Automobile-speed control using terrain-based speed profile

• US 10,166,982 B1
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert J. Crawford
• Original Assignee: Robert J. Crawford
• Inventors: Crawford, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schneider, Paula L
• Application Number:
  US15/276,942
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 701 93
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards hysteresis engaged vehicle cruise control apparatuses, and systems and methods that facilitate energy efficiency as a function of external energy obstacles. The method and system includes an adaptable terrain-based speed profile and terrain-based work function for maintaining a vehicle at a desired speed and selected speed range. The speed profile further includes a terrain-based driving preference associated with an identifier that identifies a particular driver and driving profile. Vehicle-related data is generated with regard to energy efficiency obstacles, and vehicle speed is automatically adjusted based on this data to facilitate fuel economy. In certain embodiments, vehicle-related data is sent to a cloud-computing system for processing. In other embodiments, the desired speed and terrain-based speed profile is influenced by user or external inputs.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a selection circuit configured and arranged to select at least one of a desired speed or mode for operation of a vehicle by using circuitry in the vehicle, which circuitry includes one of programmable logic circuit, discrete logic circuit, computer circuit, and a combination thereof;

the circuitry configured and arranged to respond to the selection, to terrain-based data, and to a terrain-based work function for the vehicle, wherein the terrain-based data and the terrain-based work function correspond to a selected speed range for the desired speed or mode and for a current driving type that accounts for an amount of offset in adjusting the speed of the vehicle relative to the desired speed; and

the circuitry configured and arranged to access a circuit configured to provide a status of expected energy-efficiency obstacles associated with a roadway corresponding to the terrain-based data, and in response, causing the vehicle to automatically adjust the speed of the vehicle relative to the desired speed to facilitate fuel economy based on the terrain-based data and the terrain-based work function.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terrain-based data includes a terrain-based driving preference associated with an identifier indicative of a type of driving for a particular driver, the type of driving accounting for an amount of offset in adjusting the speed of the vehicle, faster and/or slower, relative to the desired speed.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the terrain-based data includes at least two terrain-based driving modes and wherein the circuitry is configured and arranged to adjust the speed of the vehicle relative to the desired speed based on one of the two driving modes in order to account for a minimal or nominal amount of upside-speed offset or hysteresis, and wherein the circuitry is configured and arranged to adjust for the speed of the vehicle relative to the other of the two driving modes to account for an amount of upside-speed offset or hysteresis which is at least twice the minimal or nominal amount.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured and arranged to use the terrain-based work function to set a target operating RPM range for an engine in the vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured and arranged to use the terrain-based data to adjust the speed of the vehicle so that less fuel is consumed when the vehicle encounters an energy-efficiency obstacle manifesting as an increase in elevation, wherein the speed of the vehicle increases within the selected speed range during a decrease in elevation, and resumes the desired speed for the vehicle when level elevation is regained.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the speed of the vehicle decreases within the selected speed range during an increase in elevation, and resumes the desired speed for the vehicle when level elevation is regained.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to assess a terrain-based speed profile, in response to a mitigation issue, in order to determine whether to maintain the vehicle at the desired speed or revert out of the speed control work function.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to cause the vehicle to operate in one of a plurality of selectable driving modes which corresponds to the terrain-based data, wherein the terrain-based data further includes a terrain-based driving preference associated with an identifier indicative of a particular driver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein multiple terrain-based data are used for respective drivers of the vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicative of a particular driver includes at least one of:

key-ignition identifier recognition, wireless-device communication identification, passcode or voice or other driver biometric.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicative of a particular driver comprises key-ignition identifier recognition.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicative of a particular driver comprises wireless-device communication identification.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicative of a particular driver comprises a passcode.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier indicative of a particular driver comprises voice or other driver biometrics.