Turning control apparatus and method for automotive vehicle

• US 7,593,800 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2004
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Higuchi, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sriraman; Nikhil
• Application Number:
  US10/982,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/78, 701/72, 701/208, 701/210, 701/211, 180/168, 303/146
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/16 Curve braking control, e.g. turn control within ABS control algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/303 Stability control with active acceleration
• 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 10/04 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 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18145 Cornering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1819 Propulsion control with control means using analogue circuits, relays or mechanical links

Abstract

In a turning control apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a turning controller places a limitation on an automatic deceleration of the vehicle which is started when a turning state of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined deceleration-start threshold value that has a margin for a limit value of turning performance of the vehicle, in such a manner that the turning state of the vehicle approaches to the limit of turning performance of the vehicle in accordance with an accelerator manipulation by a driver. In the case where the driver erroneously manipulates an accelerator pedal, the limitation on the automatic deceleration is suspended.

Claims

1. A turning control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a turning control section configured to controllably decelerate the vehicle in accordance with a turning state of the vehicle when the turning state of the vehicle exceeds a deceleration-start threshold value which has a margin against a limit of a turning performance of the vehicle; and

an accelerator manipulated variable detecting section configured to detect an accelerator manipulated variable,

wherein the turning control section is configured to place a limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle to bring the turning state of the vehicle closer to the limit of the turning performance by decreasing a control quantity of said deceleration control as a magnitude of the detected accelerator manipulated variable becomes larger, wherein the turning state of the vehicle remains below the limit of the turning performance from a time at which the turning state exceeds the deceleration-start threshold value,

wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle by varying a deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section.

2. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle by varying the deceleration-start threshold value in accordance with the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section.

3. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle by bringing the deceleration-start threshold value closer to the limit value of turning performance of the vehicle in accordance with the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section.

4. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the deceleration-start threshold value is calculated on the basis of a correction coefficient which is increased from 0 to 1 as the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section becomes larger.

5. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the deceleration-start threshold value is at least one of a deceleration-start threshold radius which is the deceleration-start threshold value for a turning radius and a deceleration-start threshold velocity which is the deceleration-start threshold value for a turning velocity of the vehicle.

6. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the turning control section is configured to controllably decelerate the vehicle by using both of the deceleration-start threshold radius and the deceleration-start threshold velocity.

7. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle by decreasing a deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section.

8. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle in such a manner that the turning state of the vehicle approaches more to the limit of turning performance of the vehicle as the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section becomes larger.

9. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle in such a manner that the deceleration-start threshold value becomes nearer to the limit value of turning performance of the vehicle as the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section becomes larger.

10. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle in such a manner that a deceleration of the vehicle is decreased more as the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section becomes larger.

11. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle in such a manner that a deceleration of the vehicle is decreased more to become an acceleration as the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section becomes larger.

12. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section suspends the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle when an accelerator of the vehicle is manipulated erroneously.

13. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section suspends the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle when a driver'"'"'s accelerator manipulation speed detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section is larger than a predetermined speed.

14. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the correction coefficient is 0 when a driver'"'"'s accelerator manipulation speed detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section is larger than a predetermined speed.

15. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section suspends the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle irrespective of the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section in the case where the turning state of the vehicle has reached the limit of turning performance of the vehicle.

16. A turning control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turning control section suppresses a driving force of the vehicle irrespective of the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting section in the case where the turning state of the vehicle has reached the limit of turning performance of the vehicle.

17. A turning control method for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

decelerating the vehicle controllably in accordance with a turning state of the vehicle when the turning state of the vehicle exceeds a deceleration-start threshold value which has a margin against a limit of a turning performance of the vehicle;

detecting an accelerator manipulated variable; and

placing a limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle to bring the turning state of the vehicle closer to the limit of the turning performance, by decreasing a control quantity of said deceleration control as a magnitude of the detected accelerator manipulated variable becomes larger, wherein the turning state of the vehicle remains below the limit of the turning performance from a time at which the turning state exceeds the deceleration-start threshold value;

wherein the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle is placed by varying a deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with the magnitude of the detected accelerator manipulated variable.

18. A turning control apparatus for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

turning control means for decelerating the vehicle controllably in accordance with a turning state of the vehicle when the turning state of the vehicle exceeds a deceleration-start threshold value which has a margin against a limit of a turning performance of the vehicle; and

accelerator manipulated variable detecting means for detecting an accelerator manipulated variable,

wherein the turning control means is configured to place a limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle to bring the turning state of the vehicle closer to the limit of the turning performance, by decreasing a control quantity of said deceleration control as a magnitude of the detected accelerator manipulated variable becomes larger, wherein the turning state of the vehicle remains below the limit of the turning performance from a time at which the turning state exceeds the deceleration-start threshold value,

wherein the turning control means places the limitation on said controllable deceleration of the vehicle by varying a deceleration of the vehicle in accordance with the magnitude of the accelerator manipulated variable detected by the accelerator manipulated variable detecting means.