Control system for a vehicle

• US 7,032,981 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Spiegelberg, Gernot, Frey, Gerhard, Quinger, Christian, Heilmann, Harro, Sulzmann, Armin, Holloh, Klaus-Dieter, Martens, Eilert, Schwarzhaupt, Andrewas
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US11/065,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/7, 303/15, 303/20, 340/439, 340/436, 180/271, 180/402, 701/29
• US Class Current: 303/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 Active Suspension System
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/08 Coordination of integrated systems
• 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: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/001 Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup

Abstract

A control system for a vehicle having an electronically actuated drive train includes a coordination level which is assigned to a system control device, and in which setpoint values are generated from state variables (ZG) of the vehicle and from driver'"'"'s requests. Actuation signals for actuating actuators are generated from the latter. An execution level, which is subordinate to the coordination level, has actuators for executing the actuation signals. An axle electronic module for activating at least one brake actuator which is assigned to the chassis is arranged in the region of the steerable vehicle axle. The axle electronic module is connected to the coordination level in order to receive transmittal setpoint values, and determines actuation signals for actuating the respective axle actuator from the setpoint values. The axle electronic module is connected to an electronically actuated steering system for transmitting the actuation signals.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle having an electronically actuated drive train, said control system comprising:

a coordination level which is assigned to a system control device and in which setpoint values are generated from state variables of the vehicle and from driver'"'"'s requests, and actuation signals for actuating actuators are generated based on the setpoint signals; and

an execution level which is subordinate to the coordination level and which has actuators for executing the actuation signals;

wherein,

an axle electronic module for activating at least one brake actuator assigned to the chassis is arranged in proximity to a steerable vehicle axle;

the axle electronic module is connected to the coordination level to receive setpoint values, and determines actuation signals for actuating respective axle actuators based on the setpoint values and input from one or more sensors which sense the vehicle'"'"'s dynamic state;

the axle electronic module is connected to an electronically actuated steering system for transmitting the actuation signals;

the steering system comprises a steer-by-wire steering system and operates with a steering algorithm that can be modified as a function of the actuation signals; and

an axle control device which is assigned to the execution level, is arranged in the region of the steerable vehicle axle, and contains the axle electronic module.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the axle electronic module has sensors for sensing vehicle movement dynamic state variables when the vehicle corners, and activates at least one brake actuator of at least one vehicle brake if the state variables reach a predetermined value.

3. The control system according to claim 2, wherein the axle electronic module controls at least one of the at least one brake actuator and the controllable steering system, based on Kamm'"'"'s Circle.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the axle electronic module comprises at least one of electronics, software, and local control circuits for at least one of the following functions:

braking;

steering;

additional drives; and

ride level/pitch/roll control.

5. The control system according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the electronics, software, and local control circuit for the brakes controls at least one element from the following list:

brake pressure;

local ABS;

ABS signal sensing and processing;

active wear adjustment for a vehicle brake; and

sensing brake lining wear.

6. The control system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the electronics, software, and local control circuit has a local algorithm for at least one of a pitch function and roll function.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the axle electronic module comprises at least one of electronics, software, and local control circuits for at least one element selected from the following group:

tire management system including calculation of a coefficient of friction;

tire pressure sensor; and

axle-related actuators.