Having Particular Means To Determine A Reference Value For Wheel Slippage Or Pseudo-vehicle Speed Patents (Class 701/74)
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Patent number: 8155852Abstract: A driving/braking force manipulation control input of a k-th wheel, which denotes one or more specific wheels among a plurality of wheels of a vehicle, is determined such that a required condition concerning a relationship among a road surface reaction force that may act from a road surface on the k-th wheel on the basis of the detected values or estimated values of a side slip angle and a friction characteristic of the k-th wheel, a feedback control input related to the driving/braking force of the k-th wheel for bringing a difference between a state amount of the vehicle and a reference state amount close to zero, a driving/braking force feedforward control input based on a drive manipulated variable supplied by a driver of the vehicle, and a k-th wheel driving/braking force manipulation control input is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Takayuki Toyoshima, Hiroyuki Urabe, Hiroshi Kono
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Patent number: 8150592Abstract: A method for preventing spinning of at least one drive wheel in a motor vehicle that has a dual clutch transmission, including the process steps of: a vehicle placed in a first gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; placement of a higher gear for the vehicle in a second gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; detecting whether the at least one drive wheel is spinning; disengaging the clutch that is assigned to the first gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected; and engaging the clutch that is assigned to the second gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KGInventors: Inho Song, Christian Rieger, Alexander Schweizer
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Patent number: 8099179Abstract: A dual-redundant propulsion-by-wire control architecture with robust monitoring is presented to increase system availability without compromising safety. The dual-redundant controllers are able to cross-monitor and self-monitor. Self monitoring is effected at the application level and built-in system tests are performed. The monitor functions are set as high priority tasks. The first controller controls operation of a first propulsion system, monitors operation of a second controller, and, self-monitors. The second controller controls operation of a second propulsion system, monitors operation of the first controller, and, self-monitors. Each controller is operable to identify faults occurring in the first and the second controller, and implement an alternate operating control scheme for the respective propulsion system when a fault is identified. The first controller is signally connected to the second controller by substantially redundant communications buses.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Sanjeev M. Naik, Pradyumna K. Mishra, Soila M. Pertet
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Publication number: 20110320101Abstract: The method of maintaining optimal braking and skid protection for a two-wheeled vehicle wheel with a wheel speed sensor failure involves providing pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel with the wheel speed sensor failure. If an incipient or initial skid on another wheel with a functioning wheel speed sensor has occurred, the pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel is limited to the brake pressure command that caused the last incipient or initial skid on the other wheel, scaled by a factor for safety. Otherwise the pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel is limited to be no greater than the greatest commanded brake pressure to the other wheel. The pulsed braking pressure is also limited to be less than the brake pressure commanded to the affected wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC.Inventors: Ronald Raby, Jordan Silberling
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Publication number: 20110320100Abstract: The method of maintaining optimal braking and skid protection for a two-wheeled vehicle wheel with a wheel speed sensor failure involves providing pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel with the wheel speed sensor failure. If an incipient or initial skid on another wheel with a functioning wheel speed sensor has occurred, the pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel is limited to the brake pressure command that caused the last incipient or initial skid on the other wheel, scaled by a factor for safety. Otherwise the pulsed braking pressure to the affected wheel is limited to be no greater than the greatest commanded brake pressure to the other wheel. The pulsed braking pressure is also limited to be less than the brake pressure commanded to the affected wheel.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2011Publication date: December 29, 2011Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC.Inventors: Ronald Raby, Jordan Silberling
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Patent number: 8086383Abstract: A control input for operating an actual vehicle actuator and a control input for operating a vehicle model are determined by an FB distribution law based on a difference between a reference state amount determined by a vehicle model and an actual state amount of an actual vehicle such that the state amount error is approximated to zero, and then an actuator device of the actual vehicle and the model vehicle are operated based on the control inputs. The FB distribution law determines a control input for operating the model such that a state amount error is approximated to zero while restraining a predetermined restriction object amount from deviating from a permissible range. A vehicle control device capable of enhancing robustness against disturbance factors or their changes while performing operation control of actuators that is as suited to behaviors of an actual vehicle as possible is provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Toru Takenaka, Hiroshi Kono, Takayuki Toyoshima, Hiroyuki Urabe, Shuji Shiraishi, Yukihiro Orimoto
