Control System For A Vehicle On An Incline

• US 20130184906A1
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Textron Inc
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Harper, Joseph Lowell
• Application Number:
  US13/352,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184906A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2018 for braking on a slope
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/28 Accelerator pedal thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/34 Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes a vehicle stability module that receives a commanded torque value, that determines whether to apply the commanded torque value based on at least one vehicle position characteristic, a position of an accelerator pedal, and a brake status, and that selectively outputs instructions to apply the commanded torque value in response to the determination. A torque control module receives the instructions from the vehicle stability module and applies a torque, corresponding to the commanded torque value, to at least one wheel of the vehicle based on the instructions.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle stability module that receives a first commanded torque value, that determines whether to apply the first commanded torque value based on at least one vehicle position characteristic, a position of an accelerator pedal, and a brake status, and that selectively outputs instructions to apply a second commanded torque value in response to the determination; and

a torque control module that receives the instructions from the vehicle stability module and applies a torque, corresponding to the second commanded torque value, to at least one wheel of the vehicle based on the instructions.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle stability module outputs the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic is indicative that the vehicle is moving, the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is disengaged, and the brake status indicates that a brake is disengaged.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the vehicle stability module outputs instructions to release the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is not moving and at least one of:

the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is engaged; and

the brake status indicates that the brake is engaged.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle stability module does not output the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is not moving.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle stability module increases the second commanded torque value if the vehicle is moving after the torque control module applies the torque.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the torque control module maintains the torque for a predetermined period after a brake pedal is engaged.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one vehicle position characteristic is based on vehicle movement, and a direction of the torque is based on a direction of the vehicle movement.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle stability module outputs the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is moving, the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is disengaged, and the brake status indicates that a brake is engaged.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the second commanded torque value corresponds to a controlled rate of vehicle movement.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein, after the torque control module applies the torque, the vehicle stability module adjusts the second commanded torque value if the vehicle stops moving.

11. A method for operating a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a first commanded torque value;

determining whether to apply the first commanded torque value based on at least one vehicle position characteristic, a position of an accelerator pedal, and a brake status;

selectively outputting instructions to apply a second commanded torque value in response to the determination;

applying a torque, corresponding to the second commanded torque value, to at least one wheel of the vehicle based on the instructions.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

outputting the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic is indicative that the vehicle is moving, the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is disengaged, and the brake status indicates that a brake is disengaged.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising outputting instructions to release the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is not moving and at least one of:

the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is engaged; and

the brake status indicates that the brake is engaged.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

not outputting the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is not moving.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising increasing the second commanded torque value if the vehicle is moving after the torque control module applies the torque.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising maintaining the torque for a predetermined period after a brake pedal is engaged.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one vehicle position characteristic is based on vehicle movement, and a direction of the torque is based on a direction of the vehicle movement.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising outputting the instructions to apply the second commanded torque value if the at least one vehicle position characteristic indicates that the vehicle is moving, the position of the accelerator pedal indicates that the accelerator pedal is disengaged, and the brake status indicates that a brake is engaged.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the second commanded torque value corresponds to a controlled rate of vehicle movement.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising, after applying the torque, adjusting the second commanded torque value if the vehicle stops moving.