Control device for vehicle including anti-skid braking system and power steering control system

• US 5,335,979 A
• Filed: 10/06/1993
• Issued: 08/09/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Tsutsumi, Kazumichi, Kohge, Shinichi, Wada, Shunichi, Naitou, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US08/132,281
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 180/79.1, 303/100, 303/102, 303/110, 303/107, 303/96, 303/92, 303/91, 303/112, 364/424.05, 364/426.01, 364/426.02, 364/426.03, 188/181 A, 188/181 R, 188/181 T
• US Class Current: 303/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/414 Power supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0481 monitoring the steering system, e.g. failures
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0493 detecting processor errors, e.g. plausibility of steering direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 303/09 Plural processors

Abstract

A unified control device for a vehicle including an anti-skid braking system and power steering control system is controlled by two microcomputers (4B and 24B). On the basis of the outputs of the torque sensors (1a and 1b, etc.), the first microcomputer (4B) determines the driving direction and torque of the DC motor (9) providing the assisting steering torque for the steering wheel, and outputs the torque signal (T) and the first direction signal (D1) for the DC motor (9). The second microcomputer (24B) generates the brake operation signal (B) on the basis of the outputs of the road wheel velocity sensors (21a through 21d) and the brake switch (22). Further, on the basis of the output of the torque sensors (1a and 1b), the microcomputer (24B) determines the direction of the DC motor (9), and outputs the second direction signal (D2). The motor drive circuit (8) drives the DC motor (9) in accordance with the torque signal (T) and the direction command signal (D), which is output from the AND circuit (40) only when the first and second direction signals (D1 and D2) coincide. Further, the microcomputers (4B and 24B) output first and second fail-safe relay energization signals (F1 and F2), respectively, when the power steering control system and the anti-skid braking system are judged to be operating normally. The power supply control circuit (42) immediately opens the fail-safe relay unit (6B) when neither the first and second signals (F1 and F2) are supplied. However, in the case where only one of the first and second signals (F1 and F2) are supplied, the power supply control circuit (42) defers the interruption of the fail-safe relay unit (6B) until the vehicle stops.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle including an anti-skid braking system and power steering control system including an electric motor for proving an assisting steering torque for a steering wheel of said vehicle, said control device comprising:

torque sensor means for determining a torque of said steering wheel;

road wheel velocity sensor means for detecting velocities of road wheels of said vehicle;

brake sensor means for detecting an operation of a brake of said vehicle;

first control means, coupled to said torque sensor means, for determining a driving direction and a driving torque of said electric motor on the basis of an output of said torque sensor means, said first control means generating a first direction signal and a torque signal for said electric motor on the basis of said driving direction and said driving torque of said electric motor determined by said first control means;

second control means, coupled to said torque sensor means, said road wheel velocity sensor means and said brake sensor means, for generating a brake operation signal for said anti-skid braking system on the basis of outputs of said road wheel velocity sensor means and said brake sensor means, wherein said second control means determines a driving direction of said electric motor on the basis of said output of said torque sensor means and outputs a second direction signal for said electric motor on the basis of said direction of said electric motor determined by said second control means;

logical circuit means, coupled to said first and second control means, for generating a direction command signal, coinciding with said first and second direction signals, only when said first and second direction signals output from said first and second control means, respectively, coincide; and

motor drive circuit means coupled to said first control means and said logical circuit means, said motor drive circuit means driving said electric motor in accordance with said torque signal and said direction command signal.

2. A control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second control means include means, respectively, for judging whether or not said power steering control system and said anti-skid braking system are operating normally, and output a first and a second fail-safe relay energization signal, respectively, when said power steering control system and said anti-skid braking system are judged to be operating normally;

said control device further comprising a fail-safe relay unit for controlling a power supply to said power steering control system and said anti-skid braking system, in accordance with said first and second fail-safe relay energization signal.

3. A control device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising second logical circuit means having inputs coupled to said first and second control means, said second logical circuit means generating a third fail-safe relay energization signal only when both said first and second fail-safe relay energization signals are output from said first and second control means, respectively;

wherein said fail-safe relay unit is coupled to an output of said second logical circuit means and includes a single fail-safe relay which is turned on to supply power to said anti-skid braking system and said power steering control system when said third fail-safe relay energization signal is output.

4. A control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said fail-safe relay unit includes a single fail-safe relay for controlling current supply to said anti-skid braking system and said power steering control system; and

said control device further comprises;

power supply control circuit means having inputs coupled to said first and second control means and controlling said single fail-safe relay of said fail-safe relay unit;

wherein said power supply control circuit means turns on said single fail-safe relay to supply power to said anti-skid braking system and said power steering control system when both said first and second fail-safe relay energization signals are output, immediately interrupts said single fail-safe relay when neither said first nor said second fail-safe relay energization signals is output, and interrupts said single fail-safe relay after a deferment when only one of said first and second fail-safe relay energization signals is output.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said power supply control circuit means defers interruption of said single fail-safe relay until said vehicle stops, when only one of said first and second fail-safe relay energization signals is output.