Claims:We Claim:
1. An electronic control unit(105) for a vehicle, the control unit(105) adapted to:
receive an input signal from a switch(110) and a signal from a brake pedal(115);
transmit control signals to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle; and
transmit control signals to control torque of the engine of the vehicle.
2. The electronic control unit as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit(105) is an electronic control unit of an anti-lock braking system.
3. A method(20) of releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage, the method comprising:
receiving(210) a switch input signal and a brake application signal by an electronic control unit(105) of the vehicle;
transmitting(220) control signals by the electronic control unit(105) to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle; and
transmitting(230) control signals by the electronic control unit(105) to control torque of an engine of the vehicle.
4. The method(20) of releasing the vehicle as claimed in Claim 3, wherein receiving the switch input signal and the brake application signal by the electronic control unit(105) comprises receiving the switch input signal and the brake application signal by an electronic control unit of an anti-lock braking system.
5. The method(20) of releasing the vehicle as claimed in Claim 4, wherein transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit(105) to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle comprises transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle.
6. The method(20) of releasing the vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit(105) to control torque of an engine of the vehicle comprises:
transmitting control data by the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system to an engine management system of the vehicle;
transmitting control signals by the engine management system of the vehicle to a fuel injection system(125) of the engine.
7. A system for releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage, the system comprising:
a switch(110) adapted to be fitted onto a console of a vehicle and adapted to be actuated by a passenger of the vehicle; and
an electronic control unit(105) adapted to receive an input signal from the switch(110) and a signal from a brake pedal(115) and further adapted to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle and control torque of an engine of the vehicle.
Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an electronic control unit adapted for releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage and a method for the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In split Mue (µ) road conditions or roads that are uneven or have a rocky terrain, there is a tendency for a wheel or a couple of wheels in the vehicle to slip. Wheel slippage is because of loss of traction in the wheel that is slipping. This can prevent the vehicle from going forward. Limited slip differentials and other types of changes to the structure of a differential can be suited to resolve the above said slipping of wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0003] Embodiments of this disclosure is explained in principle below with reference to the drawings. The drawings are:
[0004] FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic arrangement of an electronic control unit with associated vehicular modules for releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage
[0005] FIGURE 2 illustrates a method of releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0006] FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic arrangement 10 of an electronic control unit 105 with associated vehicular modules for releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage. The arrangement 10 is disposed in the vehicle, as will be described hereinafter. The arrangement 10 comprises an electronic control unit 105 and a switch 110 disposed in a console or a dashboard of the vehicle and adapted to be actuated by a passenger of the vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle can be a driver of the vehicle as well. The arrangement further comprises a brake pedal 115 in the vehicle, a braking system 120 of the vehicle and a fuel injection system 125. The brake pedal 115, the braking system 120 and the fuel injection system 125 are understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The switch can be any type of switch such as a press switch, a turn switch or a knob that can be pulled.
[0007] The electronic control unit 105 for the vehicle is adapted to receive an input signal from the switch 110 and a signal from the brake the pedal 115. The control unit 105 is further adapted to transmit control signals to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle and adapted to transmit control signals to control torque of the engine of the vehicle. The control unit 105 can be an electronic control unit of an anti-lock braking system. The working of the above adaptation of the control unit 105 will be described hereinafter.
[0008] FIGURE 2 illustrates a method 20 of releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage. The method 20 comprises a first step 210 of receiving a switch input signal and a brake application signal by an electronic control unit 105 of the vehicle. The switch input signal is issued by the switch 110 and the brake application signal is issued when the brake pedal 115 is pressed. The brake application signal can be from a limit switch or any similar switch located in the vicinity of the brake pedal 115. The switch input signal or the input signal from the switch 110 is issued by the switch when the switch is actuated by the passenger. The method 20 comprises a second step 220 of transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit 105 to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle. The method 20 comprises a third step 230 of transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit 105 to control torque of an engine of the vehicle.
[0009] Further, in the method 20, receiving the switch input signal and the brake application signal by the electronic control unit 105 comprises receiving the switch input signal and the brake application signal by an electronic control unit of an anti-lock braking system.
[0010] Further, in the method 20, transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit 105 to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle comprises transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle.
[0011] Further, in the method 20, transmitting control signals by the electronic control unit 105 to control torque of an engine of the vehicle comprises a first sub step of transmitting control data by the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system to an engine management system of the vehicle and a second sub-step of transmitting control signals by the engine management system of the vehicle to a fuel injection system of the engine.
