ACTIVE ROLL STABILIZATION WITH IMPROVED CONTROL BY MEANS OF A SET POINT LIMITATION

Abstract

A method for the active roll stabilization of a vehicle (50) by way of a roll stabilizer (30). The roll stabilizer (30) includes a stabilizer rod (32), a stabilizer housing (34) and a stabilizer motor (36), arranged inside the stabilizer housing (34), so that a first end of the stabilizer rod (32) is connected at to a wheel (52) of the vehicle and at a second end thereof is mounted to be rotated by way of the stabilizer motor (36). The method including the steps of obtaining a first set-point value of a rod torque of the stabilizer rod (32); obtaining a second set-point value of a motor rotation angle of the stabilizer motor (36); limiting the second set-point value based on an absolute value and/or a gradient of the first set-point value; and inputting the second set-point value into a control sequence (20) as a guide magnitude.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method for active roll stabilization of a vehicle (50) by a roll stabilizer (30) that has a stabilizer rod (32), a stabilizer housing (34) and a stabilizer motor (36), arranged inside the stabilizer housing (34), a first end of the stabilizer rod (32) is connected to a wheel (52) of the vehicle and a second end thereof is mounted to be rotated by the stabilizer motor (36), the method comprising: obtaining a first set-point value of a rod torque of the stabilizer rod (32); obtaining a second set-point value of a motor rotation angle of the stabilizer motor (36); limiting the second set-point value based on at least one of an absolute value and a gradient of the first set-point value; and inputting the second set-point value into a control sequence (20) as a guide magnitude.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising limiting the second set-point value by comparing the second set-point value to a predefined threshold, and replacing the second set-point value with the predefined threshold value if the second set-point value obtained exceeds the predefined threshold.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising determining the predefined threshold from a relationship between a motor torque of the stabilizer motor (36) and a motor rotational speed, obtained from a characterization of the stabilizer motor (36).

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising determining the motor rotational speed from a relationship associated with that motor torque which corresponds to the first set-point value, as the predefined threshold.

17. The method according to claim 13, further comprising entering the limited second set-point value into the control sequence (20) as a guide magnitude.

18. The method according to claim 13, further comprising limiting the second set-point value in the control sequence (20) after the second set-point value is entered into the control sequence (20).

19. A regulating device (10) for active roll stabilization of a vehicle (50) by an active roll stabilizer (30), wherein the regulating device (10) is designed to carry out the method according to claim 13.

20. An active roll stabilizer (30) comprising a stabilizer rod (32), a stabilizer housing (34) and a stabilizer motor (36), arranged inside the stabilizer housing (34), such that a first end of the stabilizer rod (32) is connected to a wheel (52) of the vehicle (50) and a second end the stabilizer rod is mounted to be rotated by the stabilizer motor (36), and the roll stabilizer (30) further comprising a regulating device (10) according to claim 19.

21. A vehicle (50) comprising an active roll stabilizer (30) according to claim 20, wherein the active roll stabilizer (30) is connected to at least one wheel (52) of the vehicle (50).

22. A computer program product comprising commands which, when the program is carried out by a computer, enable the computer to carry out the method according to claim 13.

23. A computer-readable storage medium, on which the computer program product according to claim 22 is stored.

24. A data carrier signal which transmits the computer program product according to claim 22.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Embodiments will now be described as examples with reference to the attached figures, which show:

[0029] FIG. 1: A schematic representation of an embodiment of a roll stabilizer;

[0030] FIG. 2: A schematic representation of an embodiment of a regulating device; and

[0031] FIG. 3: A schematic representation of an embodiment of a control sequence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] In the figures, the same indexes denote the same or functionally similar reference components. In the individual figures, the reference components which are relevant in each case are indexed.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an active roll stabilizer 30, in particular an active electro-mechanical roll stabilizer. The roll stabilizer 30 comprises two stabilizer rods 32, preferably in tubular form. The two stabilizer rods 32 can in each case be connected at their respective outer ends to a wheel 52 of a vehicle 50 at respective attachment points 40 (FIGS. 3-4). At an inner end the stabilizer rods 32 are connected to a stabilizer motor 36 (see FIG. 3) of the roll stabilizer 30, the stabilizer motor 36 being accommodated in a stabilizer housing 34. To fix the roll stabilizer 30, two stabilizer mounts 38 are also provided.

