Vehicle and method of controlling the same
AssigneesHyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
InventorHyungsuk Oh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment vehicle includes a wheel having a width that is changeable and a controller configured to generate a control signal for changing the width of the wheel. The wheel includes an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle, an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel, and a driver. The driver is configured to move the outer wheel along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle to change the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- a wheel having a width that is changeable, the wheel comprising an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle and an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel;
- a tire attached to the wheel;
- a driver interposed between the inner wheel and the outer wheel;
- and
- a controller configured to generate a control signal for changing the width of the wheel, wherein:
- the driver is configured to move the outer wheel along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle to decrease the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal, and
- the driver is configured to move the outer wheel to a position where, as a result of a decrease in the width of the wheel, the tire is deformed such that an outer surface of the outer wheel is located inboard of a side surface of the tire, thereby allowing the tire to prevent damage of the outer wheel.
A method of controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a wheel having a width that is changeable, a tire attached to the wheel, and a controller that generates a control signal for changing the width of the wheel, wherein the wheel comprises an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle, an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel, and a driver interposed between the inner wheel and the outer wheel that varies the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal so that the outer wheel moves along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle, wherein the driver is configured to move the outer wheel to a position where, as a result of a decrease in the width of the wheel, the tire is deformed such that an outer surface of the outer wheel is located inboard of a side surface of the tire, thereby allowing the tire to prevent damage of the outer wheel, the method comprising:
- determining that a condition for changing the width of the wheel is satisfied;
- and
- generating the control signal in response to the condition for varying the width of the wheel being satisfied.
A method of controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a wheel having a width that is changeable, a tire attached to the wheel, and a controller that generates a control signal for changing the width of the wheel, wherein the wheel comprises an inner wheel connected to an axle of the vehicle, an outer wheel connected to the inner wheel, and a driver interposed between the inner wheel and the outer wheel that changes the width of the wheel by generating power in response to the control signal such that the outer wheel moves along a longitudinal direction of the axle of the vehicle, wherein the driver is configured to move the outer wheel to a position where, as a result of a decrease in the width of the wheel, the tire is deformed such that an outer surface of the outer wheel is located inboard of a side surface of the tire, thereby allowing the tire to prevent damage of the outer wheel, the method comprising:
- determining that the vehicle is in a parallel parking situation;
- and
- generating the control signal such that the width of the wheel decreases in response to the vehicle being in the parallel parking situation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.