Vehicle control apparatus

• US 10,054,948 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2015
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Teshima, Kentaro, Hara, Tetsuya, Takemori, Daisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/522,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20170322558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/20 for lighting specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments; mounted on specific fittings of passenger or driving compartments lighting for dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/00 Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/00 Brake-action initiating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 : Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 : Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 : Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 : Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 : Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/181 : Preparing for stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 : Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/08 : related to drivers or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2302/05 : Leading to automatic stopping of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 : for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/08 : for idling F02D41/06, F02D41/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 : Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0248 : in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 : using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 : Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 : Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 : specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A vehicle control apparatus is mounted on a vehicle including an emergency stop function to detect an abnormal state of a driver and automatically stop the vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus provides control at a time of stopping the vehicle and includes process execution sections and a process stop section. The process execution sections perform predetermined emergency processes in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle; the emergency processes control instruments mounted on the vehicle and use a battery of the vehicle as a driving power source. The process stop section stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections based on a predetermined stop sequence.

Claims

1. A vehicle control apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle including an emergency stop function to detect an abnormal state of a driver and automatically stop the vehicle, the vehicle control apparatus providing control at a time of stopping the vehicle,

the vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of process execution sections that perform predetermined emergency processes in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle,

the emergency processes controlling instruments that are mounted on the vehicle and use a battery of the vehicle as a driving power source;

a process stop section that stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections based on a predetermined stop sequence;

an idling continuation section that continues idling to charge the battery in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle;

an idling determination section that determines whether to stop the idling continued by the idling continuation section, based on a remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle; and

an idling stop section that stops the idling in response to the idling determination section determining to stop the idling,

wherein the process stop section does not stop the emergency processes during the idling and stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes based on the predetermined stop sequence after the idling stop section stops the idling.

2. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein:

the process execution sections include

a first process execution section to perform a first emergency process and

a second process execution section to perform a second emergency process that consumes less power of the battery than the first emergency process; and

the process stop section stops the first emergency process and then stops the second emergency process.

3. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the idling determination section includes:

a facility position detection section that detects a position of a predetermined refuge facility nearest to a position where the emergency stop function stops the vehicle;

a calculation section that calculates an amount of fuel needed by the vehicle to travel from a position of the vehicle stopped by the emergency stop function to a position of the refuge facility detected by the facility position detection section; and

a fuel determination section that determines whether the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle is smaller than or equal to the amount of fuel calculated by the calculation section,

wherein the idling stop section stops the idling in response to the fuel determination section determining that the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle is smaller than or equal to the amount of fuel calculated by the calculation section.

4. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the refuge facility corresponds to at least either a facility capable of curing the driver or a facility capable of refueling the vehicle.

5. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a notification processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to notify outside the vehicle that the emergency stop function stops the vehicle,

the notification processing section including:

an alarm determination section that determines whether to cause an alarm instrument provided in the vehicle to deliver notification, based on a situation around the vehicle; and

an alarm execution section that causes the alarm instrument to deliver notification in response to the alarm determination section determining that the alarm instrument is caused to deliver the notification.

6. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections include at least one process among processes that are:

a process to activate lighting equipment provided in the vehicle;

a process to sound a horn of the vehicle;

a process to drive a wiper of the vehicle;

a process to transmit a wireless signal to request a rescue;

a process to adjust an interior environment of the vehicle;

a process to lock a door of the vehicle at a driving-lane side;

a process to open a window of the vehicle;

a process to close a window of the vehicle;

a process to cause a speaker of the vehicle to output an audio message;

a process to record at least either an interior situation of the vehicle or a situation around the vehicle; and

a process to transmit at least either information representing an interior situation of the vehicle or information representing a situation around the vehicle, to an information management center.

7. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a lighting processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to activate an interior light of the vehicle,

the lighting processing section including:

an illuminance determination section that determines whether an interior illuminance of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and

a lighting execution section that activates an interior light in response to the illuminance determination section determining that the illuminance is lower than or equal to the threshold value.

8. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a drive processing section that performs, among the emergency process, a process to drive a wiper of the vehicle,

the drive processing section including:

a rain and snow determination section that determines whether at least either rain or snow adheres to a windshield of the vehicle; and

a drive execution section that drives the wiper in response to the rain and snow determination section determining that at least either rain or snow adheres to the windshield of the vehicle.

9. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a rescue transmission processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a communication instrument provided in the vehicle to transmit a wireless signal requesting a rescue.

10. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the rescue transmission processing section includes:

a mobile communication determination section that determines whether the vehicle exists in an area capable of mobile communication enabling communication using a mobile telephone; and

a rescue transmission execution section,

wherein,

in response to the mobile communication determination section determining that the vehicle exists in the area capable of mobile communication,

the rescue transmission execution section causes the communication instrument to transmit,

to an emergency response apparatus,

emergency stop information representing at least a position of the vehicle,

the emergency response apparatus being as a transmission destination of the emergency stop information,

whereas

in response to the mobile communication determination section determining that the vehicle does not exist in the area capable of mobile communication,

the rescue transmission execution section causes the communication instrument to transmit,

to a wireless communication instrument,

the emergency stop information and information that causes the wireless communication instrument to transfer the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus in response to the wireless communication instrument moving and entering the area capable of mobile communication,

the wireless communication instrument being passing around the vehicle stopped by the emergency stop function.

11. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the process execution sections include an audio output processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a speaker of the vehicle to output an audio message,

the audio output processing section including:

a manipulation determination section that determines whether a predetermined manipulation on the vehicle is performed to stop all the emergency processes in progress after the communication instrument transmits the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus; and

an audio output execution section that causes the speaker to output an audio message recommending the driver to wait at a position where the emergency stop function stops the vehicle without moving the vehicle, in response to the manipulation determination section determining that the manipulation is performed after the communication instrument transmits the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus.

12. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a recording processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a recording instrument provided in the vehicle to record at least either an interior situation of the vehicle or a situation around the vehicle.

13. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the process execution sections include a situation transmission section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause an information transmission instrument provided in the vehicle to transmit at least either information representing an interior situation of the vehicle or information representing a situation around the vehicle to an information management center,

the information transmission instrument being capable of transmitting information.

14. A vehicle control apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle including an emergency stop function to detect an abnormal state of a driver and automatically stop the vehicle, the vehicle control apparatus providing control at a time of stopping the vehicle,

the vehicle control apparatus comprising:

a plurality of process execution sections that perform predetermined emergency processes in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle,

the emergency processes controlling instruments that are mounted on the vehicle and use a battery of the vehicle as a driving power source; and

a process stop section that stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections based on a predetermined stop sequence,

wherein the process execution sections include a rescue transmission processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a communication instrument provided in the vehicle to transmit a wireless signal requesting a rescue,

wherein the rescue transmission processing section includes;

a mobile communication determination section that determines whether the vehicle exists in an area capable of mobile communication enabling communication using a mobile telephone; and

a rescue transmission execution section,

wherein,

in response to the mobile communication determination section determining that the vehicle exists in the area capable of mobile communication,

the rescue transmission execution section causes the communication instrument to transmit,

to an emergency response apparatus,

emergency stop information representing at least a position of the vehicle,

the emergency response apparatus being as a transmission destination of the emergency stop information,

whereas

in response to the mobile communication determination section determining that the vehicle does not exist in the area capable of mobile communication,

the rescue transmission execution section causes the communication instrument to transmit,

to a wireless communication instrument,

the emergency stop information and information that causes the wireless communication instrument to transfer the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus in response to the wireless communication instrument moving and entering the area capable of mobile communication,

the wireless communication instrument being passing around the vehicle stopped by the emergency stop function.

15. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein:

the process execution sections include

a first process execution section to perform a first emergency process and

a second process execution section to perform a second emergency process that consumes less power of the battery than the first emergency process; and

the process stop section stops the first emergency process and then stops the second emergency process.

16. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising:

an idling continuation section that continues idling to charge the battery in response to the emergency stop function stopping the vehicle;

an idling determination section that determines whether to stop the idling continued by the idling continuation section, based on a remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle; and

an idling stop section that stops the idling in response to the idling determination section determining to stop the idling,

wherein the process stop section does not stop the emergency processes during the idling and stepwise stops at least part of the emergency processes based on the predetermined stop sequence after the idling stop section stops the idling.

17. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein the idling determination section includes:

a facility position detection section that detects a position of a predetermined refuge facility nearest to a position where the emergency stop function stops the vehicle;

a calculation section that calculates an amount of fuel needed by the vehicle to travel from a position of the vehicle stopped by the emergency stop function to a position of the refuge facility detected by the facility position detection section; and

a fuel determination section that determines whether the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle is smaller than or equal to the amount of fuel calculated by the calculation section,

wherein the idling stop section stops the idling in response to the fuel determination section determining that the remaining amount of fuel in the vehicle is smaller than or equal to the amount of fuel calculated by the calculation section.

18. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the refuge facility corresponds to at least either a facility capable of curing the driver or a facility capable of refueling the vehicle.

19. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include a notification processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to notify outside the vehicle that the emergency stop function stops the vehicle,

the notification processing section including:

an alarm determination section that determines whether to cause an alarm instrument provided in the vehicle to deliver notification, based on a situation around the vehicle; and

an alarm execution section that causes the alarm instrument to deliver notification in response to the alarm determination section determining that the alarm instrument is caused to deliver the notification.

20. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the emergency processes performed by the process execution sections include at least one process among processes that are:

a process to activate lighting equipment provided in the vehicle;

a process to sound a horn of the vehicle;

a process to drive a wiper of the vehicle;

a process to transmit a wireless signal to request a rescue;

a process to adjust an interior environment of the vehicle;

a process to lock a door of the vehicle at a driving-lane side;

a process to open a window of the vehicle;

a process to close a window of the vehicle;

a process to cause a speaker of the vehicle to output an audio message;

a process to record at least either an interior situation of the vehicle or a situation around the vehicle; and

a process to transmit at least either information representing an interior situation of the vehicle or information representing a situation around the vehicle, to an information management center.

21. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include a lighting processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to activate an interior light of the vehicle,

the lighting processing section including:

an illuminance determination section that determines whether an interior illuminance of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined threshold value; and

a lighting execution section that activates an interior light in response to the illuminance determination section determining that the illuminance is lower than or equal to the threshold value.

22. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include a drive processing section that performs, among the emergency process, a process to drive a wiper of the vehicle,

the drive processing section including:

a rain and snow determination section that determines whether at least either rain or snow adheres to a windshield of the vehicle; and

a drive execution section that drives the wiper in response to the rain and snow determination section determining that at least either rain or snow adheres to the windshield of the vehicle.

23. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include an audio output processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a speaker of the vehicle to output an audio message,

the audio output processing section including:

a manipulation determination section that determines whether a predetermined manipulation on the vehicle is performed to stop all the emergency processes in progress after the communication instrument transmits the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus; and

an audio output execution section that causes the speaker to output an audio message recommending the driver to wait at a position where the emergency stop function stops the vehicle without moving the vehicle, in response to the manipulation determination section determining that the manipulation is performed after the communication instrument transmits the emergency stop information to the emergency response apparatus.

24. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include a recording processing section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause a recording instrument provided in the vehicle to record at least either an interior situation of the vehicle or a situation around the vehicle.

25. The vehicle control apparatus according to claim 14,

wherein the process execution sections include a situation transmission section that performs, among the emergency processes, a process to cause an information transmission instrument provided in the vehicle to transmit at least either information representing an interior situation of the vehicle or information representing a situation around the vehicle to an information management center,

the information transmission instrument being capable of transmitting information.