Integrated With Antiskid Or Other Vehicle Control System (e.g., Cruise Control, Suspension) Patents (Class 701/91)
  • Patent number: 12344063
    Abstract: Two or more sensors positioned at a wheel of a stopped vehicle may detect an unwanted substance, and transmit signals, based on which a height level of the substance is determined. The system may also determine a type of the substance, such as water, snow, sand or mud, based on electrical resistance of the substance detected by the sensors. Cameras or other imaging equipment, including LIDAR, may also be used to determine the substance height and/or composition. Accordingly, actions to protect the vehicle may be taken, such as raising or lowering the ride height of the vehicle body using an adjustable suspension of the vehicle. Other protective actions may include closing vents, seals, valves and battery isolation units, and transmitting messages to a vehicle driver and/or to emergency personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Adeia Guides Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Dasher
  • Patent number: 12325406
    Abstract: A braking control system and method for a vehicle are configured to calculate a braking force of front and rear wheels using a wheel slip ratio of the front and rear wheels and a road surface friction coefficient and then accurately estimate and calculate a disk temperature of the front and rear wheels using a predetermined estimation formula from the calculated braking force, and control distribution of braking pressure to the front wheels and the rear wheels so as to uniformly wear brake pads based on the calculated temperatures of the disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hee Jin Cho
  • Patent number: 12246754
    Abstract: A method of controlling switching to a manual driving mode of an autonomous vehicle allowing stable transition to the manual driving mode and prevention of collision accidents includes performing motor drive control of a motor controller and braking control of a braking controller according to a command of an autonomous driving controller in a complex manner, when there is a risk of a collision accident caused by a difference between a target yaw rate of the autonomous vehicle and an actual yaw rate of the autonomous vehicle in a transition section from an autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode during turning of the autonomous vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventors: In Su Kim, Myung Ki Yeom
  • Patent number: 12227188
    Abstract: Systems and methods to automatically detect and respond to driving on a deformable surface are provided. A system can determine, for a first time interval, a difference between an expected acceleration of a vehicle and an actual acceleration of the vehicle measured via one or more sensors of the vehicle. The system can detect, for the first time interval, a condition for the vehicle to increase a first slip target set for the vehicle. The system can increase the first slip target set for the vehicle to a second slip target responsive to the difference greater than or equal to a threshold and the detection of the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shuyang Wang, Hien Nguyen, Vineet Mathew
  • Patent number: 12151676
    Abstract: To obtain a rider-assistance system capable of providing a rider of a straddle-type vehicle with a sense of comfort and safety during a turn, and a control method for such a rider-assistance system. The present invention provides the rider-assistance system that assists with driving by the rider of the straddle-type vehicle and includes a controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Yoshihide Igari
  • Patent number: 12077144
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle is provided with a region setting unit and a switching execution unit. The region setting unit is configured to set a drive region including a two-wheel drive region in which two-wheel drive is executed and a four-wheel drive region in which four-wheel drive is executed according to a driving state parameter. The switching execution unit is configured to switch between the two-wheel drive and the four-wheel drive according to a switching condition set in advance while the vehicle is traveling in the two-wheel drive region. The region setting unit is configured to expand the two-wheel drive region during autonomous driving compared to manual driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunro Fukada
  • Patent number: 11981214
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle motion management system as well as an actuator control system of a vehicle. The vehicle motion management system and actuator control system are arranged to control operation of at least one actuator configured to apply a torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The vehicle motion management system is configured to transmit a control signal to the actuator control system, wherein the actuator control system is configured to, based on the control signal, generate an operating torque to be executed subject to the torque limit and the desired wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Adithya Arikere, Leon Henderson, Leo Laine, Ray Sidhant
  • Patent number: 11965313
    Abstract: A method for determining parallel lift feedforward control of a bucket of a work vehicle is provided. The method includes calculating a current stroke length of a bucket cylinder at a current moment based on a current bell crank plate angle and a current boom angle. The method includes predicting a future boom angle after a certain number of steps. The method further includes calculating a required bell crank plate angle from a learned cutting edge angle and the future boom angle. The method even further includes calculating a future stroke length of the bucket cylinder after the certain number of steps. The method yet further includes calculating an average speed command for bucket control based on the current stroke length and the future stroke length of the bucket cylinder. The method still further includes calculating a bucket cylinder control command based on the average speed command for bucket control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Eric John Williams, Caleb Peterson, Duqiang Wu, Joshua D. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11932117
