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

• US 7,136,730 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Meyers, Joseph Carr, Brown, Todd Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US11/258,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20060064213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/41, 701/70, 701/1, 701/72, 701/78, 701/83, 180/197, 303/146, 303/166, 303/189
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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. 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.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 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.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 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, art active front steering system, an active anti-roll bar system, and an active suspension system.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 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.

5. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein determining a normal wheel loading comprises determining a normal wheel loading in response to a rolling radius.

6. 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.

7. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

8. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

9. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

10. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

11. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein activating a safety device comprises activating a brake control system.

12. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

13. A method as recited in claim 6 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.

14. A method as recited in claim 6 wherein determining a normal wheel loading comprises determining a normal wheel loading in response to a rolling radius.