Method to use GPS to optimize stopping distance to improve fuel economy

• US 9,327,730 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2014
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth James, Martin, Douglas Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US14/181,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/24 Coasting mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/18081 With torque flow from driveshaft to engine, i.e. engine being driven by vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/181 Preparing for stopping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/186 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0015 Transmission control for optimising fuel consumptions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle to optimize stopping distance including determining a vehicle speed, and determining a preferred time to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed. A maximum acceptable time to stop is determined based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed. A coast rate for the vehicle is determined, and an optimal distance to begin coasting is also determined. The method further includes providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting when the vehicle is at the optimal distance.

Claims

1. A GPS-based method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle having a GPS unit to optimize stopping distance, the method comprising:

determining a vehicle speed;

determining a stop location;

determining a vehicle location using the GPS unit of the vehicle;

determining a preferred stopping parameter, wherein the preferred stopping parameter comprises at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;

determining a maximum acceptable time and/or distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;

determining the coast rate for the vehicle;

determining an optimal distance from the stop location to begin coasting;

providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting, wherein the signal is provided to an operator when the vehicle is at or prior to the optimal distance to begin coasting;

utilizing an operator input to determine at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop,

prompting an operator to input at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop,

providing an operator with a plurality of inputs comprising time to stop inputs and/or preferred distance to stop inputs;

prompting an operator to select at least one of the time to stop inputs and/or at least one of the preferred distance to stop inputs,

wherein the plurality of inputs comprise time to stop inputs including a range of time to stop inputs bounded by a minimum time to stop input and a maximum time to stop input.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

providing an operator with fuel consumption information corresponding to the plurality of inputs.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining the coast rate for the vehicle includes retrieving coast rate data utilizing the vehicle speed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the optimal distance is determined based, at least in part, on at least one of the preferred time to stop and the preferred distance to stop.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

determining an optimal distance from the stop location to begin braking.

6. The method of claim 5, including:

providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin braking.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the signal comprises at least one of a visual indicator and a noise.

9. The method of claim 1, including:

measuring a plurality of vehicle speeds and corresponding distances at which an operator begins to coast when approaching a stop; and

utilizing the measured vehicle speeds and corresponding distances to determine at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop.

8. A GPS-based method of signaling an operator of a motor vehicle having a GPS unit to optimize stopping distance, the method comprising:

determining a vehicle speed;

determining a stop location;

determining a vehicle location using the GPS units of the vehicle;

determining a preferred stopping parameter, wherein the preferred stopping parameter comprises at least one of a preferred time to stop and a preferred distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;

determining a maximum acceptable time and/or distance to stop based, at least in part, on the vehicle speed;

determining the coast rate for the vehicle;

determining an optimal distance from the stop location to begin coasting;

providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle to begin coasting, wherein the signal is provided to an operator when the vehicle is at or prior to the optimal distance to begin coasting,

providing a NORMAL COAST mode of operation corresponding to coasting with a vehicle'"'"'s automatic transmission in DRIVE followed by braking to stop the vehicle at the stop location;

providing a NEUTRAL COAST mode of operation corresponding to coasting with an automatic transmission in NEUTRAL and wherein the vehicle coasts to a stop at the stop location without braking;

providing a FULL COAST mode of operation corresponding to coasting with an automatic transmission in NEUTRAL and wherein the vehicle coasts to a stop at the stop location without braking;

providing an operator with an input feature enabling the operator to select one of the NORMAL COAST, NEUTRAL COAST, and FULL COAST modes; and

utilizing an operator mode selection to determine the coast rate for the vehicle to determine when to provide the operator with a signal to begin coasting.