Patent ID: 6371234
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B60T,B62D

Abstract:
A vehicle stability control apparatus for a vehicle having drive wheels driven by an engine and driven wheels, the apparatus comprising:a wheel speed sensor to detect wheel speed of the respective drive wheels and driven wheels; a yaw rate sensor to detect yaw rate of the vehicle; an engine power control apparatus to control output power of the engine to restrain a slip of the drive wheels in response to a first control signal; a braking force applying apparatus to apply braking force to at least the driving wheels to control a yaw moment of the vehicle in response to a second control signal; a selectable switch that produces an activation signal and an inhibition signal according to a selection by a driver; and a control unit operatively coupled with said wheel speed sensor, said yaw rate sensor, said engine power control apparatus, said braking force applying apparatus, and said selectable switch, whereinsaid control unit calculates a vehicle velocity in response to at least the driven wheels speed detected by said wheel speed sensor; said control unit calculates the slip of the drive wheels in response to the drive wheels speed and the vehicle velocity; said control unit applies the first control signal to said power source control apparatus to decrease the output power according to the slip of the drive wheels when said selectable switch produces the activation signal, and stops applying the first control signal to said power source control apparatus when said selectable switch produces the inhibition signal; said control unit calculates the braking force to generate the yaw moment according to the yaw rate; said control unit applies the second control signal to said braking force applying apparatus according to the braking force; and said control unit applies said first control signal to the engine power control apparatus irrespective of a state of the selectable switch when the second signal is applied to said braking force applying apparatus.