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US 12,447,969 B2Granted
Limited use driving operations for vehicles
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBrendan F. Diamond, Keith Weston, Andrew Denis Lewandowski, Lars Niklas Pettersson, Lorne Forsythe, Jordan Barrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle includes a front axle having left and right front wheels and a rear axle having left and right rear wheels. A steering-wheel assembly is used to control at least the front wheels. Left and right driver-actuatable inputs are supported by the steering wheel assembly. A vehicle controller is programmed to, responsive to actuation of the driver-actuatable inputs, place the vehicle in one or more operating modes such as tank turn, trail turn assist, or diagonal driving mode.
Claims12
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle including left and right front wheels and a front steering actuator configured to turn the left and right front wheels;
- a rear axle including left and right rear wheels and a rear steering actuator configured to turn the left and right rear wheels;
- a steering-wheel assembly including a steering wheel;
- left and right driver-actuatable paddle inputs supported by the steering wheel assembly, wherein each of the paddles inputs includes a variable-force sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a force applied;
- and
- a controller programmed to:
- in response to vehicle speed being less than a threshold and both of the driver-actuatable inputs being actuated, command a diagonal driving mode,
- in response to the vehicle being in the diagonal driving mode, the steering wheel being centered, and the right input being actuated, immediately command the front and rear steering actuators to turn the front wheels to the right and the rear wheels to the right,
- in response to the vehicle being in the diagonal driving mode, the steering wheel being centered, and the left input being actuated, immediately command the front and rear steering actuators to turn the front wheels to the left and the rear wheels to the left,
- in response to a first force applied to the right input when in the diagonal driving mode, command first and second steering angles to the front and rear steering actuators, respectively, and
- in response to a second force applied to the right input when in the diagonal driving mode, command third and fourth steering angles to the front and rear steering actuators, respectively.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a front axle including left and right front wheels and a front steering actuator configured to turn the left and right front wheels;
- a rear axle including left and right rear wheels and a rear steering actuator configured to turn the left and right rear wheels;
- a steering-wheel assembly including a steering wheel;
- left and right driver-actuatable paddles supported by the steering wheel assembly and each including a variable-force sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a force applied;
- and
- a controller programmed to:
- in response to vehicle speed being less than a threshold and both of the driver-actuatable inputs being actuated, command a diagonal driving mode,
- in response to the vehicle being in the diagonal driving mode and the right input being actuated, command the front and rear steering actuators to turn the front wheels to the right and the rear wheels to the right, without requiring movement of the steering wheel, such that steering in the diagonal driving mode is performed independently of the steering wheel,
- in response to the vehicle being in the diagonal driving mode and the left input being actuated, command the front and rear steering actuators to turn the front wheels to the left and the rear wheels to the left, without requiring movement of the steering wheel, such that steering in the diagonal driving mode is performed independently of the steering wheel,
- in response to a first force applied to the right input when in the diagonal driving mode, command first and second steering angles to the front and rear steering actuators, respectively, and
- in response to a second force applied to the right input when in the diagonal driving mode, command third and fourth steering angles to the front and rear steering actuators, respectively.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.