Braking Force Control via Road Slope Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control technologies fail to maintain consistent acceleration/deceleration and vehicle speed when traversing roads with changing slopes, leading to unwanted changes in braking/driving force.

Innovation Solution

A braking/driving force control method and device that adjusts the braking or driving force based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, using a correction amount to stabilize vehicle speed by detecting slope changes and adjusting torque settings accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operation amount of the accelerator pedal is used to control braking/driving force, then the vehicle acceleration/deceleration can be controlled, but the acceleration/deceleration and vehicle speed change when the road surface slope changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccelerator pedal controlVSAvoidvehicle speed stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device detects the actual vehicle acceleration/deceleration and road surface slope, compares these with target values, and adjusts the braking/driving force accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for slope changes and maintains stable vehicle speed while preserving accelerator pedal control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the braking/driving force parameters based on detected road surface slope and actual vehicle acceleration/deceleration. By changing these parameters in response to slope variations, the system maintains consistent vehicle performance despite changing road conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If the braking/driving force is controlled based on accelerator pedal operation amount, then the target acceleration/deceleration can be achieved, but the vehicle speed varies with road surface slope changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetarget acceleration/decelerationVSAvoidvehicle speed consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors actual vehicle acceleration/deceleration and road surface slope, comparing these measurements with target values. This feedback enables real-time adjustments to maintain both target acceleration/deceleration and consistent vehicle speed despite slope variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control device detects road surface slope changes and proactively adjusts the braking/driving force before significant speed deviations occur. This preliminary action prevents vehicle speed variations caused by slope changes while maintaining the intended acceleration/deceleration profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If no slope compensation is applied, then the control system remains simple, but the acceleration/deceleration and vehicle speed change with slope variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system structureVSAvoidacceleration/deceleration consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from acceleration sensors and slope detectors to automatically adjust braking/driving force. This feedback mechanism provides slope compensation without requiring complex mechanical adjustments, maintaining acceleration/deceleration consistency through electronic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical slope compensation mechanisms with electronic sensing and control. By using sensors to detect slope and acceleration, and electronically adjusting the braking/driving force, the system achieves stable performance with simpler overall architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3375656B1Braking/driving force control method and braking/driving force control device
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3375656B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3375656B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3375656B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A magnitude of a road surface slope along which a vehicle travels is detected, when the magnitude of the road surface slope increases, a basic braking force set in advance is corrected to be decreased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, or a basic driving force set in advance is corrected to be increased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, when the magnitude of the road surface slope decreases, a basic braking force is corrected to be increased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope or a basic driving force is corrected to be decreased based on the magnitude of the road surface slope, and the corrected braking force or driving force is generated.