Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Marc Suermann

Uwe Hoffmann

Russ Lee Norton

David Michael Russell

Albert Chenouda Salib

Sebastian Leitermann

Benjamin Bulat

Jill Trappe

Thomas Svensson

Michael Seemann

Ben Bulat

Rudolf Daniels

Darrell Erick Butler

Yvonne Baeumchen

Christoph Henel

Tadeusz Bularz

William Gregory Suter

Louis Joseph Jamail

Gregory Suter

Greg Gregory Suter

Markus Schommer

A system and method for operating a motor vehicle with an electric parking brake. The system includes a clutch sensor, generating a clutch sensor signal representing operation of a clutch of the motor vehicle. A gear selection sensor generates a sensor signal indicating a particular gear selection or position of a manual gearbox of the motor vehicle. Using these and if needed other various inputs, the system generates a deactivation signal for releasing the electric parking brake when a clutch operation is detected and the vehicle gearbox is positioned or has a gear selection other than a neutral position of the manual gearbox.

System and method for operating a motor vehicle with an electric parking brake

A hill start assist system for a motor vehicle including a control system using sensor data from at least one sensor to provide the hill start assist with improved response behavior. The control system activating the hill start assist automatically and independently of whether the motor vehicle is on an upward incline depending on sensor data from the sensor indicating a local upward gradient in a driving surface in a region of a vehicle axle.

Vehicle hill start assist system

A method for controlling an electric parking brake for a motor vehicle including a brake actuator having an electric motor disposed directly on the brake caliper. When the parking brake is utilized as an additional service brake, depending on a brake pedal brake command, the electric motor is initially energized on detection of an imminent or commencing brake-pedal actuation however the electric motor generates no braking force until a predetermined or specific brake command is received. As a result, an overload of the vehicle voltage source is avoided if simultaneous utilization of multiple parking-brake actuators occurs.

Electric parking brake control and method

An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction. At least one of a timer threshold and velocity threshold, used to determine whether a vehicle wheel has encountered a depression in a road surface, may be varied on a basis of a speed of the vehicle. A damping mechanism for a rear wheel of a vehicle may be controlled on a basis of how a damping mechanism for a front wheel is controlled.

Ride performance optimization in an active suspension system

An active vehicle suspension system includes an active damping mechanism operatively coupled to a vehicle wheel and configured for controlling a damping force applied to the wheel responsive to a control signal. A controller is operatively coupled to the damping mechanism and configured for generating a control signal to the damping mechanism responsive to velocity of the wheel in a downward vertical direction.

A method and system for operating a motor vehicle is described. In one example, spring rates for suspension springs and damping rates for shock absorbers are adjusted in response to vertical acceleration, longitudinal angular acceleration, and lateral angular acceleration of a vehicle body in the absence of accelerometers. The system and method may improve vehicle driving dynamics and lower system cost as compared to other systems.

Method and system for operating a motor vehicle

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Duisburg, Germany

Marc Suermann