IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,380,416
Granted Patent B2
US 8,380,416 · App. 10/708,671 · Granted Feb 19, 2013

Method and apparatus for controlling brake-steer in an automotive vehicle in reverse

Inventors: Timothy G. Offerle (Whittaker, MI); Hongtei E. Tseng (Canton, MI); Douglas S. Rhode (Farmington Hills, MI); Gregory P. Brown (Dearborn, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,380,416
App. No.
10/708,671
Granted
Feb 19, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method of controlling an automotive vehicle includes generating a reverse direction signal corresponding to a reverse direction of the vehicle and generating brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a shift lever having a reverse position generating a reverse position signal; and

a controller coupled to the shift lever, said controller applying brake-steer in response to the reverse position signal, with said vehicle further comprising a transfer case having a transfer case mode, said controller changing the transfer case mode based on brake-steer.

2. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to apply brake-steer by applying a first brake and a second brake to reduce the turning radius of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 wherein said controller is programmed to apply brake-steer by applying at least one brake at a first wheel to reduce a vehicle turning radius.

4. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a steering wheel angle sensor generating a steering wheel angle signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse directional signal and the steering wheel angle signal.

5. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a yaw rate sensor generating a yaw rate signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and yaw rate signal.

6. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a steering wheel torque sensor generating a steering torque signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering torque signal.

7. A vehicle as recited in claim 1 further comprising a steering wheel angle sensor generating a steering wheel angle signal and a vehicle velocity sensor generating a vehicle velocity signal, said controller programmed to apply brake-steer in response to the reverse direction signal and steering wheel angle and vehicle velocity signal.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 8, 2006
From: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 017137/0852 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 18, 2004
From: OFFERLE, TIMOTHY G.; TSENG, HONGTEI E.; RHODE, DOUGLAS S.; BROWN, GREGORY P.
To: FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Reel/Frame 014426/0744 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20050209763A1 · Sep 22, 2005