Abstract: A traction control system having a braking intervention in particular for motor vehicles in which a slipping wheel is braked by a braking intervention on exceeding a slippage threshold. To improve the stability and steerability of the vehicle on slopes having different adhesive friction values between the right and left sides of the vehicle (&mgr;-split), the slippage threshold of the slipping low-&mgr; wheel is adjusted as a function of the slope, the slippage threshold of the slipping wheel being increased with an increase in slope in the case of a front-wheel drive vehicle and is decreased with an increase in slope in the case of a rear-wheel drive vehicle.

Abstract: Device for detecting a detached tire of a vehicle. This device includes an arrangement for detecting the rotational movements of the wheels and generating first quantities that are dependent on the rotational movements detected. A comparison arrangement is also provided in which at least one comparison involving at least one of the first quantities is carried out, as well as an evaluation arrangement in which a signal is output as a function of the output of the at least one comparison. The at least one comparison carried out in the comparison arrangement is preceded by a sorting operation in which at least two of the first quantities are sorted by value; and a detached tire is detected as a function of the signal output by the evaluation arrangement.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system (12) for a spare tire of a vehicle (10) includes an indicator (52) and a timer (44) that generates a first time signal corresponding to the time the spare tire is used as a rolling tire and a second time signal corresponding to a time the spare tire is stowed. The temperature sensor (34) generates a temperature profile and a controller (22) that is coupled to the indicator, the timer, and the temperature sensor generates a spare tire warning signal in response to the temperature profile, the first time signal, and the second time signal.

Abstract: A method for determining the float angle of a motor vehicle is described, a yaw sensor determining the yaw rate of the motor vehicle. According to this method, the direction of the velocity in the center of gravity of the vehicle in particular is determined by a frequency analysis of the signals received by a GPS receiver located in the motor vehicle, and the float angle is determined as a function of at least the yaw rate and the direction of the velocity of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An improved anti-lock rear brake yaw control method utilizes a measure of braking intensity to regulate both the initiation of yaw control and the anti-lock braking control parameters once yaw control is initiated. The brake torque and the rate of brake pedal depression provide measures of braking intensity, and are used to develop variable slip and deceleration thresholds to which the rear wheel differential slip and deceleration are compared. The variable thresholds permit initiation of yaw control at relatively low levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration during panic braking, while requiring higher levels of differential wheel slip or deceleration to initiate yaw control during moderate braking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for control of an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle wherein an electronic transmission control, by means of signals proportional to wheel speeds (NRA3, NRA4), determines a transverse acceleration value (AQ) for outputting to additional program modules. The determined wheel speeds (NRA3, NRA4) which enter in the transversal acceleration value (AQ) are corrected by vehicle wheels in a tolerance balance module of the wheels (M1) when a dynamic tire radius (RDYN) in one of the vehicle wheels diverges from a tire radius given in an optimum tire geometry.

Abstract: A method of electronic brake force distribution in a two-axle four-wheel vehicle 1 effects a compensation of the speed differences between left and right vehicle side during cornering. To this end, a compensation speed is calculated for the curve-inward rear wheel 6 and added to the individual wheel speed of the rear wheel 6 to be compared with a vehicle reference speed. The individual wheel reference speed of this wheel, which is this way increased in relation to the individual wheel speed of the curve-inward rear wheel 6, prevents a premature activation of electronic brake force distribution because the produced individual wheel reference speed is closer to the vehicle reference speed than the individual wheel speed. This permits better utilizing brake force during cornering.

Abstract: A system and method for ABS stability control is provided, the method comprising the steps of determining whether a first wheel is in an ABS mode; determining whether the first wheel is in an apply mode; determining whether a second parallel wheel is in the release mode; calculating an adjusted wheel slip if the first wheel is in the ABS mode, the first wheel is in the apply mode, and the second parallel wheel is in the release mode; and determining a control mode for the first wheel using the adjusted wheel slip.

Abstract: A target yaw rate setting unit of a control characteristics changing unit computes a first target yaw rate based on the radius of curvature of a curve. A target yaw rate setting unit of a braking force control unit computes a second target yaw rate based on driving conditions. When a cornering decision unit decides a turning intention, if the absolute value of the first target yaw rate is larger than the absolute value of the second target yaw rate, the second target yaw rate is corrected with the first target yaw rate, and the corrected second target yaw rate is outputted to a target yaw rate changing unit. A braking force control unit controls the braking force with the second target yaw rate corrected.

