Adaptive steering control using vehicle slip angle and steering rate
First Claim
1. A method for controlling power steering assist in a motor vehicle including a power steering system, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a slip angle of the vehicle;
determining a steering rate of the vehicle;
combining said slip angle with said steering rate; and
controlling steering assist provided by the power steering system of the vehicle based on the combination of said slip angle and said steering rate.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for improving vehicle steering in unfamiliar safety critical situations by controlling power steering assist in response to the slip angle of the vehicle and the steering rate of the vehicle. When a vehicle is in a slide or a slide is imminent, the steering wheel should be turned in the direction of the slide to stabilize the vehicle and take the vehicle out of the slide or possibility of a slide. Accordingly, a positive supplemental steering assist is provided for the steering system if the driver is turning the steering wheel in the direction to correct the slide. If, on the other hand, the driver is turning the steering wheel in the direction which will increase the slide, a negative supplemental assist is provided for the steering system. That is, a feedback is provided to the driver in the form of increased steering assist if the steering wheel is being turned in the proper direction and a decreased steering assist if the steering wheel is being turned in the improper direction. In this way, the driver of a motor vehicle is advised of the proper steering action to take in the event of an actual or imminent vehicle slide by the resistance the driver feels in turning the steering wheel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling power steering assist in a motor vehicle including a power steering system, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a slip angle of the vehicle; determining a steering rate of the vehicle; combining said slip angle with said steering rate; and controlling steering assist provided by the power steering system of the vehicle based on the combination of said slip angle and said steering rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for controlling power steering assist in a motor vehicle including a power steering system, said apparatus comprising:
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a slip angle sensor for generating a vehicle slip angle signal; a steering rate sensor for generating a steering rate signal for a steering wheel of said vehicle; a multiplier, connected to said slip angle sensor and said steering rate sensor, for generating a supplemental assist signal in response to said slip angle signal and said steering rate signal; a base power steering assist unit generating a base assist signal; and an adder, connected to said multiplier and said base power steering assist unit, for combining said supplemental assist signal and said base assist signal to generate a control signal for the power steering system of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for controlling power steering assist in a motor vehicle including a power steering system, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a signed slip angle for the motor vehicle; comparing the signed slip angle to positive and negative thresholds to generate a positive or a negative slip angle signal corresponding in magnitude to the extent the slip angle exceeds said thresholds; measuring a steering rate for a steering wheel of the motor vehicle; generating a signed steering rate signal representative of the directional steering rate of the steering wheel of the motor vehicle; and multiplying said signed slip angle signal by said signed steering rate signal to generate a steering control signal for controlling steering system power assist. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification