and the back electromotive force of the motor is computed to compensate the back electromotive force for a control loop, and conduct back electromotive force compensation with no lag in order to realize a control apparatus of an electric power steering apparatus with less control error, stable controllability, small motor output torque ripple, good wheel steering feeling, and less motor noise.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 3, 2009Assignees: NSK Ltd., NSK Steering Systems Co., Ltd.Inventors: CaoMinh Ta, ChunHao Jiang, Shuji Endo
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Patent number: 7493204Abstract: There is provided a method for detecting the possibility of rollover of a vehicle, including the steps of: detecting an actual roll angular velocity of the vehicle; obtaining an actual roll angle of the vehicle; determining an actual lateral acceleration of the vehicle; providing a two-dimensional map correlating values of the roll angular velocity with values of the roll angle to define a rollover judgment threshold; changing the threshold based on the actual roll angle and the actual lateral acceleration; forming a plot of the actual roll angular velocity versus the actual roll angle on the two-dimensional map; and judging that there is a possibility that the vehicle rolls over when the plot exceeds the threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ryuji Yano
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Publication number: 20090018741Abstract: A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Takami MIURA, Kaoru Sawase, Takao Matsui, Yuichi Ushiroda, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki
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Publication number: 20090018742Abstract: A device operable to control a turning of a vehicle, includes: a motion controller operable to: control a first adjuster so as to increase a drive force applied to at least one of front wheels and rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning, and control a second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning; and control the first adjuster so as to increase the drive force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an outer side of the turning, and control the second adjuster so as to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the front wheels and the rear wheels situated in an inner side of the turning.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2008Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventors: Takami MIURA, Kaoru Sawase, Takao Matusui, Yuichi Ushiroda, Naoki Takahashi, Keiji Suzuki
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Patent number: 7464796Abstract: The system and method for monitoring wear of one or more aircraft parts, such as an aircraft brake, an aircraft tire, a standby system, and landing gear. One or more sensors are provided for sensing a parameter of usage, and an estimate of usage of the part can be determined based upon the signal indicating the sensed value of the parameter of usage of the aircraft part. A plurality of sensors can be provided for sensing usage of a plurality of parts of the aircraft, and the estimate of usage of the part can be stored for access of the estimate by ground personnel. As applied to monitoring wear of an aircraft brake, a linear brake wear indicator attached to the brake moves a discrete distance when the brake is actuated, and a linear position encoder measures the distance travelled by the linear brake wear indicator as an indication of brake usage.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2007Date of Patent: December 16, 2008Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc.Inventor: Garrett H. Devlieg
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Patent number: 7463963Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: December 9, 2008Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takuya Higuchi
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Patent number: 7447577Abstract: A curve's radius of a road on which a vehicle shall run is estimated based on actual speed, yaw rate, and steering angle of the vehicle. Accordingly, during a transition state of the vehicle, the curve's radius can be estimated with the actual yaw rate taking into account the actual steering angle that can reflect more accurately turning behavior of the vehicle than the actual yaw rate. Therefore, errors in the estimation of the curve's radius due to response delay of the actual yaw rate can be easily reduced even though the yaw rate is used for such estimation.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2003Date of Patent: November 4, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Akira Hattori, Minoru Saeki
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Patent number: 7444261Abstract: An ECU executes a program that includes the steps of setting a vehicle speed to the minimum wheel speed among wheel speeds of four wheels of a vehicle; calculating a difference between the wheel speeds of right and left driven wheels; turning an abnormality flag on when a higher wheel speed is higher than a value obtained by multiplaying a lower wheel speed by ?; and determining that the vehicle is turning, and turning a turning flag on, when the abnormality flag is off, a predetermined time has not elapsed after the turning flag is turned on, and the difference between the wheel speeds is equal to or larger than a map value obtained using a map where a vehicle speed is used as a parameter.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Ichiro Kitaori, Masami Kondo, Naoto Moriya, Masato Kaigawa
