IP Library Granted Patent US 12,637,084
Granted Patent B2
US 12,637,084 · App. 18/709,886 · Granted May 26, 2026

Method for determining a road friction value

Inventors: Sebastian Crump (Munich, DE); Sören Wenzel (Schefflenz, DE)
Assignee: Magna PT B. V. & Co. KG
B60W40/068B60T8/172B60T8/17636B60T2210/12B60T2240/02B60T2240/04B60W2520/26B60W2552/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,637,084
App. No.
18/709,886
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining a current road friction value (μ road ) using a control device in a motor vehicle continuously calculates a current friction value demand (μ dem ) by the control device. A current tire stiffness (St) is determined from the calculated current friction value demand (μ dem ) and a current tire slip (Slip), and the current road friction value (μ road ) is determined from the current tire stiffness (St) by way of a stored table (T), which maps tire stiffnesses (St) to road friction values (μ road ).

Claims (21)

1 . A method for determining a current road friction value by a control unit in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: continuously calculating, by the control unit, a current friction value demand from a current driving wheel torque and a currently prevailing axle load, determining a current tire stiffness from the calculated current friction value demand and a current tire slip, and determining a current road friction value from the current tire stiffness by way of a stored table, which maps tire stiffness to road friction values; wherein in the event of a loss of traction, the current road friction value is determined, from the current friction value demand, as equal to the current friction value demand.

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the current friction value demand is calculated from a current driving wheel torque and a currently prevailing axle load.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the current tire stiffness is determined as a statistical mean value, which takes into account a number of previously calculated current friction value demands and current tire slips.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein, when determining the current tire stiffness as a statistical mean, only previously calculated current friction value demands and current tire slips that lie within a predetermined maximum deviation from a mean value are taken into account.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein determination of a lateral and a longitudinal component is carried out for the current road friction value and the current friction value demand.

6 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the loss of traction comprises wheel spinning.

7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein determination of a lateral and a longitudinal component is carried out for the current road friction value or the current friction value demand.

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the table includes multiple stiffness/friction relationships corresponding to different road surface types.

9 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein multiple friction curves are stored corresponding to multiple road surfaces, such that friction values at various speeds and wheel slips are determined by adjusting one or more of the friction curves when wheel slips at other speeds are detected.

10 . A method for determining a current road friction value by a control unit in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: continuously calculating, by the control unit, a current friction value demand from a current driving wheel torque and a currently prevailing axle load, determining a current tire stiffness from the calculated current friction value demand and a current tire slip, and determining a current road friction value from the current tire stiffness by way of a stored table, which maps tire stiffness to road friction values: wherein the stored table, which maps tire stiffnesses to road friction values, is adjusted in the event of a loss of traction.

11 . The method as claimed in claim 10 ,

wherein in the event of a loss of traction, wherein the loss of traction comprises wheel spin, the current road friction value is determined, from the current friction value demand, as equal to the current friction value demand, wherein the stored table, which maps tire stiffnesses to road friction values, is adjusted by assigning the current tire stiffness to the current road friction value, equal to the current friction value demand.

12 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the loss of traction comprises wheel spinning.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the table is adjusted when a loss of traction occurs by assigning a current tire stiffness at the time of the loss of traction to the current friction value demand at the at the time of the loss of traction.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the current road friction is determined to be equal to the current friction value demand at the time of the loss of traction.

15 . A method for determining a current road friction value by a control unit in a motor vehicle, the method comprising: continuously calculating, by the control unit, a current friction value demand from a current driving wheel torque and a currently prevailing axle load, determining a current tire stiffness from the calculated current friction value demand and a current tire slip, and determining a current road friction value from the current tire stiffness by way of a stored table, which maps tire stiffness to road friction values; wherein at a first time, the actual road friction value is higher than the current friction value demand; at a second time, later than the first time, a loss of traction is detected; at or after the second time, determining that the actual road friction at the second time corresponds to the current friction value demand at the second time; in response thereto, adjusting the determined road friction value to the actual road friction value; adapting a friction curve of the vehicle based on the determined road friction road friction value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2024
From: CRUMP, SEBASTIAN; WENZEL, SÖREN
To: MAGNA PT B.V. & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 067549/0839 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2021 212 792.4 · Nov 15, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250018952A1 · Jan 16, 2025
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