Enhanced system for yaw stability control system to include roll stability control function

• US 20060064213A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jianbo Lu, Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
• Original Assignee: Jianbo Lu, Joseph Carr Meyers, Todd Allen Brown
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Meyers, Joseph Carr, Brown, Todd Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,136,730 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/37
• 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 2400/104 lateral or transversal with regard to vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/106 longitudinal with regard to vehicle, e.g. braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/41 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/016 Yawing condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/244 Oversteer
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/246 Understeer
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/85 System Prioritisation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/91 Suspension Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/9122 ARS - Anti-Roll System Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/92 ABS - Brake Control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/925 Airbag deployment systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/96 ASC - Assisted or power Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/962 Four-wheel steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/02 Side slip angle, attitude angle, floating angle, drift angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2240/06 : Wheel load; Wheel lift
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/022 : Rear-wheel steering; Four-wheel steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2260/06 : Active Suspension System
• 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 8/17554 : 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 : Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 6/04 : responsive only to forces disturbing the intended course of the vehicle, e.g. forces acting transversely to the direction of vehicle travel
• 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

Abstract

A yaw stability control system (18) is enhanced to include roll stability control function for an automotive vehicle and includes a plurality of sensors (28-39) sensing the dynamic conditions of the vehicle. The sensors may include a speed sensor (20), a lateral acceleration sensor (32), a yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) is coupled to the speed sensor (20), the lateral acceleration sensor (32), the yaw rate sensor (28) and a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36). The controller (26) generates both a yaw stability feedback control signal and a roll stability feedback control signal. The priority of achieving yaw stability control or roll stability control is determined through priority determination logic. If a potential rollover event is detected, the roll stability control will take the priority. The controller for roll stability control function determines a roll angle of the vehicle from the lateral acceleration sensor signal and calculates the feedback control signal based on the roll angle.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

measuring a lateral acceleration of the vehicle body;

measuring the yaw rate of the vehicle body;

measuring a vehicle speed;

measuring a steering wheel angle position of a vehicle hand wheel;

determining a yaw control signal and a rollover control signal as a function of the lateral acceleration, the yaw rate, steering wheel angle and the vehicle speed.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 further comprising generating a safety system control signal as a function of the roll stability control signal and the yaw stability control signal and activating a safety device in response to said safety system control signal.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said step of activating a safety device comprises one selected from the group consisting of an active brake control system, an active rear steering system, an active front steering system, an active anti-roll bar system, and an active suspension system.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein determining a roll stability control signal comprises generating a wheel lift flag in response to a wheel normal loading signal during an active wheel detection cycle.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein determining a normal wheel loading comprises determining a normal wheel loading in response to a rolling radius.

22-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A method of controlling an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining a yaw control signal;

determining a roll stability control signal;

generating a safety system control signal as a function of the roll stability control signal and the yaw stability control signal; and

activating a safety device in response to said safety system control signal.

54. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a yaw control signal comprises determining the yaw control signal as a function of a lateral acceleration, a yaw rate and a vehicle velocity.

55. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a yaw control signal comprises determining the yaw control signal as a function of a lateral acceleration, a yaw rate, a steering wheel angle and a vehicle velocity.

56. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a roll control signal comprises determining the roll control signal as a function of a lateral acceleration, a yaw rate and a vehicle velocity.

57. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a roll control signal comprises determining the roll control signal as a function of a lateral acceleration, a yaw rate, a steering wheel angle and a vehicle velocity.

58. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein activating a safety device comprises activating a brake control system.

59. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein activating a safety device comprises one selected from the group consisting of an active rear steering system, an active front steering system, an active anti-roll bar system, and an active suspension system.

60. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a roll stability control signal comprises generating a wheel lift flag in response to a wheel normal loading signal during an active wheel lift detection cycle.

61. A method as recited in claim 53 wherein determining a normal wheel loading comprises determining a normal wheel loading in response to a rolling radius.

62. A control system for an automotive vehicle having a vehicle body comprising:

a yaw rate sensor generating a yaw rate signal corresponding to a yawing angular motion of the vehicle body;

a lateral acceleration sensor generating a lateral acceleration signal corresponding to a lateral acceleration of a center of gravity of the vehicle body;

a steering angle sensor generating a steering angle signal corresponding to a hand wheel angle;

a plurality of wheel speed sensors generating wheel speed signals corresponding to each four wheel speed of the vehicle; and

a yaw stability control unit and a roll stability control unit coupled to said yaw rate sensor, said lateral acceleration sensor, said steering wheel angle sensor and said plurality of wheel speed sensors, said yaw control unit and said roll stability control unit determining a respective yaw stability control signal and a roll stability control signal from the yaw angular rate signal, the lateral acceleration signal, the steering wheel angle signal, and the wheel speed signals; and

an integration unit coupled to the yaw stability control unit and the roll stability control unit, said integration unit determining a safety system control signal in response to the yaw stability control signal and the roll stability control signal.