Motion control apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

In this vehicle motion control apparatus, vehicle behavior sensors are arranged integrally with an integrated unit composed integrally of a control unit and a brake controller. An acceleration sensor is mounted in a section adjacent to the integrated unit. If an output value from the acceleration sensor for an airbag deployment exceeds a predetermined threshold due to a collision of the vehicle etc., the vehicle motion control apparatus determines there is a possibility that a mounting posture of the integrated unit relative to a vehicle body is tilted from a reference posture by a predetermined degree or more, then prohibiting performing an ESC control. And, the vehicle motion control apparatus lights a warning lamp to notify a driver of an occurrence of abnormality in the mounting posture of the integrated unit and to urge the driver to perform repairs for an adjustment of the mounting posture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle motion control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a brake hydraulic pressure generation section and a hydraulic unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a routine which is executed by a CPU of an airbag controller shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a routine executed by a CPU of a brake controller shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle motion control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle motion control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a time chart illustrating a change of the signal output from the acceleration sensor mounted on the integrated unit in a case where “control-prohibiting/warning process” is executed according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle motion control apparatus for controlling a motion of a vehicle, the vehicle motion control apparatus comprising an integrated unit which is composed integrally of: an actuator controlling a vehicle motion;a vehicle behavior sensor outputting a signal indicative of a behavior of said vehicle; anda controller controlling said actuator on the basis of the signal output from said vehicle behavior sensor,

2. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a collision-detection sensor, which detects a collision of said vehicle, is used as said tilt-detection sensor, and a signal, which indicates that a degree of the collision of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined degree, is used as said tilt-signal.

3. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an acceleration sensor and/or an acoustic sensor which is mounted onto an airbag system and/or a system for reducing a damage caused by a collision of said vehicle is used as said collision-detection sensor.

4. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said vehicle comprises a plurality of said collision-detection sensors which are mounted at sections of said vehicle which differ in distance from said integrated unit; andsaid control-prohibiting/warning means is configured so as to execute said control-prohibiting/warning process, when said tilt-signal is output from the collision-detection sensor which is mounted at a nearest section to said integrated unit among said plurality of collision-detection sensors.

5. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein as said tilt-signal, a signal is used which indicates that said degree of the collision is greater than the predetermined degree lower than a degree corresponding to a start of control of the airbag system and/or the system for reducing the damage.

6. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle mounts a storing means for storing tilt-information when said tilt-detection sensor outputs said tilt-signal, andsaid control-prohibiting/warning means is configured so as to continue said control-prohibiting/warning process as long as said tilt-information is stored in said storing means.

7. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle is configured so as to be capable of mounting a second vehicle behavior sensor which outputs a signal indicative of said vehicle behavior at a central section of said vehicle, the second vehicle behavior sensor being different from said vehicle behavior sensor which is integrally mounted in said integrated unit, andsaid controller is configured so as to comprise an input section which inputs the signal output from said second vehicle behavior sensor, and to be capable of controlling said actuator on the basis of the signal output from the second vehicle behavior sensor of the same.

8. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the collision-detection sensor is mounted onto said vehicle separately from said integrated unit.

9. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the collision-detection sensor is mounted onto said integrated unit.

10. A vehicle motion control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle behavior sensor which outputs, as said signal indicative of said behavior of said vehicle, a signal indicative of an acceleration and/or a deceleration of said vehicle is used as said collision-detection sensor.