METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PROVIDING BRAKING ASSISTANCE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE AFTER AN INITIAL COLLISION

• US 20120004819A1
• Filed: 06/30/2011
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Burgio, Gilberto, Schaefer, Roland, Zegelaar, Peter W.A., Derflinger, Monika, Hofmann, Otto
• Granted Patent: US 8,903,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/024 Collision mitigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/03 Brake assistants
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/3275 Systems with a braking assistant function, i.e. automatic full braking initiation in dependence of brake pedal velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/082 Vehicle operation after collision

Abstract

A method and system for providing braking assistance in a motor vehicle after an initial collision involves detecting an initial collision, pre-charging a brake system, detecting an intent to brake on the part of a driver, and providing assistance to a braking process by means of a braking assistance system on the basis of the detection of the initial collision and the detection of intent to brake on the part of the driver.

Claims

1. A method for providing braking assistance in a motor vehicle after an initial collision, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an initial collision;

precharging a brake system upon detection of the initial collision;

detecting an intent to brake on the part of a driver; and

applying braking assistance to the brake system upon detection of the initial collision and detection of the intent to brake.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of overriding control signals to the brake system from a source other than the braking assistance applied upon detection of the initial collision and detection of the intent to brake.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of applying braking assistance to the brake system further comprises the steps of:

detecting at least one abort criteria;

ending the application of braking assistance upon meeting the at least one abort criteria.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the step of detecting at least one abort criteria includes detecting an abort criteria from the group consisting of:

a signal indicating stabilization of the motor vehicle, a predetermined time period, a signal indicating a stationary state of the vehicle, a signal indicating activation of the accelerator pedal, and a signal indicating a release of the brake.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of detecting at least one abort criteria comprises detecting a signal indicating release of the brake, the method further comprises the steps of:

monitoring a yaw rate;

monitoring at least one wheel speed; and

continuing to apply braking assistance until the yaw rate or the at least one wheel speed is within a predetermined range.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a yaw rate;

monitoring at least one wheel speed;

preventing the application of braking assistance when a yaw rate or a wheel speed are outside of a predetermined range.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of detecting an initial collision further comprises detecting at least activation of an airbag, switching off of a fuel supply, or detecting measured values from at least one vehicle sensor, the measured value being outside of a predetermined range.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of pre-charging a brake system further comprises the steps of:

requesting a small amount of braking force from the braking system; and

lowering a triggering threshold of the brake system.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

measuring values from ambient sensors on the motor vehicle;

processing the measured values to determine a post-collision path of the motor vehicle; and

applying braking assistance wherein the post-collision path of the motor vehicle is modified through the application of braking assistance.

10. A system for providing braking assistance to a brake system in a motor vehicle after an initial collision comprising:

a controller having a braking assistance algorithm;

a signal representative of a detection of the initial collision input to the controller;

a signal representative of a detection of an intent to brake on the part of a driver; and

a control signal provided from the braking assistance algorithm to the brake system for assisting a braking process on the basis of the detection of the signal representative of the initial collision and a signal representative of the intent to brake.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a sensor system for detecting the initial collision and generating the signal representative of the detection of the initial collision.

12. The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the sensor system further comprises:

a yaw rate sensor;

at least one wheel speed sensor; and

at least one acceleration sensor.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least one acceleration sensor further comprises:

a lateral acceleration sensor; and

a longitudinal acceleration sensor.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sensor system further comprises a roll rate sensor.

15. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sensor system further comprises an air pressure sensor.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sensor system further comprises an image processing sensor.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the sensor system further comprises a sound sensor.

18. An algorithm for a control system that provides braking assistance to a brake system in a motor vehicle after an initial collision, the algorithm being stored in a non-volatile memory of a controller in the control system and comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal indicative of an initial collision in the controller;

receiving a signal indicative of an intent to brake on the part of a driver in the controller; and

outputting a signal for applying braking assistance to the brake system upon detection of the initial collision and detection of the intent to brake.

19. The algorithm as claimed in claim 18 further comprising generating a signal to pre-charge the brake system upon receipt of the signal indicative of the initial collision.

20. The algorithm as claimed in claim 18 further comprising resolving conflicts between the braking assistance signal and any brake signals from other vehicle systems that are associated with the brake system.

21. The algorithm as claimed in claim 18 further comprising:

receiving a signal indicative of confirmation of an abort criterion being met; and

outputting a signal for ending the application of braking assistance upon receiving confirmation of the abort criterion.

22. The algorithm as claimed in claim 21 wherein the step of receiving a signal indicative of confirmation of an abort criterion being met further comprises receiving a signal indicative of one or more events from the group consisting of:

stabilization of the motor vehicle, a predetermined time period, a stationary state of the vehicle, activation of the accelerator pedal, and a release of the brake.

23. The algorithm as claimed in claim 18 wherein the step of receiving a signal indicative of an initial collision further comprises a signal indicative of activation of an airbag, switching off of a fuel supply, or measured values from one or more vehicle motion sensors that are outside of a predetermined range.

24. The algorithm as claimed in claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one signal indicative of a vehicle environment from one or more ambient sensors on the motor vehicle;

processing the at least on signal to determine a post-collision path of the motor vehicle; and

outputting a signal for applying braking assistance such that the post-collision path of the motor vehicle is modified.