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Patent number: 7444214Abstract: An obstacle detection apparatus and method which can detect the state of an obstacle according to a signal generated when the obstacle detection apparatus collides with the obstacle and a change in the posture of the obstacle detection apparatus caused due to the collision with the obstacle. The obstacle detection apparatus includes a main body which can be moved along the surface of the ground, a movement amount determination module which determines whether the amount of movement of the main body is outside a predefined threshold range, a posture determination module which determines the changed posture of the main body with respect to the surface of the ground according to the amount of movement of the main body, and a state determination module which determines the state of an obstacle based on the results of determination of the movement amount determination module or the posture determination module.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Woo-jong Cho, Dong-yoon Kim, Seong-il Cho, Sung-mun Cho
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Patent number: 7421890Abstract: A tire HIL simulator is provided which is capable of, in a testing apparatus where a vehicle model is incorporated into a tire testing apparatus, reproducing the behavior of a tire which corresponds to the three-dimensional behavior of a vehicle, even if a three-dimensional vehicle model is used. As a device for resolving this, this tire HIL simulator includes a tire testing apparatus 2 and a controller 3 connected mutually. The tire testing apparatus 2 conducts a running test on a tire 4a using a mimic road surface body 4, and includes a side force measuring device 37 for measuring a tire side force and each actuator which gives a contact load, a side-slip angle and a camber angle, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2005Date of Patent: September 9, 2008Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho, The University of TokyoInventors: Etsujiro Imanishi, Koichi Honke, Akira Tsutsui, Naoki Sugano, Takao Nanjo, Yoshihiro Suda
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Publication number: 20080195290Abstract: A method is provided for efficiently decelerating a vehicle having a braking circuit for braking a set of brake actuators. A flow of pressurized brake fluid is generated within the braking circuit. Normal force parameters exerted on each wheel of the braking circuit are determined. At least one respective brake actuator is isolated from receiving pressurized brake fluid for increasing the flow of pressurized brake fluid to a non-isolated wheel of the brake circuit in response to the normal force parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2005Publication date: August 14, 2008Inventor: Arnie Spieker
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Patent number: 7400963Abstract: A vehicle curve speed control system (10) adapted for use with a vehicle (12) having an operator (14), includes a map database (16) representing a current vehicle path, and a locator device (20) communicatively coupled to the database (16) and configured to determine the location of the vehicle (12) on the path. The system (10) further includes a controller (36) configured to identify approaching curve points of a curve (18a) in terms of curvature or radius, and determine a desired speed profile based on operator preference and/or vehicle characteristic input. An acceleration profile is determined, based on the current vehicle speed, and desired speed profile. An acceleration/deceleration command at the present control loop is modified towards achieving an optimal curve speed, and is delivered to either a brake or acceleration module (40,42) to automatically accelerate or decelerate the vehicle (12) accordingly.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2005Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Yong H. Lee, Weiwen Deng
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Patent number: 7392875Abstract: To provide a four-wheel drive system which improves running performance of an automotive vehicle by inhibiting a driving torque from becoming insufficient upon occurrence of a slip. An R slip sensing means of a DC motor torque calculating means senses a slip due to a spin of rear wheels. When the rear wheel slip is sensed, an R slip DC-motor-torque correcting means corrects a torque of the rear wheels so that a driving force of the rear wheels is reduced and then increased. The R slip DC-motor-torque correcting means reduces a driving torque of the rear wheels to eliminate the slip and holds the reduced driving torque until the slip is eliminated, and then increases the driving torque to a value lower than a value which the driving torque has taken at the time of occurrence of the slip. The driving torque is increased to a predetermined limit value depending on the number of slips.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventor: Norikazu Matsuzaki
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Patent number: 7392116Abstract: A method for operating a chassis regulating system of a vehicle, in which a control quantity is generated for an actuator, includes providing a first signal, which is representative of the transverse acceleration of the vehicle, providing a second signal, which is representative of the steering lock angle, providing a third signal, which is representative of the speed of the vehicle, allocating a weighting factor for the amplitude of the first signal, generating an estimated transverse acceleration signal from the second signal and the third signal, generating a weighted estimation signal by multiplying the estimated transverse acceleration signal with the weighting factor, and generating the control quantity by additive superimposing of the weighted estimation signal with the first signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2004Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbHInventor: Dirk Kesselgruber
