B60W - Definition fr

Definition statement

This subclass covers:

Control systems for conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function.

Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles.

Purposes of road vehicledrive control systems for purposes that are

Estimation or calculation of driving parameters for road vehicle drive systems that are used for purposes

Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control, e.g. monitoring of signals for controllers that are used for purposes

Relationship between large subject matter areas

B60W is the application-oriented place covering vehicle drive control systems in general that are not related to a particular sub-unit or used for conjoint control of two or more sub-units. The control of a single particular sub-unit, or same type multiple sub-units for the same purpose are not covered by this subclass and have to be classified in the relevant class for the sub-unit, e.g. F02D or F16H. Where a single particular sub-unit is controlled by signal or commands from other sub-units, the control of this single sub-unit is classified in the relevant place for this sub-unit. For example the control of variable ratio gearing by means of signals from the engine or accelerator is classified in the subclass for gearing F16H.

Conjoint control of driveline units, e.g. engines, and variable-ratio gearing occurring only transiently during ratio shift and being also characterized by the control of the gearing is also classified in the subclass for gearing F16H.

One main group (B60W 20/00) is intended for all control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles. This group also covers control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles that do not reveal any use of conjoint control. The arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for common propulsion of a hybrid vehicle will be classified in the subclass B60K. Conjoint control of pure electric drive units like motor and battery will be classified in subclass B60L. When the architecture or type of transmission of the hybrid vehicle is also of interest, it should be classified in the relevant groups of main group B60K 6/00.

This subclass also cover road vehicledrive control systems not related to any particular sub-unit, i.e. which do not specify which sub-unit is activated or actuated by the control system. For example a control system or control method for predicting a collision which is not related to the control of any specific sub-unit will be correctly covered by the appropriate group B60W 30/08.

Detecting means in general (e.g. ultrasonic radar, TV camera, image processing, or measuring means) are covered by the classes G01, G06 or H04 and their appropriate subclasses.

References relevant to classification in this subclass

This subclass does not cover:

Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electrical and internal combustion motors

B60K 6/00

Vehicle fittings for automatically controlling vehicle speed by acting on a single sub-unit

B60K 31/00

Propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle

B60L 50/00-B60L 58/00

Electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements to protect or prevent injuries to occupants or pedestrians

B60R 21/01

Brake control systems for vehicle drive stability

B60T 8/1755

Traffic control systems i.e. systems transmitting information to a plurality of vehicles simultaneously in order to co-ordinate the flow of vehicles or systems controlling platoons of vehicles

G08G 1/00

Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Controlling combustion engines, such controlling being peculiar to the devices driven thereby, the devices being other than parts or accessories essential to engine operation, e.g. controlling of engines by signals external thereto

F02D 29/00

Combinations of clutches and brakes

F16D 67/00

Control functions within change-speed- or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion

F16H 61/00

Systems for controlling position, course, altitude, or attitude of land, water, air, or space vehicles

G05D 1/00

Anti-collision systems

G08G 1/16

Special rules of classification

Multi-aspect classification practice is used in this subclass for road vehicle drive control systems using conjoint control. Whenever one or more specific types of sub-units are controlled, classification in main group B60W 10/00 should be given for each of the different sub-units controlled. For each controlled sub-unit a classification symbol should be added in the relevant place. When documents classified in main group B60W 10/00 are also relevant for main groups B60W 20/00-B60W 50/00, a classification in one of these groups is required.

Within main groups B60W 20/00-B60W 50/00, the first place priority rule is applied, i.e. at each hierarchical level, obligatory classification is made in the first appropriate place. When several novel and non-obvious technical subjects are disclosed, the first place priority rule is separately applied to each of them.

Glossary of terms

In this subclass, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:

Automatic control

Using control systems for mechanising or assisting, to a full- or partial extent, tasks associated with driving of the vehicle, e.g. those normally carried out by the driver or those necessary to control the motion of the vehicle.

Auxiliary equipment

A subsidiary or supplementary device of the propulsion, transmission or other units of the vehicle, e.g. a pump for supply of pressure for the control unit.

Conjoint control

A programmed or condition-responsive automatic controller on-board the vehicle, embodying control logic for plural vehicle sub-units and sends control signals to actuators of two or more vehicle sub-units, so that the sub-units act together to solve a particular problem or in response to a particular driving condition.

Conjoint control of diverse vehicle sub-units

Such control of different sub-units within the same vehicle for those vehicles defined under note to class B60, and of general applicability to different types of vehicles normally under the control of a human driver.

Cruise control

A system for automatically controlling vehicle speed, which may include additional functions e.g. control of distance between vehicles, so-called "Adaptive Cruise Control" (ACC).

Drive control system

An electronic system in a road vehicle for automatically controlling the movement of that vehicle in order to take certain actions.

Driving parameter

All input or output parameters of the road vehicledrive control systems, e.g. road specific parameters, driver or passenger related parameters, state variables of motion of the vehicle body or parameters related to the vehicle itself like load or weight of the vehicle.

Hybrid vehicle

Vehicles having two or more prime movers of more than one type, e.g. electrical and internal combustion motors, and that are either singularly or in combination used for propulsion of the vehicle.

Road vehicle

A vehicle normally under the control of a human driver for transportation on roads, e.g. an automobile, truck or bus.

Sub-unit

One of the following vehicle systems: propulsion systems; clutch system; change-speed gearing system; system for distributing drive torque between front and rear axles; axle differential system; brake system; steering system or suspension system; energy storage means; fuel cells or other auxiliary equipments.