Process for controlling travel state during braking in vehicle

Abstract

A method of controlling the driving state of a vehicle in which an antilock brake control for eliminating a locking tendency of a wheel during braking can be carried out, and a four-wheel drive state and a two-wheel drive state can be switched from one to another. A monitored estimated vehicle speed is calculated on the basis of highest one of wheel speeds of the vehicle wheels and a value is detected by a longitudinal acceleration/deceleration sensor for detecting a longitudinal acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle speed, and a judgement speed is determined at a value lower than the monitored estimated vehicle speed. The vehicle speed is also independently determined based upon the speed of each of the vehicle wheels. The four-wheel drive state is switched to the two-wheel drive state in response to highest one of vehicle speeds independently calculated on the basis of the wheel speeds becoming equal to or less than the judgement speed in the four-wheel drive state. Thus, when the brake depression force is small, the four wheels are prevented from gradually falling into their locked states, with the four-wheel drive state being maintained when the antilock brake control is not carried out.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.