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided herein for controlling the speed on each wheel of a vehicle, possibly operating a vehicle in a speed control mode. In response to receiving input to engage speed control mode and receiving an accelerator pedal input, the system determines a target wheel speed based on the accelerator pedal input, monitors wheel speed of each of a plurality of wheels and determines, for each monitored wheel, a difference based on the monitored wheel speed and the target wheel speed. A torque is provided to each of the plurality of wheels based on the respective difference to achieve the target wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Kang Wang, Boru Wang, Chia-Chou Yeh, Brian Harries
  • Patent number: 11912089
    Abstract: Tire traction is dynamically increased in a vehicle by performing a sequence of steps. First, a center of mass of the body of the vehicle is raised by a predetermined amount above a base level by using an active element of a controllable suspension to generate the positive forces in response to a first signal from a suspension controller. Second, the suspension controller receives a trigger after the center of mass of the body of the vehicle is raised by the predetermined amount above the base level. Third, at least some of the generated positive forces of the active element are removed upon receipt of the trigger in response to a second signal from the suspension controller. The removal of the at least some of the generated positive forces of the active element results in the center of mass of the body of the vehicle dropping back towards the base level and increasing a load on the controllable suspension, thereby dynamically increasing tire traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: GRAVIC, INC.
    Inventors: Ethan E. Golden, Bruce D. Holenstein, Dylan R. Holenstein, Jeffrey P. Jarema
  • Patent number: 11884290
    Abstract: This vehicle speed command generation device 1 generates a target vehicle speed command to be used by a vehicle speed control device. The vehicle speed command generation device 1 comprises: a shift processing unit 12 that receives an original vehicle speed command and generates each of a reference vehicle speed command in which the original vehicle speed command is delayed by a reference delay time, a first-out vehicle speed command in which the original vehicle speed command is delayed by a first-out delay time that is shorter than the reference delay time, and a delayed vehicle speed command in which the original vehicle speed command is delayed by a second delay time that is longer than the reference delay time; and a correction processing unit 16 that generates a target vehicle speed command by using the first-out vehicle speed command and the delayed vehicle speed command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: MEIDENSHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshimichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11840276
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting faults related to wheels of a motor vehicle in a driving situation, comprising: —a step (S1) of automatically determining a first series of corrective steering wheel angles applied successively to force the vehicle to follow a path parallel to a first rectilinear portion of a traffic lane; —a step (S2) of automatically detecting, from the corrective steering wheel angles of the first series, the presence of a fault affecting a pair of steering wheels of the vehicle; and, optionally: —a step (S3) of estimating a type of fault associated with the detected fault, a step (S4) of identifying the steering wheel of the pair of wheels affected by the fault; and —a step (S5) of generating a warning message for the attention of the driver of the motor vehicle, the message including the estimated type of fault and the wheel identified as having the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: VALEO SCHALTER UND SENSOREN GMBH
    Inventors: Rachid Benmokhtar, Salma Moujtahid
  • Patent number: 11815915
    Abstract: A vehicular monitoring system (5) has a plurality of sensors (20, 30) that are used to sense the presence of objects (15) around a vehicle (10, 52) for detecting collision threats. At least one of the sensors is positioned such that a portion of the vehicle is at a predefined location relative to the sensor and is within the sensor's field of view. As an example, for an aircraft, a sensor may be positioned such that a portion of the aircraft's wing, aerospike, or other structure is within the sensor's field of view. The system is configured to automatically calibrate the sensor and, if desired, other sensors using the portion of the vehicle at the predefined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: A'by Airbus LLC
    Inventors: Arne Stoschek, Zachary Lovering
  • Patent number: 11760184
    Abstract: A pipe connection portion of a damper case has an opening opened toward the rear side. In an end surface around the opening in the pipe connection portion, a recess is formed in an inner diameter portion. The recess is recessed to the front side as compared to another portion of the end surface. In an end surface of a pipe member, a groove portion is formed in an outer diameter portion. The groove portion is recessed to the rear side as compared to another portion of the end surface. A first seal member and a second seal member are interposed between the end surface of the damper case and the end surface of the pipe member, and the damper case and the pipe member are sealed by the seal members in a liquid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Oshida, Hideaki Uchise, Yuya Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11603081
