Vehicle ready light control method and system

• US 8,751,102 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Valascho, Joseph Francis, Massenburg, Jamala, Siciak, Raymond C., Gusta, Michael L., Candela, Dino H
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): SPISICH, GEORGE D
• Application Number:
  US12/421,868
• Publication Number:
  US 20100262337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,887 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701/36, 701/99, 340/438, 340/439, 340/457, 340/459, 116/28.1, 116/28.R
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed

Abstract

A vehicle ready light control method includes providing a vehicle having a vehicle ready light and illuminating the vehicle ready light when a powertrain of the vehicle is enabled and at least one of the following conditions exists: the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode; an engine RPM speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value and a wheel speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed. A vehicle ready light control system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated, comprising the steps of:

illuminating said vehicle ready light when an engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of said vehicle is enabled, and at least one of the following conditions is sensed;

the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode;

an engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and

a wheel speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and

maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are met or extinguishing said ready light when none of the conditions are sensed.

2. The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode.

3. The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value.

4. The control method of claim 3 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM.

5. The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed.

6. The control method of claim 5 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph.

7. The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed.

8. The control method of claim 7 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph.

9. A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, comprising:

providing a vehicle having a vehicle ready light, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated;

initiating operation of said vehicle by enabling a engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of said vehicle;

illuminating said vehicle ready light for a predetermined time interval;

maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light after said predetermined time interval when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and at least one of the following conditions is sensed;

said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode;

an engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and

a wheel speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and

maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are sensed.

10. The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode.

11. The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value.

12. The control method of claim 11 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM.

13. The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed.

14. The control method of claim 13 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph.

15. The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed.

16. The control method of claim 15 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph.

17. A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated, comprising the steps of:

turning the vehicle on;

illuminating the vehicle ready light when a engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of the vehicle is enabled, and when at least one of the following conditions is sensed;

the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode;

an engine RPM speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and

a wheel speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and

maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are sensed.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM.