(19)
(11) EP 2 351 678 A8

(12) CORRECTED EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(15) Correction information:
Corrected version no 1 (W1 A1)

(48) Corrigendum issued on:
21.09.2011 Bulletin 2011/38

(43) Date of publication:
03.08.2011 Bulletin 2011/31

(21) Application number: 09823426.3

(22) Date of filing: 15.09.2009
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
B60W 40/06(2006.01)
B60T 8/172(2006.01)
 B60L 7/18(2006.01)
B60T 8/1755(2006.01)
(86) International application number:
PCT/JP2009/066076
(87) International publication number:
WO 2010/050313 (06.05.2010 Gazette 2010/18)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR

(30) Priority: 29.10.2008 JP 2008278033

(71) Applicant: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Kanagawa 221-0023 (JP)

(72) Inventors:
  • SHIOZA WA, Yuuki
    Kanagawa 243-0123 (JP)
  • MOURI, Hiroshi
    Kanagawa 243-0123 (JP)
  • NAWANO, Masaaki
    Kanagawa 243-0123 (JP)

(74) Representative: Grünecker, Kinkeldey, Stockmair & Schwanhäusser Anwaltssozietät 
Leopoldstrasse 4
80802 München
80802 München (DE)

   


(54) DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING FRICTIONAL CONDITION OF GROUND SURFACE WITH WHICH VEHICLE IS IN CONTACT


(57) Apparatus (or method) for estimating a gripping characteristic of a vehicle wheel of a vehicle on a ground contact surface includes first input section (or step), a second input section (or step) and an output section (or step). The first input section sets a first input which is a ratio of a first wheel force acting on the vehicle wheel in the ground contact surface in a first direction, and a first wheel slip degree. The second input section sets a second input which is a ratio of a second wheel force acting on the vehicle wheel in the ground contact surface in a second direction, and a second wheel slip degree of the vehicle wheel. The output section determines, from the first and second inputs, an output which is a grip characteristic parameter indicative of the gripping characteristic of the vehicle wheel.