Patent ID: 8020947
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle turning motion control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a turning condition sensing section configured to sense a turning condition of the vehicle; a vehicle deceleration control section configured to initiate a deceleration control to decelerate the vehicle when the turning condition surpasses a deceleration start threshold; a running state sensing section configured to sense a running state of the vehicle and to determine an absolute value of a variation of the running state; and a threshold setting section configured to set the deceleration start threshold in accordance with the absolute value of the variation of the running state when the vehicle enters a turning state, wherein the threshold setting section is configured to determine a base threshold from a turning ability limit defining a limit of a stable vehicle turning performance region, and to determine the deceleration start threshold by modifying the base threshold in accordance with the absolute value of the variation of the running state; wherein: the turning condition is a turning radius of the vehicle; the deceleration start threshold is a deceleration start turning radius threshold to be compared with the turning radius; the base threshold is a base turning radius threshold; the vehicle deceleration control section is configured to initiate the deceleration control to decelerate the vehicle when the turning radius of the vehicle becomes smaller than the deceleration start turning radius threshold; and the threshold setting section is configured to determine the base turning radius threshold from the turning ability limit defining the limit of the stable vehicle turning performance region, and to determine the deceleration start turning radius threshold by modifying the base turning radius threshold in accordance with the absolute value of the variation of the running state of the vehicle; and wherein the threshold setting section is configured to determine the turning ability limit which includes a limit turning radius defining the limit of the stable vehicle turning performance region in accordance with a vehicle speed of the vehicle, and to determine the base radius threshold by multiplying the limit turning radius by a predetermined coefficient which is greater than one.