SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TORQUE BASED ON DRIVER STATUS

• US 20100262348A1
• Filed: 04/08/2009
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Syed, Fazal Urrahman, Kuang, Ming Lang, Nallapa, Venkatapathi Raju, Phillips, Anthony Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input

Abstract

In at least one embodiment, a device for controlling an amount of torque generated by a powertrain in a vehicle is provided. The controller is configured to receive a driver status signal indicative of the status of the driver, a driver condition signal indicative of the driving conditions of the vehicle, and a driver mode signal indicative of the driving mode of the vehicle. The controller is further configured to control the powertrain to adjust the amount of torque that is generated based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

Claims

1. A device for controlling an amount of torque generated by a powertrain in a vehicle, the device comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of the status of the driver, a driver condition signal indicative of the driving conditions of the vehicle, and a driver mode signal indicative of the driving mode of the vehicle; and

control the powertrain to adjust the amount of torque that is generated based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to receive a desired torque request signal indicative of the amount of torque requested by the driver independent of driver status.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller is further configured to receive a first torque modifier signal and to modify the desired torque request signal based on the first torque modifier signal to control the powertrain to adjust the amount of torque that is generated.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first torque modifier signal is generated based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a performance response while achieving the adjusted amount of torque based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the controller is further configured to receive a response modifier signal to determine the adjusted performance response.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the response modifier signal is generated based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the driver status signal corresponds to one of a master driver, a power driver, a limited driver, a limited driver with assistance needs, a severely limited driver, and an unknown driver.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the driver condition signal corresponds to at least one of a vehicle over speed condition, vehicle speed over a posted limit, vehicle speed over a set maximum threshold, a vehicle over acceleration condition, a vehicle acceleration over a set maximum threshold, a slippery road condition and a cold weather condition.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the driver mode signal corresponds to at least one of a city-type driving mode, a highway type driving mode, a soft driving mode, a normal driving mode, and an aggressive driving mode.

11. A device for controlling an amount of torque produced by a powertrain in a vehicle, the device comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive a driver status signal indicative of the status of the driver, a driver condition signal indicative of the driving conditions of the vehicle, and a driver mode signal indicative of the driving mode of the vehicle; and

control the powertrain to adjust the amount of torque that is produced and to adjust a performance response for achieving the adjusted torque amount based on the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the driver status signal corresponds to one of a master driver, a power driver, a limited driver, a limited driver with assistance needs, a severely limited driver, and an unknown driver.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the driver condition signal corresponds to at least one of a vehicle over speed condition, vehicle speed over a posted limit, vehicle speed over a set maximum threshold, a vehicle over acceleration condition, a vehicle acceleration over a set maximum threshold, a slippery road condition and a cold weather condition.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the driver mode signal corresponds to at least one of a city-type driving mode, a highway type driving mode, a soft driving mode, a normal driving mode, and an aggressive driving mode.

15. A method for controlling an amount of torque produced by a powertrain in a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a driver status signal indicative of the status of the driver, a driver condition signal indicative of the driving conditions of the vehicle, and a driver mode signal indicative of the driving mode of the vehicle; and

controlling the powertrain to adjust the amount of torque that is produced based on at least one of the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising controlling a performance response for achieving the adjusted torque amount based on at least one of the driver status signal, the driver condition signal, and the driver mode signal.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the driver status signal corresponds to one of a master driver, a power driver, a limited driver, a limited driver with assistance needs, a severely limited driver, and an unknown driver.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the driver condition signal corresponds to at least one of a vehicle over speed condition, vehicle speed over a posted limit, vehicle speed over a set maximum threshold, a vehicle over acceleration condition, a vehicle acceleration over a set maximum threshold, a slippery road condition and a cold weather condition.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the driver mode signal corresponds to at least one of a city-type driving mode, a highway type driving mode, a soft driving mode, a normal driving mode, and an aggressive driving mode.