Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Stephen R Pastor

Ronald Paul

Kenneth L Oblizajek

Michael Douglas Rizzo

Douglass L Carson

Youssef A Ghoneim

William C Lin

Yuen-Kwok Chin

John D Sopoci

Hsien Heng Chen

Michael Paul Turski

Duane Edward Bassett

Edward John Bedner

Alan J Lee

Gordon L Tierney

Hong Xing Hu

Mutasim Abdurrahman Salman

Jin-Woo Lee

David M Sidlosky

Howard Hans Ludwig

David M Caldwell

Edmund Stanley Browalski

Vivek Jaikamal

Edmund S Browalski

Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi

Kevin Austin O'Dea

Hualin Tan

Christopher A Kinser

Scott R Kloess

Todd R Brown

Steven L Tracht

Eric L Raphael

Xiaofeng Mao

John T Zuzelski

Phillip M Turner

Eldon Gerrald Leaphart

Phanu Amatyakul

Keun Jae Kim

John E Dickinson

Thomas A Klingler

Scott D Morrison

Robert W Leschuk

Kenneth L Rosol

Yat-chung Tang

Richard O Gillett, Jr

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a steering system of a vehicle is provided. A detection unit is configured to obtain a compass heading, a global positioning system (GPS) heading, or both. A processor is coupled to the detection unit, and is configured to determine whether a vehicle is on a straight line path using the compass heading, the GPS heading, or both, and to selectively implement a feature of the steering system based on whether it is determined that the vehicle is not on a straight line path.

Methods and systems for controlling steering systems of vehicles

A system and method for determining whether a driver is holding a vehicle steering wheel. The vehicle will include an electric power steering system and may further include autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features, such as Lane Centering Control or Lane Keeping Assist. The system includes a passive detection technique which monitors steering torque and steering angle, determines a resonant frequency of oscillation of the steering system from the measured data, and compares the resonant frequency to a known steering system natural frequency to make a hands-on/off determination. If the passive technique results are below a confidence threshold, then an active technique is employed which provides a steering angle perturbation and measures the frequency response, where the perturbation signal has characteristics which are prescribed based on the results of the passive technique. A steering torque greater than a threshold value is also an indication of the driver holding the steering wheel.

Enhanced steering wheel hold detection by a hybrid method

Methods and apparatus are provided for moving a receiver associated with a hitch frame of a vehicle. The method includes receiving data indicating a hand wheel angle; determining, with a processor, a position for the receiver relative to the hitch frame based on the hand wheel angle; and outputting one or more control signals to a motor coupled to the receiver to move the receiver relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle based on the determination.

Systems and methods for movable hitch receiver

Methods and systems are provided for aligning a steering system of a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: determining when the vehicle is driving a straight-line path; determining a steering wheel position error when the vehicle is driving the straight-line path; computing a rear wheel steering offset based on the steering wheel position error and a closed loop control method; and generating a control signal to a rear wheel steering system based on the rear wheel steering offset.

Methods and systems for aligning a steering system of a vehicle

A method and system for determining whether a driver of a vehicle is in contact with a steering wheel of the vehicle is provided. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of generating a perturbation signal that causes vibration of the steering wheel and receiving a steering signal from a steering system sensor configured to provide an indication of at least one of a steering torque and a steering movement of a component of an electronic power steering system of the vehicle. The method further includes the steps of mixing the perturbation signal and the steering signal to produce a heterodyne signal and generating a driver contact signal indicative of whether the driver of the vehicle is in contact with the steering wheel of the vehicle, the value of the driver contact signal dependent on characteristics of the heterodyne signal relating to the perturbation signal.

Hands-off detection enhancement by means of a synthetic signal

A method is provided for controlling a motor drive torque in an EPS system having a motor and a steering assembly. The method includes receiving a torque signal from the steering assembly; processing the torque signal in accordance with a steering perception program to produce a motor control signal; and controlling the motor drive torque based on the motor control signal.

Electric power steering systems with improved road feel

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a steering system of a vehicle is provided. A detection unit is configured to obtain one or more of the following values: a compass heading, a global positioning system (GPS) heading, a yaw velocity, and a difference in tire angular velocities. A processor is coupled to the detection unit, and is configured to determine whether a vehicle is on a straight line path using one or more of the compass heading, the GPS heading, the yaw velocity, and the difference in tire angular velocities, activate the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is on a straight line path, and disable the feature of the steering system if it is determined that the vehicle is not on a straight line path.

A steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the vehicle are disclosed. A main controller signals a secondary steering assembly to operate in a first phase when a power steering controller is in a first mode and a second phase to steer the vehicle when the power steering controller is in a second mode. The main controller signals a friction device to actuate to a disengaged position when the power steering controller is in the first mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the first phase, and to signal the friction device to actuate to an engaged position to secure a steering wheel in an initial position when the power steering controller is in the second mode and the secondary steering assembly is in the second phase to allow the secondary steering assembly to steer the vehicle.