    Abstract: For a tank truck using an EBS, the present invention provides a tank truck rollover relieved control method based on electronic braking deceleration. Firstly, a tank truck rollover scene applicable to the relieved control method is defined; then, a least square method is adopted to establish a characterization function of tank truck braking deceleration; and finally, tank truck rollover relieved control is achieved on the basis of the characterization function of the braking deceleration and the EBS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SOUTHEAST UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xu Li, Kun Wei, Qimin Xu
  • Patent number: 11518389
    Abstract: A method of controlling braking when steering an in-wheel motor vehicle includes monitoring a required tire rotation angle for each steering angle and an actual tire rotation angle when performing cooperative control of an in-wheel motor for reducing a steering load, and generating a vehicle braking force in a case where the actual tire rotation angle exceeds the required tire rotation angle, thereby easily preventing a vehicle-skidding phenomenon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Dae Suk Jung
  • Patent number: 11390279
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle control method that performs basic self-driving control configured to automatically control the travel of a host vehicle based on an intervehicle distance between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle. When a traffic jam on a travel lane of the host vehicle is detected, low torque travel control configured to cause the host vehicle to travel by a drive torque lower than a drive torque determined based on the basic self-driving control is performed, and when the intervehicle distance exceeds, in the low torque travel control, a predetermined upper limit distance larger than a set during-vehicle-stop intervehicle distance serving as a reference for the start or the stop of the host vehicle in the basic self-driving control, the low torque travel control is switched to the basic self-driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahisa Arai
  • Patent number: 11358609
    Abstract: A method for warning a driver of a motorcycle and a ride assistant controller for implementing or controlling such method are described. The method includes monitoring traffic situations based on signals from at least one sensor; upon detecting a critical traffic situation based on the signals from the at least one sensor, warning the driver by inducing an acceleration change onto the motorcycle; wherein a current lean angle of the motorcycle is monitored and a manner and/or degree of inducing the acceleration change onto the motorcycle is set taking into account the current lean angle of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Yuki Oshida
  • Patent number: 11352004
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control system for a vehicle may include: a launch profile generator to generate a target torque profile or a target speed profile based on monitored driving information of a host vehicle and a target vehicle; and a controller to control a speed or an acceleration of the host vehicle based on the generated profile. In particular, the launch profile generator analyzes an intention of a driver of the host vehicle when the driver intervenes at least one of the speed, acceleration or deceleration of the host vehicle being controlled, and the launch profile generator further revises the target torque profile or the target speed profile when the analyzed intention represents preferences of the driver such that the controller controls the host vehicle based on the revised profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Lee, Jinho Ha, Byungho Lee
  • Patent number: 11192557
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a road profile along a predicted path. In one implementation, a system includes at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of a user vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the image capture device through the data interface; and compute a profile of a road along one or more predicted paths of the user vehicle. At least one of the one or more predicted paths is predicted based on image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: MOBILEYE VISION TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Gideon Stein, Itay Blumenthal, Nadav Shaag
  • Patent number: 9290109
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an inverted pendulum moving apparatus that may address various kinds of disturbance forces and a control method therefor. The apparatus has one or more wheels coaxially arranged and a center of gravity of parts other than the wheel located above an axle, includes an inversion control part that discriminates a cause of a disturbance force based on a wheel rotation speed of the wheel and the disturbance force and determines output torque to the wheel based on the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryosuke Nakamura, Azusa Amino, Taishi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9108600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for performing open-loop or closed-loop control of the driving stability of a vehicle and for avoiding collisions with an object located in the traffic lane. The invention also relates to a closed-loop driving stability controller. The method according to aspects of the invention comprises: determining based on environmental signals whether a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics, in particular an imminent collision, exists, calculating an avoidance path if a critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists, determining based on a plurality of input variables pressures for individual brakes of the vehicle, and activating preparatory measures of the driving dynamics regulator, in particular dynamic switching over of closed-loop control parameters if the critical situation in terms of driving dynamics exists. The device and the closed-loop driving stability controller are suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Bernd Hartmann, Alfred Eckert, Georg Roll, Stefan Fritz
