Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention is related to a control unit for detecting a wheel misalignment in a vehicle.

Background of the invention

[0002] Wheel alignment is one such integral part of the predictive maintenance for a vehicle, wherein, the various vehicle wheel angles, which are adjustable, are measured and adjusted according to the manufacturer's specifications or also according to the owner’s handling requirement. While driving on straight roads vehicle steering angle should be close to 0 degree assuming no traffic condition which can be observed in high speeding zones. This is main condition to be satisfied as at high-speed steering is maintained at constant angle.

[0003] A patent US10378890 discloses an apparatus for determining a wheel alignment change of a vehicle may include: a straight driving situation detection unit configured to detect whether a vehicle is going straight, based on information on positions of objects on a road and a yaw rate and steering angle; a wheel alignment change detection unit configured to detect a wheel alignment change based on lane information acquired from a camera sensor of the vehicle, when the vehicle information detected by the straight driving situation detection unit indicates that the vehicle is going straight; a driver alarming unit configured to output an alarm to a driver when the detected wheel alignment change is larger than a preset threshold value; and a wheel alignment change compensation unit configured to compensate for steering for SCC or LKAS control, when the detected wheel alignment change is smaller than the threshold value.
Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit in a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and
[0005] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of detecting a wheel misalignment in a vehicle in accordance with this invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a control unit for detecting a wheel misalignment in a vehicle in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The control unit 10 detects a speed of the vehicle 14 more than a predefined threshold and monitors a pressure of at least one tire 12 of the vehicle 14 and a signal value from a steering angle sensor 16 of the vehicle 14. The control unit 10 senses the signal value of the steering angle sensor 16 to be within a predefined range. The control unit 10 generates an alert in a dashboard of the vehicle 14, when the signal value is out of the predefined range.

[0007] Further the control unit and the components of the control unit is explained in detail. The control unit 10 is chosen from a group of control units comprising a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a digital circuit, an integrated chip and the like. The s steering angle sensor signal value is sensed when the vehicle 14 is in anyone of following driving mode , under cruise control mode and without a cruise control mode. The vehicle 14 is made to operate in two control modes, one being cruise control mode and one without cruise control mode. The change in the operating mode of the vehicle 14 is made based on the user requirement. The control unit 10 monitors for a variation of at least one vehicle condition during an operating mode of the vehicle 14, while detecting the wheel misalignment. The at lease one vehicle condition is chosen from a group of conditions comprising a brake applied condition, a press of clutch, a change in a gear, a hazard light on condition, an indicator is switched on.

[0008] The alert generated is any one of the following an audio or a sound upon detecting the change in the steering angle of the vehicle 14 in a particular direction. The control unit 10 comprises a counter 22 for determining the number of alerts generated and upon detecting more than a predefined threshold , the control unit 10 warns a user of the vehicle 14 via a communication means 20. The communication means 20 can be wired or wireless communication means like a WI-FI, Bluetooth, Infrared and the like. The control unit 10 takes an appropriate action, when the warning to the user of the vehicle 14 is detected.

[0009] Figure 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of detecting a wheel misalignment in a vehicle in accordance with this invention. In step S1, a speed of the vehicle 14 more than a predefined threshold is detected. In step S2, a pressure of at least one tire 12 of the vehicle 14 is monitored and a signal value from a steering angle sensor 16 of the vehicle 14 is determined. In step S3, The signal value of the steering angle sensor 16 is determined to be within a predefined range. In step S4,an alert in a dashboard of the vehicle 14 is generated, when the signal value is out of the predefined range.

[0010] The method is explained in detail. The control unit 10 checks for a vehicle speed to be more than a predefined threshold value. For instance, the control unit 10 checks whether the vehicle 14 is in moving mode or stagnant mode based on the vehicle speed. The control unit 10 then checks for the air pressure of all the tires 12 present in the vehicle 14. The detected air pressure should be within the acceptable values for all the tires 12 of the vehicle 14. Once these two conditions are met, the control unit 10 then checks for the steering angle sensor 16 ,ie., it receives a signal value from the steering angle sensor 16. Based on the steering angle sensor 16 value and when the vehicle 14 is moving in a high speed, the control unit 10 checks whether the vehicle 14 is in cruise control mode or running without cruise control mode.

[0011] When the vehicle 14 is in cruise control mode, the control unit 10 keep monitoring the steering angle sensor 16 signal value and if the sensed value is varied from a predefined threshold , then a flag/alert is generated and the counter 18 will be incremented by one. If the number of alerts exceeds a certain value (which is stored), then the control unit 10 generates a warning in the dashboard of the vehicle 14 or communicates the same to the user of the vehicle 14 through a wireless or wired communication means 20. The control unit 10 generates the alert based on at least one vehicle parameter variation like a brake or clutch is applied, a gear is changed, an indicator is switched on or any hazard light is on.

[0012] When the vehicle is without cruise control mode, the control unit 10 continues to monitor the steering angle sensor 16 value and if there is a variation in the sensor signal value, then the alert/flag is generated. If the generated flag is more than a predefined threshold value, then the control unit 10 generates a warning in the dashboard of the vehicle 14 or communicates to the user of the vehicle 14.

[0013] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim:

1. A control unit (10) for detecting misalignment of said wheel (12) in a vehicle (14), said control unit (10) adapted to :
- detect a speed of said vehicle (14) more than a predefined threshold;
- monitor a pressure of at least one tire (12) of said vehicle (14) and a signal value from a steering angle sensor (16) of said vehicle (14);
- sense said signal value of said steering angle sensor (16) to be within a predefined range;
- generate an alert in a dashboard of said vehicle (14), when said signal value is out of said predefined range.

2. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said steering angle sensor (16) signal value is sensed when said vehicle (14) is in anyone of following driving mode , under cruise control mode and without a cruise control mode.

3. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein while detecting said misalignment of said wheel (12) ,said control unit (10) monitors for a variation of at least one vehicle condition during an operating mode of said vehicle (14).

4. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said at least one vehicle (14) condition is chosen from a group of conditions comprising a brake applied condition, a press of clutch, a change in a gear, a hazard light on condition, an indicator is switched on.

5. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an alert is any one of the following an audio or a sound upon detecting the change in said steering angle of said vehicle (14) in a particular direction.

6. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a counter (18) present in said control unit (10) determines the number of alerts generated and upon detecting more than a predefined threshold , warns an user of said vehicle (14) via a communication means (20).

7. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said communication means (20)can be wired or wireless communication means.

8. The control unit (10) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said control unit (10) takes an appropriate action, when the warning to said user of said vehicle (14) is detected.

9. A method of detecting misalignment of said wheel (12) in a vehicle (14), said method comprising :
- detecting a speed of said vehicle (14) more than a predefined threshold;
- monitoring a pressure of at least one tire (12) of said vehicle (14) and a signal value from a steering angle sensor (16) of said vehicle (14) ;
- sensing said signal value of said steering angle sensor (16) to be within a predefined range;
- generating an alert in a dashboard of said vehicle (14), when said signal value is out of said predefined range.