Methods for utilizing stop sign and traffic light detections to enhance fuel economy and safety
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- determining, with a vehicle controller, a type of a detected traffic control device;
if the detected traffic control device is a traffic signal;
determining, with the controller, whether a calculated speed to arrive at an intersection when a traffic light state is green is achievable if a vehicle disconnect clutch to disconnect a vehicle engine from a vehicle driveline is released for a minimum duration, and if so, traveling at the calculated speed and releasing the disconnect clutch for at least the minimum duration and while the clutch is released, converting vehicle wheel torque into electrical energy via a starter/generator for storage in a storage device;
otherwise, traveling at the calculated speed and not releasing the disconnect clutch.
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Abstract
Methods for operating a vehicle as the vehicle approaches an intersection with a traffic control device are provided herein. One example method includes detecting a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching, and releasing and applying a disconnect clutch arranged in a driveline of the vehicle intermediate an engine and a starter/generator based on a type of the detected traffic control device. Because releasing the disconnect clutch disconnects the engine from the vehicle driveline, the engine may be turned off to increase fuel efficiency while the disconnect clutch is released.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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determining, with a vehicle controller, a type of a detected traffic control device; if the detected traffic control device is a traffic signal; determining, with the controller, whether a calculated speed to arrive at an intersection when a traffic light state is green is achievable if a vehicle disconnect clutch to disconnect a vehicle engine from a vehicle driveline is released for a minimum duration, and if so, traveling at the calculated speed and releasing the disconnect clutch for at least the minimum duration and while the clutch is released, converting vehicle wheel torque into electrical energy via a starter/generator for storage in a storage device; otherwise, traveling at the calculated speed and not releasing the disconnect clutch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method, comprising:
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detecting, with a controller of a vehicle, a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching; if the detected traffic control device is a stop sign, determining, with the controller, a desired time to release a disconnect clutch arranged in a driveline of the vehicle and releasing the disconnect clutch at the desired time; and if the detected traffic control device is a traffic light, determining, with the controller, whether stopping at the intersection will achieve a desired vehicle performance; if stopping at the intersection will achieve the desired vehicle performance, determining a time to release the disconnect clutch to stop the vehicle at the intersection and releasing the disconnect clutch at that time; otherwise, calculating a speed at which the vehicle will arrive at the intersection when a traffic light state is green; and traveling at the calculated speed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for operating a vehicle, comprising:
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detecting a traffic control device at an intersection the vehicle is approaching with a controller of the vehicle; obtaining vehicle data with the controller; evaluating a vehicle state based on the vehicle data with the controller; if the traffic control device is a stop sign, calculating, with the controller, a maximum possible duration for turning off an engine of the vehicle based on the vehicle state; if the traffic control device is a traffic light, calculating, with the controller, a desired duration for turning off the engine based on the vehicle state and a traffic light state; turning off the engine with the controller and releasing a disconnect clutch to disconnect the engine from a driveline of the vehicle; while the engine is disconnected from the driveline, converting torque from vehicle wheels into electrical energy via a starter/generator and storing the electrical energy in an electrical energy storage device; and
thenapplying the disconnect clutch to connect the engine to the driveline after the vehicle has stopped at the intersection for the maximum possible duration. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification