Method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle for a dynamic response

• US 6,278,911 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 21ST CENTURY GARAGE LLC
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Heindinger, Andreas, Kuhn, Klaus-Peter, Gimmler, Helmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc-Coleman, Marthe Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/112,895
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 701/79, 701/1, 701/85, 701/104, 180/141, 180/79.1, 180/14.1
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/003 Detecting or using driving style of a driver, e.g. for adapting shift schedules
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/141 of rate of change of torque or torque demand
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/20 Kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle for a dynamic response, the extent of the actuation of an operating device being compared to a threshold value, and the demand for a dynamic response being recognized when the extent of actuation lies above a specific threshold value, and, when comparing the extent of actuation to the threshold value, allowance being made for the manner in which the vehicle driver normally actuates the operating device.

Claims

1. A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a manner of the driver for actuating an operating device, the manner of the driver capable of being defined as a sportier manner or a steadier manner;

comparing an extent of the actuation of the operating device to a threshold value; and

recognizing a dynamic-response demand when the extent of actuation exceeds the threshold value;

the extent of actuation necessary for the recognizing of the dynamic-response demand being greater for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the operating device is an accelerator.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the extent of actuation is monitored continuously, and further comprising the step of statistically evaluating the extent of actuation.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein after the dynamic-response demand is recognized, the dynamic-response demand lasts for a period of time, the period of time being longer for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein a value is formed as a function of the extent of the actuation of the operating device and the manner, the value being compared to the threshold value.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the threshold value is a function of the manner.

7. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising determining if the driver operating the vehicle is nervous or unsteady, and discontinuing the recognizing step if the driver is nervous or unsteady.

8. A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a manner of the driver for actuating an operating device, the manner of the driver capable of being defined as a sportier manner or a steadier manner;

comparing an extent of the actuation of the operating device to a threshold value;

recognizing a dynamic-response demand when the extent of actuation exceeds the threshold value, the extent of actuation necessary for the recognizing of the dynamic-response demand being greater for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner; and

statistically evaluating the extent of actuation, the extent of actuation being monitored continuously;

wherein recent values of the extent of actuation receive a greater weighting during the statistic evaluation than older values.

9. A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a manner of the driver for actuating an operating device, the manner of the driver capable of being defined as a sportier manner or a steadier manner;

comparing an extent of the actuation of the operating device to a threshold value;

recognizing a dynamic-response demand when the extent of actuation exceeds the threshold value. the extent of actuation necessary for the recognizing of the dynamic-response demand being greater for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner; and

filtering the extent of actuation, the filtering being forestalled in the event the operating device is released with an angular velocity above another threshold value.

10. A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a manner of the driver for actuating an operating device, the manner of the driver capable of being defined as a sportier manner or a steadier manner, the operating device being an accelerator;

comparing an extent of the actuation of the operating device to a threshold value, the extent of actuation being a detected angular position of the accelerator;

recognizing a dynamic-response demand when the extent of actuation exceeds the threshold value, the extent of actuation necessary for the recognizing of the dynamic-response demand being greater for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner; and

filtering the detected angular position of the accelerator, the filtering being forestalled in the event the accelerator is released with an angular velocity above another threshold value.

11. A method for recognizing a spontaneous demand by a driver of a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a manner of the driver for actuating an operating device, the manner of the driver capable of being defined as a sportier manner or a steadier manner;

comparing an extent of the actuation of the operating device to a threshold value; and

recognizing a dynamic-response demand when the extent of actuation exceeds the threshold value, the extent of actuation necessary for the recognizing of the dynamic-response demand being greater for the sportier manner than for the steadier manner;

wherein a variable or bit is set for the recognized dynamic-response demand when the dynamic-response demand is recognized, and the variable or bit is reset when conditions for the demand no longer exist and the operating device is not activated.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the operating device is an accelerator and the operating device is not activated when an accelerator angle equals zero.