[0034] The roll stabilizer 30 further comprises a regulating device 10. The regulating device 10 preferably serves to determine a set-point value of the rotational angle for the stabilizer motor 36 and to produce that set-point value in the stabilizer motor 36 by means of a regulating process. FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the regulating device 10. The regulating device 10 comprises a first signal input 12 for receiving a first set-point value of a rod torque of the stabilizer rod 32 which is to be driven by the stabilizer motor 36. Further, the regulating device 10 comprises a second signal input 14 for receiving a second set-point value of a motor rotational angle of the stabilizer motor 36. As already explained earlier, the second set-point value can be determined on the basis of the first set-point value. Furthermore the regulating device 10 comprises a third signal input 16 for receiving a predetermined relationship between a motor torque and a motor rotational speed. The predetermined relationship can be obtained from a characterization of the stabilizer motor 36. Preferably, the predetermined relationship can be obtained from a motor characteristic, as already explained earlier.

[0035] The regulating device 10 also comprises a limiting unit 18 by means of which the second set-point value is restricted/limited on the basis of the first set-point value. For example, the limiting unit 18 determines from the predetermined relationship received a motor rotational speed which is associated with a motor torque such that the motor torque has the value of the first set-point of the rod torque. This motor rotational speed is used as the permitted maximum, in order to limit the second set-point value received. Preferably, the maximum is further processed as the limited second set-point value and entered in a control sequence 20 of the regulating device 10 as a guide magnitude if the second set-point value is larger than or equal to the maximum. Otherwise, the second set-point value received is process further without change and entered into the control sequence 20.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an example of a control sequence 20. According to one embodiment, the second set-point value of the motor rotational angle .sub.Soll,Motor, limited as described above, is fed into a first comparator 202. At the same time, an actual value of the motor rotational angle, .sub.Ist,Motor is fed into the first comparator 202. The first comparator 202 compares the two magnitudes fed into it and, if a difference between them that exceeds a predefined threshold is detected, the comparator passes the second set-point value on to a position regulating unit 204. The position regulating unit 204, which can comprise the first comparator 202, determines from the limited second set-point value .sub.Soll,Motora third set-point value of a motor rotational speed, .sub.Soll,Motor. A second comparator 206 compares the third set-point value with an actual value of the motor rotational speed, .sub.Ist,Motor obtained from the stabilizer motor 36, and passes the third actual value to a rotational speed regulating unit 208 if a difference between the magnitudes compared exceeds a further predefined threshold. From the third set-point value .sub.Soll,Motor the rotational speed regulating unit 208 determines a fourth set-point value of the motor torque, I.sub.Soll,Motor, and passes this on to a torque regulating unit 210. The torque regulating unit 210 determines several, preferably three current intensities from the fourth set-point value and passes these on to a DC-AC converter (inverter) 212. On the basis of the current intensities provided, the inverter 212 produces a multi-phase, preferably three-phase alternating current I.sub.AC and feeds this into the stabilizer motor 36.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, limiting of the second set-point value takes place not before the control sequence 20, but within it. As represented in FIG. 3 by broken lines, the limiting unit 19 can be arranged between the position regulating unit 204 and the rotational speed regulating unit 206 instead of before the first comparator 202. In this case, instead of a limited second set-point value of the motor rotational angle, a non-limited second set-point value is fed into the first comparator 202. The limiting unit 19 receives as input a set-point value of the motor rotational speed, .sub.Soll,Motor, from the rotational speed regulating unit 206 and emits as output a limited set-point value of the motor rotational speed. In this embodiment, therefore, a motor rotational speed derived from the second set-point value is limited.

INDEXES

[0038] 10 Regulating device [0039] 12 First signal input [0040] 14 Second signal input [0041] 16 Third signal input [0042] 18, 19 Limiting unit [0043] 20 Control sequence [0044] 202 First comparator [0045] 204 Position regulating unit [0046] 206 Second comparator [0047] 208 Rotational speed regulating unit [0048] 210 Torque regulating unit [0049] 212 Inverter [0050] 30 Active roll stabilizer [0051] 32 Stabilizer rod [0052] 34 Stabilizer housing [0053] 36 Stabilizer motor/Stabilizer actor [0054] 38 Stabilizer mount [0055] 40 Fixing point/coupling bar