CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD TO INHIBIT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING DURING TRAILER SWAY
First Claim
1. A control system for a vehicle that is towing a trailer comprising:
- a lateral acceleration sensor coupled to the vehicle for determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle caused by the trailer swaying and generating a lateral acceleration signal based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and
a transmission controller for receiving the lateral acceleration signal from the lateral acceleration sensor, comparing the lateral acceleration signal to a threshold, and prohibiting a gear switch signal from being transmitted to a transmission of the vehicle when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds the threshold.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle that is towing a trailer, the control system including a lateral acceleration sensor coupled to the vehicle for determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle caused by the trailer swaying and generating a lateral acceleration signal based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle and a transmission controller for receiving the lateral acceleration signal from the lateral acceleration sensor, comparing the lateral acceleration signal to a threshold, and prohibiting a gear switch signal from being transmitted to a transmission of the vehicle when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds the threshold.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A control system for a vehicle that is towing a trailer comprising:
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a lateral acceleration sensor coupled to the vehicle for determining a lateral acceleration of the vehicle caused by the trailer swaying and generating a lateral acceleration signal based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle; and a transmission controller for receiving the lateral acceleration signal from the lateral acceleration sensor, comparing the lateral acceleration signal to a threshold, and prohibiting a gear switch signal from being transmitted to a transmission of the vehicle when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds the threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control system for a vehicle that is towing a trailer comprising:
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a lateral acceleration sensor for generating a lateral acceleration signal based on a lateral acceleration of a vehicle caused by the trailer swaying; a yaw rate sensor for generating a yaw signal based on an angular velocity of the vehicle; a stability control system for receiving the lateral acceleration signal and the yaw signal, comparing the lateral acceleration signal to a first threshold value, comparing the yaw signal to a second threshold value, and generating a prohibit downshift signal when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds the first threshold value or when the yaw signal exceeds the second threshold value; and a transmission controller for receiving the prohibit downshift signal from the stability control system and transmitting a prohibit downshift signal to a transmission of the vehicle to prevent a mechanical or electrical change of a gear of the transmission. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling vehicle stability during trailer sway, the method comprising:
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receiving from a lateral acceleration sensor a lateral acceleration signal measuring a lateral acceleration of a vehicle; receiving from a yaw sensor a yaw signal measuring an angular velocity of the vehicle; and generating a prohibit downshift signal when the lateral acceleration signal exceeds a first threshold value or when the yaw signal exceeds a second threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification