IP Library Granted Patent US 10,363,941
Granted Patent B2
US 10,363,941 · App. 15/687,484 · Granted Jul 30, 2019

System and method for controlling a vehicle

Inventor: Tim P. Norstad (Turtle Lake, WI)
Assignee: Polaris Industries Inc.
B60W50/0098B60G17/016B60G17/018B60G17/02B60G17/06B60K5/00B60K11/00B60T8/00B60W10/06B62D5/0406B62D5/0463B62D5/0481B62D6/002B62D6/02F02D9/02B60G2300/07B60G2300/124B60G2300/13B60G2500/10B60G2500/20B60G2500/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,363,941
App. No.
15/687,484
Granted
Jul 30, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle is provided including an electronic power steering system, an electronic throttle control system, and a stability control system.

Claims (38)

1. A power steering method for a vehicle, the method including:

detecting, by a controller of a power steering system, a selected gear of a transmission of the vehicle and an engine speed of the vehicle;

detecting a ground speed of the vehicle;

determining an error corresponding to the ground speed of the vehicle;

determining, by the controller, a power steering assist level based on the selected gear of the transmission, a user torque input to a steering assembly of the vehicle, the error corresponding to the detected ground speed, and the engine speed of the vehicle; and

outputting, by the power steering system, steering torque assistance to the steering assembly of the vehicle based on the power steering assist level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a first power steering assist level for a low range gear of the transmission and a second power steering assist level for a high range gear of the transmission, the first power steering assist level being greater than the second power steering assist level.

3. The method of claim 1 , further including determining, by the controller, an estimated ground speed of the vehicle based on the engine speed, a predetermined engine speed, and a predetermined ground speed, wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the estimated ground speed.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined engine speed is a maximum engine speed, and the predetermined ground speed is a maximum ground speed.

5. The method of claim 1 , further including detecting a driveline condition of the vehicle, wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the driveline condition, wherein the driveline condition includes at least one of a number of wheels driven by an engine and a state of a differential of a driveline.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including detecting a state of a stabilizer bar coupled to the steering assembly of the vehicle, wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the state of the stabilizer bar.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the state of the stabilizer bar includes at least one of an engaged state, a disengaged state, and a stiffness level of the stabilizer bar.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining the error corresponding to the ground speed of the vehicle is based on the ground speed having an erroneous value, the ground speed having a value that exceeds a capability of the vehicle, the ground speed changes at a rate that exceeds a threshold rate, or the ground speed sensor failing to detect the ground speed.

9. A power steering method for a vehicle, the method including:

detecting, by a controller of a power steering system, a selected gear of a transmission of the vehicle;

detecting a state of a stabilizer bar coupled to a steering assembly of the vehicle;

determining, by the controller, a power steering assist level based on the selected gear of the transmission, the state of the stabilizer bar, and a user torque input to the steering assembly of the vehicle; and

outputting, by the power steering system, steering torque assistance to the steering assembly of the vehicle based on the power steering assist level.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the state of the stabilizer bar includes at least one of an engaged state, a disengaged state, and a stiffness level of the stabilizer bar.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a first power steering assist level for a low range gear of the transmission and a second power steering assist level for a high range gear of the transmission, the first power steering assist level being greater than the second power steering assist level.

12. The method of claim 9 , further including:

receiving, from a ground speed sensor, a ground speed of the vehicle; and

determining an error corresponding to the ground speed of the vehicle, wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the error corresponding to the detected ground speed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the determining the error corresponding to the ground speed of the vehicle is based on the ground speed having an erroneous value, the ground speed having a value that exceeds a capability of the vehicle, the ground speed changes at a rate that exceeds a threshold rate, or the ground speed sensor failing to detect the ground speed.

14. The method of claim 9 , further including detecting a driveline condition of the vehicle, wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the driveline condition, and wherein the driveline condition includes at least one of a number of wheels driven by an engine and a state of a differential of a driveline.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, an engine speed of the vehicle, and

wherein the determining the power steering assist level is further based on the engine speed of the vehicle.

16. A power steering method for a vehicle, the method including:

detecting, by a controller of a power steering system, a selected gear of a transmission of the vehicle and an engine speed of the vehicle;

determining, by the controller, an estimated ground speed of the vehicle based on the engine speed, a predetermined engine speed, and a predetermined ground speed;

determining, by the controller, a power steering assist level based on the selected gear of the transmission, the estimated ground speed, and a user torque input to a steering assembly of the vehicle; and

outputting, by the power steering system, steering torque assistance to the steering assembly of the vehicle based on the power steering assist level.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining a first power steering assist level for a low range gear of the transmission and a second power steering assist level for a high range gear of the transmission, the first power steering assist level being greater than the second power steering assist level.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting a driveline condition of the vehicle, the determining the power steering assist level further being based on the driveline condition, wherein the driveline condition includes at least one of a number of wheels driven by an engine and a state of a differential of a driveline.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined engine speed is a maximum engine speed, and the predetermined ground speed is a maximum ground speed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2019
From: NORSTAD, TIM P.
To: POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
Reel/Frame 048216/0825 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14928121 · Oct 30, 2015
Provisional Application 62073724 · Oct 31, 2014
Related Publication 20180009443A1 · Jan 11, 2018
Cited By (10)
US 12,291,069 US 12,325,432 US 12,330,467 US 12,337,824 US 12,384,214 US 12,397,878 US 12,504,070 US 12,552,215 US 12,636,925 US 12,644,513