Vehicle operator notification system

• US 10,137,898 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Badger, II, Charles Everett
• Primary Examiner(s): Hlavka, David J
• Application Number:
  US15/342,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20180118210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/043 Testing equipment at KEY-ON
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/10 Change speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/00 Starting of engines by means of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0227 Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/00 Control inputs to control units of change-speed-, or reversing-gearings for conveying rotary motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle includes an ignition, selector, and controller. The ignition is configured to start and shutdown the vehicle. The selector is configured to transition the vehicle between a standard driving mode and an economy driving mode. The controller is programmed to, in response starting the vehicle after a prior shutdown with the economy mode selected, generate a notification that the vehicle was operating in the economy mode upon the prior shutdown.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

an ignition configured to start and shutdown the vehicle;

a selector configured to transition the vehicle between standard and economy driving modes;

a transmission having a gear selector; and

a controller programmed to,

in response to starting the vehicle after a prior shutdown with the economy mode selected, generate a notification that the vehicle was operating in the economy mode upon the prior shutdown, and

in response to the gear selector being shifted out of a parked position in the absence of an economy mode selection after starting the vehicle, automatically select the standard driving mode.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to, upon the gear selector being shifted out of a neutral position in the absence of an economy mode selection after starting the vehicle, automatically select the standard driving mode.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to, upon the gear selector being shifted into a drive position in the absence of an economy mode selection after starting the vehicle, automatically select the standard driving mode.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to, upon the gear selector being shifted into a reverse position in the absence of an economy mode selection after starting the vehicle, automatically select the standard driving mode.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is programmed to, in response to an operator input to remain in the economy mode after starting the vehicle but prior to a position of a transmission gear selector being shifted, resume the economy mode.

6. A vehicle controller comprising:

input channels configured to receive signals indicative of ignition starts, ignition shutdowns, selections of an optional driving mode, and a transmission gear selector being shifted out of a neutral position;

a first output channel configured to provide a command to generate a notification that the vehicle was operating in the optional mode;

a second output channel configured to provide a command to activate a standard driving mode; and

control logic configured to,

issue the command to generate the notification in response to an ignition start following a prior ignition shutdown with the optional mode selected, and

generate the command to select the standard driving mode in response to the transmission gear selector being shifted out of the neutral position in the absence of an optional mode selection after the ignition start.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the optional driving mode is an economy driving mode.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the optional driving mode is a traction control disabled driving mode.

9. The controller of claim 6 further comprising:

an additional input channel configured to receive a signal indicative of a transmission gear selector being shifted out of a parked position, and wherein the control logic is configured to generate the command to activate the standard driving mode in response to the transmission gear selector being shifted out of the parked position in the absence of an optional mode selection after the ignition start.

10. The controller of claim 6 further comprising:

an additional input channel configured to receive a signal indicative of a transmission gear selector being shifted into a drive position, and wherein the control logic is configured to generate the command to activate the standard driving mode in response to the transmission gear selector being shifted into the drive position in the absence of an optional mode selection after the ignition start.

11. The controller of claim 6 further comprising:

an additional input channel configured to receive a signal indicative of a transmission gear selector being shifted into a reverse position, and wherein the control logic is configured to generate the command to activate the standard driving mode in response to the transmission gear selector being shifted into the reverse position in the absence of an optional mode selection after the ignition start.

12. A method of operating vehicle comprising:

shutting down a vehicle while an optional driving mode is selected;

starting the vehicle following a period after the shutting down;

notifying the operator of the previous selection of the optional mode after the starting; and

resuming the optional mode after the starting responsive to an operator input to remain in the optional mode prior to a position of a transmission gear selector being shifted.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the optional driving mode is an economy driving mode.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the optional driving mode is a traction control disabled driving mode.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a standard driving mode in response to a transmission gear selector being shifted out of a parked position in the absence of an operator input to remain in the optional mode after the starting.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a standard driving mode in response to a transmission gear selector being shifted out of a neutral position in the absence of an operator input to remain in the optional mode after the starting.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a standard driving mode in response to a transmission gear selector being shifted to a drive position in the absence of an operator input to remain in the optional mode after the starting.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising selecting a standard driving mode in response to a transmission gear selector being shifted to a reverse position in the absence of an operator input to remain in the optional mode after the starting.