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Patent number: 8082087Abstract: A motion control device for a vehicle includes a controlling means for maintaining a traveling stability of the vehicle by controlling a braking force of a wheel of the vehicle, a friction coefficient obtaining means for obtaining a friction coefficient of a road surface on which the vehicle travels, a lateral force reference value calculating means for calculating a lateral force reference value acting on the wheel on the basis of the friction coefficient of the road surface and a lateral force actual value obtaining means for obtaining a lateral force actual value acting on the wheel, wherein the controlling means controls the braking force on the basis of a comparison result between the lateral force reference value and the lateral force actual value.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Keita Nakano, Chihiro Nitta
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Patent number: 8078374Abstract: In the case of a control system for an at least temporarily four-wheel-driven motor vehicle having an electronic control unit, which determines at least the rotational speeds of all wheels and the vehicle speed, and by which the driving torque of a drive unit can be distributed in a variable manner by way of a controllable transfer clutch to primary driving wheels, which are permanently connected with the drive unit, and to secondary driving wheels which, can be connected with the drive unit as required, the control unit closes the transfer clutch when the slip of a rear wheel exceeds the slip of the front wheel of the same vehicle side by a value which is greater than a given first threshold and when, preferably, also the longitudinal deceleration of the vehicle exceeds a given second threshold or the lateral acceleration of the vehicle exceeds a given third threshold.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Thomas-Dieter Vogel, Gerd Egger
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Patent number: 8060275Abstract: An on-board diagnostic system of a vehicle comprises disabling diagnostic operation, such as a misfire monitor, based on road roughness. In one example, the disabling of the diagnostic operation is based on brake actuation and degradation of an anti-lock braking system.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jahan Asgari, Timothy Feldkamp, Craig Stephens, Moses Fridman, Davor Hrovat, Arthur Varady, Mitch McConnell
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Patent number: 8050818Abstract: A roll stiffness control apparatus of a vehicle, which includes a controller that estimates a remaining capacity of front wheels to generate a lateral force and a remaining capacity of rear wheels to generate a lateral force, and that sets a roll stiffness distribution ratio between the front wheels and the rear wheels so as to reduce a difference between the remaining capacity of the front wheels to generate a lateral force and the remaining capacity of the rear wheels to generate a lateral force.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yuichi Mizuta
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Patent number: 7996136Abstract: A system and method for monitoring brake performance, in particular, in motor vehicles, are provided. The braking distances specific to each vehicle wheel are determined and compared using an electronic control unit. If a wheel exhibits a longer than average braking distance, insufficient braking is identified and is displayed by means of a display device.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: WABCO GmbHInventor: Gerhard Ruhnau
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Publication number: 20110130937Abstract: A method for adjusting braking in a vehicle having wheels and a regenerative braking system is provided. The method comprises the steps of providing regenerative braking torque for the vehicle via the regenerative braking system at a first level if a wheel slip of the vehicle is not present, and providing regenerative braking torque for the vehicle via the regenerative braking system at one of a plurality of modulated levels if the wheel slip is present. Each of the plurality of modulated levels is dependent on a magnitude, a location, or both, of the wheel slip. Each of the modulated levels is less than the first level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2009Publication date: June 2, 2011Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: ERIC E. KRUEGER, KEVIN S. KIDSTON, ERIC J. HOLDORF, MAHIR HODZIC
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Patent number: 7937194Abstract: A method of reducing wheel slip and wheel locking in an electric traction vehicle includes receiving in a first controller a first signal value representative of a first amount of torque to be applied to at least one wheel of the electric traction vehicle by a motor coupled to the wheel and to the first controller, and a second signal value representative of a reference speed of the electric traction vehicle. The first and second signal values are generated by a second controller in communication with the first controller. The method also includes receiving in the first controller a third signal value representative of a speed of the at least one wheel, determining in the first controller a torque output signal using the first, second, and third signal values; and transmitting the torque output signal from the first controller to the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: Oshkosh CorporationInventors: Nader Nasr, Peter Werner
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Patent number: 7937203Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a vehicle with wheels, where at least one wheel is connected with means for braking and/or driving the wheel, the control system comprising a measuring device to measure a rotational speed of the wheel, a longitudinal force and a vertical force that occur at the wheel-road contact, and a control unit connected to the measuring device, to control the braking and/or driving of the wheel. The system is equipped to determine the second derivative (SD) of the wheel speed to the quotient of the longitudinal force and the vertical force and use this parameter to control the braking and/or driving the wheel.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: AB SKFInventors: Paul Meaney, Simon Le Floc'h, Peter Frijlink