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Patent number: 7392127Abstract: The vehicle motion control device of the invention utilizes that the detected lateral acceleration Gyd based upon the output from the lateral acceleration sensor takes a value obtained by adding a value corresponding to the roll angle to the actual lateral acceleration based upon the centrifugal force exerted on the vehicle and that the actual lateral acceleration can accurately be calculated and estimated, as the estimated lateral acceleration Gye, based upon the output from the yaw rate sensor, whereby this device judges that there is a tendency in which an excessive roll angle occurs on the vehicle to thereby execute the predetermined roll-over preventing control, when the increasing speed of the detected lateral acceleration Gyd exceeds the first predetermined value and the increasing speed of the estimated lateral acceleration Gye becomes smaller than the second predetermined value (<first predetermined value), i.e.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2004Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Kato, Junya Nagaya, Shinji Tsugawa
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Patent number: 7386379Abstract: A method and system providing coordinated torque control and speed control of a vehicle equipped with individual wheel motors, a steering system, and yaw-rate detection to achieve a desired yaw moment for the vehicle, based upon operator input and vehicle operation, is described. This includes determining a commanded steering angle, and a yaw-rate error, based upon the commanded steering angle and detected yaw-rate. A desired wheel motor yaw torque moment is calculated. First and second torque moments are calculated for inner and outer motored wheels, based upon the desired wheel motor yaw torque moment. First and second ideal wheel speeds are calculated for the inner and outer motored wheels, based upon the commanded steering angle. Torque and speed at each inner motored wheel and each outer motored wheel are calculated, based upon the yaw-rate error, the first and second torque moments, and the first and second ideal wheel speeds.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2005Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.Inventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Mutasim A. Salman
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Patent number: 7364196Abstract: When feedback control is carried out to ensure that the drive torque of an electric motor for driving each wheel of a vehicle should be equal to a motor torque instruction value, micro-vibration is applied to each tire by superposing a micro-vibration signal to a drive signal for the above electric motor to change the slip ratio-friction characteristics themselves of the tire to control friction force between the tire and the surface of a road, thereby controlling the running performance of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha BridgestoneInventors: Keizo Akutagawa, Hiroki Sawada
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Patent number: 7353098Abstract: The invention provides a roll-over suppressing control apparatus for a vehicle which can suppress overturning of the vehicle while securing the traveling performance of the vehicle through appropriate slowing down control.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus CorporationInventor: Kunio Sakata
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Patent number: 7349775Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 25, 2008Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
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Patent number: 7337873Abstract: A steering control apparatus is provided for controlling a steered wheel angle of a wheel to be steered. On the basis of a road coefficient of friction estimated between right and left wheels, a braking force difference between the right and left wheels is calculated. A slip angle—total lateral force characteristic indicative of a relationship between a slip angle and a total lateral force of a wheel to be steered is provided on the basis of the estimated coefficient of friction. Then, a steered wheel angle of the wheel to be steered is set on the basis of the braking force difference and the slip angle—total lateral force characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2005Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Toyoda Koki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroaki Aizawa, Hiroaki Niino, Minekazu Momiyama, Hiroaki Kato
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Publication number: 20080015764Abstract: A lateral G sensor breakdown detection device configured to carry out a breakdown determination control that determines that the lateral G sensor has a breakdown when the difference between the actual lateral G acting on a four wheel drive vehicle measured by the lateral G detection sensor installed on the vehicle and the estimated lateral G estimated and calculated from predetermined parameters that express the condition of the vehicle; while the vehicle is turning when the rotation speed of the outer wheel is equal to or less than the rotation speed of the inner wheel and when the actual lateral G is less than the estimated lateral G and the difference is greater than a predetermined value, the breakdown determination control is suspended.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventor: Satoki Watanabe
