Systems and methods for controlling an engine and hazard lights based on start/stop switch actuation

• US 10,436,315 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2017
• Issued: 10/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Huntzicker, Fred W., Kumar, Pratyush
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldman, Richard A
• Application Number:
  US15/637,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20190003582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 701 84, 701 70, 701 93, 340471
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/178 Warnings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/797 at the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/21 during a transition between engine operation modes or states
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/182 for the control of a fuel injection device
• 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: 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 2200/0801 : Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 : characterised by the method for generating shift signals

Abstract

A torque request module is configured to, while a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed, decrease a torque request in response to a first signal from a start/stop switch being in a first state continuously for greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period. A control module is configured to, as the torque request decreases, decrease torque output of at least one of an engine and an electric motor. A light control module is configured to: selectively turn exterior hazard lights on and off in response to a second signal from a hazard light switch being in a first state; and selectively turn the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the first predetermined period.

Claims

1. A hazard light control system of a vehicle, comprising:

a torque request module that is configured to, while a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed, decrease a torque request in response to a first signal from a start/stop switch of the vehicle being in a first state continuously for greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period,

wherein the second predetermined period is greater than the first predetermined period;

a control module configured to, as the torque request decreases, decrease torque output of at least one of an engine of the vehicle and an electric motor of the vehicle; and

a light control module configured to;

selectively turn exterior hazard lights of the vehicle on and off in response to a second signal from a hazard light switch of the vehicle being in a first state; and

selectively turn the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the first predetermined period.

2. The hazard light control system of claim 1 wherein:

the torque request module is further configured to, while the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed, set the torque request to a predetermined torque to stop vehicle propulsion in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the second predetermined period; and

the control module is configured to stop rotation of the at least one of the engine and the electric motor when the torque request is set to the predetermined torque.

3. The hazard light control system of claim 2 wherein the light control module is further configured to continue turning the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the second predetermined period.

4. The hazard light control system of claim 2 wherein the torque request module is further configured to, while the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed, set the torque request to the predetermined torque to stop vehicle propulsion in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning from a second state to the first state at least a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period.

5. The hazard light control system of claim 4 wherein the predetermined number is an integer greater than two.

6. The hazard light control system of claim 2 wherein:

the torque request module is further configured to increase the torque request in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning from the first state to a second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period; and

the control module is further configured to, as the torque request increases, increase the torque output of the at least one of the engine and the electric motor.

7. The hazard light control system of claim 6 wherein the light control module is further configured to:

continue turning on and off the exterior hazard lights when;

the exterior hazard lights were being turned on and off prior to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning to the first state; and

the first signal from the start/stop switch transitions from the first state to the second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period; and

maintain the exterior hazard lights off when;

the exterior hazard lights were being maintained off prior to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning to the first state; and

the first signal from the start/stop switch transitions from the first state to the second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period.

8. The hazard light control system of claim 6 wherein the torque request module is configured to:

decrease the torque request by up to a first predetermined torque each first predetermined period; and

increase the torque request by up to a second predetermined torque each second predetermined period.

9. The hazard light control system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined speed is greater than zero.

10. The hazard light control system of claim 1 wherein the light control module is configured to, independently of the second signal from the hazard light switch, selectively turn the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the first predetermined period.

11. A method for controlling hazard lights of a vehicle, the method comprising:

while a vehicle speed is greater than a predetermined speed, decreasing a torque request in response to a first signal from a start/stop switch of the vehicle being in a first state continuously for greater than a first predetermined period and less than a second predetermined period,

wherein the second predetermined period is greater than the first predetermined period;

as the torque request decreases, decreasing torque output of at least one of an engine of the vehicle and an electric motor of the vehicle;

selectively turning exterior hazard lights of the vehicle on and off in response to a second signal from a hazard light switch of the vehicle being in a first state; and

selectively turning the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the first predetermined period.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

while the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed, setting the torque request to a predetermined torque to stop vehicle propulsion in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the second predetermined period; and

stopping rotation of the at least one of the engine and the electric motor when the torque request is set to the predetermined torque.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising continuing turning the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the second predetermined period.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising, while the vehicle speed is greater than the predetermined speed, setting the torque request to the predetermined torque to stop vehicle propulsion in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning from a second state to the first state at least a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the predetermined number is an integer greater than two.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

increasing the torque request in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning from the first state to a second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period; and

as the torque request increases, increasing the torque output of the at least one of the engine and the electric motor.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

continuing turning on and off the exterior hazard lights when;

the exterior hazard lights were being turned on and off prior to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning to the first state; and

the first signal from the start/stop switch transitions from the first state to the second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period; and

maintaining the exterior hazard lights off when;

the exterior hazard lights were being maintained off prior to the first signal from the start/stop switch transitioning to the first state; and

the first signal from the start/stop switch transitions from the first state to the second state before the first signal is continuously in the first state for greater than the second predetermined period.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein:

decreasing the torque request includes decreasing the torque request by up to a first predetermined torque each first predetermined period; and

increasing the torque request includes increasing the torque request by up to a second predetermined torque each second predetermined period.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the predetermined speed is greater than zero.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein selectively turning the exterior hazard lights on and off includes, independently of the second signal from the hazard light switch, selectively turning the exterior hazard lights on and off in response to the first signal from the start/stop switch being in the first state continuously for greater than the first predetermined period.