Steering system for an autonomously driven vehicle and methods of steering the same

Methods and systems are provided for controlling steering in a vehicle having an electric power steering system (EPS) with a steering wheel, the EPS configured to attenuate smooth road shake (SRS) for the vehicle. A first relationship is determined between a torque of the steering wheel and motions of the steering wheel while free of SRS excitation. A second relationship is determined between the torque and the motions with SRS excitation. A mapping is generated based on the first relationship and the second relationship via a processor for use in adjusting steering control.

Electric power steering compensation for vehicles

A method and system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, provide a means to accurately determine the velocity of a vehicle. An initial estimation of the velocity of the vehicle is calculated based on rates of rotation of a plurality of wheels on the vehicles. If any of the wheels on the vehicle are in a brake control, or traction control, situation, the initial estimation is modified based on an acceleration of the vehicle to generate a modified estimation of the velocity of the vehicle.

Method and system for determining the velocity of an automobile

A brake system control for use in a vehicle with four wheels comprising the steps of: determining a desired yaw rate (,); determining a yaw torque command responsive to the desired yaw rate (,); if the vehicle is in an anti-lock braking mode during driver commanded braking, applying the yaw torque command to only one of the four wheels to release brake pressure in said one of the four wheels (,); if the vehicle is in a positive acceleration traction control mode during driver commanded acceleration, applying the yaw torque command to only one of the four wheels to apply brake pressure in said one of the four wheels (,); and if the vehicle is not in the anti-lock braking mode or in the positive acceleration traction control mode, then: (i) determining whether a vehicle brake pedal is depressed (,); (ii) if the vehicle brake pedal is depressed, applying brake force to the vehicle wheels responsive to the depression of the brake pedal (,), wherein the applied brake force is modified to at least two of the vehicle wheels to create a left-right brake torque differential responsive to the yaw torque command.

Brake control system

In a vehicle with an active brake control system a control method comprising to the steps of: determining individual wheel speeds of the vehicle wheels responsive to sensor output signals (,); determining a vehicle reference velocity responsive to the individual wheel speeds (,); measuring vehicle yaw rate (,); determining a delta velocity for each wheel responsive to the individual wheel speed for the wheel and the vehicle reference velocity (,); and when the active brake control system is in the active state for at least one of the wheels, (a) setting a base delta velocity for the one wheel equal to the delta velocity for the one wheel immediately prior to the active brake control obtaining the active state for the one wheel (,); (b) determining a control term responsive to the measured vehicle yaw rate (,), wherein the control term represents a desired delta velocity for the one wheel; (c) setting a first target change in delta velocity responsive to the base delta velocity and the control term (,); and (d) controlling a first wheel brake for the one wheel so that a difference between the delta velocity for the one wheel and the desired delta velocity for the one wheel is minimized (,).

An improved control method that utilizes active brake controls to provide vehicle control during conditions of carriage motion tendency about a longitudinal vehicle axis. Accordingly, the control may be integrated with known active brake controls that regulate yaw rate and/or slip angle or traction controls that regulate front wheel slippage, thereby significantly improving the functionality of the respective control for little or no additional cost. A measure of vehicle carriage motion tendency is determined by computing a control parameter based on the roll angle of the vehicle and the rate of change of roll angle. If the computed control parameter exceeds a first calibrated threshold, a condition of carriage motion tendency is detected and the active brake control actuators are activated to reduce the velocity of the front wheels of the vehicle by a delta velocity command determined as a function of the roll angle and roll angle rate. When the computed control parameter falls below a second calibrated threshold, the delta velocity command is gradually decayed to exit the control.

Active brake balance control method

In a vehicle with a first operating mode in which all vehicle wheels have substantially no lateral movement on a road surface and a second operating mode in which at least some of the vehicle wheels have lateral movement on the road surface, and with an actuator capable of affecting vehicle yaw rate, a vehicle yaw rate control method comprising the steps of: measuring an actual vehicle yaw rate; measuring vehicle steering wheel position; in the second mode of operation, determining a desired yaw rate command linearly responsive to the measured steering wheel position; wherein the actuator is controlled to minimize a difference between the measured vehicle yaw rate and the desired vehicle yaw rate.

Chassis control system

A sensor-responsive control method for use on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: measuring a vehicle yaw rate; measuring a vehicle lateral acceleration; responsive to the measured yaw rate and lateral acceleration, estimating a steering wheel angle; determining an error signal responsive to the difference between the estimated steering wheel angle and an adaptive steering position signal; and updating the adaptive steering position signal responsive to the error signal, wherein the adaptive steering position signal is quickly determined after the vehicle begins to move.

Sensor-responsive control method and apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Stephen R Pastor