Method and apparatus for vehicle system calibration

• US 8,615,345 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Szwabowski, Steven Joseph, Schunder, Mark, Filev, Dimitar Petrov
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/097,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 701/423
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes requesting weather data from a remote location. The illustrative embodiment further includes determining if one or more vehicle systems should be adjusted, based at least in part on the requested weather data. The illustrative embodiment additionally includes adjusting one or more vehicle systems contingent at least in part on the determining. The illustrative embodiment further includes repeating the determining and adjusting until no weather data remains for processing.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, executable by a vehicle computing system (VCS), comprising:

determining if an HVAC adjustment is appropriate based at least on received weather data;

determining whether exterior temperature should be analyzed prior to adjusting the HVAC;

contingent on whether exterior temperature should be analyzed, analyzing exterior temperature; and

automatically adjusting the HVAC, according to a predetermined adjustment instruction, based at least in part on the weather data and exterior temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining and analyzing includes determinations and analysis related to a precipitation state.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising advising a window-down state conditional on a precipitation state being zero precipitation.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining and analyzing includes determinations and analysis related to a wind-speed state.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising advising a window-down state conditional on a wind speed state being below a threshold speed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining and analyzing includes determinations and analysis related to a wind speed state and a precipitation state.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, if the wind-speed state is above a certain threshold or if the precipitation state is non-zero, the VCS automatically adjusts the HVAC system to maintain a desired temperature.

8. A vehicle computing system (VCS) comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine if an HVAC adjustment is appropriate based at least on received weather data;

determine whether exterior temperature should be analyzed prior to adjusting the HVAC;

contingent on whether exterior temperature should be analyzed, analyze exterior temperature; and

automatically adjust the HVAC, according to a predetermined adjustment instruction, based at least in part on the weather data and exterior temperature.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the determinations and analysis related to a precipitation state.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to advise a window-down state conditional on a precipitation state being zero precipitation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the determinations and analysis related to a wind-speed state.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to advise a window-down state conditional on a wind speed state being below a threshold speed.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the determinations and analysis related to a wind speed state and a precipitation state.