Brake control of a vehicle based on driver behavior

• US 8,287,055 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Lee, Jungwon
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US12/892,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20120074770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 303/3, 303/15, 303/20, 701/70, 701/72
• US Class Current: 303/15
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/662 characterised by specified functions of the control system components
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/03 Brake assistants
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2220/02 Driver type; Driving style; Driver adaptive features
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/172 Determining control parameters used in the regulation, e.g. by calculations involving measured or detected parameters B60T8/17551 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for controlling a brake force of a vehicle. In one embodiment, the system includes an electronic control unit including a controller, a plurality of sensors in electronic communication with the controller. Each of the sensors transmits sensor data to the controller. A user interface and a driver recognition system are in electronic communication with the controller, and a computer readable memory stores instructions executed by the controller. The instructions cause the controller to evaluate a driver identification data received from the driver recognition system, a driver preference data received from the user interface, and the sensor data received from the sensors. The instructions further cause the controller to classify and select a driver or a driving pattern class, execute a control algorithm to determine a driver dependent brake force based on at least one of the selected driver or driving pattern class, the driver preference data, and the driver identification data, and to regulate the brake force of the vehicle based on the driver dependent brake force.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a brake force of a vehicle, the system comprising:

an electronic control unit including a controller;

a plurality of sensors in electronic communication with the controller, each of the sensors transmitting sensor data to the controller;

a user interface and a driver recognition system in electronic communication with the controller; and

a computer readable memory storing instructions that, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to;

evaluate driver identification data received from the driver recognition system and driver preference data received from a driver via the user interface, the driver preference data including brake pedal parameters,

evaluate the sensor data received from the sensors,

classify and select a driver or a driving pattern class,

execute a control algorithm to determine a driver dependent brake force based on the selected driver or driving pattern class, the driver preference data, and the driver identification data, and

regulate the brake force of the vehicle based on the driver dependent brake force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable memory further stores instructions from a driving pattern classification module that, when executed by the controller, evaluates the sensor data received from the sensors and classifies the driver or the driving pattern class based on the sensor data and the driver identification data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the driving pattern classification module classifies the driver or the driving pattern class based on predetermined classification rules that operate with statistical classification algorithms used in pattern recognition systems.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the driving pattern classification module is a linear pattern classifier.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the driving pattern classification module is a nonlinear pattern classifier.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the driving pattern classification module includes a plurality of sub-classification modules that, when executed by the controller, create an independent sub-classification results and the driving pattern classification module analyzes these results to make a final classification selection.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a brake system including an intelligent active brake force booster that, when executed by the controller, regulates the brake force of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the brake force booster includes an electromechanical brake force booster.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the brake force booster includes a hydraulic brake force booster.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable memory further stores instructions from a driver dependent brake force module that, when executed by the controller, determines the driver dependent brake force from a predetermined brake control data stored in a memory of the controller.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the brake control data includes a driver dependent brake force, a specific boost ratio, a brake pedal feel, and a brake pedal position.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the driver dependent brake force module determines the driver dependent brake force based on brake control data stored in the memory and selected based on the received sensor data.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable memory further stores instructions from a driver preference module that, when executed by the controller, evaluates the brake pedal parameters of the driver preference data, the brake pedal parameters including a brake force preference data, a pedal feel preference data, and a pedal position preference data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the driver preference data accepts a predetermined format and is transferable between vehicles.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable memory further stores instructions from a driver recognition module that, when executed by the controller, evaluates the driver identification data that includes a driver ID code, a driver priority, a latest driving date, and a total driving hours.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable memory further stores instructions from a brake system control module that, when executed by the controller, regulates the brake force of the vehicle by setting a target brake force based on the driver dependent brake force.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a driver selection switch.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes the driver recognition system.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the driver recognition system includes a PDA, a key fob, or a biometric system.