Method and system for optimizing operation of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the vehicle

• US 6,314,342 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Keeney, Christopher S., Kramer, Dennis A., McKenzie, Jack R., Brissette, Ronald N., Bell, Dale, Mueller, Brian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US09/619,453
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 477/110, 318/630, 318/611, 318/430, 303/191, 748/66
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/026 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/206 Body oscillation speed; Body vibration frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/33 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/38 Speed of engine rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/91 Frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/02 Retarders, delaying means, dead zones, threshold values, cut-off frequency, timer interruption
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/12 Sampling or average detecting; Addition or substraction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/188 Spectral analysis; Transformations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1882 Fourier
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/94 Electronic Stability Program (ESP, i.e. ABS+ASC+EMS)
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/95 Automatic Traction or Slip Control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/97 Engine Management System [EMS]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 : including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 : including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0052 : Filtering, filters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 : Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/20 : Reducing vibrations in the driveline
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30406 : Clutch slip
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30415 : Speed of the input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/30426 : Speed of the output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3067 : Speed of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3144 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/3163 : Using the natural frequency of a component as input for the control
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50293 : Reduction of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/50816 : Control during a braking operation, e.g. during ABS control
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/525 : Improve response of control system
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2500/70605 : Adaptive correction; Modifying control system parameters, e.g. gains, constants, look-up tables
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 48/06 : Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/00 : Suppression of vibrations in systems damping of non-rotary systems using inertia effect F16F7/10; prevention or isolation of vibrations in machine tools B23Q11/0032; suppression of driveline vibrations in hybrid vehicle transmissions B60W30/20 ; vehicle seat suspension devices B60N2/50; methods or devices for protecting against, or damping of, acoustic waves, e.g. sound G10K11/16; Means or arrangements for avoiding or reducing out-of-balance forces, e.g. due to motion vibration absorbing or balancing means for aircraft propellers B64C11/008, for rotorcraft rotors B64C27/001 ; testing static and dynamic balance of machines or structures G01M1/00

Abstract

A method and system for optimizing performance of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle include a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with any one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event. A control logic determines a critical vibration mode characteristic for the vehicle control system based on the sensed parameter and operates the vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event, wherein sensing the predetermined parameter comprises;

sensing at least one of rotational motion and torque at at least one location in the powertrain system if the control system is affected by powertrain-related vibration; and

sensing vibration at least one location in the suspension system if the control system is affected by suspension-related vibration;

determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter; and

operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein sensing the rotational motion comprises:

determining if the vehicle control system requires optimization at a low frequency powertrain vibrations; and

if so, sensing the rotational motion at a first predetermined location in the powertrain system upon sensing a predetermined event causing excitation at low frequency powertrain vibration.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein determining the critical vibration mode characteristic includes determining dominant low frequency components of the sensed rotational motion.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein determining the critical vibration mode characteristic includes determining a torsional stiffness of a drivetrain of the vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 wherein operating the vehicle control system includes adjusting tire pressure of the vehicle based on the determined torsional stiffness of the drivetrain.

6. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein if the vehicle control system requires optimization at frequencies other than low frequency, the method further comprising:

determining if a predetermined event causing resonant excitation of mid-high frequency powertrain vibrations has occurred; and

if so, sensing at least one of relative rotational motion between a second and third predetermined location in the powertrain system and an absolute rotational motion at a fourth predetermined location in the powertrain system.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein determining the critical vibration mode characteristic comprises:

comparing at least one of the relative rotational motion and the absolute rotational motion to a reference frequency; and

determining a maximum amplitude of the rotational motion based on the reference frequency.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the vehicle includes a clutch and wherein the second predetermined location corresponds to a location just before the clutch and the third predetermined location corresponds to a location just after the clutch.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein operating the vehicle control system includes ramping an input signal to the vehicle control system at a ramp rate based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

10. A method for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event, wherein sensing the predetermined parameter comprises;

sensing at least one of rotational motion and torque at at least one location in the powertrain system if the control system is affected by powertrain-related vibration; and

sensing vibration at least one location in the suspension system if the control system is affected by suspension-related vibration, wherein sensing vibration comprises;

determining if a predetermined event causing resonant excitation of the suspension system has occurred; and

if so, sensing one of relative vibration between a first and second predetermined location in the suspension system and an absolute vibration at a third predetermined location in the suspension system;

determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter; and

operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein determining the critical vibration mode characteristic comprises:

comparing the one of the relative vibration and the absolute vibration to a reference frequency; and

determining a maximum amplitude of the vibration based on the reference frequency.

12. A method for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the method comprising:

sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event;

determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter; and

operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic, wherein operating the vehicle control system includes filtering an input signal to the vehicle control system at a center frequency based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

13. A system for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event; and

control logic for determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter and operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine if the vehicle control system requires optimization at a low frequency powertrain vibrations in a powertrain system and the sensor further operative to sense the rotational motion at a first predetermined location in the powertrain system upon sensing a predetermined event causing excitation at low frequency powertrain vibration if the vehicle control system requires optimization at the low frequency powertrain vibrations.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine dominant low frequency components of the sensed rotational motion.

15. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine a torsional stiffness of a drivetrain of the vehicle.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein the control logic, in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to adjust tire pressure of the vehicle based on the determined torsional stiffness of the drivetrain.

17. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine the low and mid range torsional material frequencies, and in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to adjust clutch modulator based on the low and mid range torsional material frequencies.

18. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine the powertrain torsional and suspension natural frequencies, and in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to adjust brake modulation based on the powertrain torsional and suspension natural frequencies.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine the suspension natural frequencies, and in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to adjust suspension actuation modulation based on the suspension natural frequencies.

20. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine the powertrain torsional natural frequencies, and in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to adjust engine torque modulation based on the powertrain torsional natural frequencies.

21. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein if the vehicle control system requires optimization at frequencies other than low frequency, the control logic is further operative to determine if a predetermined event causing resonant excitation of mid-high frequency powertrain vibrations has occurred, and wherein the sensor is further operative to sense one of relative rotational motion between a second and third predetermined location in the powertrain system and an absolute rotational motion at a fourth predetermined location in the powertrain system.

22. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to compare the one of the relative rotational motion and the absolute rotational motion to a reference frequency and determine a maximum amplitude of the rotational motion based on the reference frequency.

23. The system as recited in claim 22 wherein the vehicle includes a clutch and wherein the second predetermined location corresponds to a location just before the clutch and the third predetermined location corresponds to a location just after the clutch.

24. A system for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event; and

control logic for determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter and operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic, wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to determine if a predetermined event causing resonant excitation of a suspension system has occurred and wherein the sensor is further operative to sense one of relative vibration between a first and second predetermined location in the suspension system and an absolute vibration at a third predetermined location in the suspension system.

25. The system as recited in claim 24 wherein the control logic, in determining the critical vibration mode characteristic, is further operative to compare the one of the relative vibration and the absolute vibration to a reference frequency and determine a maximum amplitude of the vibration based on the reference frequency.

26. A system for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event; and

control logic for determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter and operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic, wherein the control logic, in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to filter an input signal to the vehicle control system at a center frequency based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.

27. A system for optimizing performance of any one of a plurality of vehicle control systems based on the dynamics of the specific vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor for sensing a predetermined parameter associated with one of the vehicle control systems during a predetermined trigger event; and

control logic for determining a critical vibration mode characteristic for the one control system based on the sensed parameter and operating the one vehicle control system based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic, wherein the control logic, in operating the vehicle control system, is further operative to ramp an input signal to the vehicle control system at a ramp rate based on the determined critical vibration mode characteristic.