Vehicle And Method Of Controlling A Powertrain Therein

• US 20120173113A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 07/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pilutti, Thomas Edward, Joh, Peter Gyumyeong, Spero, Dorian Jack, Mills, Aaron L., Rupp, Matthew Y.
• Granted Patent: US 9,020,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0953 the prediction being responsive to vehicle dynamic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters

Abstract

A vehicle may include a sensor configured to detect a rearward approaching object and at least one controller configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving forward.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a rearward approaching object; and

at least one controller configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving forward.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate in response to the sensor detecting a rearward approaching object while the vehicle is moving at a speed less than a target cruise control speed.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the sensor is further configured to detect at least one of a distance to the rearward approaching object, a speed of the rearward approaching object, and an acceleration of the rearward approaching object.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine the acceleration based on at least one of a distance to the rearward approaching object, a speed of the rearward approaching object, an acceleration of the rearward approaching object, and a desired gap time between the vehicle and the rearward approaching object.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to cause the vehicle to accelerate until a target vehicle speed is achieved.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the object is another vehicle.

7. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a powertrain; and

at least one controller configured to command the powertrain to accelerate the vehicle in response to information about an object approaching the vehicle from the rear if a speed of the vehicle is less than a target cruise control speed.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to determine the acceleration based on at least one of a distance to the object, a speed of the object, an acceleration of the object, and a desired gap time between the vehicle and the object.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the at least one controller is further configured to command the powertrain to accelerate the vehicle until the target cruise control speed is achieved.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 further comprising a sensor in communication with the at least one controller and configured to detect an object approaching the vehicle from the rear.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the sensor is further configured to detect at least one of a distance to the object approaching the vehicle from the rear, a speed of the object approaching the vehicle from the rear, and an acceleration of the object approaching the vehicle from the rear.

12. A method for controlling a powertrain of a vehicle comprising:

obtaining information about at least one of a distance to and speed of an object approaching the vehicle from the rear;

determining a cruise control resume command based on the obtained information; and

automatically issuing the cruise control resume command to the powertrain to cause the powertrain to accelerate the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining if a speed of the vehicle is less than a cruise control set-speed and wherein the cruise control resume command is automatically issued if the speed is less than the cruise control set-speed.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the cruise control resume command is an acceleration command.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the cruise control resume command is a torque command.