Abstract: A device for changing the speeds of the front and rear wheels in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, which is equipped with a continuously variable speed-changing mechanism for the front wheels which changes the input rotational speed and outputs it to the front wheel drive shafts and a continuously variable speed-changing mechanism for the rear wheels which changes the input rotational speed and outputs it to the rear wheel drive shafts. The device for changing the speeds of the front and rear wheels comprises a detector means for detecting the operation conditions of the vehicle and a controller for variably controlling the speeds of said continuously variable speed-changing mechanism for the front wheels and of said continuously variable speed-changing mechanism for the rear wheels based on the operation conditions of the vehicle detected by said detector means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle stabilizing device and a method for modifying brake pressures on wheels of a vehicle according to input data. To achieve an optimum from the driver's desire to brake, the vehicle stabilization, the steerability of the vehicle, and from the pedal and sound comfort, the present invention discloses a variation of the brake pressures on at least one wheel according to a way of influencing an intervention unit that provides a plurality of influencing cycles or influencing strategies, the said influencing being determined by the brake pressure effected by the driver.

Abstract: Wheelslip is controlled in an automotive vehicle having at least one wheel for which control is desired. Each wheel is controlled by a corresponding element of a command wheelslip vector. A first wheelslip vector is determined, one element of the first wheelslip vector for each wheel, the first wheelslip vector being operative to optimally minimize the time rate of change of weighted kinetic energy. A second wheelslip vector is determined, one element of the second wheelslip vector for each wheel, the second wheelslip vector being operative to maximize the time rate of change of weighted kinetic energy. The elements of the wheelslip vectors are determined in view of a stability effect determined for each of the at least one wheel.

Abstract: Provided is rotational-state-of-wheel detecting apparatus that can avoid output of an incorrect rotational direction during a halt of a wheel. In ECU 10, a signal input section 10a accurately detects wheel speeds and rotational directions of respective wheels 12, 14, 16, 18, and, based on the results, respective computers 10b, 10c, 10d execute ABS control, TC control, and VSC control. On this occasion, switching of the rotational direction is restricted with a computation result of wheel speed of zero, and it is thus feasible to prevent occurrence of a malfunction or state hunting being repetitive switching of signs, due to an external magnetic field during halts of the wheels 12, 14, 16, 18. This further optimizes the state control of a vehicle.

Abstract: Provided are a yaw moment generating mechanism a which produces a yawing motion at the vehicle, a vehicle behavior detection means b which detects a vehicle behavior, an actual yaw moment detection means a which is included in the vehicle behavior detection means b and detects an actual yaw moment acting on the vehicle, a target yaw moment arithmetic-calculation means d which calculates a target yaw moment necessary for a current vehicle behavior on the basis of an input from the vehicle behavior detection means b, and an operating command means e which operates the yaw moment generating mechanism to output a yaw moment equivalent to the difference between the target yaw moment and the actual yaw moment. Therefore, during the vehicle yaw dynamics control, it is possible to enhance the control quality without the control delay and control hunting and without giving the driver an uncomfortable feeling.

Abstract: A method for correcting wheel speed comprising determining the measured wheel speed and a slip ratio based on signals from the respective wheel speed sensors; determining a reference wheel speed among the measured wheel speeds of the respective wheels; periodically obtaining a correction factor, to be multiplied by the measured wheel speed to determine a corrective wheel speed, so as to arrange the corrective wheel speed close to the reference wheel speed; setting an initial value of the correction factor in such a way to reduce the slip ratio based on a diameter of a tire; and determining the corrective wheel speed by multiplying the correction factor by the measured wheel speed. It is an object of this invention to provide an appropriate and precise correction of wheel speed regardless of an existence of a non-standard tire, such as a mini-tire.

Abstract: A vehicular brake controlling apparatus comprises: a brake unit to enable a suppression of boosting a braking liquid pressure independently of each wheel cylinder, each wheel cylinder operatively braking a corresponding one of vehicular front and rear road wheels according to the braking liquid pressure; a plurality of road wheel velocity sensors, each road wheel velocity sensor detecting a revolution velocity of the corresponding one of the road wheels and outputting a signal indicating the detected road wheel revolution velocity thereof; and a controller configured to be enabled to execute such a braking force distribution control function as to controllably operate the brake unit to suppress the boosting in the braking liquid pressure for the rear road wheels on the basis of a revolution velocity difference between the front and rear road wheels derived from the signals outputted from the respective road wheel velocity sensors when the revolution velocity difference is in excess of a predetermined start th

Abstract: A method for the detection of faulty installation of vehicular motion sensing devices compares the output signals of the sensing devices, which represent angular yawing speed values. Large deviations between these values are interpreted as installation errors, and a control unit causes the dynamic regulation of vehicle movement to be disabled. The particular type of installation error can also be determined by the inventive method, and presented on a display.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for braking a vehicle by means of at least a service brake and a retarder brake, the brake pedal velocity (vB) is detected and the brake pressure is increased by a control device (10) if the pedal velocity exceeds a definable activation threshold value (S). In addition, the position of an operating element of the retarder brake is detected, and the activation threshold value (S) is reduced if the position of the operating element exceeds a definable limit value (G).

