METHOD TO USE GPS TO OPTIMIZE STOPPING DISTANCE TO IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY
First Claim
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1. A method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle to optimize stopping distance, the method comprising:
- determining a vehicle speed;
determining a stop location;
determining a preferred stopping parameter, wherein the preferred stopping parameter comprises at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;
determining a maximum acceptable time and/or distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;
determining the coast rate for the vehicle;
determining an optimal distance from the stop location to begin coasting;
providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting, wherein the signal is provided to an operator when the vehicle is at or prior to the optimal distance to begin coasting.
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Abstract
A method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle to optimize stopping distance including determining a vehicle speed, and determining a preferred time to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed. A maximum acceptable time to stop is determined based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed. A coast rate for the vehicle is determined, and an optimal distance to begin coasting is also determined. The method further includes providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting when the vehicle is at the optimal distance.
19 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle to optimize stopping distance, the method comprising:
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determining a vehicle speed; determining a stop location; determining a preferred stopping parameter, wherein the preferred stopping parameter comprises at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed; determining a maximum acceptable time and/or distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed; determining the coast rate for the vehicle; determining an optimal distance from the stop location to begin coasting; providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting, wherein the signal is provided to an operator when the vehicle is at or prior to the optimal distance to begin coasting. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of optimizing a stopping distance of a vehicle comprising:
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prompting a vehicle operator to input a preferred time to stop; utilizing a vehicle speed and the preferred time to stop to determine a preferred stopping point; determining an optimal distance to begin coasting utilizing a coast rate of the vehicle; and providing a signal to the operator to begin coasting when the vehicle is at or approaching the optimal distance. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A motor vehicle comprising:
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a propulsion system that provides power to propel the vehicle; a first operator input feature that allows an operator to control an amount of power provided by the propulsion system to propel the vehicle; a device that determines a position of the vehicle; a second operator input feature that permits an operator to input a preferred stopping parameter; a signaling device; and a controller that, during vehicle operation, utilizes vehicle speed and information concerning a preferred stopping parameter from the second operator input feature to determine a preferred stopping point, and wherein the controller utilizes the preferred stopping point and a vehicle coast rate to determine an optimal stopping distance, and wherein the controller causes the signaling device to generate a signal to begin coasting when the vehicle is in the vicinity of the optimal stopping distance. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification