Steering and braking stability program

• US 20020101116A1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Teves Corp. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Teves Corp. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Kostadina, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,435,626 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/146
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/02 Active Steering, Steer-by-Wire
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/024 Yawing moment compensation during mu-split braking
• 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 8/1755 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: B60T 8/328 Systems sharing components with other fluid systems onboard the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/505 Pressure reapplication in a mu-split situation, i.e. a situation with different coefficients of friction on both sides of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/00 Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00

Abstract

A vehicle having a steering mechanism and a vehicle control system which cooperate to improve the performance of the vehicle and the vehicle control system. The vehicle also includes an input device adapted to produce a steering signal indicative of a manual steering input received from a vehicle operator. The steering mechanism has an input member operable for receiving a steering input and output member moveable in response to the steering input. The output member is positionable to control the direction in which the vehicle travels. The vehicle control system is operable for controlling a performance characteristic of the vehicle, and may include an anti-lock brake system, a traction control system or a stability system. The vehicle control system receives the steering signal and tailors its operation in response thereto. Preferably, the vehicle control system includes a control unit for selectively calculating a steering angle offset which is operable for causing the steering mechanism to reposition the vehicle wheels to further improve the performance of the vehicle control system and the vehicle. A method for controlling a vehicle is also provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a steering mechanism having an input member and an output member, the input member operable for receiving a steering input, the output member moveable in response to the steering input, the output member being positionable to control the direction in which the vehicle travels;

an input device adapted to produce a steering signal indicative of a manual steering input received from a vehicle operator;

a vehicle control system for controlling a performance characteristic of the vehicle through the application of braking torque to one or more wheels of said vehicle, the vehicle control system receiving the steering signal and tailoring its operation in response thereto.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control system includes an anti-lock brake system and the performance characteristic is wheel slip.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the anti-lock brake system varies the maximum permissible wheel slip based on the steering signal.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control system includes at least one of a traction control system and a stability system.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control system is further operable for determining a steering angle offset that modifies the steering signal to improve the performance of the vehicle control system.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the steering angle offset is operable for causing the output member to be repositioned to reduce wheel slip.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the steering angle offset is operable for causing the output member to be repositioned so that the vehicle moves in a direction that is consistent with the manual steering input when the vehicle is not traveling in a direction that is consistent with the manual steering input.

8. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the steering angle offset causes the output member to be repositioned to counteract vehicle yaw.

9. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle control system for controlling a performance characteristic of the vehicle;

producing a steering signal indicative of a manual steering input received from a vehicle operator; and

tailoring the operation of the vehicle control system in response to the steering signal through the application of braking torque to one or more wheels of said vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of tailoring the operation of the vehicle control system includes the steps of:

determining if a vehicle wheel slip characteristic will exceed a predetermined maximum wheel slip based at least partially on the steering signal;

controlling a vehicle anti-lock brake system using the predetermined maximum wheel slip if the vehicle wheel slip characteristic does not exceed the predetermined maximum wheel slip; and

otherwise, controlling the vehicle anti-lock brake system using a reduced wheel slip.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a steering mechanism having an input member and an output member, the input member operable for receiving a steering input, the output member moveable in response to the steering input, the output member being positionable to control the direction in which the vehicle travels;

an input device adapted to produce a steering signal indicative of a manual steering input received from a vehicle operator;

a vehicle control system for controlling a performance characteristic of the vehicle through the application of braking torque to one or more wheels of the vehicle, the vehicle control system receiving the steering signal and determining a steering angle offset for modifying the steering signal to improve the performance of the vehicle control system.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle control system includes a system from a group of systems consisting of an anti-lock braking system, a traction control system and a stability system.

13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering angle offset is operable for causing the output member to be repositioned to reduce wheel slip.

14. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering angle offset is operable for causing the output member to be repositioned so that the vehicle moves in a direction that is consistent with the manual steering input when the vehicle is not traveling in a direction that is consistent with the manual steering input.

15. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the steering angle offset causes the output member to be repositioned to counteract vehicle yaw.