Method and apparatus for controlling brake-steer in an automotive vehicle in reverse

• US 8,380,416 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2004
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20050209763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,260 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/435, 348/148, 303/146, 303/152, 701/1, 701/41, 701/42, 701/83, 701/89, 701/48, 477/182, 477/186, 180/169, 180/271, 180/168, 180/443, 180/446, 180/248, 180/233, 744/732.1
• 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. 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, with said vehicle further comprising a transfer case having a transfer case mode, said controller changing the transfer case mode based on brake-steer.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 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.