Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Keith Gary Reginald Parsons

David Andrew Clare

Jan Pieter Prins

Derek Leslie Jones

William Burdock

Paul Malcolm Darnell

Sam Anker

David Armstrong

John Anthony Kellett

Anthony Francis Spillane

Adrian Berry

Andrew Cotta

Tim Slaney

Adrie Breugelmans

Nick Moore

Richard Cook

David Inch

Scott Dicken

Phil Guest

A vehicle control system has a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controllerand a suspension controller. These subsystem controllers are each operable in a plurality of subsystem modes, and are all connected to a vehicle mode controllerwhich controls the modes of operation of each of the subsystem controllers so as to provide a number of driving modes for the vehicle. Each of the modes corresponds to a particular driving condition or set of driving conditions, and in each mode each of the functions is set to the function in mode most appropriate to those conditions.

Vehicle control

A differential control system for the center and rear differentials of a four-wheel-drive vehicle comprises a controller () which receives signals input from a number of sensors including ride height sensors (). The controller () determines from the ride height signals the degree of articulation of the vehicle suspension and controls the degree of locking of the differentials in response. The degree of locking is increased with increased articulation, and with increased rate of change of articulation.

Vehicle differential control

A vehicle mode controller, a driving mode collecting means, and a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller, provide an improved system and method of operating a vehicle control system in a host vehicle in a manner suitable for a respective driving surface in a plurality of different off-road surfaces and terrains such as might be encountered when driving off-road. An improved method is provided for controlling a vehicle control system by avoiding unplanned combinations of subsystem configuration modes and minimizing the transition time when changing between subsystem configuration modes.

Vehicle control method and apparatus

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Cofton Hackett, United Kingdom

Keith Gary Reginald Parsons