System and method for wheel oscillation mitigation using brake force ripple injection

1. A method for mitigating wheel hop of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

using a wheel speed sensor to monitor a wheel speed of a driven wheel of the vehicle and generate a wheel speed output signal;

using a frequency measuring subsystem to measure a frequency of the wheel speed output signal;

using a controller to determine if the frequency of the wheel speed output signal indicates that a wheel hop condition is present; and

when the controller determines that a wheel hop condition is present, causing a braking subsystem of the vehicle to generate a ripple braking signal to a brake caliper associated with the wheel oscillation to mitigate the wheel hop condition.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the using of a frequency measuring subsystem to measure a frequency of the wheel speed output signal further comprises using the controller to determine if the frequency of the wheel speed output signal falls within a predetermined frequency range indicative of a wheel hop condition.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising applying the ripple braking signal for a time duration after the wheel hop condition is detected as having abated.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein applying the ripple braking signal comprises applying a ripple braking signal having a frequency higher than a natural frequency of oscillation of the wheel speed occurring during the wheel hop condition.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein an initial determination is made if the frequency of the wheel speed output signal falls outside of a predetermined frequency range, indicating no wheel hop condition is present.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controller determines that the frequency of the wheel speed output signal indicates a wheel hop condition is present by determining that the frequency falls within a predetermined frequency range.

7. A system for mitigating wheel hop of a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a wheel speed sensor configured to monitor a wheel speed of a driven wheel of the vehicle and to generate a wheel speed output signal;

a frequency measuring subsystem configured to measure a frequency of the wheel speed output signal;

a controller configured to use the frequency of the wheel speed output signal to determine if the wheel speed output signal indicates that a wheel hop condition is present; and

a brake system having a brake caliper operably associated with the wheel, and responsive to signals from the controller when the controller determines that a wheel hop condition is present, and causing a ripple braking signal to be applied by the brake caliper to the wheel to mitigate the wheel hop condition.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the frequency of the wheel speed output signal is within a predetermined frequency range, and wherein the predetermined frequency range indicates that a wheel hop condition is present.

9. The system of claim 7 , where the ripple braking signal comprises a low amplitude ripple braking signal.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the ripple braking signal is superimposed on a signal being applied to the brake caliper from a traction control system of the vehicle.

11. A method for mitigating wheel hop of a motor vehicle, wherein the method makes use of a wheel speed sensor of the vehicle to monitor a wheel speed of a driven wheel of the vehicle and to generate a wheel speed output signal, and a frequency measuring subsystem to measure a frequency of the wheel speed output signal to determine if a wheel hop condition is present, the method comprising:

using an electronic control unit to determine, from the measured frequency, that a wheel hop condition is present;

causing the electronic control unit to generate a signal to a brake force actuation unit; and

using the signal to cause the brake force actuation unit to apply a ripple braking signal having a predetermined magnitude to at least one brake caliper of the vehicle, with the ripple braking signal having a frequency that is greater than a natural frequency of the wheel.