Slip suppression control for a motorcycle with an on/off input device

• US 8,554,439 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Oshima, Takeru, Hirokami, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kong, Sze-Hon
• Application Number:
  US12/491,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20090326779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 303/139, 303/145, 303/144, 303/113.2, 701/36, 701/45, 701/48, 701/70, 701/71, 701/76, 701/82, 701/83, 701/91, 701/92, 701/85, 701/90, 180/197, 361/238
• US Class Current: 701/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/175 Brake regulation specially adapted to prevent excessive wheel spin during vehicle acceleration, e.g. for traction control safety devices for propulsion unit control responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels B60K28/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters

Abstract

A slip suppression control system for a vehicle, includes a controller configured to execute traction control for reducing a driving power of a drive wheel when a predetermined start condition is satisfied, and an ON/OFF input device which is configured to switch between a permission state in which the traction control is enabled and an inhibiting state in which the traction control is disenabled. The controller is configured to restrict switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state, in response to a command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when a first condition including a condition that the traction control is being executed is satisfied.

Claims

1. A slip suppression control system for a motorcycle, comprising:

a controller configured to execute traction control for reducing a driving power transmitted from a driving power source to a drive wheel when a predetermined start condition is satisfied; and

an ON/OFF input device which is configured to switch between a permission state in which the traction control is enabled and an inhibiting state in which the traction control is disenabled;

wherein

the controller is configured to restrict switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state, in response to a command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when a first condition including a condition that the traction control is being executed is satisfied; and

the controller is configured to perform switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state when the first condition is not satisfied.

2. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to nullify the command, in response to the command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when the first condition is satisfied.

3. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to defer the command, in response to the command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when the first condition is satisfied, and to switch the permission state to the inhibiting state when a second condition is satisfied in a state where the command is deferred.

4. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 3,

wherein the second condition includes a condition that the traction control is not being executed.

5. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 3, further comprising:

a throttle input device which is operated by a driver to control a throttle valve opening degree; and

a throttle operation amount detecting device configured to detect an opening degree of the throttle input device;

wherein

the second condition includes a condition that the opening degree detected by the throttle operation amount detecting device in a state where the traction control is being executed is a predetermined value or smaller.

6. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 3,

wherein the second condition includes a condition that an increased amount of the driving power is smaller than a predetermined value even when the traction control is terminated.

7. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller is configured to gradually increase the driving power, in response to the command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when the first condition is satisfied, and to switch from the permission state to the inhibiting state, when a difference between a current value of a first parameter corresponding to the driving power and a value of the first parameter which is generated in a state where the traction control is not executed under a same condition is a predetermined value or smaller.

8. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 7,

wherein the first parameter is at least one of an ignition timing of an engine, a throttle valve opening degree and a fuel feed amount.

9. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display device for displaying information indicating that switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state is restricted, in response to the command, when switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state is restricted.

10. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the ON/OFF input device includes plural operation units which are spaced apart from each other;

and

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the command has been input when a driver has operated all of the plural operation units.

11. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 10, wherein the plural operation units include a throttle input unit which is operated by one hand of the driver to operate a throttle valve for controlling an air-intake amount of an engine and a switch which is positioned at an opposite side of the throttle input unit in a vehicle width direction and is operated by the other hand of the driver;

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the command has been input, when an operation amount of the throttle input unit is a predetermined value or smaller and the switch has been operated.

12. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the controller gradually increases the driving power prior to switching to the inhibiting state, in response to the command for switching from the permission state to the inhibiting state which is input to the ON/OFF input device, when the first condition is satisfied.

13. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a throttle input device which is operated by a driver to control a throttle valve opening degree; and

a throttle operation amount detecting device for detecting an opening degree of the throttle input device;

wherein the first condition includes a condition that the opening degree detected by the throttle operation amount detecting device exceeds a predetermined value.

14. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1,

wherein the first condition includes a condition that the traction control is being executed and an increased amount of the driving power at a time point when the traction control is terminated is greater than a predetermined value.

15. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a handle gripped by a driver'"'"'s both hands; and

a throttle input device which is operated by the driver to control a throttle valve opening degree;

wherein the ON/OFF input device is positioned at an opposite side of the throttle device in a vehicle width direction in the handle.

16. The slip suppression control system for the motorcycle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a display device coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller is configured to cause the display device to change its display content according to a traction state of the motorcycle.