System for dynamically determining vehicle rear/trunk loading for use in a vehicle control system

• US 8,219,282 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Mattson, Keith, Meyers, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US12/641,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/41, 701/45, 701/46, 701/48, 701/49, 340/429, 340/440, 280/5.506, 280/5.508, 280/735
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/072 Curvature of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/13 Load or weight

Abstract

A control system (18) and method for an automotive vehicle (10) includes a pitch rate sensor (37) generating a pitch rate signal, a longitudinal acceleration sensor (36) generating a longitudinal acceleration signal, and a yaw rate sensor (28) generating a yaw rate signal. A safety system (44) and the sensors are coupled to a controller. From the sensors, the controller (26) determines an added mass and a position of the added mass, a pitch gradient and/or a pitch acceleration coefficient that takes into account the added mass and position. The controller controls a vehicle system in response to the added mass and the position of the added mass, the pitch gradient and/or pitch acceleration coefficient variables.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle system for a vehicle comprising:

determining a pitch gradient;

determining a pitch acceleration coefficient;

determining an added mass and a position of the added mass from the pitch gradient and the pitch acceleration coefficient; and

controlling the vehicle system in response to the added mass and position of the added mass.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining a pitch gradient from a pitch rate sensor signal.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining a pitch acceleration coefficient from a pitch rate sensor signal.

4. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the position corresponds to a change in a center of gravity position.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling a safety system.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein controlling the safety system comprises controlling a roll stability control system.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein controlling the safety system comprises controlling a yaw stability control system.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling a headlight leveling system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling vehicle body leveling system.

10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises compensating at least one sensor output.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining the pitch gradient in response to a pitch rate signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal.

12. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining the pitch gradient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate signal and a pitch acceleration signal.

13. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining the pitch gradient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a yaw rate signal and a pitch rate signal.

14. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining the pitch gradient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate signal, a pitch acceleration signal and a yaw rate signal.

15. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch gradient comprises determining the pitch gradient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate signal, a pitch acceleration signal, a yaw rate signal and a relative roll angle.

16. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining the pitch acceleration coefficient in response to a pitch rate signal and a longitudinal acceleration signal.

17. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining the pitch acceleration coefficient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate and a pitch acceleration signal.

18. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining the pitch acceleration coefficient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a yaw rate signal and a pitch rate signal.

19. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining the pitch acceleration coefficient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate signal, a pitch acceleration signal and a yaw rate signal.

20. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein determining a pitch acceleration coefficient comprises determining the pitch acceleration coefficient in response to a longitudinal acceleration signal, a pitch rate signal, a pitch acceleration signal, a yaw rate signal and a relative roll angle.

21. A method for controlling a vehicle system for a vehicle comprising:

sensing a pitch rate;

sensing a longitudinal acceleration;

sensing a yaw rate;

determining an input representative of added mass and a position of the added mass from the sensed pitch rate, the sensed longitudinal acceleration and the sensed yaw rate; and

controlling the vehicle system in response to the input representative of added mass and the position of the added mass.

22. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling a safety system.

23. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein controlling the safety system comprises controlling a roll stability control system.

24. A method as recited in claim 22 wherein controlling the safety system comprises controlling a yaw stability control system.

25. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling a headlight leveling system.

26. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises controlling vehicle body leveling system.

27. A method as recited in claim 21 wherein controlling the vehicle system comprises compensating at least one sensor output.