Abstract: A device to monitor sensors in a motor vehicle, with the sensors generating signals, each representing different physical is provided. The device includes first arrangement with which identically defined comparison variables for the sensors are determined for at least two sensors on the basis of at least the signals generated by them. Furthermore, the device includes a second arrangement with which a reference variable is determined on the basis of at least two of the identically defined comparison variables and is taken into account in monitoring performed in a third arrangement for at least one sensor. To form the reference variable, a variable describing the difference between the identically defined comparison variable and the other identically defined comparison variables of the minimum of two identically defined comparison variables is determined for each of the minimum of two identically defined comparison variables. The identically defined comparison variable is evaluated using this variable.

Abstract: A vehicle maneuvering control device is disclosed. A curve of a road is detected to calculate curve data including a distance between a vehicle and the curve, and a physical quantity indicating a degree of the curve. An allowable deceleration is set at which the vehicle can travel in accordance with conditions of the road. An allowable lateral acceleration is set at which the vehicle can travel in accordance with the conditions of the road. An allowable approaching speed is set at which the vehicle can approaches the curve based on the physical quantity and the lateral acceleration. A deceleration judging speed is calculated for judging whether a present speed at which the vehicle is traveling should be decreased based on the distance, the allowable deceleration and the allowable approaching speed. And, the present speed is decreased when it is higher than the deceleration judging speed.

Abstract: An antiskid brake controller which utilizes measured wheel speed in order to provide brake control for a vehicle such as an aircraft. The measured wheel speed is differentiated to determine the deceleration of the wheel, and the controller then compares the deceleration to a predefined deceleration threshold. If the wheel decelerates faster than the deceleration threshold, the controller reduces the command pressure provided to the brakes by a scaling factor. Full command pressure may eventually be applied otherwise. The controller is capable of operating based only on measured wheel speed.

Abstract: A vehicle velocity detecting device is provided for detecting vehicle velocity of a vehicle. In the device, an average of driving wheels' speeds Vw.sub.Dave and an acceleration/deceleration V'w.sub.i of each wheel are calculated. When the average Vw.sub.Dave is less than a designated high wheel speed Vw.sub.Hi of 20 km/h or so and at least one of driving wheels' acceleration/deceleration V'w.sub.DL and V'w.sub.DR is more than a designated low-frequency noise value V'w.sub.LO of 1G or so, the third wheel speed Vw.sub.3rd from the largest wheel speed is set as the vehicle velocity V.sub.SP. When three or more acceleration/deceleration V'w.sub.i are together more than a designated high-frequency noise value V'w.sub.Hi of 5G or so, the wheel speed detected in the past is set as the vehicle velocity V.sub.SP. In either case, the vehicle velocity detecting method by the device is not withdrawn unless the wheel speed Vw.sub.i is less than a designated high wheel speed Vw.sub.LO or unless the average Vw.sub.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle includes a chassis, pair of drive wheels, a motor for driving these drive wheels, a gyrosensor provided at the chassis for detecting a direction of the chassis, and a travel control unit responsive to an output of the gyrosensor at the end of a travel of a predetermined run indicating difference from a target direction for providing control of the rotation amount of the drive wheels so that the direction of the chassis is corrected by a predetermined amount to be aligned with the target direction. A method of controlling this autonomous vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle velocity detecting device is provided for a vehicle. In the device, velocity range in which a difference among respective wheel speeds is caused due to brake noise is defined as a range of speed smaller than a designated velocity V.sub.0. When an average of driving wheels' speeds Vw.sub.Dave is smaller than the designated velocity V.sub.0 and the vehicle is under a great turning condition containing the straight traveling condition, then the smallest wheel speed Vw.sub.MIN is set to a vehicle velocity V.sub.sp in order to exclude the wheel speed being influenced by noise. While, when the vehicle is under a small turning condition where the wheel speed of turning inside wheel is smaller in spite of the same velocity range, the third wheel speed from the largest one is set to the vehicle velocity V.sub.sp to exclude the turning wheel speed. In the velocity range besides both turning conditions, the average of driving wheels' speeds Vw.sub.Dave is set to the vehicle velocity V.sub.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining a variable describing the speed of a vehicle are provided. In this method, for at least two wheels, the speeds of those wheels are determined, and the variable describing the speed of the vehicle is determined at least as a function of the speed of a selected wheel. For this, an operating state of the vehicle is determined based on the speeds of at the least two wheels, the selected wheel being determined at least as a function of that operating state. In addition, plausibility queries for determining the selected wheel are performed for some of the determined operating states of the vehicle, as a function of the particular operating state of the vehicle that is determined.

Abstract: A damping force characteristic variable type shock absorber which takes a mode of operation into a first mode, a second mode, a third mode, and a fourth mode is connected to a damping force characteristic basic mode switching block and a damping force characteristic special mode switching block. This first mode is such that when the vehicular vertical direction determined by the vehicular vertical behavior determinator is upward, an extension phase provides a relatively high damping force characteristic and a compression phase provides a relatively low damping force characteristic. The second mode is such that when the vehicular vertical direction determined by the vehicular vertical behavior determinator is downward, the extension phase provides a relatively low damping force characteristic and the compression phase provides a relatively highly damping force characteristic.

Abstract: An error signal is generated in a motor vehicle with at least two wheels located on the right and left in the front and rear areas of the motor vehicle. This is accomplished by detecting signals representing the rotational speeds of the vehicle wheels. In addition, cornering is detected, depending on the signals detected in particular. The signals detected in cornering are then compared with an ideal cornering performance, whereupon the error signal is generated, depending on the result of the comparison. With the comparison, it is possible to detect by a simple method erroneous rotational speed sensor signals, e.g., due to transposition of the lines.

Abstract: An anti-skid control system for an automotive vehicle, comprises a plurality of actuators each associated with one of front-left, front-right, rear-left and rear-right road wheels, for adjusting braking forces applied to the road wheels, sensors for detecting wheel speeds of the road wheels to generate wheel-speed indicative signals, and a controller for controlling the actuators in response to the wheel-speed indicative signals. The controller controls a hydraulic actuator associated with a controlled outer rear road wheel through a so-called select-LOW process between a wheel-speed indicative signal value of the controlled rear outer road wheel and a wheel-speed indicative signal value of a diagonal front wheel located on the vehicle diagonally to the controlled outer rear wheel only when the controller determines that the vehicle is in a cornering state with a high lateral acceleration during a braking-force control for the controlled outer rear wheel.

Abstract: An automobile brake control system, which applies braking force commonly to both driving wheels and restrictively controls the braking force when a specified difference occurs between a wheel speed of the driving wheel and a vehicle speed estimated based on wheel speeds of the front and rear wheels, controls, when the vehicle is traversing a split surface road, the braking force based on a wheel speed of a specific one of the driving wheels which is suffering a road surface frictional coefficient greater than another driving wheel, and corrects the vehicle speed to a lower speed according to a difference in road surface friction coefficients at the driving wheels.

Abstract: A device for estimating slip angle of vehicle body of a vehicle, having: means for calculating yaw rate based upon such parameters as detected steering angle, vehicle speed, lateral acceleration and braking forces as variable parameters, the slip angle of the vehicle body estimated by the vehicle body slip angle estimation device, a first feedback factor multiplied to difference between the detected yaw rate and the yaw rate calculated by the yaw rate calculation means, and fixed parameters particular to the vehicle, such that the calculated yaw rate converges to the detected yaw rate; means for calculating slip angle of the vehicle body based upon such parameters as detected steering angle, vehicle speed, lateral acceleration, braking forces and yaw rate, the yaw rate calculated by the yaw rate calculation means, a second feedback factor multiplied to the difference between the detected yaw rate and the yaw rate calculated by the yaw rate calculation means, and fixed parameters particular to the vehicle, suc

Abstract: A method is provided to correct the wheel speed for a vehicle equipped with a mini tire as the spare tire plus a nonvolatile memory device. The presence or absence of a mounted mini tire is detected while the vehicle is moving, and if a mini tire is mounted, the mounting information is stored in the nonvolatile memory. If an antilock control is triggered after the vehicle is restarted and in motion, a correction is made for the mini tire using the mounting information stored in the nonvolatile memory.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for conditioning and evaluating the signals emanating from wheel sensors in a first stage determines the sensor(s) supplying the highest useful signal at very low wheel speeds. The signal from the most sensitive sensor is delivered when the wheel speed is below the predetermined speed threshold. Above the speed threshold, however, the signal from a sensor arranged on a driven vehicle wheel is used as the vehicle speed signal. The circuit is especially suitable for anti-lock and traction slip control systems which supply speed signals which can also be evaluated for other vehicle control or regulating systems.

