Enhanced roll control system

• US 20060178799A1
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BWI Company Limited SA (Shougang Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoying, John F., Mandich, Sinisa, Stacey, Scott A., Shal, David A.
• Application Number:
  US11/054,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20060178799A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/06 Characteristics of dampers , e.g. mechanical dampersB60G17/015 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/20 Type of damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/40 Type of actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0523 Yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/1042 using at least two sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/202 Piston speed; Relative velocity between vehicle body and wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/208 of wheel rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/50 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/182 Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/184 Semi-Active control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/0124 Roll-over conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9124 Roll-over protection systems, e.g. for warning or control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/922 EBV - Electronic brake force distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/952 Electronic driving torque distribution
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/97 : Engine Management System [EMS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 10/22 : including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 : related to roll-over prevention

Abstract

An enhanced roll control system for a vehicle having a controlled damping system and a roll control system. In one aspect, the enhanced roll control system may include a first controller for controlling the roll control system, a second controller for controlling the controlled damping system, and at least one sensor positioned at each corner of the vehicle, the position sensors being in communication with the first and second controllers, wherein signals from the position sensors contribute to the control of the controlled damping system and the roll control system.

Claims

1. A method for verifying whether a vehicle having a controlled damping system and a roll control system is at a proper trim height comprising the steps of:

providing said vehicle with at least one position sensor at each corner of said vehicle, wherein each of said position sensors is associated with said controlled damping system;

obtaining a position measurement from each of said position sensors; and

determining whether said vehicle is at a proper trim height based on said position measurements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step is performed by an electronic control unit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said electronic control unit is external of said vehicle.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said electronic control unit is mounted on said vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of generating a warning signal when said vehicle is not at said proper trim height.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining step is performed prior to said vehicle leaving an assembly plant.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said position sensors are relative body to wheel sensors.

8. An enhanced roll control system for a vehicle having a controlled damping system and a roll control system, said enhanced roll control system comprising:

a first controller for controlling said roll control system;

a second controller for controlling said controlled damping system; and

at least one position sensor positioned at each corner of said vehicle, said position sensors being in communication with said first and second controllers, wherein signals from said position sensors contribute to the control of said controlled damping system and said roll control system.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said first controller and second controller are part of a single electronic control unit.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a first accelerometer and a second accelerometer, each accelerometer supplying an acceleration signal to said electronic control unit.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said first accelerometer is positioned below a roll axis of said vehicle and said second accelerometer is positioned above said roll axis.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said roll control system is a 2-channel or 1-channel-1-axle roll control system.

13. An enhanced roll control system for a vehicle having a controlled damping system, a controlled braking system and a roll control system, said enhanced roll control system comprising:

a roll controller for controlling said enhanced roll control system;

at least one position sensor associated with said controlled damping system, wherein signals from said position sensor are communicated to said roll controller; and

a yaw rate sensor, an first accelerometer and a steering angle sensor associated with said controlled braking system, wherein signals from at least one of said yaw rate sensor, first accelerometer and steering angle sensor are communicated to said roll controller,

wherein said roll controller generates control signals for controlling said enhanced roll control system based at least in part on signals received from at least one of said position sensor, yaw rate sensor, first accelerometer and steering angle sensor.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising at least one actuator in communication with said roll controller, said actuator being responsive to said control signals.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a stabilizer bar connected to said actuator.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said roll control system is selected from the group consisting of a 1-channel and a 2-channel roll control system.

17. The system of claim 13 further comprising a second accelerometer in communication with said roll controller.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said first accelerometer is positioned below a roll axis of said vehicle and said second accelerometer is positioned above said roll axis.

19. The system 14 further comprising a pressure sensor adapted to monitor a pressure within said actuator.

20. An enhanced roll control system comprising:

a roll controller for controlling said enhanced roll control system; and

a mass change sensor, wherein signals from said mass change sensor are communicated to said roll controller,

wherein said roll controller generates control signals for controlling said enhanced roll control system based at least in part on signals received from said mass change sensor.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said mass change sensor is associated with a pneumatic leveling system.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein said control signals provide oversteer and understeer contributions.