Integrated vehicle control system using dynamically determined vehicle conditions

• US 8,352,143 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lu, Jianbo, Rupp, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US12/536,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017061A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,251 Days
• Field of Search: 701 36- 40, 701/45, 701/70, 701/80, 340/440, 340/438, 340/441, 340/465, 180/268, 180271-273
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/03 Overturn, rollover
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/413 Plausibility monitoring, cross check, redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/17551 determining control parameters related to vehicle stability used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters
• 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 8/24 responsive to vehicle inclination or change of direction, e.g. negotiating bends using electrical circuitry or regulation means B60T8/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/16 Pitch
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/18 Roll
• 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 40/105 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/11 Pitch movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/112 Roll movement
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/114 Yaw movement

Abstract

A vehicle includes a control system that is used to control a vehicle system. The control system determines a roll condition in response to a yaw rate sensor and a pitch rate sensor without having to use a roll rate sensor. A relative roll angle, relative pitch angle, global roll angle, and global pitch angle may also be determined. A safety system may be controlled in response to the roll condition, roll angle, or the pitch angles individually or in combination.

Claims

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

determining, in a controller, a roll characteristic;

determining, in a controller, a yaw characteristic;

determining, in a controller, a side slip angle;

comparing, in a controller, the roll characteristic to a roll threshold;

comparing, in a controller, the yaw characteristic to a yaw threshold;

comparing, in a controller, the side slip angle to a side slip angle threshold;

determining, in a controller, a dominant characteristic from all of the comparisons; and

controlling the system in response to the dominant characteristic.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the system comprises controlling a safety system.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein controlling a safety system comprises controlling a yaw control system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein controlling a safety system comprises controlling a rollover control system.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the system comprises actuating braking on the vehicle.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the system comprises actuating steering on the vehicle.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the system comprises deploying as rollover curtain.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein controlling the system comprises deploying an airbag.

9. A method of controlling a vehicle system vehicle comprising:

determining, in a controller, a roll characteristic;

determining, in a controller, a yaw characteristic;

determining, in a controller, a side slip angle;

blending, in a controller, the roll characteristic, the yaw characteristic and the side slip angle to define a blended characteristic; and

controlling the system in response to the blended characteristic.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein controlling the system comprises controlling a safety system.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein controlling a safety system comprises controlling a yaw control system.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein controlling a safety system comprises controlling a rollover control system.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein controlling the system comprises actuating braking on the vehicle.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein controlling the system comprises actuating steering on the vehicle.

15. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein controlling the system comprises deploying a rollover curtain.

16. A Method as claimed in claim 9 wherein controlling the system comprises deploying an airbag.

17. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of defining a blending characteristic further comprises selecting a blending characteristic from a look up table.

18. A method as claimed in claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

comparing the roll characteristic to a roll threshold;

comparing the yaw characteristic to a yaw threshold;

comparing the side slip angle to a side slip angle threshold; and

prioritizing the characteristics such that in the event each comparison exceeds the respective threshold, a brake pressure is applied to the vehicle system, the brake pressure to be applied is a maximum brake pressure selected from of a feedback brake pressure generated for roll stability control, a feedback brake pressure generated for yaw stability control and a feedback brake pressure generated for side slip control.