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Patent number: 7316457Abstract: A motion control apparatus for a four-wheel drive vehicle performs over-steer suppressing control when the vehicle is in an over-steer state so as to apply a braking force to a front wheel located on the outer side of a turning locus without lowering engine output, and performs LSD control for the front/rear wheels when the obtained difference between wheel speeds of the left and right wheels exceeds an allowable limit so as to apply a braking force for suppressing idle rotation to the one of the left and right wheels that is of higher wheel speed. During execution of the over-steer suppression control, the braking force for suppressing front-wheel idle rotation to be imparted to the front wheel located on the inner side of the turning locus by means of the front-wheel-side LSD control is lowered, whereby the rear wheels become unlikely to produce excessive idle rotation.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2005Date of Patent: January 8, 2008Assignees: Advics Co., Ltd., Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masahiko Taniguchi, Koji Tanimoto, Yoshiyuki Tanaka, Jun-ichi Kurosawa
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Patent number: 7315777Abstract: A target resultant force to be applied to a vehicle body is calculated, the magnitude of a critical friction circle of each wheel is estimated, and a critical resultant force is estimated from the estimated magnitude of the critical friction circle. Subsequently, a ratio of the target resultant force to a critical resultant force is set as an effective road friction, and the magnitude of a tire force is set by using the magnitude of the critical friction circle and the effective road friction. The direction of the tire force of each wheel to be controlled is set based on the sum of products, which are calculated for all other wheels, of a distance from the position of the wheel to be controlled to the position of the other wheel in a direction of the resultant force, and the magnitude of the tire force of the other wheel. Cooperative control of steering and braking or steering and driving of each wheel to be controlled is performed based on the magnitude and direction of the tire force which have been set.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo KenkyushoInventor: Eiichi Ono
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Patent number: 7305292Abstract: Described is a device for stabilizing a vehicle in critical driving situations, including a vehicle dynamics control system having a control unit, including a vehicle dynamics control algorithm, and at least one actuator and an additional vehicle stability system having an associated actuator. Vehicle dynamics control may be executed in a particularly simple and trouble-free manner when the vehicle dynamics control algorithm is retrofitted with a distribution function which derives an actuating request for an actuator of the vehicle dynamics control system as well as an actuating request for at least one actuator of the vehicle stability system from a controller output variable.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2005Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Herbert Lohner, Ansgar Traechtler, Sylvia Futterer, Armin Verhagen, Karlheinz Frese, Manfred Gerdes, Martin Sackmann, Dietmar Martini
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Patent number: 7302332Abstract: A method for stabilizing a vehicle combination composed of a towing vehicle and a trailer or semitrailer, in which when a snaking motion of the trailer or semitrailer is detected, braking interventions are implemented for damping the snaking motion, in which symmetrical braking interventions are implemented first, and asymmetrical braking interventions are implemented if the desired subsidence behavior of the snaking motion is not achieved through the symmetrical braking interventions.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2004Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Gero Nenninger
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Patent number: 7274982Abstract: A vehicle motion control system is provided. In a first state requiring understeer suppressing control, a controller determines, based on a yaw rate deviation, a first control amount of an actuator selected so as to generate an inward turning moment a vehicle. In a second state requiring spin suppressing control, the controller determines, based on the sideways slip angular velocity, a second control amount of an actuator selected so as to generate an outward turning moment in the vehicle. When the first and second states are concurrent, the controller selects an actuator to be controlled by the larger of the absolute values of first and second cooperative control amounts, and determines a control amount of the selected actuator as the sum of the first and second cooperative control amounts. Accordingly, the understeer suppressing control and the spin suppressing control can be performed in parallel, improving control performance.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoto Ohkubo, Osamu Yamamoto, Yuki Ito, Hiromi Inagaki
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Publication number: 20070219700Abstract: A curving tendency detection device is provided to detecting a curving tendency (curving frequency and amount of curvature) in a vehicle roadway or a vehicle running state (behavior). Basically, the curving tendency detection device has a lateral acceleration differential value calculation section and a curving tendency estimation section. The lateral acceleration differential value calculation section calculates vehicle lateral acceleration differential values of a vehicle lateral acceleration acting on a vehicle as the vehicle lateral acceleration varies over time. The curving tendency estimation section estimates the curving tendency based on the vehicle lateral acceleration differential value calculated by the lateral acceleration differential value calculation section. Thus, the curving can be reliably detected by effectively avoiding a false curving tendency in cases in which the left and right wheels have different effective diameters, or the vehicle is driving straight along a laterally tilted road.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Akihiro MAKIYAMA
