CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A control system, comprising:
- an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of a vehicle;
a drive system control unit configured to control the electric drive system to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle;
a friction brake system associated with at least one of the first set of wheels or a second set of wheels of the vehicle; and
a friction brake control unit configured to control the friction brake system for a friction brake application to the at least one of the first set of wheels or the second set of wheels;
wherein the drive system control unit is further configured to communicate with the friction brake control unit to control an amount of the friction brake application during vehicle stops and starts.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a vehicle includes an electric drive system associated with a first set of wheels. The electric drive system is configured to selectively provide electric motive power to the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle. The system further includes a friction brake system associated with one of the first set of wheels or a second set of wheels, a drive system control unit, and a friction brake control unit in electrical communication with the drive system control unit. The drive system control unit is configured to communicate with the friction brake control unit to control an amount of friction brake application during vehicle stops and starts on grade.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A control system, comprising:
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an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of a vehicle; a drive system control unit configured to control the electric drive system to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle; a friction brake system associated with at least one of the first set of wheels or a second set of wheels of the vehicle; and a friction brake control unit configured to control the friction brake system for a friction brake application to the at least one of the first set of wheels or the second set of wheels; wherein the drive system control unit is further configured to communicate with the friction brake control unit to control an amount of the friction brake application during vehicle stops and starts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
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at a drive system control unit of the vehicle, controlling an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of the vehicle to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle; at the drive system control unit, determining a torque level needed to move the vehicle from stop to up an inclined grade; and at the drive system control unit, responsive to an input from an operator control for the vehicle to move up the grade, communicating with a friction brake control unit of the vehicle to remove a friction brake application that holds the vehicle stopped and concurrently controlling the electric drive system of the vehicle to provide the electric motive power according to the torque level that is determined, for the vehicle to move from stop to up the inclined grade without substantial vehicle rollback.
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14. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
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at a drive system control unit of the vehicle, controlling an electric drive system associated with at least a first set of wheels of the vehicle to selectively provide electric motive power to the at least the first set of wheels to propel the vehicle and electric retarding to slow the vehicle; at the drive system control unit, determining a force needed to hold the vehicle on an inclined grade on which the vehicle is positioned; and at the drive system control unit, communicating with a friction brake control unit of the vehicle to decrease or increase an amount of friction brake application applied to at least one of the first set of wheels or a second set of wheels of the vehicle, in dependence at least in part upon the force that is determined to hold the vehicle on the inclined grade. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification