Method and apparatus for determining adaptive brake gain parameters for use in a safety system of an automotive vehicle

• US 20050261818A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mattson, Keith, Brown, Todd, Bannon, Chuck
• Granted Patent: US 7,308,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• 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 8/1766 Proportioning of brake forces according to vehicle axle loads, e.g. front to rear of vehicle

Abstract

A control system for an automotive vehicle (10) and method for operating the same includes a controller (26) that is used to control the brake system in response to an adaptive brake gain coefficient. The adaptive brake gain coefficient may be used by a safety system so that a desired brake torque is applied to the wheel.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining an adaptive brake gain coefficient; and

controlling a brake system in response to the adaptive brake gain coefficient.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling comprises controlling a brake torque of the vehicle in response to the brake gain coefficient.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising continuously determining the adaptive brake gain coefficient.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining comprises determining the adaptive brake gain coefficient in response to condition.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein the conditions comprise the vehicle brakes not being applied.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the conditions comprise a vehicle speed.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the conditions comprise a moderate brake temperature.

8. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle having a braking system comprising:

determining axle torque;

determining vehicle speed;

determining a resistive force in response to axle torque and vehicle speed;

determining a vehicle mass;

determining brake force in response to the vehicle mass and resistive force;

determining a brake pressure; and

determining a brake gain coefficient in response to brake force and a brake pressure.

9. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a brake force comprises determining a front and rear brake force from the total brake force.

10. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a resistive force value comprises determining rolling resistance and aerodynamic drag in response to axle torque and vehicle speed.

11. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a resistive force value comprises determining the resistive force during a non-braking condition.

12. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a resistive force value comprises determining the resistive force at a constant vehicle speed.

13. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a resistive force value comprises determining the resistive force during a non-braking condition at a constant vehicle speed.

14. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a vehicle mass comprises determining a vehicle and trailer mass.

15. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a vehicle mass is performed during a non-braking condition.

16. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a total brake force is performed during vehicle braking.

17. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a total brake force is performed during vehicle braking and when no safety control systems are intervening with the brake system.

18. A method as recited in claim 8 wherein determining a brake gain coefficient comprises determining a front brake gain coefficient and rear brake gain coefficient.

19. A method of controlling a vehicle having a brake system comprising:

determining a first adaptive brake gain coefficient;

controlling the brake system in response to the first adaptive brake gain coefficient;

determining a second adaptive brake gain coefficient;

when a predetermined condition exists, controlling the brake system in response to the second adaptive brake gain coefficient.

20. A method as recited in claim 19 wherein determining a second adaptive brake gain comprises determining the second adaptive brake gain in response to a vehicle condition.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the vehicle condition comprises a no braking condition.

22. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the vehicle condition comprises a stable vehicle condition.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising determining the stable vehicle condition in response to a low changing steering wheel angle.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 further comprising determining the stable vehicle condition in response to a low lateral force.

25. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the vehicle condition comprises a moderate brake temperature.

26. A method as recited in claim 25 further comprising determining the moderate brake temperature in response to comparing a measured brake temperature to a minimum temperature and a maximum brake temperature and determining the brake temperature is a moderate brake temperature when the brake temperature is between the minimum temperature and the maximum brake temperature.

27. A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising determining the vehicle condition in response to a low speed.

28. A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising determining the vehicle condition in response to a low speed and a stable vehicle condition.

29. A method as recited in claim 20 further comprising determining the second adaptive brake gain is between an upper band and a lower band.

30. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein controlling a brake system in response to the second adaptive brake gain coefficient comprises determining a running average including the second adaptive brake gain coefficient and controlling the vehicle in response to the running average.

31. A control system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a brake system;

a controller coupled to the brake system, said controller programmed to determine an adaptive brake gain coefficient; and

control a brake system in response to the adaptive brake gain coefficient.