  • Patent number: 9103296
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a slip ratio calculating unit, a target torque calculating unit, a fuel cut pattern determining unit, and a fuel cut control unit. The vehicle also includes a traction control system which includes an average output torque predicting unit and a fuel cut pattern correcting unit configured to correct the remaining fuel cut pattern during a unit section by judging the overage and shortage of generation of an output torque of the engine by comparison of the average output torque and the target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakamura, Takeru Abe, Tatsuro Kato
  • Patent number: 8965538
    Abstract: A method for operating a controlled device. A feedback signal is received from a controlled device, the feedback signal indicating actual system dynamics of the controlled device. A predefined limit is applied to the actual system dynamics to create limited system dynamics. A modulation parameter is calculated by a processor based at least in part on the limited system dynamics and the actual system dynamics. Desired system dynamics for the controlled device are generated by the processor based at least in part on the modulation parameter and an external command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Ross J. Gadient, Eugene Lavretsky, David C. Hyde
  • Patent number: 8958967
    Abstract: A braking-force control device has a brake control function for performing brake control on a front outside wheel when a vehicle is detected to be in an oversteer condition during a turning operation and for performing brake control on a rear inside wheel when the vehicle is detected to be in an understeer condition during a turning operation. For preventing the oversteer condition, a command for reducing the engine torque is output. On the other hand, for preventing the understeer condition, the engine torque is limited in accordance with a permissible engine torque value that is calculated on the basis of a road-surface friction coefficient, and ground loads and lateral tire forces of individual wheels. If it is detected that engine braking is in operation, the engine torque is adjusted to substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Matsuno, Takeshi Yoneda, Masato Igarashi, Yosuke Morokuma
  • Patent number: 8924120
    Abstract: A regenerative brake control system for a vehicle includes a vehicle controller, a driveline torque distribution device interfacing with the vehicle controller, an electric machine interfacing with the driveline torque distribution device, a plurality of wheels coupled to the electric machine and at least one traction condition input indicating traction of the plurality of wheels provided to the vehicle controller. The vehicle controller engages the driveline torque distribution device and the electric machine apportions regenerative brake torque to the wheels in proportion to the traction of the wheels. A regenerative brake control method for a vehicle is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: William Paul Perkins
  • Patent number: 8862360
    Abstract: A control system for a machine having a transmission system is provided. The control system includes a wheel speed sensor, a cruise control module and a controller. The wheel speed sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of a wheel speed. The cruise control module is configured to maintain a desired wheel speed of the machine. The controller is in communication with the wheel speed sensor and the cruise control module. The controller is configured to selectively deactivate the cruise control module based, at least in part, on a comparison of the wheel speed and a localized speed of the machine near the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Fazal A. Goraya, Justin L. Steinlage, Daryl R. Brower, Bruce Addison Thomas, III, Nathan S. Pauli
  • Patent number: 8855850
    Abstract: A parking assistant includes: shooting part shooting surroundings; parking target position setter setting parking target position in surroundings image by shooting part; rearward movement starting position calculator calculating rearward movement starting position based on: target position by position setter, and vehicle's movable area, rearward movement starting position denoting position stopping vehicle and starting rearward movement of vehicle, to park vehicle in target position; movement calculator sensing movement direction and movement amount of vehicle; and image generator superposing an information image on surroundings image based on movement direction and amount which are sensed with movement calculator. Information image denotes rearward movement starting position for allowing vehicle to be parked in target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayasu Suzuki, Takeshi Akatsuka, Satoshi Kawai, Yoshinori Nakano, Hidenori Seguchi
  • Patent number: 8849537
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for controlling the stability of a vehicle via in-wheel motors. More specifically, a steering angle, a wheel speed, a lateral G-Force, and a yaw rate calculated, and the lateral G-Force is compared with a predetermined lateral G-Force threshold. Next, a predetermined yaw rate control threshold is compared with a difference between an actual yaw rate and a demand yaw rate based on the calculated steering angle and wheel speed. The demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate are then compared when the difference between the demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate is greater than the yaw rate control threshold, and a final torque value is generated according to the difference between the demand yaw rate and the actual yaw rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Sangyon Yoon
