Vehicle motion control device

A vehicle motion control device comprising:

• a wheel cylinder equipped on a vehicle wheel for providing a braking torque;
• an automatic hydraulic pressure generator including a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator the master cylinder supplying a master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal, and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of the operation of the brake pedal and generating the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder:
• a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder:
• control means for controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve in accordance with a running condition of the vehicle and for performing an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• abnormality transaction means for performing a predetermined transaction with respect to the automatic pressure increase control by the control means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• variable state detecting means for detecting a variable state of the booster actuator;
• and
• deceleration detecting means for detecting or estimating a vehicle deceleration of the vehicle,
• the abnormality detecting means calculating a vehicle deceleration based on the variable state detected by the variable state detecting means when the brake pedal is under operation and detecting the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator by comparing the calculated vehicle deceleration with the vehicle deceleration detected or estimated by the deceleration detecting means.

A vehicle motion control device comprising:

• a wheel cylinder equipped on a vehicle wheel for providing a braking torque;
• an automatic hydraulic pressure generator including a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, the master cylinder supplying a master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal, and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of the operation of the brake pedal and generating the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder;
• a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder;
• control means for controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve in accordance with a running condition of the vehicle and for performing an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• and
• abnormality transaction means for performing a predetermined transaction with respect to the automatic pressure increase control by the control means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator, wherein the abnormality transaction means prohibits the automatic pressure increase control by the control means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator.

A vehicle motion control device comprising:

• a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force:
• an automatic hydraulic pressure generator including a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, the master cylinder supplying a master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal, and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of the operation of the brake medal and generating the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder;
• a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder;
• control means for controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve in accordance with a running condition of the vehicle and for performing an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• deceleration detecting means for detecting or estimating a vehicle deceleration of the vehicle;
• hydraulic pressure detecting means for detecting the master cylinder hydraulic pressure;
• means for determining whether at least one of the deceleration detecting means and the hydraulic pressure detecting means is operating normally;
• abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator only when it is determined that at least one of the deceleration detecting means and the hydraulic pressure detecting means is operating normally during non-operation of the brake pedal;
• and
• abnormality transaction means for performing a predetermined transaction with respect to the automatic pressure increase control by the control means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator, wherein the booster actuator includes a solenoid, and further comprising:
• means for detecting an electric current of the solenoid;
• the abnormality detecting means calculating a master cylinder pressure converted value based on the detected electric current of the solenoid during non-operation of the brake pedal and detecting the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator by comparing the calculated master cylinder pressure converted value with the master cylinder hydraulic pressure detected by the hydraulic pressure detecting means.

A vehicle motion control device comprising:

• a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force:
• an automatic hydraulic pressure generator including a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, the master cylinder supplying a master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal, and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of the operation of the brake pedal and generating the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder;
• a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder;
• control means for controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve in accordance with a running condition of the vehicle and for performing an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• deceleration detecting means for detecting or estimating a vehicle deceleration of the vehicle;
• hydraulic pressure detecting means for detecting the master cylinder hydraulic pressure;
• means for determining whether at least one of the deceleration detecting means and the hydraulic pressure detecting means is operating normally;
• abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator only when it is determined that at least one of the deceleration detecting means and the hydraulic pressure detecting means is operating normally during non-operation of the brake pedal;
• and
• abnormality transaction means for performing a predetermined transaction with respect to the automatic pressure increase control by the control means when the abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator, wherein the booster actuator includes a solenoid, and further comprising:
• means for detecting an electric current of the solenoid;
• deceleration detecting means for detecting or estimating a vehicle deceleration of the vehicle,
• the abnormality detecting means calculating a vehicle deceleration converted value based on the calculated master cylinder pressure converted value during non-operation of the brake pedal, and detecting the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator by comparing the calculated vehicle deceleration converted value with the vehicle deceleration detected or estimated by the deceleration detecting means.

A method of controlling vehicle motion in a vehicle that includes a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force to the wheel, an automatic hydraulic pressure generator having a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, with the master cylinder supplying master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of operation of the brake pedal to generate the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, and a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder, the method comprising:

• controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve based on a running condition of the vehicle to perform an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• and performing a predetermined operation with respect to the automatic pressure increase control when an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator is detected, wherein the predetermined operation that is performed involves prohibiting the automatic pressure increase control when the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator is detected.

A method of controlling vehicle motion in a vehicle that includes a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force to the wheel, an automatic hydraulic pressure generator having a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, with the master cylinder supplying master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of operation of the brake pedal to generate the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, and a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder, the method comprising:

• controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve based on a running condition of the vehicle to perform an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• performing a predetermined operation with respect to the automatic pressure increase control when an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator is detected;
• detecting the master cylinder hydraulic pressure;
• detecting a variable state of the booster actuator;
• calculating a master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value based on the detected variable state of the booster actuator;
• determining a difference between the detected master cylinder hydraulic pressure and the calculated master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value.

A method of controlling vehicle motion in a vehicle that includes a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force to the wheel, an automatic hydraulic pressure generator having a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, with the master cylinder supplying master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of operation of the brake pedal to generate the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, and a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder, the method comprising:

• controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve based on a running condition of the vehicle to perform an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• performing a predetermined operation with respect to the automatic pressure increase control when an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator is detected;
• detecting the master cylinder hydraulic pressure by way of a hydraulic pressure detecting means;
• calculating a first master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value based on operation of the brake pedal;
• calculating a difference between the calculated first master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value and the detected master cylinder hydraulic pressure;
• and
• determining whether the hydraulic pressure detecting means is operating normally based on a comparison of the difference between the calculated first master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value and the detected master cylinder hydraulic pressure with a first predetermined value.

A method of controlling vehicle motion in a vehicle that includes a wheel cylinder operatively associated with a vehicle wheel for applying a braking force to the wheel, an automatic hydraulic pressure generator having a master cylinder, a booster and a booster actuator, with the master cylinder supplying master cylinder hydraulic pressure to the wheel cylinder, the booster boosting actuation of the master cylinder in accordance with operation of a brake pedal and the booster actuator actuating the booster irrespective of operation of the brake pedal to generate the master cylinder hydraulic pressure in the master cylinder, and a hydraulic pressure control valve disposed between the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the wheel cylinder for controlling a brake hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder, the method comprising:

• controlling the booster actuator of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator and the hydraulic pressure control valve based on a running condition of the vehicle to perform an automatic pressure increase control to the wheel cylinder;
• detecting an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator;
• performing a predetermined operation with respect to the automatic pressure increase control when an abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator is detected;
• detecting a longitudinal vehicle deceleration by way of a longitudinal sensor;
• detecting a variable state of the booster actuator;
• calculating a master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value based on the detected variable state of the booster actuator;
• calculating a vehicle body deceleration converted value based on the calculated master cylinder hydraulic pressure converted value;
• calculating a difference between the calculated vehicle body deceleration converted value and the detected longitudinal vehicle deceleration;
• determining whether the longitudinal sensor is operating normally;
• and
• detecting the abnormality of the automatic hydraulic pressure generator during non-operation of the brake pedal when the difference between the calculated vehicle body deceleration converted value and the detected longitudinal vehicle deceleration is greater than a predetermined value and when it is detected that the longitudinal sensor is operating normally.