Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Nathaniel C Ellis

Christopher J Cymbal

Andrew Sweigart

Nathan Adam Powell

Ryan Shartle

Hirokazu Toyoshima

Andrew M Bucci

Corey McEnhill

Nicholas A Scheufler

Lonnie Eugene Driscoll

Various methods and systems are provided to coach a driver of a vehicle as to the location of a reference brake point on a roadway, such as a race track, including determining a present location of a vehicle on a roadway, determining a distance between the present location of the vehicle and a reference brake point, and communicating of an indication of the distance between the present location of the vehicle and the reference brake point.

System and method for coaching a driver

A vehicle includes a control system, a selector, and a display. The selector is operable in one of a first selection mode and a second selection mode for selecting respective ones of a first driving mode and a second driving mode for the vehicle. The control system is configured to detect an improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode. When the vehicle is in the first driving mode and the selector is transitioned from the first selection mode to the second selection mode during the occurrence of the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode, the control system is configured to facilitate display of a warning message on the warning display indicating the improper vehicular condition for the second driving mode and inhibit the vehicle from transitioning from the first driving mode to the second driving mode. A method is also provided.

System for operating vehicle in different driving modes and methods for same

A system and method of maintaining a vehicle on a driver intended path is disclosed. The method includes steps of detecting a failure in a power steering system and controlling a braking system to maintain the motor vehicle approximately on a driver intended path. The driver intended path can be a straight path or a curved path.

System for and method of maintaining a driver intended path

A method for determining a steering angle of a steering shaft in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method uses a rotation sensor associated with an electric motor of a power steering system to determine the relative steering angle of the steering column. The relative steering angle is measured relative to an initial position of the steering column during vehicle startup. The relative steering angle is reset each time the motor vehicle is turned on.

Method of determining a steering angle in a motor vehicle

An electronic display comprises a graphical lap information display portion that comprises a lap time differential indicator and an illuminated portion. The lap time differential indicator is configured to display a differential time value. The illuminated portion is configured to selectively illuminate a portion of the graphical lap information display portion in a plurality of different lighting modes. The illuminated portion is operable in the plurality of different lighting modes in response to a rate of change of the differential time value. A vehicle and method are also provided.

System and method for calculation and display of performance driving information

A control method for an automotive vehicle steering system including an electric motor providing a steering force on a steering mechanism. The method comprises providing at least three steering system MAPs which control an electric current supplied to the electric motor. Wherein if a new MAP is selected when at least two prior selected MAPs are blending, the MAP comprising the greatest component of a blend at the time the new MAP is selected is decreased at a faster rate than the MAP comprising the lesser component.

Vehicle steering control system and method

A control system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The control system determines if a motor vehicle is going to stop according to information about a preceding vehicle. The control system may use information about the vehicle speed of the motor vehicle, a following distance between the motor vehicle and a preceding vehicle and preceding vehicle deceleration information. When the control system determines that the motor vehicle is going to stop, the motor vehicle shuts down the engine prior to the vehicle stopping in order to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

Engine control for a motor vehicle

A method is provided for centering a steering rack in an automotive vehicle, particularly a vehicle that includes an electric power steering (EPS) system. The centering method includes locating a center by using an electric motor of the EPS system. The method includes temporarily locking the steering rack in place and subsequently installing a steering wheel to a steering column. An on-board processor or ECU of the automotive vehicle determines or locates the center of the rack by detecting the first and second ends of the rack when at least one of a velocity of the electric motor reaches zero, a current of the electric motor reaches a preselected level, and steering angle of the electric motor stabilizes. The method monitors potential pinch point zones and reverses turning of the tires upon reaching the pinch threshold level and the automatic centering process is terminated.

Factory steering rack centering and preventing pinch points using electric power steering system

A touch point calibration method for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method includes steps for determining if the touch point can be calibrated. The method also includes steps for determining the touch point when the system can be calibrated.

Touch point calibration method for a motor vehicle

Disclosed is an improved ESD control system for use in vehicular applications that incorporated one or more dissipative elements constructed from a blend of polypropylene and a urethane/acrylic alloy which form substantially co-continuous networks and which are suitable for injection molding operations to produce dissipative elements. The dissipative elements are then incorporated into vehicular interiors in a manner whereby a surface of the element is exposed to contact, whether incidental or deliberate, by the vehicle occupants, particularly as they are entering or exiting the vehicle, to provide controlled dissipation of electrostatic charges that have accumulated on the occupants. In particular, these materials may be used in forming portions of the vehicle seat assembly and/or door assembly that will typically be contacted during egress, operation of the vehicle and/or ingress in order to suppress subsequent and less controlled discharges that could compromise the comfort and safety of the vehicle occupants.

Controlled dissipation of electrostatic charge

A system and method of detecting clutch engagement of a manual transmission of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The system and method include a clutch switch for detecting clutch engagement and a backup method for detecting clutch engagement. The backup method includes varying a target speed of an engine drive shaft of the motor vehicle and comparing the speed of the engine drive shaft with the speed of a mainshaft of the motor vehicle.

System for and method of detecting clutch engagement of a manual transmission

A method is provided for centering a steering rack in an automotive vehicle, particularly a vehicle that includes an electric power steering (EPS) system. The centering method includes locating a center by using an electric motor of the EPS system. The method includes temporarily locking the steering rack in place and subsequently installing a steering wheel to a steering column after the locating step. The method further includes operatively communicating with an on-board processor or ECU of the automotive vehicle and running a program to determine or locate the center of the rack. The method may also include detecting the first and second ends of the rack when at least one of a velocity of the electric motor reaches zero, a current of the electric motor reaches a preselected level, and steering angle of the electric motor stabilizes.

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Marysville, OH, United States of America

Nathaniel C Ellis