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Publication number: 20110066346Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method of adjusting a clearance of an electronic brake, in which a clearance between a pad and a rotor is appropriately adjusted according to a vehicle traveling situation. If the entry condition of a clearance adjustment section during stoppage is satisfied, clearance adjustment is performed to move pads of an electronic brake away from a rotor by a rearward-movement adjustment distance during stoppage, enabling rapid braking-release so as not to prevent a driver from starting a vehicle due to brake failure. In addition, if the entry condition of a clearance adjustment section during traveling is satisfied, clearance adjustment is performed to move the pads forward or rearward according to a wheel slip value. The clearance adjustment during traveling is limited to the case of straight traveling, to prevent misjudgment due to wheel slip caused during cornering.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventor: Myoung June KIM
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Publication number: 20110060511Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling an Anti-lock Brake system (ABS) of an electronic brake, which is driven using an electric motor. In ABS braking in which braking and braking-release motions are repeated according to a wheel slip value, the electric motor is controlled in a re-braking section to link a position of a brake pad with a change in wheel speed, to enhance ABS control responsiveness and to reduce stopping distance with maximized brake force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventor: Myoung June KIM
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Patent number: 7894970Abstract: Traction control for a motorcycle including a driving wheel speed sensor and a driven wheel speed sensor. An ECU controls an engine on the basis of a corrected slip signal obtained by subtracting a low frequency component of a pre-correction slip signal from the pre-correction slip signal. The pre-correction slip signal is obtained by subtracting a speed of a front wheel detected by the driven wheel speed sensor from a speed of a rear wheel detected by the driving wheel speed sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2008Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hirokazu Fujita, Tomohiro Kinoshita
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Publication number: 20110040466Abstract: An electric aircraft brake control system has a plurality of wheel and brake assemblies, each having a wheel, wheel speed transducer, brake assembly and a brake actuator. Electromechanical control units are uniquely associated with and connected to certain of the wheel and brake assemblies, and each of the electromechanical control units is provided with an antiskid system as an integral portion thereof. Brake data concentrators are provided for receiving data corresponding to various aircraft operational parameters, including brake pedal position, and provide operational signals to the electromechanical control unit as a function thereof. A controller for emergency and park braking is connected to the electromechanical actuator controllers through one of the brake data concentrators to effect emergency braking action on the brake assemblies, such emergency braking action having incident antiskid control.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2009Publication date: February 17, 2011Inventors: James L. Hill, Kurt Burkhalter
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Patent number: 7890230Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a vehicle motion control device capable of controlling the driving force distribution to the wheels with superior stability and response while effectively utilizing the tire grip.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2005Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuichiro Tsukasaki, Masaru Kogure
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Patent number: 7873459Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle that includes determining a dynamic normal load for the vehicle wheel, modifying the requested torque signal from a traction control system in response to the dynamic normal load to form a modified requested torque and controlling the engine in response to the modified requested torque. The controlling may be performed using the ratio of the dynamic normal load and the steady state normal load to form the modified requested torque.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Michael Fodor, Davor Hrovat
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Patent number: 7853388Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise automatically setting a service brake of a mining haulage vehicle. The service brake can be set responsive to a determination that a wheel comprising a wheel motor is rotating at a rotational speed that is above a predetermined rotational speed. In certain exemplary embodiments, the service brake can be automatically released.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.Inventor: Xiaobin Wang
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Patent number: 7822525Abstract: In brake liquid pressure control, a time wasted after the control is started until brake application is actually started is reduced and pulsation noise of brake liquid pressure is reduced. When automatic following control of a vehicle is being operated, a motor for pressure increase is set to idle if a predetermined condition at which the vehicle starts deceleration is reached before an automatic brake command is issued from an automatic following control device. Further, when the throttle of an engine is at predetermined condition at which rapid acceleration does not occur, brake liquid pressure is increased to a level at which the vehicle does not decelerate.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2005Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taisetsu Tanimichi, Motohiro Higuma