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Patent number: 7269494Abstract: A method of estimating the slope of a road surface on which is positioned a motor vehicle. The slope is determined by measuring the velocity and longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle by means of a mathematical model based on the relation Ax={dot over (?)}+g sin ?, where Ax is longitudinal acceleration, {dot over (?)} indicates the component of longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle along the road surface, g is the gravitational acceleration, and ? represents the angle of inclination of the road surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2006Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Emanuel Corigliano, Pandeli Borodani
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Publication number: 20070208483Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized vehicle including monitoring a movement characteristic and a stability criterion of a vehicle, sensing a change in the movement characteristic of the vehicle, and if the stability criterion and the change in the movement characteristic are above respective predefined values, causing a change in the velocity of the vehicle so that the stability criterion is no longer above the predefined value. Alternatively, an indication may be made to a rider of the vehicle if the stability criterion and the change in the movement characteristic are above respective predefined values, so that the rider can take action to stabilize the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2006Publication date: September 6, 2007Inventor: Amihud Rabin
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Patent number: 7252346Abstract: In brake control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a cornering stability control section is configured to start a provision of the braking force for the vehicle when a cornering limit estimating section estimates that a cornering state variable of the vehicle (Vp) is in excess of the braking operation threshold value (kVLp) after the predetermined delay time (?t) is elapsed from a present time.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takuya Higuchi
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Patent number: 7246864Abstract: A hydraulic pressure regulating device is disposed between a master cylinder and a pair of wheel cylinders included in each of a dual hydraulic circuit. A desired value is provided for a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a wheel to be controlled, on the basis of state variable monitored by a monitor. The desired value for at least one wheel cylinder in a hydraulic circuit including the wheel cylinder for the wheel to be controlled, is modified at least in response to operation of a brake pedal to provide a modified desired value. When the brake pedal is operated, the regulating device is controlled in response to a result of comparison between the modified desired value and the state variable, to regulate the pressure in at least one wheel cylinder included in the hydraulic circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2004Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toshihisa Kato, Shingo Nishigaki
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Patent number: 7239952Abstract: A system that detects a lateral acceleration and roll rate of the vehicle and estimates a mass distribution parameter. The system then generates a tuned mass distribution parameter that is based on the the lateral acceleration, the roll rate, and the mass distribution parameter and introduces the tuned mass distribution parameter to a rollover stability control system.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2004Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Assignee: Continental Teves, Inc.Inventor: Geoffrey Burke Bauer
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Patent number: 7227454Abstract: To provide a device associated with at least one means of transport, in particular at least one motor vehicle, for the detection, in particular intuitive detection, of the operating and/or system states of at least one assistance/support system for the lateral guidance of the means of transport, in which the acceptance of the assistance/support system is increased, for example in such a way that the response of the system may be readily assessed at any time by the driver of the means of transport, at least one display element is provided for displaying the particular operating and/or system state.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 5, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Goetz Braeuchle, Martin Heinebrodt, Juergen Boecker
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Patent number: 7200479Abstract: A method of guiding a multitrack vehicle on a curved path which is defined by the vehicle driver by way of a set steering angle or the like, a curved-path signal representing this desired curved path being guided in a form appropriately revised by an electronic control unit to a steering actuator influencing the steering angle of at least one steerable vehicle wheel is provided. The curved-path signal formed of the set steering angle and of the vehicle speed and, in particular, representing the yaw rate can be used in the sense of a pilot control not only for the appropriate controlling of the steering actuator but also for the appropriate change of the longitudinal force at the wheels of at least one vehicle side, so that, in addition to or instead of the setting of the steering angle, in addition or by itself, a longitudinal force can be applied to at least one vehicle wheel in order to travel the desired curved path.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Hendrikus Smakman, Ottmar-Ralf Orend
