Apparatus and method for controlling a vehicle system

• US 10,179,569 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Steward, Daren
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US15/524,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20180001871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1476 comprising switch controlling means located near the free end of the lever, e.g. press buttons, rotatable rings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0315 using multiplexing techniques multiplexing for transmission of signals G08C15/00; multiplexing for electrical communication in general H04J
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/08 electrically driven conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3233 with pixel circuitry controlling the current through the light-emitting element

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to apparatus for controlling operation of a vehicle system. The apparatus includes a processor operable in an automatic mode to output a control signal to automate operation of the vehicle system. The processor is configured to receive a measurement signal from a sensor associated with the vehicle system. The processor outputs the control signal in dependence on a comparison of the measurement signal to a control function. A user override of the automated operation of the vehicle system is detected and the processor re-calibrates the control function in dependence on the detected user override. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle and to a method of controlling operation of a vehicle system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling operation of a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle system is a windshield wiper, the apparatus comprising:

a processor configured to;

in an automatic mode, output a control signal to automate operation of the vehicle system;

receive a measurement signal from a sensor associated with the vehicle system;

output the control signal in dependence on a comparison of the measurement signal to a control function;

detect a user override of the automated operation of the vehicle system; and

re-calibrate the control function in dependence on the detected user override of the vehicle system, wherein re-calibrating the control function comprises applying a regression technique correlating data from a plurality of user overrides to the measurement signal received from the sensor.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regression technique is a logistic regression technique.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control function comprises an activation threshold and the control signal is an activation signal configured to activate the vehicle system.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to re-calibrate the activation threshold by increasing the activation threshold when the user override comprises deactivating the vehicle system following output of the activation signal.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to re-calibrate the control function by reducing the activation threshold when the user override comprises activating the vehicle system.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control function comprises a deactivation threshold and the control signal is a deactivation signal configured to deactivate the vehicle system.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to re-calibrate the deactivation threshold by decreasing the deactivation threshold when the user override comprises re-activating the vehicle system.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to re-calibrate the deactivation threshold by increasing the deactivation threshold when the user override comprises deactivating the vehicle system.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to detect a user override by monitoring operation of a control interface coupled to the vehicle system, wherein the control interface comprises a user-operated switch to activate and/or deactivate the vehicle system.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a rain sensor.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to receive a first request signal from a first controller to activate the windshield wiper, and a second request signal from a second controller to deactivate the windshield wiper.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the control function comprises an activation threshold for activating the windshield wiper;

and

wherein, when operating in the automatic mode and the windshield wiper has been activated, the processor is configured to reduce the activation threshold in dependence on the first request signal and increase the activation threshold in dependence on the second request signal.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control function comprises a deactivation threshold for deactivating the windshield wiper;

and

wherein, when operating in the automatic mode and the windshield wiper has been deactivated, the processor is configured to reduce the activation threshold in dependence on the first request signal and increase the activation threshold in dependence on the second request signal.

14. A vehicle comprising the apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

15. A method of controlling operation of a vehicle system, wherein the vehicle system is a windshield wiper, the method comprising:

receiving a measurement signal from a sensor associated with the vehicle system;

outputting a control signal to automate operation of the vehicle system, the control signal being output in dependence on a comparison of the measurement signal to a control function;

detecting a user override of the automated operation of the vehicle system; and

re-calibrating the control function in dependence on the user override of the vehicle system, wherein re-calibrating the control function comprises applying a regression technique correlating data from a plurality of user overrides to the measurement signal received from the sensor.

16. A processor configured to execute a set of instructions held in system memory to perform the method of claim 15.

17. A vehicle comprising the processor as claimed in claim 16.

18. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having encoded thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 15.

19. A vehicle, comprising the computer program product of claim 18.