Vehicle control method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle which is operable in a plurality of driving modes, the system comprising;
- a driving mode selector for providing a requested driving mode;
a vehicle mode controller adapted to receive said requested driving mode from the driving mode selector;
at least one vehicle subsystem operable in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes, each adapted to receive from the vehicle mode controller the requested driving mode and to send continuously to said vehicle mode controller a status message indicating its current subsystem configuration and its ability to change to said requested driving mode; and
wherein the vehicle mode controller is operable to communicate continuously said requested driving mode to each vehicle subsystem to initiate an evaluation of each subsystem configuration mode status and its ability to change modes, to initiate simultaneously the change of all of the at least one vehicle subsystems to said requested driving mode upon affirmative completion of said evaluation, and to confirm that all of said vehicle subsystems have changed to said requested driving mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle mode controller, a driving mode collecting means, and a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller, provide an improved system and method of operating a vehicle control system in a host vehicle in a manner suitable for a respective driving surface in a plurality of different off-road surfaces and terrains such as might be encountered when driving off-road. An improved method is provided for controlling a vehicle control system by avoiding unplanned combinations of subsystem configuration modes and minimizing the transition time when changing between subsystem configuration modes.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle which is operable in a plurality of driving modes, the system comprising;
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a driving mode selector for providing a requested driving mode;
a vehicle mode controller adapted to receive said requested driving mode from the driving mode selector;
at least one vehicle subsystem operable in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes, each adapted to receive from the vehicle mode controller the requested driving mode and to send continuously to said vehicle mode controller a status message indicating its current subsystem configuration and its ability to change to said requested driving mode; and
wherein the vehicle mode controller is operable to communicate continuously said requested driving mode to each vehicle subsystem to initiate an evaluation of each subsystem configuration mode status and its ability to change modes, to initiate simultaneously the change of all of the at least one vehicle subsystems to said requested driving mode upon affirmative completion of said evaluation, and to confirm that all of said vehicle subsystems have changed to said requested driving mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of vehicle control in which the vehicle is provided with a vehicle mode controller, a driving mode selector and at least one vehicle subsystem, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a requested driving mode in the vehicle mode controller from the driving mode selector, communicating continuously said requested driving mode from the vehicle mode controller to each vehicle subsystem, receiving in each vehicle subsystem from the requested driving mode from the vehicle mode controller, sending continuously from each vehicle subsystem to said vehicle mode controller a status message indicating its current subsystem configuration mode and its ability to change to said requested driving mode, initiating in the vehicle mode controller an evaluation of each subsystem configuration mode status and its ability to change mode,initiating in the vehicle mode controller the simultaneous change of all vehicle subsystems to said requested driving mode upon affirmative completion of said evaluation, and confirming in the vehicle mode controller that all of said vehicle subsystems have changed to said driving mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification