Driver feedback to improve vehicle performance

• US 7,798,578 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tuttle, Christopher S., Russell, John D., Lewis, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/465,422
• Publication Number:
  US 20080042489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 303/151, 303/152, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 434/64, 434/65, 340/438, 340/439, 340/451, 340/452, 340/455, 340/459, 340/461, 340/467
• US Class Current: 303/151
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A system for providing driver feedback is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system provides a driver with feedback in response to a brake pedal and an accelerator pedal. The system may help to increase vehicle fuel economy.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

during braking actuation of a brake by an operator, providing anticipatory coaching feedback to the operator through a haptic operator interface; and

during vehicle operation, providing coaching feedback to the operator through the haptic operator interface that as a result of operator action identifies undesirable driver behavior and lack of appropriate driver input due to a pedal tip-out.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said braking actuation includes brake pedal actuation.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said coaching feedback is provided by an electrical actuator.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said coaching feedback is further responsive to ambient conditions.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said coaching feedback further varies with a road grade.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein providing anticipatory coaching feedback to the operator through the haptic operator interface notifies the operator that dissipative braking is imminent before dissipative braking is actually performed.

7. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle having a battery, the hybrid vehicle driven by an operator, the hybrid vehicle including a regenerative braking system coupled to the battery, a dissipative braking system coupled to the hybrid vehicle, a brake lever, an accelerator pedal, and a haptic operator interface coupled to the brake lever and the accelerator pedal, the method comprising:

adjusting regenerative and dissipative brake actuation of the hybrid vehicle responsive to an operator braking actuation;

during braking actuation of the brake lever by the operator, providing coaching feedback to the hybrid vehicle operator through the haptic operator interface responsive to a type of brake actuation and an operator selectable driving mode, the type including regenerative and dissipative brake operation, the coaching feedback further accounts for improved operator performance over time; and

providing the coaching feedback to the operator through the haptic operator interface by identifying undesirable driver behavior and lack of appropriate driver input at current vehicle conditions from the accelerator pedal, where said lack of appropriate driver input is due to a pedal tip-out.

8. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle driven by an operator having a battery, a regenerative braking system coupled to the battery, a dissipative braking system coupled to the hybrid vehicle, a brake lever, and a haptic operator interface coupled to the brake lever, comprising:

during vehicle operation, providing coaching feedback to the operator through the haptic operator interface that as a result of operator action identifies undesirable driver behavior and lack of appropriate driver input at current vehicle conditions, said coaching feedback further responsive to an operator selectable driving mode and operating conditions including a state of charge of the battery, said coaching feedback being reduced or suppressed when the state of charge of the battery is high enough or road grade is steep enough such that additional regenerative braking is not converted to stored energy in the battery, wherein said lack of appropriate driver input is due to a pedal tip-out.