Method and device for identifying and eliminating the risk of rollover

• US 7,149,614 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Traechtler, Ansgar, Leibeling, Frank, Metzger, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/484,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20040254703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/72, 701/37, 701/38, 701/73, 701/78, 701/82, 701/83, 701/84, 701/90, 701/91, 180/197
• US Class Current: 701/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/02 Side slip angle, attitude angle, floating angle, drift angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17554 specially adapted for enhancing stability around the vehicles longitudinal axle, i.e. roll-over prevention road vehicle drive control systems for roll-over prevention otherwise than by controlling a particular sub-unit B60W30/04

Abstract

A device and the method are for the recognition and rectification of the danger of rollover of a vehicle, outfitted with a regulating system, about a vehicle axis oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The regulating system controls actuators using its output signals in accordance with the output signal values. A variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is determined for the recognition of the danger of a rollover. This variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is compared to at least one characteristic value, e.g., a threshold value. In the case in which the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is greater than, or equal to the characteristic value, the number of all possible combinations of output signal values that may be supplied to the actuators by the regulating system for stability regulation is restricted.

Claims

1. A device for detecting and rectifying a danger of a rollover of a vehicle about an axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the device comprising:

a plurality of actuators and driver information systems;

an arrangement configured to determine a variable describing transverse dynamics of the vehicle;

an arrangement configured to compare the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle with at least one characteristic threshold value; and

a regulating system configured to output signals for controlling the actuators;

wherein, the regulating system is configured to perform the following if the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is equal or greater than the characteristic threshold value;

a) restrict certain sets of possible combinations of output signal values and prevent the output signals from being transmitted to the plurality of actuators; and

b) activate at least one intervention for stability of the vehicle, the at least one intervention having an intensity that increases with an increasing value of the variable describing the transverse dynamics such that at least three intensity stages of the at least one intervention occur, a reduction of a maximum possible engine torque occurring in with the increase in the variable describing the transverse dynamics.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating system is configured to perform restriction of the sets of possible combinations of output signal values and to prevent the activation of at least one possible intervention for a stability regulation of a performance of the vehicle.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating system includes a driving dynamics regulation system.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating system is configured to calculate a transverse acceleration of the vehicle and a change over time of the transverse acceleration in determining the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle.

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating system is configured to perform a low-pass filtration on the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the regulating system is configured to determine the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle using at least one variable that characterize relative distances between at least one wheel unit and an automotive body of the vehicle.

7. The device as recited in claim 6, wherein the regulating system is configured to calculate a transverse acceleration and a change in time of the transverse acceleration from the at least one variable that characterizes the relative distances between the at least one wheel unit and the automotive body.

8. The device as recited in claim 4, wherein, if the case variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the characteristic threshold value, the regulating system is configured to prevent activation of at least one of the following interventions:

a) all interventions against understeering;

b) reduction of a braking effect at a front wheel on an outside of a curve; and

c) brake applications that reduce a drive slip at the front wheel on an inside of the curve.

9. A method of detecting and rectifying a danger of a rollover of a vehicle about an axis oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the method comprising:

controlling output signals for a driver information system and a plurality of actuators;

determining a variable describing transverse dynamics of the vehicle;

comparing the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle with at least one characteristic threshold value; and

if the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle is equal to or greater than the characteristic threshold value;

a) preventing certain sets of combinations of output signal values from being transmitted to the driver information system or the plurality of actuators; and

b) activating at least one intervention for the stability regulation of the vehicle performance of the vehicle, the at least one intervention having an intensity that increases with an increasing value of the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle such that at least three intensity stages of the at least one intervention may be distinguished;

c) reducing a maximum possible engine torque with the increase in the variable describing the transverse dynamics of the vehicle.