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Patent number: 7197380Abstract: System for controlling the stability of a vehicle, the system comprising means for imparting a longitudinal force on the tire and means for calculating the slip parameter GOpt at each activation of the means for imparting a longitudinal force on the tire in the following manner: determining coefficients A[avg/p] by direct calculation or by an appropriate regression, from a sufficient number of pairs (?i, Gi), so as to model a first curve of variation ?i=f(Gi, A[avg/p]) including the origin, and the pair or pairs (?i, Gi), in which ?i is different from zero, determining an indicator of the average slope ?1 of the first variation curve, determining coefficients B[avg/p] by direct calculation or by an appropriate regression, from a sufficient number of pairs (?i, Gi), so as to model a second variation curve, free not to pass through the origin, ?i=f(Gi, B[avg/p]) including the pair or pairs (?i, Gi), in which ?i is different from zero, determining an indicator of the average slope ?2 of the second variation curvType: GrantFiled: January 18, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.Inventors: Nicolas Fangeat, Georges Levy
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Patent number: 7191047Abstract: A control system manages yaw-plane motion, while simultaneously comprehending and managing roll motion. The system reduces excessive maneuver-induced roll motion by properly shaping yaw-plane motion, which may include increasing yaw damping and/or decreasing a yaw gain, under various conditions, to avoid excessive excitation of roll dynamics.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hsien H. Chen, Edward J. Bedner, Aleksander B. Hac
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Patent number: 7191046Abstract: A radius of a corner is determined by using a corner radius calculating device based on road data and data related to position of a vehicle on the road. An actual turning radius when the vehicle enters the corner is estimated by an actual turning radius calculating device based on at least a vehicle speed and motion parameters of the vehicle, and the motion state of the vehicle is controlled by the motion state control device so that an actual turning radius of the vehicle becomes close to the radius of the corner based on a calculation by radius difference calculating device for calculating a difference between the calculated corner radius and the actual turning radius. Thus, a motion state of the vehicle at a time of traveling around the corner is properly controlled to enable the vehicle to pass the corner reliably.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2004Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Keiyu Kin
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Patent number: 7184868Abstract: A vehicle dynamics behavior reproduction system capable of describing accurately behavior of a motor vehicle in a lateral direction even for nonlinear driving situation includes a vertical wheel force arithmetic module (105), a lateral wheel force arithmetic module (110), a cornering stiffness adaptation module (115), a state space model/observer unit (120), a selector (130), a delay module (135), and a tire side slip angle arithmetic module (125). Vertical wheel forces (FZij) and tire side slip angles (?ij) are determined by using sensor information and estimated values while lateral wheel forces (FYij) are determined in accordance with a relatively simple nonlinear approximation equation. The lateral wheel force (FYij) and the tire side slip angle (?ij) provide bases for adaptation of cornering stiffnesses at individual wheels. Vehicle motion is accurately described to a marginal stability by using adapted cornering stiffnesses (Cij) and other information.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2004Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takanori Matsunaga, Marcus Hiemer
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Patent number: 7149614Abstract: A device and the method are for the recognition and rectification of the danger of rollover of a vehicle, outfitted with a regulating system, about a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The regulating system controls actuators using its output signals in accordance with the output signal values. A variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is determined for the recognition of the danger of a rollover. This variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is compared to at least one characteristic value, e.g., a threshold value. In the case in which the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is greater than, or equal to the characteristic value, the number of all possible combinations of output signal values that may be supplied to the actuators by the regulating system for stability regulation is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2002Date of Patent: December 12, 2006Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Ansgar Traechtler, Frank Leibeling, Marco Metzger
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Patent number: 7146133Abstract: A wireless technology (e.g., Wi-Fi) coexistence architecture and method are disclosed for managing potential conflicts between wireless technology interference sources. A coexistence driver maintains a conflict map identifying potentially conflicting wireless technologies on a computing device. Such technologies, due to their use of overlapping transmission frequency spectra, potentially create signal interference with one another while transmitting. Managing such conflict is carried out by initially identifying conflicts arising from wireless technology interference sources based on entries within the conflict map for a set of currently installed wireless technology interfaces. Thereafter the coexistence driver creates a virtual coexistence driver to manage an identified set of conflicting wireless technology interference sources, wherein the coexistence driver regulates transmission of data sets by wireless technology interfaces according to a coexistence scheme including priority-based data transmissions.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Pradeep Bahl, Amer Hassan
