Vehicle Drive Force Control Device for Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle control systems struggle to effectively stabilize vehicles in unstable states, such as oversteer, by inadequately managing front and rear wheel drive forces.

Innovation Solution

A control device that includes first and second control means to adjust the drive force of main and auxiliary wheels, with the second control means calculating an auxiliary-drive-wheel-limiting drive force based on vehicle instability parameters, such as yaw rate, to reduce the auxiliary drive wheel force and increase the main drive wheel force, thereby improving vehicle stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the drive force of auxiliary drive wheels is reduced to suppress vehicle instability, then vehicle stability is improved, but the overall drive force and propulsion capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidoverall drive force
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drive force control into two independent parts: main drive wheels and auxiliary drive wheels. By independently controlling the drive force of each segment, the system can reduce auxiliary drive force to suppress instability while maintaining or increasing main drive force to preserve overall propulsion capability. This segmentation allows differential control strategies for different wheel groups based on vehicle stability requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by implementing asymmetric drive force distribution between main and auxiliary drive wheels. Instead of uniformly reducing all wheel drive forces, the system specifically reduces drive force only at auxiliary wheels where it contributes to instability, while maintaining or increasing drive force at main wheels. This localized control approach preserves overall drive capability while addressing the specific stability issue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If the drive force distribution between front and rear wheels is adjusted to improve stability, then vehicle stability is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the stability control function from a comprehensive vehicle dynamics control system and implements it as a dedicated drive force distribution mechanism. By separating this specific function, the system achieves effective stability control through a focused control strategy that manages front-rear drive force distribution independently, rather than requiring complex integration with other vehicle control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic drive force distribution that automatically adjusts the proportion of drive force to main and auxiliary wheels based on real-time vehicle stability conditions. The control system continuously monitors vehicle state and dynamically modifies drive force allocation, enabling adaptive stability control that responds to changing driving conditions without requiring overly complex predetermined control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8682556B2Control device for controlling drive force that operates on vehicle
Publication Date: 2014.03.25 AUTOLIV NISSIN BRAKE SYST JAPAN CO LTD
  • US8682556B2 patent drawing
  • US8682556B2 patent drawing
  • US8682556B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A control device for controlling a front wheel drive force and a rear wheel drive force of a vehicle includes a first controller for controlling a drive force of main drive wheels and the drive force of auxiliary drive wheels wherein the drive force of the main drive wheel is one of a front-wheel drive force and a rear-wheel drive force, and the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel is another of the front-wheel drive force and the rear-wheel drive force, and a second controller for sending to the first controller an auxiliary-drive-wheels-limiting drive force for limiting the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheels in a case that the vehicle is traveling in an unstable state. The second controller has a calculation unit for calculating the auxiliary-drive-wheel-limiting drive force on the basis of a vehicle instability parameter. The first controller increases the drive force of the main drive wheel by causing the drive force of the auxiliary drive wheel to match the auxiliary-drive-wheel-limiting drive force.