Slip Suppression Control System for Vehicle

• US 20090326779A1
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Hirokami, Tatsuya, Oshima, Takeru
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,439 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/86
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters

Abstract

A slip suppression control system for a vehicle, includes a controller configured to execute traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when a predetermined start condition is satisfied, and an ON/OFF input device which is configured to switch between a permission state in which the traction control is enabled and an inhibiting state in which the traction control is disenabled. The controller is configured to restrict switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state, in response to a command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when a first condition including a condition that the traction control is being executed is satisfied.

Claims

1. A slip suppression control system for a vehicle, comprising:

a controller configured to execute traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when a predetermined start condition is satisfied; and

an ON/OFF input device which is configured to switch between a permission state in which the traction control is enabled and an inhibiting state in which the traction control is disenabled;

wherein

the controller is configured to restrict switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state, in response to a command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when a first condition including a condition that the traction control is being executed is satisfied.

2. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to nullify the command, in response to the command input, when the first condition is satisfied.

3. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to defer the command, in response to the command input, when the first condition is satisfied, and to switch the permission state to the inhibiting state when a second condition is satisfied in a state where the command is deferred.

4. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 3,

wherein the second condition includes a condition that the traction control is not being executed.

5. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a throttle input device which is operated by a driver to control a throttle valve opening degree; and

a throttle operation amount detecting device configured to detect an opening degree of the throttle input device;

wherein

the second condition includes a condition that the opening degree detected by the throttle operation amount detecting device in a state where the traction control is being executed is a predetermined value or smaller.

6. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a tilting angle sensor configured to a detect a tilting angle of a vehicle body in a rightward and leftward direction with respect to a driving direction;

wherein

the second condition includes a condition that the tilting angle detected by the tilting angle sensor is smaller than a predetermined angle.

7. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to gradually increase the driving power, in response to the command input, when the first condition is satisfied, and to switch from the permission state to the inhibiting state, when a difference between a current value of a first parameter corresponding to the driving power and a value of the first parameter which is generated in a state where the traction control is not executed under a same condition.

8. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 7,

wherein the first parameter is at least one of an ignition timing of an engine, a throttle valve opening degree and a fuel feed amount.

9. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

a throttle input device which is operated by a driver to control a throttle valve opening degree;

and

a throttle operation amount detecting device configured to detect an opening degree of the throttle input device;

wherein

the first condition includes a condition that the opening degree detected by the throttle operation amount detecting device in a state where the traction control is being executed exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tilting angle sensor configured to a detect a tilting angle of a vehicle body in a rightward and leftward direction with respect to a driving direction;

wherein

the first condition includes a condition that the tilting angle detected by the tilting angle sensor is a predetermined angle or larger.

11. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display device for displaying information indicating that switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state is restricted, in response to the command input, when switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state is restricted.

12. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the ON/OFF input device includes plural operation units which are spaced apart from each other;

and

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the command has been input, when a driver has operated all of the plural operation units.

13. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the plural operation units include a throttle input unit which is operated by one hand of the driver to operate a throttle valve for controlling an air-intake amount of an engine and a switch which is positioned at an opposite side of the throttle input unit in a vehicle width direction and is operated by the other hand of the driver;

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the command has been input, when the operation amount of the throttle input unit is a predetermined value or smaller and the switch has been operated.

14. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit which is operated by a driver;

wherein the controller is configured to perform forcible termination control of the traction control, in response to a predetermined input to the input unit in a state where the traction control is being executed.

15. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 14,

wherein the input unit is configured to change a driving state of a vehicle irrespective of whether the traction control is being executed or is not being executed.

16. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 15,

wherein the input unit is configured to change a parameter corresponding to the driving power of the drive wheel irrespective of whether the traction control is being executed or is not being executed;

wherein the controller is configured to perform forcible termination control when an input for causing the parameter to be a predetermined value or smaller is performed with respect to the input device in the state where the traction control is being executed.

17. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising:

a throttle input device for operating a throttle valve for controlling an air-intake amount of an engine, and a throttle operation amount detecting device which is configured to detect an opening degree of the throttle input device;

wherein the input unit is the throttle input device; and

wherein the controller is configured to perform the forcible termination control, when the throttle opening degree detecting device detects that the opening degree detected by the throttle operation amount detecting device is a predetermined opening degree or smaller in the state where the traction control is being executed.

18. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising:

a clutch for enabling/disenabling a driving power to be transmitted from an engine to the drive wheel;

a clutch input device for operating the clutch by the driver; and

a clutch detecting device which is configured to detect that the clutch input device has been operated;

wherein the input unit is the clutch input device; and

wherein the controller is configured to perform the forcible termination control, when the clutch detecting device detects that the clutch input device has been operated to disenable the driving power to be transmitted in a state where the traction control is being executed.

19. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 14,

wherein the forcible termination control includes tailing control for gradually increasing the driving power with lapse of time and then terminating the traction control;

and

wherein the tailing control is configured such that an increase rate of the driving power per unit time is larger than in a predetermined first engine speed in a second engine speed which is lower than the first engine speed.

20. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 14,

wherein the forcible termination control includes an overrun control for gradually increasing the driving power with lapse of time to cause the driving power to exceed a value of the driving power in a state where the traction control is not being executed, then returning the driving power to the value of the driving power in the state where the traction control is not being executed, and terminating the traction control.

21. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 20,

wherein the overrun control is configured to gradually decrease the driving power with lapse of time, when the driving power is returned from the value that exceeds the value of the driving power in the state where the traction control is not being executed to the value of the driving power in the state where the traction control is not being executed.

22. The slip suppression control system for a vehicle according to claim 20,

wherein the overrun control is performed by changing ignition timing.