Vehicle control system with advanced tire monitoring

• US 8,255,117 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bujak, Christopher R., Rao, Manoharprasad K., Cuddihy, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/215,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20110307147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/1, 701/36, 701/48, 701/70, 701/71, 701/73, 180/197, 731/46, 731/463, 731/170.3, 731/170.1, 301/5.1, 301/5.21, 340/442, 340/444, 340/449, 280/5.5
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/002 by monitoring conditions other than tyre pressure or deformation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/019 characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof B60G17/01941 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0521 Roll rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0522 Pitch rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/0523 Yaw rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/102 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/252 vertical
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/33 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/34 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/39 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/44 Steering speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/73 of other part than suspension unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/821 : Uneven, rough road sensing affecting vehicle body vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/904 : the sensor being an xyz axis sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 : Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/044 : Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/18 : Automatic control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/1882 : Fourier
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/70 : Computer memory; Data storage, e.g. maps for adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/162 : Reducing road induced vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 : Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 : Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9124 : Roll-over protection systems, e.g. for warning or control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 : ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/984 : Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems

Abstract

A control system (11) for a vehicle (10) includes vehicle dynamics sensors (35-47) providing a vehicle dynamics signal. Tire monitoring system sensors (20) in each wheel generate tire signals including temperature, pressure and acceleration data. A controller (26) communicates with the tire monitoring system sensors (20) and at least one vehicle dynamics sensor, and generates a suspension value as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signals. The suspension value is transmitted to a suspension control system (33) to adjust the vehicle suspension characteristics in response to the suspension value.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a tire sensor located within at least one wheel of the vehicle and generating a tire signal comprising pressure, temperature and multi-axis acceleration data;

at least one vehicle dynamics sensor providing a vehicle dynamics signal;

a controller in communication with the tire sensor and the at least one vehicle dynamics signal, the controller generating a first suspension value in response to the vehicle dynamics signal and as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signal;

a suspension control system receiving the first suspension value from the controller and adjusting vehicle suspension characteristics in response to the first suspension value.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a user-selected second suspension value, and wherein the suspension control system adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics as a function of the first and second suspension values.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the controller generates a roadway surface condition estimation value as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data from the tire signal, and modifies the first suspension value as a function of the roadway surface condition estimation value.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the controller generates the first suspension value as a function of the tire signal by comparing frequency and amplitude response characteristics of the tire signal to stored frequency and amplitude response characteristics indicative of different roadway surfaces.

5. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a tire sensor located within at least one wheel of the vehicle and generating a tire signal comprising pressure, temperature and multi-axis acceleration data;

at least one vehicle dynamics sensor providing a vehicle dynamics signal;

a controller in communication with the tire sensor and the at least one vehicle dynamics signal, the controller generating a first suspension value in response to the vehicle dynamics signal and as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signal;

a suspension control system for receiving the first suspension value from the controller and adjusting vehicle suspension characteristics in response to the first suspension value;

a user-selected second suspension value, the suspension control system adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics according to the second suspension value when the first and second suspension values are compatible, and adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics according to the first suspension value when the first and second suspension values are incompatible.

6. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a tire sensor located within each wheel of the vehicle and generating a tire signal comprising pressure, temperature and multi-axis acceleration data;

at least one vehicle dynamics sensor providing a vehicle dynamics signal;

a controller communicating with the tire sensor and the at least one vehicle dynamics sensor, the controller generating a first suspension value in response to the vehicle dynamics signal and as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signal; and

a suspension control system receiving the first suspension value from the controller and adjusting vehicle suspension characteristics in response to the first suspension value.

7. A system according to claim 6 further comprising a user-selected second suspension value, and wherein the suspension control system adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics as a function of the first and second suspension values.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein the controller generates a roadway surface condition estimation value as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data from the tire signal, and modifies the first suspension value as a function of the roadway surface condition estimation value.

9. A system according to claim 6 wherein the controller generates the first suspension value as a function of the tire signal by comparing frequency and amplitude response characteristics of the tire signal to stored frequency and amplitude response characteristics indicative of different roadway surfaces.

10. A system for a vehicle comprising:

a tire sensor located within each wheel of the vehicle and generating a tire signal comprising pressure, temperature and multi-axis acceleration data;

at least one vehicle dynamics sensor providing a vehicle dynamics signal;

a controller communicating with the tire sensor and the at least one vehicle dynamics sensor, the controller generating a first suspension value in response to the vehicle dynamics signal and as a function of the multi-axis acceleration data of the tire signal;

a user-selected second suspension value;

a suspension control system receiving the first suspension values from the controller, the suspension control system adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics according to the second suspension value when the first and second suspension values are compatible, and adjusts the vehicle suspension characteristics according to the first suspension value when the first and second suspension values are incompatible.