The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1994
Anthony T Ander, Plymouth, MI (US);
Davorin Hrovat, Dearborn, MI (US);
Craig J Simonds, Dearborn, MI (US);
Lee-Fei Chen, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A technique for estimating a traction characteristic of a surface under a moving vehicle, such as the coefficient of friction of the surface. The traction characteristic can be estimated by generating a torque signal representative of at least an estimate of the amount of torque applied to the driven wheels of the vehicle. A load signal representative of at least an estimate of the load or weight applied to the driven wheels also is generated. The value of the torque signal is divided by the value of the load signal in order to generate a characteristic signal. Depending on the amount of slippage between the driven and non-driven wheels of the vehicle, the characteristic signal can be stored in order to provide an estimate of the traction characteristic of the surface in real time.