METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENCOURAGING VEHICLE OPERATOR COMPLIANCE

• US 20100299042A1
• Filed: 12/10/2008
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: MACK Trucks Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Brierly, R. Bruce, Doub, John E.
• Application Number:
  US12/743,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/93
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/14 Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/476 Regeneration of particle filters
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/604 Engine control mode selected by driver, e.g. to manually start particle filter regeneration or to select driving style
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18

Abstract

A method for encouraging operator compliance with vehicle functions, comprises monitoring at least one vehicle function, monitoring an operator input related to the at least one vehicle function, the vehicle function being responsive to the operator input, the operator input being selectable from at least two choices, wherein one choice is in compliance with a vehicle function requirement, and, limiting a vehicle speed if the operator input is not in compliance with the vehicle function requirement.

Claims

1. A method for encouraging operator compliance with vehicle functions, comprising the steps of:

monitoring at least one vehicle function requesting an operator input;

monitoring an operator input related to the at least one vehicle function, the operator input being selectable from at least two choices, wherein one choice is in compliance with the vehicle function request; and

,

limiting a vehicle speed if the operator input is not in compliance with the vehicle function request.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle function is particulate filter regeneration and wherein the operator input not in compliance with the vehicle function is an operator input inhibiting particulate filter regeneration.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of limiting the vehicle speed comprises limiting the speed to a fixed speed value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of limiting the vehicle speed comprises sensing vehicle speed, reducing vehicle speed by an offset value to a limited speed, and controlling vehicle speed to not greater than the limited speed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of allowing a delay interval before limiting vehicle speed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring the operator input and removing the speed limit responsive to an input in compliance with the function request.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of removing the speed limit is performed over a predetermined interval of time.

8. A method for encouraging operator compliance with a vehicle exhaust aftertreatment regeneration system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a vehicle aftertreatment function request for an operator input;

monitoring an operator input related to the vehicle aftertreatment function, the operator input being selectable from at least two choices, wherein one choice is in compliance with the request; and

,

limiting a vehicle speed if the operator input is not in compliance with the function request.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the vehicle function is particulate filter regeneration and wherein the operator input not in compliance with the vehicle function request is an operator input inhibiting regeneration.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the vehicle is stopped; and

,

imposing a road speed limit value on the engine controller.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of monitoring the operator input and removing the road speed limit responsive to an input in compliance with the function request.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

determining that the vehicle is in motion;

determining a vehicle road speed; and

,

reducing the vehicle road speed by an offset amount.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of reducing the vehicle road speed comprises reducing the speed by the offset amount in at least two steps, a first step being larger than any subsequent step.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of monitoring the operator input and allowing the vehicle speed to increase the speed limit responsive to an input in compliance with the function request.

15. The method of claim 14, further wherein the step of removing the speed limit is performed over a predetermined interval of time.

16. The method of claim 8, comprising continually monitoring the operator input and removing the road speed limit responsive to an input in compliance with the function request.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of determining that the request for driver input has a low urgency, and wherein the step of limiting the vehicle speed is delayed for a predetermined interval while the step of monitoring an operator input is performed.

18. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of determining that the request for driver input has a high urgency, and wherein the step of limiting the vehicle speed is performed immediately upon determining the driver input is not in compliance with the request.