Assessment of driving behavior of a driver of a motor vehicle

• US 9,050,935 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2013
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stefan, Frederic, Christen, Urs, McGee, Ryan Abraham, Gussen, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOOMER, JEFFREY C
• Application Number:
  US14/018,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20140088858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• 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: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/00 Input parameters relating to overall vehicle dynamics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/00 Input parameters relating to vehicle conditions or values, not covered by groups B60W2510/00 or B60W2520/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/00 Input parameters for engine control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/606 Driving style, e.g. sporty or economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/00 Road transport of goods or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Various embodiments relating to driving behavior of a driver of a motor vehicle are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method may include assessing driving behavior of the driver according to a comparison of a current value of a coasting characteristic relative to a reference value. The current value may be determined during operation of the motor vehicle. The reference value of the coasting characteristic may be determined from operation of the motor vehicle during at least one past operating phase or another duration. The method further includes displaying a visualization representative of assessed driving behavior of the driver.

Claims

1. A method for assessing a driver'"'"'s ability to coast in a motor vehicle, comprising:

assessing a driving behavior of the driver according to a comparison of a current value of a coasting characteristic during operation of the motor vehicle relative to a reference value of the coasting characteristic from operation of the motor vehicle during at least one past operating phase;

displaying a visualization representative of assessed driving behavior of the driver, wherein the visualization includes a gauge including a current coasting distance ratio, an average coasting distance ratio, and a relative maximum coasting distance ratio achieved by the driver.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the coasting characteristic is a coasting distance ratio defined as a ratio of a distance traveled by the motor vehicle while coasting relative to an overall distance traveled by the motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reference value is the average coasting distance ratio for a designated duration or the relative maximum coasting distance ratio achieved by the driver for a designated duration.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a challenge to the driver, wherein the challenge requires the driver to alter their driving behavior to manipulate the current value of the coasting characteristic to meet challenge criteria.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the challenge criteria includes maintaining the current value within a specified range of values or increasing the current value beyond a relative maximum coasting distance ratio previously achieved by the driver.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disregarding the assessed driving behavior of the driver in response to encountering a driver independent interruption of coasting.