Turn Signal Controlled Regenerative Braking And Decelerative Loading

• US 20130268162A1
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Louis Ponziani
• Original Assignee: Richard Louis Ponziani
• Inventors: Ponziani, Richard Louis
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/198 with exhaust brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/18081 : With torque flow from driveshaft to engine, i.e. engine being driven by vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/20 : Direction indicator values
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 : Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 : Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 : Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle executing a turn will most likely be slowed down before the turn and when a driver activates a turn signal to indicate the turn, a vehicle internal controller uses this information to engage regenerative braking for energy recapture while slowing down the vehicle for the pending turn. Since the turn signal is usually activated very early in the turn event, and turns are an ongoing, frequent part of driving, a greater overall vehicle efficiency can be realized without special effort from the driver. Implementation is relatively simple for the manufacturer and adds no cost since the controllers and sensors are already installed on nearly all roadworthy vehicles. Fuel mileage and vehicle driving ranges are improved on a large scale and brake system wear is reduced.

Claims

1. A vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system comprising:

a changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load;

a turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch assembly;

a means of controlling said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load whereby;

the magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is changed in response to inputs from said turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch assembly.

2. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle drivetrain resistance load comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:

an engine load, a transmission load, an electrical energy generator load,

a hydraulic load, a frictional load, a compression release engine brake load,

an exhaust brake load, a rotational inertia device load, a mechanical energy storage device load and a pneumatic load.

3. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 2, wherein said transmission load comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a constant velocity transmission, a dual clutch transmission and a finite number fixed gear rations automatic transmission.

4. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle drivetrain resistance load comprises a frictional load braking system and said magnitude is first increased, then decreased in response to at least one input from said turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch assembly.

5. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle drivetrain resistance load comprises a regenerative brake load.

6. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein said vehicle drivetrain resistance load comprises a device that converts vehicle forward motion kinetic energy to stored energy.

7. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said means of controlling said vehicle drivetrain resistance load is at least one computer.

8. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is modulated according to a predetermined computer program algorithm.

9. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 8, whereby said predetermined computer program algorithm can measure and adapt to a driver'"'"'s recent historical driving habits.

10. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is changed in accordance with a vehicle dynamic path that substantially enables the driver'"'"'s following of a Global Position System recommended path.

11. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is changed such that the vehicle forward motion kinetic energy magnitude is decreased.

12. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is responsive to turn signal activation status.

13. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, whereby said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is responsive to at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of:

throttle position sensor, foot brake pedal position sensor, foot brake pedal force sensor, steering wheel angle sensor, vehicle speed sensor, vehicle yaw sensor, accelerometer and Global Position System.

14. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein repeated sequential said inputs from said turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch assembly each change said magnitude of said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load so that successive said changes in vehicle drivetrain resistance loads are magnitudinally cumulative.

15. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein a vehicle rear facing brake light activation status is controlled in response to said change in said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load magnitude.

16. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein vehicle rear facing brake light activation status is controlled in response to a predetermined vehicle deceleration.

17. The vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system of claim 1, wherein said changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load is changed so that a substantially constant vehicle deceleration is maintained.

18. A method of controlling a vehicle drivetrain resistance load, said method comprising:

configuring a vehicle drivetrain resistance load control system to comprise;

a changeable vehicle drivetrain resistance load;

a controller to control said vehicle drivetrain resistance load magnitude;

a turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch configured to send driver intent input to said controller;

changing the magnitude of said vehicle drivetrain resistance load as a response to inputs from said turn signal driver'"'"'s interface switch, whereby said magnitude of said vehicle drivetrain resistance load is increased in response to vehicle turn signal activation.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said vehicle drivetrain resistance load is selected from the group consisting of:

an engine load, a transmission load, an electrical energy generator load, a hydraulic load, a frictional load, a compression release engine brake load, an exhaust brake load, a rotational inertia device load, a mechanical energy storage device load and a pneumatic load.