  • Patent number: 8818653
    Abstract: A system and method of dithering speed and/or torque for shifting a transmission of a vehicle having an engine, a reversible, variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump which can be driven by the engine, a hydraulic accumulator supplied by said motor/pump, and at least one reversible hydraulic driving motor for propelling the vehicle supplied with fluid by the hydraulic accumulator and/or by said motor/pump operating as a pump. A transmission unit connects the engine with the variable displacement hydraulic motor/pump during a first mode of operation (city mode) and connects the engine to a vehicle drive wheel during a second mode of operation. The system utilizes stored hydraulic energy to dither the output of the driving motor in order to achieve quick and smooth shifts between city and highway mode, or between various ranges within the city mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Yisheng Zhang, John Loeffler
  • Patent number: 8793050
    Abstract: A communication system of a motor vehicle is provided. The communication system includes a vehicle operating unit, a vehicle output unit, and an interface computer. The interface computer is connected to the vehicle operating unit and the vehicle output unit. The interface computer is implemented for the purpose of connecting a mobile terminal to the vehicle operating unit and the vehicle output unit such that information from the mobile terminal is displayable on the vehicle output unit and the mobile terminal is operable via the vehicle operating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Weinmann, Jens-Peter Weiss, Thomas Stauner, Wolfram Manthey
  • Patent number: 8781701
    Abstract: In a vehicular brake-by-wire braking system, during a four wheel simultaneous control mode when regeneration cooperative braking is implemented, a pair of electromagnetic isolation control valves and one of normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to regeneration side left and right wheel brakes and normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to non-regeneration side left and right wheel brakes are caused to operate to open and close, while the other of the normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to the regeneration side left and right wheel brakes and the normally closed electromagnetic pressure relief valves corresponding to the non-regeneration side left and right wheel brakes are put in de-energized states in which the valves concerned are kept closed, and all normally open electromagnetic pressure supply valves are put in de-energized states in which the valves concerned are kept opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Aoki, Jiro Suzuki, Kouji Sakai
  • Patent number: 8768596
    Abstract: A device for the speed control of a vehicle, containing an operator control unit, via which the driver specifies a setpoint speed to be maintained by the vehicle, and a control unit, which positions final controlling elements of the vehicle according to the driver's specification. The device provides that the operator control unit contains at least one speed direct setting control element, which is used for setting a specific setpoint speed value, and the specific setpoint speed value of the vehicle is specifiable and directly settable by a one-time operation of the speed direct setting control element, independently of the instantaneous actual speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Hackl
  • Patent number: 8762004
    Abstract: A pulse active steering control system and method for use in a motor vehicle for improving vehicle stability by reducing a likelihood for rollover and/or skidding sends pulses to the steerable wheels whenever a rollover coefficient and/or the difference between the estimated and actual yaw rate is outside a predetermined range. The pulses are asymmetrical in the form of a smooth curve with a gradually increasing rapid rising edge and a slower falling edge and provide steering input that, along with the driver steering input, returns the rollover coefficient and/or yaw rate to the predetermined range to reduce the likelihood of rollover and/or skidding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Inventors: Amir Khajepour, Che-Jen Christoph Kuo, John Joseph McPhee
  • Patent number: 8755971
    Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a variance determination module and a fault detection module. The variance determination module determines a variance of samples generated from a ride height signal. The ride height signal is output by a ride height sensor that detects a ride height of a vehicle. The fault detection module detects a fault in the ride height sensor based on the variance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Brian A. MacFarlane, John F. Larsen, Steven A. Opiteck
  • Patent number: 8744710
    Abstract: A control device for controlling a front wheel drive force and a rear wheel drive force of a vehicle that includes a transmission comprises: a first controller for controlling a drive force of a main drive wheel and a drive force of an auxiliary drive wheel, the drive force of the main drive wheel being one of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force, and the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel being another of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force; and a second controller for detecting whether a speed-change ratio of the transmission has changed. In a case that the second controller has detected that the speed-change ratio has changed, the first controller increases the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel and reduces the drive force of the main drive wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Manabu Hiroya
