Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Getrag Ford Transmissions Gmbh

Helmuth Bosch

Peter W A Zegelaar

Michael Schiebahn

Ahmed Awadi

Martin Leibbrandt

Thomas R Wroblewski

Craig Edward Esler

Stefan Huepkes

Ehab Aleid

Matheus Bianchi Dambros

Steven Yellin Schondorf

Christoph Arndt

Aaron Lewis Mills

Sabine Notelaers

Dirk Nikolai

Yvette Keidies

Stefan Hüpkes

A control system for a vehicle may include a plurality of vehicle subsystems associated with respective different dynamic vehicle control functions and a plurality of subsystem controllers associated with respective ones of the vehicle subsystems. The subsystem controllers may be configured to control actuators associated with the respective different dynamic vehicle control functions to change an operational state of components of the vehicle subsystems based on respective configuration settings. The system further includes an attribute configuration module operably coupled to the subsystem controllers. The attribute configuration module may include processing circuitry configured to save current configuration settings as a saved configuration responsive to a first actuation of a configuration mode actuator and, after an on/off cycle of the vehicle, instruct the subsystem controllers to implement the saved configuration responsive to a second actuation of the configuration mode actuator.

System and method for dynamic customizable vehicle configuration

A method for managing a vehicle steering system of a vehicle having a steering assist system, including estimating a steering angle amplitude during a steering maneuver before rotating the steering wheel to the steering angle amplitude value associated with the steering maneuver. Using the estimated steering angle amplitude value to control activation of the steering assist system associated with the vehicle steering system. In one example, the estimated steering angle amplitude value adapts a torque assist signal of the steering assist system.

Steering assistance system and method

A motor vehicle including a sensor device detecting the current vehicle surroundings and an auxiliary device producing a steering torque on a steering control of the motor vehicle. A data processing device connected to the sensor device and the auxiliary device determines a free escape lane for the motor vehicle by considering the signals of the sensor device to determine the existence of an imminent impact or collision in a current driving situation. If an imminent impact or collision appears likely the data processing device actuates the auxiliary device to produce a temporary steering torque on the steering control. The steering control can be temporarily displaced, moved, or turned to a defined extent in an evasive steering direction to steer the motor vehicle into the free escape lane.

System and method for operating a motor vehicle

A method for distinguishing intentional steering movements of a driver for influencing an intentional driving path of a motor vehicle from corrective steering movements of the driver as a reaction to unexpected deviations of the motor vehicle from the intentional driving path including ascertaining an instantaneous undisturbed motion of the vehicle along the driving path and calculating a reference value for a steering angle (SAR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle or a reference value for a steering velocity (SVR) corresponding to the ascertained, undisturbed motion of the motor vehicle. Comparing the reference value(s) (SAR; SVR) with instantaneous steering-angle values (SA(t)) or instantaneous steering-velocity values (SV(t)) and ascertaining whether a difference between the instantaneous steering-angle value (SA(t)) and the corresponding reference steering-angle value (SAR) or a difference between the instantaneous steering-velocity value (SV(t)) and the corresponding reference steering-velocity value (SVR) exceeds a predetermined error-limit value (&#x394;E) which is established for the calculation of the reference values (SVR; SAR). If so, determining it is a corrective steering movement of the driver as a reaction to an unexpected deviation of the motor vehicle from the intentional driving path.

Method for differentiating driver input

A method for operating a steering assist system of a motor vehicle, in which during a steering movement of the driver while driving the vehicle a steering assistance is determined. The steering assistance provided by an electro-hydraulic or electro-mechanical drive and may depend on the vehicle speed. The steering assistance providing a supportive force or a supporting moment to the steering system, wherein the provision of the steering assistance depends on the result of a judgment of whether there is a discrepancy between the determined steering assistance and the driver's steering intention based on a steering movement of the driver and a current value at least one steering parameter. A discrepancy exists between the steering assistance and the driver's intention to drive when a current value of a steering parameter exceeds a predetermined limit value. The steering parameters including a deviation between a steering assist torque and the driver steering torque exceeding a predetermined limit or the steering angle exceeding a predetermined limit. In such cases, the steering assistance is adjusted or prevented.

Method for operating a power steering system

A method for determining a steering angle amplitude of a steering wheel of a vehicle likely to occur during a lane change, including determining a steering angle measured value of a steering wheel of a vehicle at a time of measurement during a lane change; determining a steering angular velocity measured value of the steering wheel at the time of measurement; and determining a steering angle amplitude likely to occur during the lane change at a later point in time than the time of measurement based on the at least the steering angle measured value at the steering angular velocity measured value at the time of measurement.

A driver assistance system for a motor vehicle configured to recognize an exceptional situation by querying at least one sensor and if necessary applying a corrective or applied steering torque to a steering wheel. The driver assistance system configured to differentiate between a lower reliability and a higher reliability and upon the recognition to set the steering torque depending on the reliability.

Driver assistance system

A method for operating a driver assistance system (DAS) to avoid a collision of a vehicle with an object At least one object in the vehicle environment is detected by vehicle-mounted environmental sensors, and is evaluated in terms of risk of collision with the vehicle, an an automatic intervention into the vehicle movement is carried out depending on this evaluation. During the automatic intervention, the following steps are performed: 1) Carrying out an automatic braking of the vehicle depending on the evaluation of collision risk, and 2) permitting a steering intervention by the driver to perform an evasive steering maneuver, in reaction to which the automatic braking is terminated. The driver-initiated steering intervention must occur before a point-in-time at which the DAS has determined the collision cannot be avoided by steering.

Method for avoiding a collision of a vehicle with an object

A method for reaching a neutral position N located between two end positions of a gearshift fork in a shift transmission in a motor vehicle from a starting position of the gearshift fork. The method allows finding the neutral position of the gearshift fork without a sensor determining the position of the gearshift fork or in the alternative in case such the sensor is defect.

Method for reaching a neutral position of a gearshift fork in a shift transmission

An analyzing method for a sensor system determining the position of a shifting fork in a shift transmission is suggested wherein a shifting fork can be moved from a neutral position into at least one gear position. The position of the shifting fork is determined by a sensor system comprising at least one magnet and at least one magnetic field sensor that can be moved relative to the magnet. The method includes storing a base diagram for a base output signal in relation to position s and correcting the measured output signal so that the base diagram can be used for determining with high accuracy the position of the shifting fork.

Analyzing method for a sensor system determining the position of a shifting fork in a change gear transmission

A method for shifting a gear into a gear position in an automated shift transmission with several gears and an automated shift transmission adapted to perform said method are suggested. Via a shifting fork, a shifting sleeve can be shifted from a neutral position into respective gear positions and reaches on its way a pull-in position where the shifting sleeve is automatically forced in direction of the gear position. It is achieved that the pull-in position is safely reached by checking whether the shifting fork has reached a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and whether it has come to a standstill therebetween. Accordingly, an increased shifting force can be applied. Albeit allowing production tolerances in the transmission, the respective gear position is safely reached.

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Leverkusen, Germany

Helmuth Bosch