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Patent number: 7801656Abstract: The invention relates to a driving assistance method which is intended for use on a slope. According to the invention, the vehicle comprises an accelerometer which can measure a longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle as measured longitudinal acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Inventors: Belen Alvarez, Xavier Marie Groult
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Publication number: 20100211274Abstract: A braking force control apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a brake device that brakes a rotation of a drive wheel of a vehicle equipped with a continuously variable transmission and adjusts a magnitude of a braking force acting upon the drive wheel on the basis of a brake depression amount. The braking force control apparatus includes a controller that is configured to set an upper limit value of the braking force of the brake device when a restriction condition that is a condition, at which an excessively large torque input state occurs, has been estimated to be established, the excessively large torque input state being a state in which a reduced speed of the drive wheel based on the braking force is larger than an allowable limit speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kenichi Yamaguchi
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Publication number: 20100198475Abstract: A method for operating a vehicle braking system for motor vehicles including a hybrid or electric drive and hydraulically actutable wheel brakes on the front axle, wherein the wheels associated with the rear axle are driven at least partially by an electric motor that can be operated as a generator to recover braking energy and, in generator mode, exerts a braking force on the vehicle wheel associated with the respective axle, thereby generating a drag torque including the braking torque and the regeneration torque of the electric drive, the drag torque being separately regulatable on the front and rear axles. To prevent overbraking of the rear axle and a loss of driving stability of the vehicle, a regeneration torque acting on the rear axle is controlled or regulated such that the drag torque acting on the rear axle does not exceed a maximum drag torque value associated with that axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHGInventors: Stephan Stölzl, Daniel Fischer, Frank Seurer
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Publication number: 20100168977Abstract: A front/rear driving/braking force control unit 30 calculates driving/braking forces of front and rear axles that minimize energy loss realizing a target steering characteristic as first front/rear driving/braking forces Fxfte, Fxrte and calculates driving/braking forces of the front and rear axles that realize the target steering characteristic and maximize the sum of maximum tire lateral forces of the front and rear axles as second front/rear driving/braking forces Fxftp, Fxrtp.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koji Matsuno
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Patent number: 7747383Abstract: To accurately detect a zero gravity offset in an acceleration sensor. As an embodiment of the present invention, in the case where position information can be obtained from a GPS processing section, a velocity detecting unit performs an operation according to Expression (15), using real detected acceleration ?Gr that was actually obtained from the acceleration sensor, vehicle acceleration ?P based on the position information, distance Dm, an amount of height change Dh based on pressure PR, and gravity acceleration g. Therefore, offset acceleration ?o can be accurately calculated, and an acceleration detection signal can be converted into detected acceleration ?G with high accuracy, based on a zero gravity offset value Vzgo by that the above offset acceleration ?o was converted.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2006Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Masashi Ohkubo, Tomohisa Takaoka
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Patent number: 7725235Abstract: A method for controlling the slip of a tire (1) of an automobile, said tire comprising a tread (3). The method comprises adjusting said slip using the measurement of a variable linked to the surface temperature (T2) of the tread in the contact area (2) of the tire.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.Inventors: Gérard Fandard, Hervé Mousty
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Patent number: 7715964Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle at a substantially low speed based on change in the vehicle position. The method comprises the following steps: (A) transforming a steering control algorithm into a substantially low speed (SLS) steering control algorithm, wherein the (SLS) steering control algorithm is configured to operate the vehicle in an asynchronous low speed mode; and (B) implementing the SLS steering control algorithm as a controller configured to operate the vehicle in the asynchronous low speed mode.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2005Date of Patent: May 11, 2010Assignee: Trimble Navigation, Ltd.Inventor: John Arnold Connally
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Publication number: 20100114447Abstract: The invention is to provide an automobile and a control device for the automobile, which permits to obtain a driving performance or a braking performance close to their limits achievable on the concerned road face even such as on a compacted snow road and a frozen road. In the control device for the automobile for controlling a driving torque and/or a braking torque for wheels of the automobile, when a slip rate of the wheels is kept in a range smaller than a value where a friction coefficient between the wheels and the road face maximizes, and when a command for increasing the driving torque or the braking torque is input to the control device, the driving torque or the braking torque is controlled by selectively using a first control mode for gradually increasing the driving torque or the braking torque or a second control mode for gradually decreasing the driving torque or the braking torque in response to a slip condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: Hitach, Ltd.Inventors: Hidekazu Moriki, Shinya Imura, Norikazu Matsuzaki, Kohei Itoh, Shin Fujiwara
