Vehicle control method and vehicle control apparatus

• US 10,510,258 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2016
• Issued: 12/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Koishi, Akifumi, Koike, Tomoyuki, Tezuka, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US16/329,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20190213888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 701 292
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/54 related to batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vehicle control method is provided for the suppression of electric power supplied from a battery to other electrical equipment in the event an alternator fails during automatic driving by use of automatic driving electrical equipment. The vehicle control method includes detecting surrounding information of the vehicle in an event the alternator fails during automatic driving by use of the automatic driving electrical equipment, estimating electric power to be consumed by the automatic driving electrical equipment until the vehicle stops based on a plan for stopping the vehicle in a safe location in accordance with the surrounding information that was detected, and reducing the electric power supplied from the battery to the other electrical equipment apart from the automatic driving electrical equipment as the estimated amount of electric power increases.

Claims

1. A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle having

automatic driving electrical equipment that automatically drives a vehicle;

other electrical equipment;

a battery configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment and the other electrical equipment; and

an alternator configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment, the other electrical equipment and the battery;

the vehicle control method comprising;

detecting surrounding information of the vehicle in an event the alternator fails during automatic driving by use of the automatic driving electrical equipment,

estimating electric power to be consumed by the automatic driving electrical equipment until the vehicle stops based on a plan for stopping the vehicle in a safe location in accordance with the surrounding information that was detected, and

reducing the electric power supplied from the battery to the other electrical equipment apart from the automatic driving electrical equipment as the estimated amount of electric power increases.

2. The vehicle control method according to claim 1, wherein

the battery is a lead storage battery for vehicles.

3. A vehicle control device comprising:

automatic driving electrical equipment that automatically drives a vehicle;

other electrical equipment;

a battery configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment and the other electrical equipment;

an alternator configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment, the other electrical equipment and the battery; and

a controller configured to control an amount of electric power supplied from the battery to the automatic driving electrical equipment and the other electrical equipment;

the controller being further configured to detect surrounding information of the vehicle in an event the alternator fails during automatic driving by use of the automatic driving electrical equipment,

the controller being further configured to estimate electric power consumed by the automatic driving electrical equipment until the vehicle stops based on a plan for stopping the vehicle in a safe location in accordance with the detected surrounding information, and reduces the electric power supplied from the battery to the other electrical equipment apart from the automatic driving electrical equipment as the estimated amount of electric power increases.

4. A vehicle control method for controlling a vehicle comprising:

automatic driving electrical equipment that includes an electric steering device and that automatically drives a vehicle;

other electrical equipment apart from the automatic driving electrical equipment;

a battery configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment and the other electrical equipment; and

an alternator configured to supply electric power to the automatic driving electrical equipment, the other electrical equipment and the battery;

the vehicle control method comprising;

detecting surrounding information of the vehicle in an event the alternator fails during automatic driving by use of the automatic driving electrical equipment,

estimating electric power consumed by the automatic driving electrical equipment until the vehicle has been guided toward a position appropriate for stopping the vehicle based on a plan for safely stopping the vehicle in accordance with the surrounding information that was detected, and

reducing the electric power supplied from the battery to the other electrical equipment apart from the automatic driving electrical equipment as an estimated amount of the electric power increases.