Vehicle Control System and Method

• US 20110160962A1
• Filed: 01/10/2010
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Crombez, Dale Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements

Abstract

A vehicle control system for a vehicle having an onboard diagnostics connector and a connector interface connected to the onboard connector includes at least one external controller adapted for unfastenable connection to the connector interface; and at least one operator control connected to said at least one external controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for a vehicle having an onboard connector and a connector interface connected to the onboard connector, comprising:

at least one external controller adapted for unfastenable connection to the connector interface; and

at least one operator control connected to said at least one external controller.

2. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one operator control comprises a plurality of operator controls.

3. The vehicle control system of claim 2 wherein said at least one external controller comprises a plurality of external controllers.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one operator control comprises an accelerator control and a brake control.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein said at least one operator control further comprises a steering control.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein said at least one operator control further comprises a shift control.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 4 wherein said at least one operator control comprises a starter control.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said at least one operator control comprises a joystick.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of vehicle controls;

a vehicle communication network computer interfacing with said plurality of vehicle controls;

an onboard connector interfacing with said vehicle communication network computer;

a connector interface connected to said onboard connector; and

a vehicle control system comprising;

at least one external controller unfastenably connected to said connector interface; and

at least one operator control connected to said at least one external controller.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said plurality of vehicle controls comprises a brake system and an accelerator and said at least one operator control comprises a brake control and an accelerator control.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said plurality of vehicle controls further comprises a vehicle starter and said at least one operator control comprises a starter control.

12. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said plurality of vehicle controls further comprises a vehicle shifter and said at least one operator control comprises a shift control.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said plurality of vehicle controls further comprises a vehicle steering system and said at least one operator control comprises a steering control.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said at least one operator control comprises a plurality of operator controls.

15. The vehicle control system of claim 14 wherein said at least one external controller comprises a plurality of external controllers.

16. The vehicle control system of claim 9 wherein said at least one operator control comprises a joystick.

17. A vehicle control method, comprising:

providing a connector interface for an onboard connector of a vehicle;

providing operator controls having at least one external controller;

connecting said at least one external controller to said connector interface; and

operating said vehicle using said operator controls.

18. The vehicle control method of claim 17 wherein said providing operator controls comprises providing a brake control and an accelerator control and said operating said vehicle comprises braking said vehicle using said brake control and accelerating said vehicle using said accelerator control.

19. The vehicle control method of claim 18 wherein said providing operator controls further comprises providing at least one of a steering control, a shift control and a starter control and said operating said vehicle comprises at least one of steering said vehicle using said steering control, shifting said vehicle using said shift control and starting said vehicle using said starter control.