  • Patent number: 8744715
    Abstract: In a skid detecting apparatus for a vehicle having an engine and a CVT changing an output of the engine in speed to drive front wheels and rear wheels, it is configured to detect rotational speeds of one of the front and rear wheels, sequentially calculate accelerations (wheel accelerations var1, var2) of the one of the wheels based on the detected rotational speeds, calculate a ratio (var1/var2) between two accelerations of the same wheel calculated at different time points among the sequentially-calculated accelerations (S10), compare the ratio between the two accelerations with a predetermined value (S16) and determine that the one of the wheels has skidded or some or all of the wheels including the one have skidded when the calculated ratio between the two accelerations exceeds the predetermined value (S18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Takemori, Hirohiko Totsuka
  • Patent number: 8718897
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a geared traction drive system configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a driveshaft for transmitting power to the wheel; an electric drive motor for driving the driveshaft, the electric drive motor configured to receive signals from a vehicle dynamic control system to command a required speed; a gear reduction component for reducing the speed of the motor by a predetermined factor to a lower speed suitable for driving the wheel; and a drive electronics component that works with the electric drive motor to drive the wheel to the speed commanded by the vehicle dynamic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Wrightspeed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Wright, Ryan Cash
  • Patent number: 8712639
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle includes determining an acceleration-based longitudinal velocity, determining a wheel speed-based longitudinal velocity from a plurality of wheel speed sensors, combining the acceleration-based longitudinal velocity and the wheel speed-based longitudinal velocity to obtain a final longitudinal velocity and controlling vehicle with the final longitudinal velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Jianbo Lu, Joseph C. Meyers
  • Patent number: 8676461
    Abstract: A control apparatus controls acceleration of a vehicle provided with a motive power generation apparatus and brake apparatuses. For the control, the control apparatus comprises calculation and actuating blocks. The calculation block calculates torque to be requested, based on a difference between an actual value of the acceleration and a target value thereof and a gain for feedback controlling the actual value of the acceleration to the target value thereof. The gain is differentiated in value between in a first case in which the brake apparatuses are used for the feedback control and a second case in which the brake apparatuses are not used for the feedback control. The actuating block actuates the motive power generation apparatus and the brake apparatuses based on the calculated torque. The value of the gain in the first case is made larger than the value of the gain in the second case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakai, Hajime Kumabe, Shotaro Fukuda, Satoshi Niwa, Hiroyuki Kodama, Kazunori Kadowaki, Shintaro Osaki
  • Patent number: 8670915
    Abstract: A vehicle driving assist system is provided that calculates a risk potential indicative of a degree of convergence between the host vehicle and the preceding obstacle. A first driving assistance control system controls at least one of an actuation reaction force exerted by a driver-operated driving operation device and a braking/driving force exerted against the host vehicle based on the risk potential calculated. A second driving assistance control system controls the braking/driving force of the host vehicle such that a headway distance is maintained between the host vehicle and the obstacle. A transition detecting section detects a transition of operating states of the first and second driving assistance control systems. The control adjusting section adjusts the control executed by the first and second driving assistance control systems when a transition of operating state is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kuge, Takayuki Kondoh, Akira Onozuka, Tomohiro Yamamura, Yoshiharu Kamisuki
  • Patent number: 8620498
    Abstract: A method of regulating operation of a hybrid vehicle traveling on a surface having a grade includes determining a drive force of the hybrid vehicle, calculating a brake pressure value and determining whether a grade freeze condition exists based on the brake pressure value. The method further includes calculating a grade value of the surface based on the drive force when the freeze condition does not exist and regulating operation of the hybrid vehicle based on the grade value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Inventors: Mark A. Zerbini, Goro Tamai
  • Patent number: 8600643
    Abstract: A suspension control system for a vehicle includes a pressure increasing module and a compressor control module. In response to a startup of the vehicle, the pressure increasing module: selectively sets a pressure increase signal to a first state when an air pressure within air bags of a suspension system is less than a predetermined pressure; and selectively sets the pressure increase signal to a second state when the air pressure is greater than the predetermined pressure. In response to the startup of the vehicle, the compressor control module: operates an air compressor of the suspension system when the pressure increase signal is in the first state; and disables operation of the air compressor when the pressure increase signal is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Inventors: Brian A. MacFarlane, Steven A. Opiteck
  • Patent number: 8600609
