Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Other

Thomas Salmon

Donald A Perlick

Bang Kim Cao

Alex James

Erick Michael Lavoie

Todd Allen Brown

Michael Edward Brewer

Keith Glenn Mattson

Jerry Alex James

Anthony Joseph Rendi

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain. An example apparatus includes a trailer brake gain calibration module programmed to compare a calculated trailer brake torque to at least one of a first or second threshold, adjust a gain value based upon satisfaction of at least one of the first or second threshold, and apply a pressure to a trailer brake based on the gain value.

Methods and apparatus for automatic calibration of electronic trailer brake gain

Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition

Example methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes are described herein. An example apparatus includes a controller to determine when a vehicle has made a turn, compare an angle at which the vehicle has turned to an angle threshold, and schedule a brake sweeping procedure based on the comparison.

Methods and apparatus to perform brake sweeping procedures on vehicle brakes

Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a command to place a vehicle in a stuck mode. The stuck mode corresponds to an autonomous control mode of the vehicle. The method further includes autonomously controlling the vehicle in the stuck mode to attempt to extricate the vehicle from a stuck condition.

A vehicle comprises a speed-sensing device outputting a signal indicating a velocity of the vehicle, a brake system outputting a signal for indicating when the brake system is being commanded to a brake torque providing state, and a trailer brake controller coupled to the speed-sensing device and the brake system. The trailer brake controller utilizes the signal of the speed-sensing device to determine when the vehicle is in a zero-velocity state and utilizes the signal of the brake system to determine when the brake system is being commanded to the brake torque providing state. The trailer brake controller transitions a brake-actuating output signal thereof from a speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value to a trailer hold zero-velocity output signal value greater than the speed-dependent zero-velocity output signal value when it is determined that the brake system is in the brake torque providing state while the vehicle is in the zero-velocity state.

Trailer hold assist during standstill

A method for brake pressure apply in a hydraulic brake system includes commanding a cage clearance reduction phase and commanding a wheel control phase subsequent to the cage clearance reduction phase. Accordingly, the cage clearance is reduced prior to entering the wheel control phase. A method for cage clearance reduction in a hydraulic brake system for roll stability control is also provided.

Brake pressure apply

A method and system for displaying a traction control ON/OFF menu at a display module in a vehicle upon detection of vehicle characteristics and conditions that may warrant a driver's desire to manually disable the traction control feature. The method and system verify traction control is enabled on the vehicle, verify the traction control ON/OFF menu is not already being displayed at a display module, a controller receives at least one signal indicating an occasion that may warrant manual deactivation of traction control and the controller initiates displaying the traction control ON/OFF menu for the convenience of the driver.

Traction control enable/disable feature

The method for controlling a safety system (-) of a vehicle () determines a reference velocity from a first front wheel sensor (A) and a second front wheel speed signal from a second front wheel sensor (B). An axle speed sensor (C) may be used to determine an axle speed signal. A first rear speed signal and a second rear speed signal are determined from the reference velocity, a slip effect and a yaw signal. The yaw signal may be determined from a yaw rate sensor (). Safety system (-) may be controlled in response to the first rear wheel speed signal and the second rear wheel speed signal.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, MI, United States of America

Thomas Salmon