Method and apparatus for determining adaptive brake gain parameters for use in a safety system of an automotive vehicle

• US 7,308,350 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Issued: 12/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mattson, Keith, Brown, Todd, Bannon, Chuck
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weiskopf; Marie A
• Application Number:
  US10/849,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/74, 701/78, 701/80, 303/112, 303/20, 303/1
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1766 Proportioning of brake forces according to vehicle axle loads, e.g. front to rear of vehicle

Abstract

A control system for an automotive vehicle (10) and method for operating the same includes a controller (26) that is used to control the brake system in response to an adaptive brake gain coefficient. The adaptive brake gain coefficient may be used by a safety system so that a desired brake torque is applied to the wheel.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining the automotive vehicle to be in a stable condition;

determining an adaptive brake gain coefficient in response to said stable condition determination;

comprising determining the automotive vehicle to be in a quasi-steady state; and

controlling a brake system in response to the adaptive brake gain coefficient.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein determining the automotive vehicle to be in a stable condition further comprises detecting slow changing steering wheel angle.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein determining the automotive vehicle to be in a stable condition further comprises detecting slow changing steering.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein determining the automotive vehicle to be in a stable condition further comprises detecting a low lateral force.