Method For Controlling Driving Functions of a Motor Vehicle

• US 20080215212A1
• Filed: 04/15/2006
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Steinborn, Mario, Reith, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US11/913,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20080215212A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/06 Hill holder; Start aid systems on inclined road
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/122 for locking of reverse movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/24 responsive to vehicle inclination or change of direction, e.g. negotiating bends using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17

Abstract

A procedure for controlling the driving functions of a vehicle with a control unit, which analyzes sensor signals measuring particular driving states and uses this information to generate driving instructions or similar. Driving instructions of this kind can be communicated to the driver of the vehicle or passed directly to the systems concerned as control instructions. Because the road gradient or the resulting vehicle inclination significantly influences driving, the procedure includes measuring the inclination of the vehicle, relative to the horizontal, by at least one inclination sensor, transmitting the inclination sensor signals to the control unit and analyzing these inclination sensor signals for the generation of driving instructions or similar, when in inclination-related driving states. Preferably both the longitudinal and the transverse inclination are measured and analyzed.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. A method of controlling driving functions of a motor vehicle with a control unit that analyzes sensor signals representing certain driving states and generates driving instructions based on this analysis, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring, via at least one inclination sensor, at least one of a longitudinal inclination and a transverse inclination of the vehicle relative to horizontal;

transmitting the inclination sensor signals to the control unit;

analyzing the inclination sensor signals, while in inclination-relevant driving states, to determine one of a positive traction resistance and a negative traction resistance, at any time; and

generating driving instructions based on the inclination analysis.

14. A method of controlling driving functions of a motor vehicle with a control unit that analyzes sensor signals representing certain driving states and generates driving instructions based on this analysis, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring, via at least one inclination sensor, at least one of a longitudinal inclination and a transverse inclination of the vehicle relative to horizontal;

transmitting the inclination sensor signals to the control unit;

analyzing the inclination sensor signals, while in inclination-relevant driving states;

generating driving instructions based on the inclination analysis; and

issuing a warning when a load distribution is reached that will tip the vehicle over.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the steps of connecting the control unit of the vehicle to a loading and an unloading system to control the loading and the unloading system during loading and unloading the vehicle such that tipping over of the vehicle is prevented.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of determining secure load limits of one of truck cranes and construction vehicles, on the basis of the inclination analysis of the vehicle, to control operation of the truck cranes and the construction vehicles.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of determining a center of gravity of the vehicle based on the inclination analysis of the vehicle and on a measured distribution of weight on wheels of the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of determining a secure inclination limit of the vehicle by an analysis of the center of gravity of the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of analyzing the center of gravity of the vehicle to provide parameters to at least one of an ABS system and an EBS systems.

20. A method of controlling driving functions of a motor vehicle with a control unit that analyzes sensor signals representing certain driving states and generates driving instructions based on this analysis, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring, via at least one inclination sensor, at least one of a longitudinal inclination and a transverse inclination of the vehicle relative to horizontal;

transmitting the inclination sensor signals to the control unit;

analyzing the inclination sensor signals, while in inclination-relevant driving states, to determine one of a positive traction resistance and a negative traction resistance, at any time; and

distributing concentrations of fluid, in a fluid-filled vehicle system, based on the inclination analysis.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of producing a warning signal when a particular vehicle inclination lasts longer than a predetermined period of time.