Camera based vehicle start-stop feature

• US 10,190,560 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tedesco, Brian J., Charugundla Gangadhar, Sai Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai
• Application Number:
  US15/617,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20170350360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 1231793, 1231794, 701112, 701113, 701117, 701118, 701119
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/00 Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions B60T8/00; valves incorporated in such systems B60T15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/42 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/00 Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/12 : said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 : Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 : Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

A stop-start control system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle. A control includes an image processor operable to process image data captured by the camera. Responsive to image processing of captured image data, the control determines the presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle. Responsive to determination of the presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle releases the accelerator pedal of the vehicle so the vehicle is coasting toward the determined stopping area, the control causes the engine to at least partially shut off.

Claims

1. A stop-start control system for a vehicle, said stop-start control system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, said control determines the presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to determination of the presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle releases the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, said control shuts off the engine so the vehicle coasts toward the determined stopping area.

2. The stop-start control system of claim 1, wherein, after the vehicle is at least partially stopped at the stopping area, and responsive to the driver of the vehicle releasing a brake pedal of the vehicle, said control causes the engine to resume normal operation.

3. The stop-start control system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said camera, said control determines the presence of a stopping area by determining the presence of at least one of (i) a stop sign, (ii) a stopping line on the road, and (iii) a traffic light ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle.

4. The stop-start control system of claim 1, wherein said control shuts off the engine by generating a signal that is communicated to a powertrain control module of the vehicle.

5. The stop-start control system of claim 1, wherein, after the vehicle is at least partially stopped at the stopping area, and responsive to the driver of the vehicle releasing a brake pedal of the vehicle, said control causes the engine to start.

6. The stop-start control system of claim 1, wherein, when the engine is shut off, said system powers a power steering system and a power braking system of the vehicle via a battery.

7. A stop-start control system for a vehicle, said stop-start control system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, said control determines the presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said camera, said control determines the presence of a stopping area by determining the presence of at least one of (i) a stop sign, (ii) a stopping line on the road, and (iii) a traffic light ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to determination of the presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle releases the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, said control shuts off the engine so the vehicle coasts toward the determined stopping area; and

wherein, after the vehicle is at least partially stopped at the stopping area, and responsive to the driver of the vehicle releasing a brake pedal of the vehicle or applying the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, said control causes the engine to resume normal operation.

8. The stop-start control system of claim 7, wherein said control shuts off the engine by generating a signal that is communicated to a powertrain control module of the vehicle.

9. The stop-start control system of claim 7, wherein, when the engine is shut off, said system powers a power steering system and a power braking system of the vehicle via a battery.

10. A stop-start control system for a vehicle, said stop-start control system comprising:

a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

a control comprising an image processor operable to process image data captured by said camera;

wherein, responsive to image processing by said image processor of image data captured by said camera, said control determines the presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle;

wherein, responsive to determination of the presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and responsive to determination that the driver of the vehicle releases the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, said control shuts off the engine so the vehicle coasts toward the determined stopping area;

wherein, after the vehicle is at least partially stopped at the stopping area, and responsive to the driver of the vehicle releasing a brake pedal of the vehicle or applying the accelerator pedal of the vehicle, said control causes the engine to resume normal operation; and

wherein said control causes the engine to at least partially shut off and to resume normal operation by generating respective signals that are communicated to a powertrain control module of the vehicle.

11. The stop-start control system of claim 10, wherein, when the engine is at least partially shut off, said system powers a power steering system and a power braking system of the vehicle via a battery.