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Patent number: 7711469Abstract: A process and device for controlling the brake system of a motor vehicle with all-wheel drive are described. The process and the device include an electronic control unit which controls at least one coupling unit for engaging and disengaging an all-wheel drive, so that at least one wheel can be decoupled, from the drive. After stopping the motor vehicle, for example on a sloping roadway, a predefined brake pressure on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle is held either depending on or independently from the extent of brake pedal actuation. The brake pressure is held until a brake pressure reduction condition is present, such as during a brake pressure holding time. During that time, the brake pressure on at least the one wheel is reduced and the wheel is decoupled from the drive to detect slippage, while at least one other wheel remains pressurized with brake pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2007Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Guenther Sokoll, Christian Scheinost, Toni Braeuer, Simon Schilling
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Patent number: 7653471Abstract: A roll control system (16) for an automotive vehicle (10) is used to actively detect if one of the plurality of the driven wheels (12) is lifted. The system generates a pressure request to determine if the wheel has lifted. By comparing the change in wheel speed of a driven wheel to a change in wheel speed threshold the wheel lift status can be determined. The wheel speed change threshold may be dependent upon various vehicle operating conditions such as powertrain torque, braking torque and/or longitudinal force on the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2004Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Keith Glenn Mattson, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers, Michael Edward Brewer
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Publication number: 20100017089Abstract: A method for preventing spinning of at least one drive wheel in a motor vehicle that has a dual clutch transmission, including the process steps of: a vehicle placed in a first gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; placement of a higher gear for the vehicle in a second gear unit of the dual clutch transmission; detecting whether the at least one drive wheel is spinning; disengaging the clutch that is assigned to the first gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected; and engaging the clutch that is assigned to the second gear unit, depending on whether spinning was detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2008Publication date: January 21, 2010Applicant: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KGInventors: Inho Song, Christian Rieger, Alexander Schweizer
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Patent number: 7650216Abstract: A differentiator calculates the acceleration of the rear wheels. An acceleration threshold calculation means enable the skid-detection acceleration threshold to be adjusted corresponding to the conditions of the vehicle. An acceleration skid-detection means make a comparison between the acceleration of the wheels obtained by the differentiator and the skid-detection acceleration threshold adjusted by the acceleration threshold calculation means, and determine whether or not a skid of the wheels has occurred, based upon the comparison result. Such an arrangement provides a vehicle driving force system having a function of detecting a skid even in a case that a skid of the wheels has occurred at a low acceleration of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kohei Itoh, Norikazu Matsuzaki
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Patent number: 7643912Abstract: A device and corresponding method for enabling a user to accurately control, monitor, and evaluate performance of a vehicle. A portable programmable computer device that a user can readily plug into a diagnostic connector port of the vehicle for providing the controlling, monitoring, and evaluating functions. Accurate detection of the start time of first movement of the vehicle is made based on data from an accelerometer, independent of the onboard diagnostic system and its diagnostics port. A clock is started for measuring time such that the precise time taken to reach the time-stamped first velocity value from the engine computer via the diagnostic port is determined. Data from the accelerometer and diagnostic port is analyzed and selectively used for accurately and reliably correcting for errors in velocity data from the onboard diagnostic system including latency error and errors due to the vehicle exhibiting wheel spin.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2006Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Hypertech, Inc.Inventor: Mark F. Heffington
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Patent number: 7610126Abstract: An apparatus for determining the alignment of the wheels of a motor vehicle, which comprises sensing devices adapted to detect the coordinates, with respect to a same reference system, of at least three base points which belong to the supporting surface that supports the motor vehicle for which wheel alignment is to be determined, to detect the coordinates of at least two chassis points identified in symmetrical positions of the chassis of the motor vehicle with respect to the longitudinal centerline plane of the motor vehicle, and to detect the coordinates, with respect to the reference system, of four wheel points, which belong to a preset wheel plane that is at least tangent with respect to the rim of the wheel whose alignment is to be determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Spanesi S.p.AInventor: Orazio Spanesi
