DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY WHEN DRIVING A VEHICLE

• US 20150291155A1
• Filed: 12/03/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Scania CV AB (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: JONSSON, Hkan, EDINGER, Martin, STLUND, Tomas
• Application Number:
  US14/646,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20150291155A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17551 determining control parameters related to vehicle stability used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0031 Mathematical model of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0045 using databus protocols
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/005 Sampling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0094 of control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 Control of vehicle driving stability

Abstract

A method for improvement of safety when driving a vehicle includes the steps to: continuously (s410) establish a measure of instability relating to the vehicle; continuously provide (s420) the measure of instability within a communications network internal to the vehicle (L230, L240), to which network at least one vehicle braking function'"'"'s control device (240a; 240b; 240c; 240d) is connected; and continuously establish the measure of instability based on a difference between an expected propulsion and an actual propulsion. Also, a computer program product with program code (P) for a computer (200; 210) to implement the method. Also, a device (298, 299) for improving safety when driving a vehicle and a motor vehicle (100) equipped with such a device.

Claims

1. A method for improvement of the safety of a vehicle being driven comprising the steps of:

continuously establishing a measure of instability of the vehicle;

continuously providing the measure of instability within a communications network internal to the vehicle, while connecting the network to at least one vehicle braking function control device;

wherein the establishment of the measure of instability is based on a difference between an expected propulsion and an actual propulsion.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

continuously establishing the expected propulsion by performing a simulation based on yaw rate (Yawrate) and lateral acceleration (Alat).

3. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of:

continuously establishing the actual propulsion by performing a calculation based on vehicle speed (V) and steering rate (Steering rate).

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

using a control device to assess whether or not the vehicle braking function should be used based on the measure of instability provided.

5. A method according to claim 4, comprising the step of:

using the control device to adjust the use of the vehicle braking function based on need and to the measure of instability.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

based on the measure of instability, at least one of prioritizing the use of at least one vehicle braking function of a number of available vehicle braking functions and changing the distribution of braking action among different vehicle braking functions.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle braking function comprises at least one of braking of at least one vehicle wheel and braking of a so-called retarder in the vehicle.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communications network comprises a CAN-bus.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle braking function is one out of a group comprising a lane departure warning, a differential lock management, a brake control, and an incident compensation management.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

continuously establishing the measure of instability, based on at least one or a combination of a parameter comprising vehicle speed, lateral acceleration of the vehicle, yaw rate, steering angle, steering rate and wheel slip in at least one of the vehicle wheels.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

continuously providing the measure of instability to a central control device, also named a controller, via the communications network internal to the vehicle.

26. A computer program product for improvement of safety when driving a vehicle, comprising a computer program comprising computer program code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the program code causing an electronic control device, or another computer connected to the electronic control device to perform the steps according to claim 1, when the computer program is run in an electronic control device, or in another computer connected to the electronic control device.

12. A device for the improvement of safety when driving a vehicle comprising:

elements configured to continuously establish a measure of instability of the vehicle when driven;

a communications network internal to the vehicle elements configured to continuously provide the measure of instability within the communications network;

at least one vehicle braking function control device connected to the communications network; and

further elements configured to continuously establish the measure of instability based on a difference between an expected propulsion and an actual propulsion.

13. A device according to claim 12, further comprising:

further elements configured to continuously establish the expected propulsion by performing a simulation based on yaw rate (Yawrate) and lateral acceleration (Alat).

14. A device according to claim 12, further comprising:

further elements configured to continuously establish the actual propulsion by performing a calculation based on vehicle speed (V) and steering rate (Steering rate).

15. A device according to claim 12, further comprising a control device is configured to assess whether or not the vehicle braking function should be used based on the measure of instability provided.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein the control device is configured to adjust the use of the vehicle braking function to a need for the braking function, in addition to the measure of instability.

17. A device according to claim 12, further comprising:

further elements configured, based on the measure of instability, to at least one of prioritise use of at least one vehicle braking function of a number of available vehicle braking functions and to change distribution of braking action among different vehicle braking functions.

18. A device according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle braking function comprises at least one of braking of at least one vehicle wheel and braking of a so-called retarder in the vehicle.

19. A device according to claim 12, wherein the communications network comprises a CAN-bus.

20. A device according to claim 12, wherein the vehicle braking function is one of a group comprising a lane departure warning, a differential lock management, a steering brake, and an incident compensation management.

21. A device according to claim 12, further comprising:

further elements configured to continuously establish the measure of instability, based on at least one or a combination of parameters of vehicle speed, lateral acceleration of the vehicle, yaw rate, steering angle, steering rate and wheel slip in at least one of the vehicle'"'"'s wheels.

22. A device according to claim 12, further comprising:

further elements configured to continuously provide the measure of instability to a central control device, also named a controller, via the communications network internal to the vehicle.

23. A vehicle comprising a device according to claim 12.

24. A motor vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle is a truck, a bus or a car.

25. (canceled)