[0012] The method steps above will be described hereinafter.
[0013] Furthermore, a system for releasing a vehicle from a condition of wheel slippage is disclosed. The system comprises a switch 110 adapted to be fitted onto a console of a vehicle and adapted to be actuated by a passenger of the vehicle. The system further comprises an electronic control unit(105) adapted to receive an input signal from the switch and a signal from a brake pedal and further adapted to control distribution of braking force to wheels of the vehicle and control torque of an engine of the vehicle. This will be described hereinafter.
[0014] The steps of the method 20 will be described hereinafter. In the step 210, the electronic control unit 105 receives the input signal from the switch 110 and the signal from the application of the brake pedal 115. The signals mentioned above can be digital signals. Once the above mentioned signals are received by the electronic control unit 105, the electronic control unit 105 triggers the process or method of releasing the vehicle from the condition of wheel slippage. In other words, the reception of the electronic control unit 105 of the signals mentioned above indicate that the vehicle is stuck or stranded with one wheel spinning and at least another wheel stationery and the vehicle unable to move. To elaborate, when the vehicle is stuck in such a condition mentioned above, the value of signal outputs from the wheel speed sensors from the different wheels may be inconsistent, thereby triggering the electronic control unit 105 to turn on a light in the dashboard or the console of the vehicle. The light can be an LED or any such similar light. Upon seeing the lighting up of the LED, which can be solid or flickering, the passenger, who can also be driver of the vehicle, actuates the switch 110 thereby facilitating the switch 110 to produce or issue a signal, which is the input signal from the switch 110.
[0015] In the second step 220, the electronic control unit 105 transmits control signals to control distribution of braking force to the wheels of the vehicle. In this step, the electronic control unit 105 controls the braking system 120 to brake the wheels, which includes the spinning wheel or the wheel that has slipped. For example, the braking system 120, upon receiving the control signals from the control unit 105, applies braking force on both the rear wheels, wherein one of the wheels can be spinning. The braking system 120 can work with the anti-lock braking system in this step. As an example, the braking force on the rear wheels can be the same. Alternatively, the braking force applied on the rear wheels can be different, wherein the braking force applied on the spinning wheel can be more than the non-spinning wheel. The application of the braking force slows the spinning wheel down, which is a preparatory step to release the vehicle from the condition of slippage.
[0016] In the next step 230, the electronic control unit 105 transmits control signals to control the torque of the engine of the vehicle. The engine torque is controlled by controlling the fuel injection system of the vehicle. In this step, the electronic control unit 105 checks if the engine torque is sufficient to bring the vehicle out of the slipping condition. For example, based on the slope, if applicable, in which the vehicle is standing, the weight of the vehicle and other related factors, a threshold value for engine torque is calculated and compared against the torque produced by the engine measured at that point in time. If the measured torque is equal or higher than the threshold torque, then no action is taken. If the measured torque is less than the threshold torque, then the fuel injection system 125 is controlled to change the fuel injection characteristics to increase the torque of the engine. This is because, sufficient torque is necessary to release the vehicle from the condition of wheel slippage.
[0017] Upon the passenger actuating the switch 110 as described earlier, the steps 210, 220 and 230 are carried out successively. When the driver releases the clutch pedal gradually or gradually engages the clutch, the optimal engine torque is transferred to the differential. And since braking force has been applied to the spinning wheel, by the working principle of the differential, more torque is supplied to the non-spinning wheel. This provides sufficient power to release the vehicle from the condition of wheel slippage.
[0018] As described earlier, the electronic control unit 105 can be the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system. In the event that the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system is involved, in step 230, the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system transmits control information to the engine management system of the vehicle and subsequently, the engine management system transmits control signals to the fuel injection system of the vehicle to control the torque of the engine.
[0019] The above explanation of the method 20 is applicable for the adaptation of the electronic control unit 105 and the system as well.
[0020] The advantage provided by the above described adaptation of the electronic control unit 105, the method 20 and the system is that the functionality of providing more torque to the non-spinning wheel to release the vehicle from the condition of wheel slippage can be achieved with the existing components or hardware of the vehicle, except for the addition of a small switch. Consequently, this provides economic benefits in implementing this functionality or feature in vehicles. Additionally, this feature or functionality can be retrofitted into vehicles as well. This invention can find application in vehicles with two wheel drives.
[0021] It is to be understood that the foregoing description is intended to be purely illustrative of the principles of the disclosed techniques, rather than exhaustive thereof, and that changes and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and that the present invention is not intended to be limited other than as expressly set forth in the following claims