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Patent number: 7602279Abstract: A control system (18) for an automotive vehicle (10) has a first roll condition detector (64A), a second roll condition detector (64B), a third roll condition detector (64C), and a controller (26) that uses the roll condition generated by the roll condition detectors (64A-C) to determine a wheel lift condition. Other roll condition detectors may also be used in the wheel lift determination. The wheel lift conditions may be active or passive or both.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Jianbo Lu, Michael Edward Brewer, Todd Allen Brown, Joseph Carr Meyers
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Patent number: 7603221Abstract: An automatic slowing down system for a vehicle taking a bend includes a computer that integrates a series of instructions to process at least one of first, second and third signals according to kinematic control laws of vehicle displacement to deliver signals for a forward motion actuator and a steering actuator, a forward control and a steering control that supply the first signal representative of a forward motion data and a steering data to the computer based on an operator's requirement, a linear speed sensor and a yaw speed sensor that supply the second signal to the computer, and a unit that supplies the third signal relating to road grip to the computer.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: October 13, 2009Assignee: Nexter SystemsInventors: Emile Urvoy, Olivier Pape, Stephane Leveque
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Publication number: 20090248269Abstract: A motion control device for a vehicle includes a controlling means for maintaining a traveling stability of the vehicle by controlling a braking force of a wheel of the vehicle, a friction coefficient obtaining means for obtaining a friction coefficient of a road surface on which the vehicle travels, a lateral force reference value calculating means for calculating a lateral force reference value acting on the wheel on the basis of the friction coefficient of the road surface and a lateral force actual value obtaining means for obtaining a lateral force actual value acting on the wheel, wherein the controlling means controls the braking force on the basis of a comparison result between the lateral force reference value and the lateral force actual value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2009Publication date: October 1, 2009Inventors: Yoshiyuki Yasui, Keita Nakano, Chihiro Nitta
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Patent number: 7584042Abstract: There is provided a new and novel vehicle running control device for correcting a yaw angle of a vehicle toward the yaw direction intended by a driver, together with vehicle stability control, through generating yaw moments. In order to accomplish the yaw angle correction, the inventive device operates a yaw moment generating apparatus e.g. a steering apparatus, so as to generate a direction correcting yaw moment based upon an integration value of the deviations between an actual yaw rate and its target value. The direction correcting yaw moment may be generated for correcting the yaw angle deviation remaining after the stability control is ended.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2005Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masato Suzumura, Yoshikazu Hattori
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Patent number: 7571033Abstract: 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: August 4, 2009Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hiroshi Fujioka, Takanori Matsunaga, Takashi Maeda, Toshinori Matsui, Masahiko Kurishige, Hideyuki Tanaka
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Publication number: 20090192689Abstract: An anti-lock braking system (ABS) calculates driven wheel speed without any sensors on the driven axle assembly. A powertrain control module (PCM) receives signals from an output shaft speed (OSS) sensor and adds the speed and axle ratio information to a control network bus. Access to the CAN bus is provided to enable calculation of the rear wheel speed based on such information so that ABS may implement anti-lock braking functionality by taking into account such information.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2008Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Daniel Dunn, Charles Bannon, Douglas Marsden
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Patent number: 7536245Abstract: A vehicle is provided with an optimum suspension/chassis state and run for a first period of time under a predetermined condition, for storing information related to outputs of force sensors, as a reference value. The state of the vehicle may change due to the use thereof, thus it is run for a second period of time under the predetermined condition. An analyzing apparatus analyzes a change of an alignment state of the vehicle on the basis of information stored from the first and second periods.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Bridgestone CorporationInventors: Yutaka Naruse, Shinichi Furuya
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Publication number: 20090088940Abstract: In brake liquid pressure control, a time wasted after the control is started until brake application is actually started is reduced and pulsation noise of brake liquid pressure is reduced. When automatic following control of a vehicle is being operated, a motor for pressure increase is set to idle if a predetermined condition at which the vehicle starts deceleration is reached before an automatic brake command is issued from an automatic following control device. Further, when the throttle of an engine is at predetermined condition at which rapid acceleration does not occur, brake liquid pressure is increased to a level at which the vehicle does not decelerate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2005Publication date: April 2, 2009Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Taisetsu Tanimichi, Motohiro Higuma
