Method and control device for warning a vehicle driver of a risk of the vehicle overturning

• US 9,969,370 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2012
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Risse, Rainer, Stender, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merlino, David P.
• Application Number:
  US14/240,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20140214299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,162 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/385 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/683 in pneumatic systems or parts thereof in vacuum systems B60T13/72
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/243 for roll-over protection

Abstract

In a method for warning a vehicle driver of a risk of the vehicle overturning about its longitudinal axis, a control device detects the current transverse acceleration of the vehicle and emits a warning signal based thereon when a risk of overturning is presented. The warning signal is dependent upon at least one transverse acceleration value, which is critical for overturning, detected by the control device while the vehicle is being driven, and a measurement of the transverse acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would actually overturn about its longitudinal axis. The transverse acceleration value that is critical for overturning is determined automatically based on the vehicle behavior exhibited during driving on a curve.

Claims

1. A method for warning the driver of a vehicle of a risk of the vehicle overturning about its longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

using a control device, detecting a current lateral acceleration of the vehicle,

determining a rollover-critical lateral acceleration value for the vehicle based on the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would overturn about its longitudinal axis,

subjecting a wheel of the vehicle on the inside of a turn to a low brake force relative to a maximum possible brake force,

adaptively adjusting the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value based on wheel revolution rate behavior of the wheel subjected to the low brake force,

based on a subsequent lateral acceleration of the vehicle relative to the adjusted rollover-critical lateral acceleration value, outputting a warning signal when a risk of the vehicle overturning is presented, wherein the warning signal is prompted in response to the subsequent lateral acceleration of the vehicle relative to the adjusted rollover-critical lateral acceleration value exceeding a predetermined risk limit value, such the warning signal corresponds to the subsequent lateral acceleration being at least a predetermined percentage, less than one hundred percent, of the adjusted rollover-critical lateral acceleration value, and

displaying the adjusted rollover-critical lateral acceleration value as a stationary warning marker and displaying the subsequent lateral acceleration of the vehicle as an artificial horizon that is rotatable relative to the stationary warning marker, wherein the warning signal causes a further visual warning or audible warning for the driver.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising adaptively adjusting the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value using the control device starting from an initial value during at least one traversal of a turn by the vehicle by analyzing at least one other input variable detected by the control device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising increasing the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value during the at least one traversal of a turn by the vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein adaptively adjusting the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value includes increasing the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value by a step value when test braking does not cause a characteristic reduction in speed of rotation of the wheel subjected to test braking.

5. A control device configured to effect the method as claimed in claim 1.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rollover-critical lateral acceleration value is determined based on an extent of load relief on at least one wheel of the vehicle on the inside of the turn.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising using the control device to determine a first rollover-critical lateral acceleration value that measures the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would overturn about its longitudinal axis in left turns, and a second rollover-critical lateral acceleration value that measures the lateral acceleration of the vehicle at which the vehicle would overturn about its longitudinal axis in right turns.