Vehicular behavior controller

• US 7,996,129 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Joe, Shinichiro, Deguchi, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coleman; Marthe Marc
• Application Number:
  US12/279,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 701/72, 701/38, 701/42, 701/41, 701/36, 701/90, 701/91, 701/37, 701/70, 701 82- 34
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/16 Axle differentials, e.g. for dividing torque between left and right wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/003 in order to control vehicle yaw movement, i.e. around a vertical axis B62D6/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/159 characterised by computing methods or stabilisation processes or systems, e.g. responding to yaw rate, lateral wind, load, road condition
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicular behavior controller is disclosed. The controller comprises a turning force application mechanism and a stabilization controller. The turning force application mechanism applies a turning force to a vehicle. The stabilization controller is operable to regulate the turning force application mechanism in such a manner that a turning characteristic and a straight travel property of the vehicle are stabilized while in an unstable velocity area when the velocity of the vehicle exceeds a stable limit velocity.

Claims

1. A vehicular behavior controller, comprising:

a turning force application mechanism that applies a turning force to a vehicle; and

a stabilization controller configured to regulate the turning force application mechanism to stabilize a turning characteristic and a straight travel property of the vehicle while in an unstable velocity area when the velocity of the vehicle is faster than a stable limit velocity by selectively reversing the polarity of the operation amount of the turning force application mechanism, wherein the turning force application mechanism is configured to generate a rear wheel transverse driving force difference, and a driving force difference between left and right wheels is used as the operation amount.

2. The vehicular behavior controller of claim 1, wherein the stabilization controller is configured to carry out stabilization operations in such a manner that the polarity of the operation amount is reversed when the velocity of the vehicle is faster than the stable limit velocity in the unstable velocity area relative to the operation amount to be applied when the velocity of the vehicle is less than the stable limit velocity in a stable velocity area.

3. The vehicular behavior controller of claim 2, wherein the stabilization mechanism is configured to carry out stabilization operations in such a manner that the polarity of the operation amount is reversed when the velocity of the vehicle is in the unstable velocity area when the velocity of the vehicle is faster than the stable limit velocity.

4. The vehicular behavior controller of claim 2, wherein:

the stabilization controller is configured to first carry out a steering operation in a direction as that carried out in the stable velocity area when a driver makes a turning operation in the unstable velocity area, and to subsequently carry out the steering operation in a direction in which the polarity of the operation amount is reversed from that carried out in the stable velocity area.

5. The vehicular behavior controller of claim 1, wherein:

the stabilization control mechanism is configured to first carry out an operation with the same polarity and in the same direction as in the stable velocity area when ending a turn, and subsequently to return the operation amount to near zero when the turn is ended.

7. The vehicular behavior controller of claim 1, further comprising:

multiple turning force application units of the turning force application mechanism, and wherein the stabilization control mechanism controls respective operation amounts of the multiple turning force application units.

6. A vehicular behavior controller, comprising:

a turning force application mechanism that applies a turning force to a vehicle; and

a stabilization controller configured to regulate the turning force application mechanism in such a manner that a turning characteristic and a straight travel property of the vehicle are stabilized while in an unstable velocity area when the velocity of the vehicle is faster than a stable limit velocity, wherein the stabilization controller is configured to first carry out an operation with the same polarity and in the same direction as carried out in a stable velocity area at the beginning of a turn, and to subsequently control at an operation amount at which the polarity is reversed from that in the stable velocity area.

8. A vehicular behavior controller, comprising:

a turning force application mechanism that applies a turning force to a vehicle;

vehicle parameters that define an unstable velocity area below a predetermined maximum velocity capability of the vehicle where the behavior of the vehicle becomes unstable; and

a stabilization control mechanism configured to control the turning force application mechanism to apply a force in a direction that stabilizes the vehicle that has become unstable in a stable velocity area, wherein the stabilization control mechanism is configured to first carry out an operation with the same polarity and in the same direction as in the stable velocity area when ending a turn, and subsequently to return an operation amount to near zero when the turn is ended.

9. A vehicular behavior controller, comprising:

means for applying a turning force to a vehicle; and

means for regulating an amount the means for applying the turning force is operated in a direction that stabilizes a turning characteristic and a straight travel property of the vehicle while in an unstable velocity area when vehicular motions have become unstable;

wherein the means for applying a turning force includes means for generating a rear wheel transverse driving force difference, and wherein an operation amount is a difference between the driving forces of left and right wheels.