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Patent number: 7512473Abstract: A judgment method of road surface condition includes steps of: periodically detecting the wheel rotational speeds of the four wheel tires of a vehicle, memorizing the wheel rotational speed of each of tires, determining a slip ratio from said wheel rotational speeds, determining the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, determining a relation equation between said slip ratio and the acceleration or deceleration of the vehicle, determining a judgment value for judging a friction coefficient between the road surface and tires based on the slope of said relation equation determined, and setting a threshold which is used for judging the friction coefficient from the judgment value using the information of wireless tags which were buried in the tires.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Yukio Nakao
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Patent number: 7512474Abstract: When a driver returns a brake pedal on a climbing road, brakes of front wheels to which power is output from an engine with brakes of rear wheels being held are released (S140), and a throttle opening TH is gradually increased so that a rotation speed of the engine reaches a target rotation speed Ne* according to a road gradient ? (S180). When an outputtable torque Tem that can be output to the front wheels and the rear wheels becomes larger than a target torque Td* according to the road gradient ?, the brakes of the rear wheels are released (S240) to start a vehicle. This allows a smooth start of the vehicle on the climbing road. On the other hand, when a slip of the front wheels is determined before the outputtable torque Tem reaches the target torque Td*, the brakes of the front wheels are returned to the original state, climbing road start control is prohibited (S260 and S270), and a stopping state is held. This properly addresses the problem when the vehicle cannot smoothly start.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mitsuhiro Tabata, Hiroshi Sato
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Patent number: 7500534Abstract: A vehicle is equipped with a motor that receives a supply of electric power, which is output from a battery and is boosted up by a DC/DC converter circuit, via an inverter circuit and outputs a torque to a drive shaft. In response to an estimated variation in road surface condition based on a decrease in angular acceleration of the drive shaft to be less than a threshold value ref during a slip, the control procedure of the invention adds a predetermined value to a torque upper limit Tmax, which is set at the time of the occurrence of the slip, and thereby updates the torque upper limit Tmax to start cancellation of torque restriction. The control procedure then updates the torque upper limit Tmax by a slope of a small time change to restrain the degree of cancellation of the torque restriction.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 10, 2009Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Hommi
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Patent number: 7487028Abstract: A power distribution control device 42 calculates a low-? information magnitude, associated with the friction coefficient of the road surface, based on the slip rate and the vehicle acceleration operation magnitude. If the low-? information magnitude exceeds an addition evaluation threshold, the power distribution control device 42 adds the low-? information magnitude. If the low-? information magnitude does not exceed the addition evaluation threshold, the power distribution control device 42 subtracts a constant K from a counter. The power distribution control device 42 makes evaluates a road to have a low-? when the counter exceeds a low-? evaluation threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2004Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: JTEKT CorporationInventors: Ryouhei Shigeta, Tsuyoshi Murakami
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Publication number: 20090018743Abstract: In an inverted pendulum type mobile unit that performs inverted pendulum stabilization control and traveling control based on a velocity target value as an input variable, a change in tilt angle of a vehicle body occurring during traveling is smoothed. The target value generating portion in the inverted pendulum type mobile unit generates the velocity target value VREF of the mobile unit and the tilt angular rate target value ?REF of the vehicle body so that a second-order time derivative of VREF is continuous and ?REF is continuous with respect to time. The controller in the inverted pendulum type mobile unit calculates a torque command value Tcom for the motor drivers using VREF and ?REF as a control target to allow the mobile unit to travel at VREF while maintaining the state where the gravity center of the vehicle body or the gravity center of total mass of the vehicle body and a subject supported on the vehicle body is located upper than the rotation center of the wheels.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventor: Koji Yamada
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Patent number: 7472012Abstract: A newly obtained wheel speed of a drive wheel is not used in a calculation for acceleration slip when a vehicle is stopped, for example, when the wheel speed of a rolling wheel is zero and an engine speed is high. A wheel speed calculated before a previous wheel speed is, for example, set as a current wheel speed. In this manner, even if the wheel speed of a driving wheel is due to the effect of racing noise, it is possible to limit erroneous determinations that indicate acceleration slip is being generated, based upon such a wheel speed. In addition, unnecessary execution of a traction control can also be curbed.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 30, 2008Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryuzo Tsuruhara, Yasumi Inoue