Vehicle wheel torque adjustment
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsDouglas Raymond Martin, Kenneth J. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer in a vehicle includes a processor programmed to apply, on the vehicle, upon detecting an occupant alertness level below a first threshold, a first periodic component to a first torque applied to one or more first-end wheels and a second periodic component to a second torque applied to one or more second-end wheels.
Claims20
A computer in a vehicle comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
- upon detecting an occupant alertness level below a first threshold, apply a first periodic component to a first torque applied to one or more first-end wheels on the vehicle and a second periodic component to a second torque applied to one or more second-end wheels on the vehicle;
- and
- establish a first magnitude of the first periodic component and a second magnitude of the second periodic component based on at least one of a coefficient of static friction of a road on which the vehicle is travelling or a change in torque that causes one of the wheels of the vehicle to slip.
A method comprising:
- upon detecting an occupant alertness level below a first threshold:
- applying a first periodic component to first torque applied to one or more first-end wheels on a vehicle;
- and
- applying a second periodic component to a second torque applied to one or more second-end wheels on the vehicle;
- and
- establishing a first magnitude of the first periodic component and a second magnitude of the second periodic component based on at least one of a coefficient of static friction of a road on which the vehicle is travelling or a change in torque that causes one of the wheels of the vehicle to slip.
A computer in a vehicle comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the processor is programmed to:
- upon detecting an occupant alertness level below a first threshold, apply a first periodic component to a first torque applied to one or more first-end wheels on the vehicle and a second periodic component to a second torque applied to one or more second-end wheels on the vehicle for an application time period, wherein the first polarity of the first periodic component of the first torque is opposite the second polarity of the second periodic component of the second torque at one or more times during the application time period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.