Abstract: In an anti-lock brake control system for a vehicle, first presumed vehicle speeds are calculated in first vehicle speed calculating devices for every wheel based on wheel speeds detected by wheel speed detecting sections. A second presumed vehicle speed is calculated in a second vehicle speed calculating device based on the value of a lower one of the first presumed vehicle speeds calculated in the first vehicle speed calculating devices corresponding to the left and right rear wheels. A higher one of the first presumed vehicle speeds calculated in each of the first vehicle speed calculating devices and the second presumed vehicle speed calculated in the second vehicle speed calculating device is selected as a presumed vehicle speed corresponding to the wheel in a high-select device. The operations of actuators are controlled based on results of calculation of slip rates of wheels based on presumed vehicle speeds and wheel speeds for every wheel.

Abstract: A shift position is controlled so that a vehicle driving force becomes larger than a corrected vehicle running resistance obtained by adding a correction value corresponding to a surplus driving force to an original running resistance. When the automatic speed control device is operative to drive the vehicle at a constant speed, the correction value is switched to a smaller value compared with when the same is inoperative so that the upshift easily occurs during the constant speed drive.

Abstract: A method of an accurate detection of a spinning vehicle wheel. Observed wheel speeds are derived by measuring the speed of each wheel and the slowest speed is set as the slowest observed wheel speed. A maximum probable wheel speed is derived by multiplying the slowest observed wheel speed by the ratio of the maximum wheel speed to the slowest wheel speed for a given minimum turning radius. The maximum probable wheel speed is compared with an observed wheel speed and if the observed wheel speed is greater, the wheel is deemed to be spinning.

Abstract: This invention of a proportional force modulation wheel slide protection process for steel wheel/steel rail vehicles. It applies particularly to self-propelled transit type railway vehicles. It uses a slide detection logic which predicts the force reduction needed to control slippage and correct the slide condition. The force modulation is made on the basis of the initial prediction and the time that a slide has been in effect to determine if greater force reduction is needed to effect a slide correction. Sensing of positive to negative axle rate polarity shift is used to determine when a slide has been corrected and normal braking force can be restored. This process is used to control slides by modulating both the dynamic and friction braking in like manner. The normal braking control devices are used to reduce braking force during slide correction. Although this process could be implemented through the use of discrete circuits, it lends itself to microprocessor applications.

Abstract: In a control system for distributing a driving force from an engine between the front and rear wheels of a vehicle, a controller is designed to decrease the driving force transmitted to the secondary drive wheels which may be the front wheels by modifying a driving force distribution control characteristic when the vehicle is in a predetermined constant speed steady state, in order to improve the fuel economy in the steady state operation while maintaining a vivid vehicle response to a driver's accelerator input. Preferably, the controller determines an offset quantity L which has at least a cubic term proportional to the third power of a vehicle speed when the predetermined steady state exists, and increases the driving force to the secondary wheels as an excess of the wheel speed difference over the offset quantity increases from zero.

Abstract: A reference value for a traction control is calculated based on a vehicle speed. When a vehicle is in a predetermined turning state, so that a driven wheel speed is equal to or lower than a predetermined value and a lateral acceleration is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, a correction value is searched from a table based on the vehicle speed and a steering angle to correct an error of the reference value generated due to a difference between the locus of the driven wheels and the locus of the follower wheels during turning of the vehicle. The reference value is corrected by subtracting the correction value from the reference value (when the vehicle is a rear wheel drive vehicle) or by adding the correction value to the reference value (when the vehicle is a front wheel drive vehicle. Thus, the reference value for the fraction control such as a reference value for a target slip rate can be accurately in accordance with the turning state of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and a method for dynamically determining a lateral acceleration of a motor vehicle for input to a controller employed to control dynamics of the motor vehicle includes sensors for measuring predetermined vehicle operating state. The system also includes a device for predicting a value for the lateral acceleration, which can then be used to determine a correction factor for the measured lateral acceleration signal. This correction factor is proportional to the erroneous component of the lateral acceleration signal. Together, measured operating state and the correction signal are used to obtain a compensated operating state signal. This is particularly useful for reducing the errors attributable to sensor drift and DC offset in measured signals.