Yaw controlling apparatus for an automobile

• US 6,409,287 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Leach, Martin, Kamimura, Shouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA
• Application Number:
  US09/643,961
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 303/146, 303/140, 303/148, 303/149, 303/150, 180/197, 180/6.2, 180/6.28, 180/244, 180/282, 180/400, 180/410, 180/411, 180/415, 180/421, 180/422, 180/445, 180/446
• US Class Current: 303/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/03 Driver counter-steering; Avoidance of conflicts with ESP control
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/311 Predefined control maps, lookup tables
• 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 8/1755 Brake regulation specially adapted to control the stability of the vehicle, e.g. taking into account yaw rate or transverse acceleration in a curve road vehicle drive control systems for control of driving stability otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/406 between left and right wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling

Abstract

A yaw controller for a vehicle allows easy manipulation of controls for actively developing brake force in an particular right or left wheel to achieve the turning performance and cornering desired by the driver. A pair of lever style yaw moment booster switches [Y2 and Y1) extending out from the steering column is provided at the front (driver side) of the steering wheel (S3) along the right and left spokes (3b and 3a) from the center pad (1). The yaw moment booster switches (Y2 and Y1) can then be easily operated by the driver while holding the steering wheel (ST3) with both hands by simply extending a thumb to press the desired switch. More particularly, the switches are placed at approximately the ten o'"'"'clock and two o'"'"'clock positions of the steering wheel (ST3) slightly above the left and right spokes (3a and 3b).

Claims

1. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a control prohibiting means for prohibiting operation by the control device under a specific condition;

wherein the control prohibiting means is a driver identification means for permitting use only by a particular driver.

2. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a mode selecting unit enabling driver selection of at least one of a manual mode and an automatic mode;

wherein the control device has a manual mode for developing brake force in the brake unit of each operating switch as directed by the driver when said mode selecting unit is set in said manual mode, and

an automatic mode for developing brake force in each brake unit automatically corrected from the brake force indicated by driver operation of the respective operating switch when said mode selecting unit is set in said automatic mode.

3. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed where a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands; and

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches;

wherein brake force developed in the brake unit of each operating switch is determined so that the initial operating sensitively of each operating switch is greater than switch sensitivity during a latter part of the operation.

4. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a control prohibiting means for prohibiting operation by the control device under a specific condition

wherein the control prohibiting means is a counter steering state control prohibiting means for prohibiting control when the vehicle yawing direction is detected to be opposite the steering direction.

5. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a control prohibiting means for prohibiting operation by the control device under a specific condition;

wherein the control prohibiting means is a large steering angle control means for prohibiting control when the steering angle exceeds a specific large angle.

6. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a control prohibiting means for prohibiting operation by the control device under a specific condition

wherein the control prohibiting means is a high output control prohibiting means for prohibiting control when engine output exceeds a specific high output level.

7. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches;

wherein brake force is developed only in the brake unit of the rear wheel on the side corresponding to the sperated operated switch.

8. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a yaw rate brake force regulating means for regulating brake force developed in each brake unit so that the actual yaw rate developed in the vehicle by the control device does not exceed an appropriate yaw rate range.

9. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches; and

a slipping brake force regulating means for regulating brake force developed in each brake unit so that the wheel slip rate is controlled to less than or equal to a specific slip rate.

10. A vehicle yaw controlling apparatus that is a vehicle brake system capable of independently controlling right and left wheels, comprising:

a pair of right and left operating switches each disposed wherein a driver can independently operate the right and left operating switches while holding a steering wheel with both hands;

a control device for applying brake force to a brake unit of one of the right and left wheels when the driver operates one of the right and left operating switches, and applies brake force to a brake unit of the other of the right and left wheels when the driver operates the other of the right and left operating switches;

at least one of a slip control device for suppressing wheel slipping and a dynamic stability control system for stabilizing vehicle behavior when cornering, and

a prioritizing means for prioritizing control intervention when control by at least one of the slip control device and the dynamic stability control starts.