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Patent number: 7142969Abstract: In a vehicle behavior control system, a target braking force applied to each wheel of the vehicle is obtained based on a master cylinder pressure so as to be proportional to a vertical load of each wheel. When it is determined that a braking force is applied to the vehicle running on a road with uneven friction coefficient, an excess yaw moment caused by the difference between the target braking force and an actual braking force is calculated. A steering angle is corrected with a correcting steering angle estimated based on the excess yaw moment. A yaw rate difference is calculated as a difference between a normal yaw rate and an actual yaw rate of the vehicle based on the steering angle that has been corrected. It is determined whether the vehicle behavior is deteriorated based on the yaw rate difference. The vehicle behavior is then controlled to reduce the yaw rate difference.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shoji Inagaki
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Patent number: 7142958Abstract: A method of detecting a transverse-dynamically hazardous operating state of a vehicle, where a variable describing the rotational speed of at least one wheel on an axle is determined; a first variable describing the vehicle transverse dynamics is determined from at least the one variable describing the wheel rotational speed; at least one second variable describing the vehicle transverse dynamics is determined from sensor signals; and the transverse-dynamically hazardous state is detected at least as a function of the first variable describing the vehicle transverse dynamics and the second variable describing the vehicle transverse dynamics. The transverse-dynamically hazardous operating state is defined by this wheel on the axle lifting off the roadway or by an imminent danger of this wheel lifting off the roadway; and the transverse-dynamically hazardous operating state is detected as a function of the engine torque (Mmot) acting upon this axle.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2003Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Hardy Haas
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Patent number: 7136730Abstract: A yaw stability control system (18) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors (28–39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2005Date of Patent: November 14, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianbo Lu, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
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Patent number: 7110870Abstract: A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body includes a sensor cluster having a housing oriented within the vehicle body. A roll rate sensor is positioned within the housing and generates a roll rate sensor signal corresponding to a roll angular motion of the sensor housing. A controller receives the roll rate sensor signal, the controller generates a residue signal in response to a sensor error or a measurement error. The controller sets a fault condition in response to the residue signal larger than a dynamic threshold and a magnitude of the roll rate signal above a fault condition threshold. The controller sets a fault flag in response to the fault condition indicated for a predetermined time during which no double wheel lift occurs.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Hongtei Eric Tseng, Li Xu
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Patent number: 7097262Abstract: In braking force control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determining section determinatively distributes a front-and-rear road wheel braking force at a front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution toward front and rear road wheel sides of the vehicle in accordance with a vehicular turning state to achieve the target deceleration and the vehicular deceleration developing section develops the target deceleration on the basis of the front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determined by the front-and-rear road wheel braking force distribution determining section.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroki Sasaki
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Patent number: 7089101Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assisting the driver of a vehicle (10) when performing a driving maneuver, such as a parking or shunting maneuver. In this case, a reference trajectory (16) is determined, along which the vehicle (10) is to be moved. A steering wheel position to be set and controlling the vehicle along the reference trajectory (16) is indicated to the driver during the driving maneuver. The vehicle longitudinal speed is influenced independently of the driver in the event of a steering angle deviation between the actual steering angle actually set by the driver and the desired steering angle corresponding to the requested steering wheel position. As a result, the driver can be given a greater reaction time in order to set the indicated steering wheel position.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Eckart Fischer, Helmut Keller, Jens Koehnlein, Jakob Seiler, Andreas Spieker, David Ulmer, Andy Yap