IP Library Granted Patent US 7,600,827
Granted Patent B2
US 7,600,827 · App. 11/233,870 · Granted Oct 13, 2009

Rollback reduction in hybrid or conventional powertrain vehicle via vehicle stability enhancement system (VSES)

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,600,827
App. No.
11/233,870
Granted
Oct 13, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An anti-rollback control system for a vehicle having a brake system includes a brake pedal that is operable to induce a brake pressure in the brake system and a control module that holds the brake pressure equal to a hold pressure that is based on an incline angle to inhibit rollback of the vehicle when pressure is relieved from the brake pedal. The control module initiates forward propulsion of the vehicle based on a driver input and reduces the brake pressure from the hold pressure concurrent to initiating the forward propulsion.

Claims (43)

1. An anti-rollback control system for a vehicle having a brake system, comprising:

a brake pedal that is operable to induce a brake pressure in said brake system; and

a control module that holds said brake pressure equal to a hold pressure that is based on an incline angle to inhibit rollback of said vehicle when pressure is relieved from said brake pedal, that initiates forward propulsion of said vehicle based on a driver input and that reduces said brake pressure from said hold pressure concurrent to initiating said forward propulsion, wherein said control module determines said hold pressure based on a minimum hold pressure, a driver pressure, and a maximum hold pressure.

2. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein said control module gradually reduces said brake pressure to zero.

3. The anti-rollback control system of claim 2 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a rotational speed of a propulsion mechanism.

4. The anti-rollback control system of claim 2 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a clutch-fill rate of a transmission.

5. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein said minimum hold pressure is determined based on said incline angle.

6. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 further comprising an inclinometer that determines said incline angle.

7. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein said incline angle is determined based on an incline model.

8. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 further comprising a brake pressure line-lock solenoid that is selectively actuated to hold said brake pressure at said hold pressure.

9. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein said driver pressure is determined based on a brake pedal position.

10. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein control module maintains said brake pressure at said hold pressure for a threshold time after initiating forward propulsion of said vehicle.

11. The anti-rollback control system of claim 1 wherein a rate of reduction of said brake pressure from said hold pressure is based on an accelerator pedal position.

12. A method of inhibiting rollback during vehicle launch, comprising:

relieving a brake pressure of a brake system of a vehicle;

holding said brake pressure equal to a hold pressure that is based on an incline angle to inhibit rollback of said vehicle;

initiating forward propulsion of said vehicle; and

reducing said brake pressure from said hold pressure concurrent to initiating said forward propulsion, wherein said hold pressure is determined based on a minimum hold pressure, a driver pressure, and a maximum hold pressure.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said brake pressure is gradually reduced to zero.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a rotational speed of a propulsion mechanism.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a clutch-fill rate of a transmission.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein said driver pressure is determined based on a brake pedal position.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said minimum hold pressure is determined based on said incline angle.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein said incline angle is determined based on an incline signal generated by an inclinometer.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said incline angle is determined based on an incline model.

20. The method of claim 12 further comprising actuating a brake pressure line-lock solenoid to hold said brake pressure at said hold pressure.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein a rate of reduction of said brake pressure from said hold pressure is based on an accelerator pedal position.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein said brake pressure is maintained at said hold pressure for a threshold time after initiating forward propulsion of said vehicle.

23. A method of regulating brake pressure of a brake system to inhibit rollback during vehicle launch, comprising:

decreasing said brake pressure from a driver applied brake pressure;

maintaining said brake pressure equal to a hold pressure that is less that said driver applied brake pressure and that is based on an incline angle to inhibit rollback of said vehicle;

initiating forward propulsion of said vehicle based on a driver input; and

initiating a brake pressure release (BPR) routine to reduce said brake pressure from said hold pressure to enable said forward propulsion, wherein said hold pressure is determined based on a minimum hold pressure, a driver pressure, and a maximum hold pressure.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a rotational speed of a propulsion mechanism.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said gradual reduction is based on a rate of filling of fluid in a transmission.

26. The method of claim 23 further comprising actuating a brake pressure line-lock solenoid to hold said brake pressure at said hold pressure.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein said driver pressure is determined based on a brake pedal position.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein said minimum hold pressure is determined based on said incline angle.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein said incline angle is determined based on an incline signal generated by an inclinometer.

30. The method of claim 23 wherein said brake pressure is gradually reduced to zero.

31. The method of claim 23 wherein said incline angle is determined based on an incline model.

32. The method of claim 23 wherein a rate of reduction of said brake pressure from said hold pressure is based on an accelerator pedal position.

33. The method of claim 23 wherein said brake pressure is maintained at said hold pressure for a threshold time after initiating forward propulsion of said vehicle.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034184/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0936 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0041 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025314/0901 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0587 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0093 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0142 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0402 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0519 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0493 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 3, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 27, 2005
From: TAMAI, GORO; SIMPSON, JEFF A.; ALDRICH, WILLIAM, III; BHATTARAI, BIRENDRA P.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 016943/0809 →