Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-01
2001-08-21
Louis-Jacques, Jacques H. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
C701S036000, C701S049000, C701S037000, C315S082000, C362S460000, C280S005507, C280S005514, C280S006157
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278912
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for calculating a pitch angle for a vehicle.
2. Description of the Invention
In general, the pitch angle &thgr; for a vehicle is calculated by the following expression:
θ
=
tan
-
1
hf
-
hr
w
(
1
)
wherein
hf
is a vehicle height at a front wheel,
hr
is a vehicle height at a rear wheel, and
w
is a wheel base length.
It is noted that, in the above expression, height variations from initial heights of the vehicle under its initial condition are entered into the vehicle heights
hf
,
hr
, respectively. Accordingly, the pitch angle &thgr; of the vehicle under the initial condition is equal to an angle of zero (0) degree.
As sensors for detecting the heights
hf
,
hr
at the front and rear wheels, a vehicle height sensor which detects an angle of a suspension arm of each wheel and converts the angle to the vehicle height is put into practical use. However, in a vehicle having a complicated suspension structure, such as a four-wheel drive vehicle, there exists a problem of difficulty to install the vehicle height sensor in the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pitch angle calculating device which is capable of calculating an accurate pitch angle of the vehicle by either one of the front vehicle height and the rear vehicle height.
To achieve the above-mentioned object of the present invention, from the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitch angle calculating device for a vehicle, comprising:
a height detecting unit arranged in either one of a front position (Pf) of the vehicle and the rear position (Pr) separated from the front position (Pf) by a predetermined distance (w), detecting either one of a front vehicle height and a rear vehicle height; and
a calculating section calculating a pitch angle of the vehicle on the basis of the detected vehicle height, the predetermined distance (w) and a designated virtual height established as the other vehicle height which is not detected by the height detecting unit;
wherein the designated virtual height is corrected with both number and positions of passengers on the vehicle and both weight and position of loads on the vehicle in advance of calculating the pitch angle by the calculating section.
From the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitch angle calculating device for a vehicle, comprising:
a height detecting unit arranged in a rear position (Pr) of the vehicle, detecting a rear vehicle height (hr) of the vehicle, the rear position (Pr) being separated from a front position (Pf) of the vehicle by a predetermined distance (w);
a calculating section calculating a pitch angle of the vehicle on the basis of the detected rear vehicle height (hr), the predetermined distance (w) and a designated virtual height (hfk) established as the front vehicle height (hf) which is not detected by the height detecting unit; and
a vehicle speed detecting unit detecting a vehicle speed of the vehicle;
wherein the designated virtual height (hfk) is corrected by the detected vehicle speed in advance of calculating the pitch angle by the calculating section.
From the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitch angle calculating device for a vehicle, comprising:
a height detecting unit arranged in a rear position (Pr) of the vehicle, detecting a rear vehicle height (hr) of the vehicle, the rear position (Pr) being separated from a front position (Pf) of the vehicle by a predetermined distance (w);
a calculating section calculating a pitch angle of the vehicle on the basis of the detected rear vehicle height (hr), the predetermined distance (w) and a designated virtual height (hfk) established as the front vehicle height (hf) which is not detected by the height detecting unit; and
an acceleration detecting unit detecting an acceleration of the vehicle in forward and backward directions thereof;
wherein the designated virtual height (hfk) is corrected by the detected acceleration in advance of calculating the pitch angle by the calculating section.
From the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pitch angle calculating device for a vehicle, comprising:
a height detecting unit arranged in a rear position (Pr) of the vehicle, detecting a rear vehicle height (hr) of the vehicle, the rear position (Pr) being separated from a front position (Pf) of the vehicle by a predetermined distance (w);
a calculating section calculating a pitch angle of the vehicle on the basis of the detected rear vehicle height (hr), the predetermined distance (w) and a designated virtual height (hfk) established as the front vehicle height (hf) which is not detected by the height detecting unit; and
a road condition detecting unit detecting a road condition of a road on which the vehicle is being traveled;
wherein the designated virtual height (hfk) is corrected with the detected road condition in advance of calculating the pitch angle by the calculating section.
The above and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood, from a study of the following description and appended claims, with reference to the detached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
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Foley & Lardner
Louis-Jacques Jacques H.
Nissan Motor Co,. Ltd.
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