Motor vehicle dynamic stability control

• US 20030116373A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Cars Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Williams, Robert Alan, Barber, Philip Alexander, Miller, Steven Allan
• Granted Patent: US 6,853,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01311 monitoring the braking system, e.g. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/083 using active brake actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/087 using active steering actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2210/36 Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/02 Active Steering, Steer-by-Wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17557 specially adapted for lane departure prevention road vehicle drive control systems for lane keeping otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/12 including control of differentials
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/10 Path keeping cruise control for automatically following a preceding vehicle B60W30/165
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00

Abstract

A motor vehicle having a plurality of road engaging wheels (7-10), a braking system (3, 14-18) linked to the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle (1) may brake the vehicle, a motive means (50) linked to one or more of the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle may control vehicle speed, and a dynamic stability control system that includes a means (12-17, 20-22, 24) for deducing the position and orientation of the vehicle system (12-17, 20-22, 24) for predicting the trajectory (T_P) of the motor vehicle (1) with respect to the roadway (4) and for identifying when the predicted trajectory (T_P) would place the vehicle in danger, and a wheel slip detection system (14-18, 51) for detecting loss of traction of one or more of the wheels (12-17). The dynamic stability control system monitors wheel slip and the predicted trajectory (T_P) of the vehicle (1), and, if loss of wheel traction is detected when the predicted trajectory (T_P) would place the vehicle (1) in danger, acts to alter (T_C) the predicted trajectory, for example by controlling the braking system (14-18) and/or the motive means (50) in such a way that the identified danger is reduced or eliminated.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising a plurality of road engaging wheels, and a dynamic stability control system that includes a means for deducing the position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to a roadway on which the vehicle travels, a path prediction system for predicting the trajectory of the motor vehicle with respect to the roadway and for identifying when the predicted trajectory would place the vehicle in danger, and a wheel slip detection system for detecting loss of traction of one or more of the wheels, wherein the dynamic stability control system is arranged to predict the trajectory of the vehicle, determine whether the predicted trajectory would place the vehicle in danger, and, if loss of wheel traction is detected when the predicted trajectory would place the vehicle in danger, to alter the predicted trajectory in such a way that the identified danger is reduced or eliminated.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a braking system linked to the wheels by which a driver of the vehicle may brake the vehicle, wherein the dynamic stability control system is arranged to alter the predicted trajectory by altering the degree of braking applied to at least one of the wheels.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising motive means linked to the wheels by which a driver of the vehicle may control the vehicle speed, wherein the dynamic stability control system is arranged to alter the predicted trajectory by altering the level of driving torque applied to at least one of the wheels by the motive means.

4. A motor vehicle according to any foregoing claim further comprising a steering system wherein the dynamic stability control system is arranged to alter the predicted trajectory by altering the steering angle of the vehicle provided by the steering system.

5. A motor vehicle according to any foregoing claim including a steering system by which the driver may select a steering angle, wherein the dynamic stability control system is responsive also to the selected steering angle so that when the dynamic stability control system acts to alter the predicted trajectory, the trajectory is altered towards the selected steering angle when this corresponds with a trajectory of reduced or eliminated danger.

6. A motor vehicle according to any foregoing claim, in which the means for deducing the position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the roadway includes a memory means that stores road layout data for a geographical area in which the vehicle travels.

7. A motor vehicle according to claim 6, in which the means for deducing position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the roadway includes a receiver for receiving a remotely transmitted location identification signal within the area, and means for using both the road layout data and location identification signal to deduce at least the position of the vehicle with respect to the roadway.

8. A motor vehicle according to claim 7, in which the location identification signal is a global positioning signal.

9. A motor vehicle according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the means for deducing position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the roadway includes an optical vision system that captures optically a view of the roadway.

10. A motor vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the means for deducing position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to the roadway includes a radar sensor that captures information regarding the roadway.

11. A method of dynamically controlling the trajectory of a motor vehicle that includes a dynamic stability control system, and a plurality of road engaging wheels, wherein the method comprises the steps of using the dynamic stability control system to:

a) deduce the position and orientation of the vehicle with respect to a roadway on which the vehicle travels;

b) predict the trajectory of the motor vehicle with respect to the roadway and identify when the predicted trajectory would place the vehicle in danger;

c) detect loss of traction-of one or more of the wheels; and

d) if loss of wheel traction is detected when the predicted trajectory would place the vehicle in danger, alter the predicted trajectory in such a way that the identified danger is reduced or eliminated.