Lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device

• US 20080015764A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Satoki
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/109 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0205 Diagnosing or detecting failures; Failure detection models
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/368 using additional orbital gears in combination with clutches or brakes

Abstract

A lateral G sensor breakdown detection device configured to carry out a breakdown determination control that determines that the lateral G sensor has a breakdown when the difference between the actual lateral G acting on a four wheel drive vehicle measured by the lateral G detection sensor installed on the vehicle and the estimated lateral G estimated and calculated from predetermined parameters that express the condition of the vehicle; while the vehicle is turning when the rotation speed of the outer wheel is equal to or less than the rotation speed of the inner wheel and when the actual lateral G is less than the estimated lateral G and the difference is greater than a predetermined value, the breakdown determination control is suspended.

Claims

1. A lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device configured to carry out a breakdown determination control for determining that the lateral acceleration sensor has a breakdown when a difference between an actual lateral acceleration acting on a four wheel drive vehicle measured by the lateral acceleration sensor installed on the vehicle and an estimated lateral acceleration calculated from predetermined parameters that express a condition of the vehicle, wherein

while the vehicle is turning, when rotation speed of an outer wheel from among left and right wheels is equal to or less than rotation speed of an inner wheel from among the left and right wheels, and when an actual lateral acceleration is less than an estimated lateral acceleration and the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the breakdown determination control is suspended.

2. The lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device according to claim 1, wherein the estimated lateral acceleration is estimated and calculated based on a yaw rate acting on the four wheel drive vehicle measured by a yaw rate sensor installed on the four wheel drive vehicle.

3. The lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device according to claim 1 or claim 2, which is provided in a drive power distribution control device of the four wheel drive vehicle for carrying out control of the distribution of drive power transmitted to the front and rear wheels, or the left and right wheels, based on the actual lateral acceleration.

4. A lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device configured to carry out a breakdown determination control for determining that the lateral acceleration sensor has a breakdown when a difference between an actual lateral acceleration acting on a four wheel drive vehicle measured by the lateral acceleration sensor installed on the vehicle and an estimated lateral acceleration estimated and calculated from predetermined parameters that express condition of the vehicle, wherein

when determination is made that spinning of the wheels has occurred by oversteering during the vehicle is turning in a predetermined direction, the breakdown determination control is suspended.

5. The lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device according to claim 4, wherein determination is made whether or not the vehicle is turning based on the actual yaw rate acting on the four wheel drive vehicle measured by a yaw rate sensor installed on the four wheel drive vehicle.

6. The lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device according to claim 4, wherein a turning direction is determined based on the actual yaw rate acting on the four wheel drive vehicle measured by a yaw rate sensor installed on the four wheel drive vehicle.

7. The lateral acceleration sensor breakdown detection device according to any of claims 4 through 6, further comprising:

a turning direction determination unit that determines the turning direction based on the actual yaw rate acting on the four wheel drive vehicle measured by a yaw rate sensor installed on the four wheel drive vehicle; and

wheel speed sensors that measure rotation speed of left and right wheels, wherein when determination is made by the turning direction determination unit that the vehicle is turning, the difference in the rotation speeds of the left and right wheels measured by the wheel speed sensor and the turning direction determined by the turning direction determination unit are compared, and determination is made whether spinning of the wheels by oversteering has occurred or not.