IP Library Granted Patent US 9,527,489
Granted Patent B2
US 9,527,489 · App. 15/201,671 · Granted Dec 27, 2016

Failure tolerant vehicle speed

Inventors: John P. Joyce (West Bloomfield, MI); Scott J. Lauffer (Northville, MI); Peter Francis Worrel (Troy, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60T8/96B60T7/12B60T8/88G05D1/0077G05D1/0088G05D1/021B60T2250/00B60T2270/40
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,527,489
App. No.
15/201,671
Granted
Dec 27, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An autonomous vehicle control sub-system includes first and second brake control modules that are communicatively and electrically connected to one another and a plurality of wheel-speed sensors communicatively connected to the first brake control module. The first module is programmed to receive wheel-speed data from the wheel-speed sensors. The second module is programmed to process the wheel-speed data in the event of a failure in the first module.

Claims (26)

1. A system, comprising an autonomous vehicle control sub-system, comprising:

first and second brake control modules that are communicatively and electrically connected to one another;

a plurality of wheel-speed sensors communicatively connected to the first brake control module;

wherein the first module is programmed to receive wheel-speed data from the wheel-speed sensors, and the second module is programmed to process the wheel-speed data in the event of a failure in the first module; and

wherein the first module is electrically connected to the second module, the second module is configured to supply power to the first module in the event of a power failure with respect to the first module.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first module and the second module are each programmed to provide a signal, based at least in part on the wheel-speed data, to a brake actuator in the vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first module is programmed to use the wheel-speed data to calculate at least one wheel-speed, and provide the at least one wheel-speed to the second module.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first module is programmed to provide the wheel-speed data to the second module via modulated electrical signals, and the second module is programmed to calculate wheel-speeds based on the modulated electrical signals.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first module is programmed to receive wheel-speed data from fewer than all of the wheel-speed sensors.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a powertrain control module programmed to calculate an average speed of driven wheels and provide the average speed of the driven wheels to the second module.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the average speed of the driven wheels is provided to the second module via a wired connection.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first module is programmed to provide electrical power to the plurality of wheel speed sensors.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the power from the second module is provided to the plurality of wheel speed sensors in the event of the power failure with respect to the first module.

10. A system, comprising an autonomous vehicle control sub-system, comprising:

first and second brake controllers that are communicatively and electrically connected to one another;

a plurality of wheel-speed sensors communicatively connected to the first brake controller;

wherein the first brake controller is programmed to receive wheel-speed data from the wheel-speed sensors, and the second brake controller is programmed to process the wheel-speed data in the event of a failure in the first brake controller,

wherein the first brake controller and the second brake controller are each programmed to provide a signal, based at least in part on the wheel-speed data, to a brake actuator in the vehicle, and

wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first brake controller is programmed to use the wheel-speed data to calculate at least one wheel-speed, and provide the at least one wheel-speed to the second brake controller; and

wherein the first module is electrically connected to the second module, the second module is configured to supply power to the first module in the event of a power failure with respect to the first module.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first brake controller is programmed to provide the wheel-speed data to the second brake controller via modulated electrical signals, and the second brake controller is programmed to calculate wheel-speeds based on the modulated electrical signals.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein, upon detecting a failure, the first brake controller is programmed to receive wheel-speed data from fewer than all of the wheel-speed sensors.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a powertrain controller programmed to calculate an average speed of driven wheels and provide the average speed of the driven wheels to the second brake controller.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the average speed of the driven wheels is provided to the second brake controller via a wired connection.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first brake controller is programmed to provide electrical power to the plurality of wheel speed sensors.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the power from the second brake controller is provided to the plurality of wheel speed sensors in the event of the power failure with respect to the first brake controller.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 5, 2016
From: JOYCE, JOHN P.; LAUFFER, SCOTT J.; WORREL, PETER FRANCIS
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 039072/0305 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14664052 · Mar 20, 2015
Provisional Application 62023475 · Jul 11, 2014
Related Publication 20160311419A1 · Oct 27, 2016