METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING BRAKE-STEER IN AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE IN REVERSE

• US 20050209763A1
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Offerle, Timothy G., Tseng, Hongtei E., Rhode, Douglas S., Brown, Gregory P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,380,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/83
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 11/21 with two pedals operating on respective circuits, pressures therein being equalised when both pedals are operated together, e.g. for steering steering non-deflectable wheels or endless tracks by differentially driving ground-engaging elements on opposite vehicle sides using brakes as main steering effecting means B62D11/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/08 Driving in reverse
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/02 Active Steering, Steer-by-Wire
• 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 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/045 Improving turning performance
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/08 using brakes or clutches as main steering-effecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/027 Parking aids, e.g. instruction means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 9/002 combined with means for differentially distributing power on the deflectable wheels during cornering

Abstract

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle and generating brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal.

Claims

1. (canceled)

7. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle; and

applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal by applying an increased drive torque to a second wheel relative to a first wheel.

9. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle; and

applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal by proportioning brake-steer between a front wheel and a rear wheel.

2. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a reverse direction signal comprises generating a reverse direction from a shift lever.

3. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a reverse direction signal comprises generating a reverse direction from a push button.

4. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a reverse direction signal comprises generating a reverse direction from a transmission controller.

5. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein generating a reverse direction signal comprises generating a reverse direction from a wheel speed sensor.

6. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying at least one brake at a first wheel to reduce a vehicle turning radius.

8. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying brake-steer to a front wheel.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein proportioning comprises proportioning between the front and rear wheel in response to a transfer case mode.

11. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising determining a steering wheel angle and wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering wheel angle.

14. A method as recited in claim 9 further comprising determining a steering wheel angle and a vehicle velocity and wherein applying brake-steer comprises applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering wheel angle and vehicle velocity.

12. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining a yaw rate;

generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle; and

applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and said yaw rate.

13. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining a steering wheel torque;

generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle; and

applying brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering wheel torque.

15-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A vehicle comprising:

a shift lever having a reverse position generating a reverse position signal; and

a controller coupled to the shift lever, said controller applying brake-steer in response to the reverse position signal.

28. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 further comprising a transfer case having a transfer case mode, said controller changing the transfer case mode based on brake-steer.

29. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 wherein said controller is programmed to apply brake-steer by applying a first brake and a second brake to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.

30. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 wherein said controller is programmed to apply brake-steer by applying at least one brake at a first wheel to reduce a vehicle turning radius.

31. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 wherein said controller is programmed to apply brake-steer by applying an increased drive torque to a second wheel relative to the first wheel.

32. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 further comprising a steering wheel angle sensor generating a steering wheel angle signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse directional signal and the steering wheel angle signal.

33. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 further comprising a yaw rate sensor generating a yaw rate signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and yaw rate signal.

34. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 further comprising a steering wheel torque sensor generating a steering torque signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering torque signal.

35. A vehicle as recited in claim 27 further comprising a steering wheel angle sensor generating a steering wheel angle signal and a vehicle velocity sensor generating a vehicle velocity signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering wheel angle and vehicle velocity signal.