Jaguar Land Rover Limited

Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Sam Anker

Elliot Hemes

James Kelly

Andrew Fairgrieve

Dan Dennehy

Philip Guest

Jason Walters

Edward Nicholson

Russell Osborn

Pete Stares

Paul Beever

David Andrew Clare

David Armstrong

Jan Pieter Prins

Ian Beverley

Derek Leslie Jones

Shaun Wick

Keith Gary Reginald Parsons

Adrian Berry

Tim Slaney

Adrie Breugelmans

Nick Moore

Richard Cook

David Inch

Scott Dicken

Phil Guest

Andrew Cotta

Bruce Buckley

The present invention relates to a control system () for controlling a target ride height of a vehicle (). The control system () is configured to set a target off-road ride height (h) in dependence on one or more vehicle operating parameters. The target off-road ride height (h) is set upon receipt of a driving mode signal signalling that an off-road driving mode has been selected. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a vehicle and a method of controlling a target ride height of a vehicle.

Ride height control system and method

Embodiments of the present invention provide a controller for indicating a residual driving range available in a battery of an electric vehicle. The controller is operable in a first mode wherein it instructs the output means to display an output indicative of the total amount of energy remaining in the battery and a second mode wherein it instructs the output means to display an output indicative of an amount of energy that may be used without causing the total amount of energy stored in the battery to reduce below an amount required to undertake a predetermined journey. The controller is operable to switch from the first mode to the second mode upon receipt of a user input via said second input means. Advantageously, the second mode may display an amount of energy that can be used in a leisure driving session.

Apparatus and method for indicating residual driving range

The present invention relates to a control system () for controlling a target ride height of a vehicle (). The control system () is configured to set a target off-road ride height (h) in dependence on one or more vehicle operating parameters. The target off-road ride height (h) is set upon receipt of a driving mode signal signaling that an off-road driving mode has been selected. Aspects of the present invention also relate to a vehicle and a method of controlling a target ride height of a vehicle.

A vehicle control system for at least one vehicle subsystem of a vehicle; the vehicle control system comprising a subsystem controller for initiating control of the or each of the vehicle subsystems in a selected one of a plurality of different subsystem control modes, each of which corresponds to one or more different driving conditions for the vehicle. Evaluation means are provided for evaluating one or more driving condition indicators to determine the extent to which each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate and for providing an output to the subsystem controller that is indicative of the control mode which is most appropriate. This may be an evaluation means for calculating the probability that the or each of the subsystem control modes is appropriate. Automatic control means may be operable in an automatic response mode to select an appropriate one of the subsystem control modes in dependence on the output.

Vehicle control system and method for controlling a vehicle

A motor vehicle control system for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem control modes in dependence on a driving surface. The system is operable in an automatic control mode selection condition in which the system is configured to determine the driving surface automatically and to cause each of the vehicle subsystems to operate in a predetermined one of the subsystem control modes in dependence on the determined driving surface. The system may be configured to determine if an interruption in powertrain torque occurs and to, in dependence on the identification of a powertrain torque interruption event, temporarily suspend causing an automatic change to the predetermined one of the subsystem control modes in which each subsystem is operating.

Vehicle control system and method for automatic control of vehicle subsystems

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode and to assume operation in said system operating mode, wherein when operating in the automatic mode selection condition the system is configured to prevent selection of a prescribed one or more operating modes if it is determined that the vehicle is towing a load.

Vehicle control system and method

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode from a plurality of operating modes whereby the system assumes operation in said system operating mode, the system being further operable to activate an automatic progress control function in which a speed of the vehicle over terrain is controlled automatically by the system, wherein when the system is in the automatic mode selection condition the system is configured to allow the automatic progress control function to be activated only when the system is operating in one of a subset of one or more system operating modes.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode whereby the system assumes operation in said system operating mode, the system being further configured to allow activation of an automatic progress control function in which a speed of the vehicle over terrain is controlled automatically by the system, wherein when the automatic progress control function is active the system is configured automatically to suspend changes in the selected system operating mode.

Terrain-based vehicle speed control and system

Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle control system for selecting a driving surface and for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem configuration modes in dependence on the selected driving surface, the system being operable in a manual operating mode in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic operating mode in which the system is operable to select said driving surface automatically; wherein the system is able to be switched between said manual and automatic operating modes by means of a user-operable input device; and wherein when operating in the automatic operating mode and a change from the automatic operating mode to the manual operating mode is made via the user-operable input device, the system is configured to select a default subsystem configuration mode.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a motor vehicle control system for selecting and/or determining a driving surface and for controlling a plurality of vehicle subsystems to operate in a plurality of subsystem control modes in dependence on the selected/determined driving surface, the system being operable in a manual control mode selection condition in which a user is able to select said driving surface and an automatic control mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select said driving surface automatically, wherein the vehicle control system is provided with a memory arranged to memorize a last selected control mode that was selected prior to vehicle de-activation or key-off when operating in the automatic control mode selection condition, and upon the next subsequent vehicle activation or key-on, the system is configured to continue operating in the memorized control mode and to automatically obtain new data in respect of a driving surface over which the vehicle is moving before allowing a change in control mode to take place.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control system for a motor vehicle, the system being operable in a manual operating mode selection condition in which a user may select a required system operating mode by means of user-operable mode selection input means, and an automatic mode selection condition in which the system is configured to select automatically an appropriate system operating mode, wherein when operating in the manual condition and a change from the manual condition to the automatic condition is made the system is configured to select a prescribed automatic mode selection condition vehicle ride-height independently of the selected operating mode.

A motor vehicle having: a prime mover; first and second groups of one or more wheels; and a driveline to connect the prime mover to the first and second groups of wheels such that the first group of one or more wheels is driven by the prime mover when the driveline is in a first mode of operation and the second group of one or more wheels is additionally driven by the prime mover when the driveline is in a second mode of operation, the driveline including an auxiliary driveline comprising releasable torque transmitting means operable to connect the second group of one or more wheels to the prime mover when the driveline transitions between the first mode and the second mode, wherein when in the first mode the driveline is operable to transition to the second mode responsive to an output of a reactive evaluator and a predictive evaluator.

Vehicle controller for changing the number of driven wheels

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.

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Coventry, United Kingdom

Sam Anker