    Abstract: A method for operating a longitudinal driver assist system of an automobile, in particular an ACC system, wherein environmental data of the automobile are evaluated with respect to travel in a longitudinal convoy with at least three automobiles which include the automobile and at least two additional automobiles, which are driving immediately behind one another and each have an active longitudinal driver assist system. A convoy value is formed, and at least one operating parameter of the driver assist system is adapted depending on the convoy value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Manfred Holzmann, Carmen Staudte
  • Patent number: 8577577
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a support member and at least one wheel attached to the support member. The support member is capable of oscillating in a front-back direction of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a torque control unit applying torque to the wheel, and a control loop controlling the torque control unit to adjust the torque applied to the wheel to allow the vehicle to travel while keeping an inverted state of the support member. The control loop controls the torque control unit to apply normal torque and additional torque to the wheel, the normal torque determined according to a deviation between a target value and a controlled variable including at least one of an inclination angular velocity and an inclination angle of the support member in the front-back direction, the additional torque determined according to a power of a velocity parameter of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Susumu Oikawa, Yusuke Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8566012
    Abstract: A method for achieving and maintaining spacing between aircraft may include receiving by a following aircraft information related to a lead aircraft. The information is useable for achieving and maintaining spacing by the following aircraft from the lead aircraft. The method may also include determining spacing of the following aircraft from the lead aircraft. The method may additionally include receiving by the following aircraft a vertical profile for the traffic management environment. The method may further include automatically controlling throttle settings to achieve and maintain spacing by the following aircraft from the lead aircraft while maintaining the vertical profile of the following aircraft in response to an automatic spacing mode being enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Syed Tahir Shafaat, David S. Yotsuuye, Tan N. Che, Minh-Tri Le
  • Patent number: 8548712
    Abstract: An acceleration-based method and device for the safety monitoring of a drive is provided. In the method a setpoint torque is calculated in a safety function as a function of the position of the accelerator pedal. An expected vehicle acceleration is determined, as a function of the setpoint torque, in the safety function. An actual vehicle acceleration is determined, preferably by an acceleration sensor. A fault situation may be detected by comparing the actual vehicle acceleration and the expected vehicle acceleration. A device, preferably included in the vehicle electronics, is configured to implement the acceleration-based method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Florian Oesterreicher, Juergen Binder
  • Patent number: 8494741
    Abstract: A vehicle control device performs a program including the step of obtaining a target point for movement based on information from a vehicle exterior camera, the step of obtaining a distance X to the target point, the step of resetting a distance counter, the step of causing the vehicle to enter accelerated running at set acceleration, the step of causing the vehicle to change from the accelerated running to constant-speed running when the distance counter reaches X, and the step of causing the vehicle to change from the constant-speed running to decelerated running when the distance counter reaches X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Takamatsu
  • Patent number: 8473188
    Abstract: A collision detecting system includes a bumper reinforcement member, a crush box disposed between the bumper reinforcement member and a fixing member of the vehicle, a strain inducing member fixed to the crush box so as to distort in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle as the crush box is compressed between the reinforcement member and the fixing member and a strain measuring element fixed to the strain inducing member 5. The strain inducing member has a strain measuring portion having such a shape that stress of the strain inducing member concentrates into the strain measuring portion. The strain measuring element is fixed to the strain measuring portion to measure a component of the strain of the strain measuring portion in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The strain measuring portion has an asymmetrical cross-section in a vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Takatoshi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8457832
    Abstract: A vehicle body speed estimating device. An attitude angle estimating mechanism estimates a roll angle and a pitch angle. A longitudinal speed computing mechanism computes longitudinal vehicle body speed. A vehicle body speed estimator estimates lateral vehicle body speed by using, as state amounts of vehicle motion, the longitudinal vehicle body speed and the lateral vehicle body speed, and on the basis of respective detected values of longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration and yaw angular velocity of vehicle motion, and respective estimated values of the roll angle and the pitch angle, and a product of a computed value of the longitudinal vehicle body speed and a value obtained from an absolute value of the detected value of the yaw angular velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Ono, Yumiko Miura, Katsuyuki Yamaguchi, Taisuke Yasutomi