Nissan Motor Company Limited

Naoki Maruko

Minoru Tamura

Hideaki Inoue

Takayuki Watanabe

Akihiko Kobayashi

The present invention pertains a controlling scheme for brake torque, which is applied, as a stand-by braking torque, to wheels of an automotive vehicle upon determination that operator braking action is imminent. A braking system applies brake torque in response to a brake signal The brake torque applied to the vehicle is monitored and the brake signal is modified based on the monitored brake torque to alter the brake torque.

Controlling scheme for stand-by braking torque applied to automotive vehicle

A braking control system includes an object detector, a host vehicle speed sensor, and a control unit configured to be electronically connected to at least the object detector and the host vehicle speed sensor for automatically controlling, depending on a host vehicle speed and a relative distance, a braking force needed for an automatic braking operation, containing preliminary braking control and supplementary braking control, without driver's braking action when a host vehicle is approaching a frontally positioned object. The control unit detects the presence or absence of a driver's intention for lane-changing. In the presence of the driver's intention for lane-changing, the preliminary braking control initiated prior to the driver's braking action is inhibited or the degree of limitation on the supplementary braking control, through which a value of a controlled quantity is brought closer to a target deceleration rate needed for collision-avoidance, is reduced.

Braking control system with object detection system interaction

The present invention pertains a method and a system for controlling a stand-by braking torque applied to an automotive vehicle under a condition of approaching or following an obstacle preceding the vehicle, the automotive vehicle having a powering system for applying a driving torque to the vehicle in response to an operator power demand. A brake controller executes a series of instructions for determining a variable indicative of dynamic situation of the vehicle, for sampling the determined values of the dynamic situation indicative variable immediately before an operator braking action to reduce the speed of the vehicle is imminent, for using the sampled values of the dynamic situation indicative variable as a basis to establish a parameter, and for using the established parameter as a basis to determine a target value of stand-by braking torque.

Method and system for controlling stand-by braking torque applied to automotive vehicle

A system and method for reducing speed of a vehicle include determining whether or not there is a need for operator braking action, determining a stand-by braking torque when there is a need for operator braking action, determining a transition braking torque based on the stand-by braking torque and an automatic distance regulation (ADR) braking torque, and applying the transition braking torque to at least one wheel of the vehicle. The transition braking torque may be applied using friction brakes associated with wheels, respectively. The ADR braking torque is represented by an ADR braking request that is generated when an actual distance from the preceding vehicle in front becomes less than a set desired distance. The ADR braking request may be provided at an ADR controller.

Vehicle speed control

In preview brake controlling apparatus and method for an automotive vehicle, a relative distance of the vehicle to an object for the vehicle to be braked is detected, a determination of whether the vehicle is approaching to the object on the basis of the relative distance of the vehicle to the object is made, a vehicular velocity variation rate (acceleration/deceleration) manipulation variable is made, the determination of whether the vehicle falls in a preliminary brake pressure application enabled state requiring a preliminary brake pressure application on the basis of results of detection at the steps of the approaching state detecting and of the vehicular velocity variation rate manipulation situation detection is made, and a predetermined constant brake pressure in accordance with a vehicular running condition prior to a vehicular driver's brake manipulation is developed when determining that the vehicle falls in the brake preliminary application enabled state.

Preview brake controlling apparatus and method for automotive vehicle

The present invention pertains a controlling scheme for build-up or variation rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque. Stand-by brake torque control begins with recognition of emergency or occurrence of operator reaction or quick release of accelerator. During initial stage of the stand-by brake control, brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque before vehicle operator depresses a brake pedal. Build-up or variation rate at which brake pressure increases till completion of pressure build-up for stand-by brake torque is determined in response to time left before the operator depresses the brake pedal. Period of time left before the operator depresses the brake pedal varies with differing events that have initiated the stand-by brake torque control.

Operator reaction dependent stand-by brake torque build-up rate controlling scheme

A method and apparatus for assisting operation by a vehicle operator for braking of a vehicle includes a detection system on the vehicle, which detects obstacles located in or near the direction of motion of the vehicle. Vehicle condition sensors on the vehicle provide characteristic parameters of the condition of the vehicle. Operator demand sensors, which are operatively associated with a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal, provide operator demands on the vehicle. A control unit determines whether or not braking action by the vehicle operator is needed from data concerning the obstacles, the characteristic parameters of vehicle condition and the operator demands on the vehicle and determines a target stand-by brake pressure. The control unit is operable to generate a command for adjustment of brake pressure to the determined stand-by brake pressure. A braking system on the vehicle is operable by the vehicle operator. The braking system is operable in response to the command to trigger stand-by brake pressure regulation upon determination that braking action by the vehicle operator is needed.

Method and apparatus for assisting vehicle operator braking action of a vehicle

A system and method for controlling speed of a vehicle include determining whether or not a stand-by braking torque is applied, determining an actual distance from a preceding vehicle in front of a vehicle, comparing the actual distance to a desired distance to determine whether the actual distance is greater than the desired distance, determining motor/engine torque to increase vehicle speed, and applying the motor/engine torque when the actual distance is greater than the desired distance. The system and method terminates application of stand-by braking torque upon receiving operator torque request.

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Kanagawa, Japan

Naoki Maruko