Coasting distance determination for coasting assistance system

• US 9,896,106 B1
• Filed: 10/24/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Wrobel, Shannon A., Payne, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fan, Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US15/332,987
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/18158 Approaching intersection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A system for adjusting timing of coasting assistance provided by a vehicle that is approaching an intersection where the vehicle will turn or is programmed or scheduled to turn. The system includes a speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed data. The system includes a pedal unit configured to detect brake pedal position data. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to detect when the brake pedal is engaged and released. The ECU is configured to detect a vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released. The ECU is configured to determine, at a determination time, whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection. The ECU is configured to detect, at an application time, when the vehicle is approaching the intersection. The system also includes a display configured to display, at the application time, a coasting assistance instruction.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting timing of coasting assistance provided by a vehicle that is approaching an intersection where the vehicle will turn or is programmed or scheduled to turn, the system comprising:

a speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed data;

a pedal unit connected to a brake pedal and configured to detect brake pedal position data;

an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the speed sensor and the pedal unit, the ECU configured to;

detect when the brake pedal is engaged and released based on the brake pedal position data,

detect a vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released based on the vehicle speed data,

determine, at a determination time, whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection based on the vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released, and

detect, at an application time, when the vehicle is approaching the intersection; and

a display connected to the ECU and configured to display, at the application time, a coasting assistance instruction including a green light coasting distance when the intersection is the green light intersection or a red light coasting distance when the intersection is the red light intersection.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store a total light count, a red light count, and a green light count, and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises:

determining the total light count associated with a total number of times the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the green light count associated with a number of times a green light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the red light count associated with a number of times a red light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the green light count to the total light count exceeds a frequency threshold; and

determining the intersection is the red light intersection when the ratio of the green light count to the total light count is less than the frequency threshold.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein determining the green light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the green light count when the vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold when the brake is released.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein determining the red light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the red light count when the vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold when the brake is released.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the ECU is further configured to:

determine whether the total light count exceeds a sample threshold; and

determine whether the intersection is the green light intersection or the red light intersection when the total light count exceeds the sample threshold.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pedal unit is connected to an accelerator pedal and is further configured to detect accelerator pedal data;

wherein the ECU is further configured to detect when the accelerator pedal is engaged within an acceleration time threshold after the brake pedal is released; and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection is based on the vehicle speed when the accelerator pedal is engaged after the brake pedal is released.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an intersection light server configured to;

receive, from a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of total light counts, a plurality of green light counts, and a plurality of red light counts;

determine, for the intersection, an aggregate total light count associated with an aggregate number of times the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, an aggregate green light count associated with an aggregate number of times a green light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, and an aggregate red light count associated with an aggregate number of times a red light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection; and

communicate, to the ECU, the aggregate total light count, the aggregate green light count, and the aggregate red light count, and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises;

determining the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate green light count to the aggregate total light count exceeds a frequency threshold; and

determining the intersection is the red light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate red light count to the aggregate total light count is less than the frequency threshold.

8. A vehicle approaching an intersection where the vehicle will turn, the vehicle comprising:

a speed sensor configured to detect vehicle speed data;

a pedal unit connected to a brake pedal and configured to detect brake pedal position data;

an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the speed sensor and the pedal unit, the ECU configured to;

detect when the brake pedal is engaged and released based on the brake pedal position data,

detect a vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released based on the vehicle speed data,

determine, at a first time, whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection based on the vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released, and

detect, at a second time, when the vehicle is approaching the intersection; and

a display connected to the ECU and configured to display, at the second time, a coasting assistance instruction including the green light coasting distance when the intersection is the green light intersection or the red light coasting distance when the intersection is the red light intersection.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a memory configured to store a total light count, a red light count, and a green light count, and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises:

determining the total light count associated with a total number of times the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the green light count associated with a number of times a green light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the red light count associated with a number of times a red light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the green light count to the total light count exceeds a frequency threshold; and

determining the intersection is the red light intersection when the ratio of the green light count to the total light count is less than the frequency threshold.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein determining the green light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the green light count when the vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold when the brake is released.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein determining the red light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the red light count when the vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold when the brake is released.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the ECU is further configured to:

determine whether the total light count exceeds a sample threshold; and

determine whether the intersection is the green light intersection or the red light intersection when the total light count exceeds the sample threshold.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pedal unit is connected to an accelerator pedal and is further configured to detect accelerator pedal data,

wherein the ECU is further configured to detect when the accelerator pedal is engaged within an acceleration time threshold after the brake pedal is released;

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection is based on the vehicle speed when the accelerator pedal is engaged after the brake pedal is released.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the ECU is further configured to receive, from an intersection light server via a transceiver, an aggregate total light count associated with an aggregate number of times the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, an aggregate green light count associated with an aggregate number of times a green light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, and an aggregate red light count associated with an aggregate number of times a red light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises:

determining the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate green light count to the aggregate total light count exceeds a frequency threshold; and

determining the intersection is the red light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate red light count to the aggregate total light count is less than the frequency threshold.

15. A method of adjusting timing of coasting assistance provided by a vehicle that is approaching an intersection where the vehicle will turn or is programmed or scheduled to turn, the method comprising:

detecting, by a speed sensor, vehicle speed data;

detecting, by a pedal unit connected to a brake pedal, brake pedal position data;

detecting, by an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the speed sensor and the pedal unit, when the brake pedal is engaged and released based on the brake pedal position data;

detecting, by the ECU, a vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released;

determining, by the ECU at a determination time, whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection based on the vehicle speed when the brake pedal is released;

detecting, by the ECU at an application time, when the vehicle is approaching the intersection; and

displaying, by a display connected to the ECU at the application time, a coasting assistance instruction including the green light coasting distance when the intersection is the green light intersection or the red light coasting distance when the intersection is the red light intersection.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises:

determining, by the ECU, a total light count associated with a total number of times the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining, by the ECU, a green light count associated with a number of times a green light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining, by the ECU, a red light count associated with a number of times a red light is present when the vehicle travels through the intersection;

determining, by the ECU, the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the green light count to the total light count exceeds a frequency threshold; and

determining, by the ECU, the intersection is the red light intersection when the ratio of the green light count to the total light count is less than the frequency threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the green light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the green light count when the vehicle speed exceeds a speed threshold when the brake is released, and

wherein determining the red light count comprises, for each time the vehicle approaches the intersection, incrementing the red light count when the vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold when the brake is released.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

determining, by the ECU, whether the total light count exceeds a sample threshold; and

determining, by the ECU, whether the intersection is the green light intersection or the red light intersection when the total light count exceeds the sample threshold.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting, by the pedal unit connected to an accelerator pedal, accelerator pedal data; and

detecting, by the ECU, when the accelerator pedal is engaged within an acceleration time threshold after the brake pedal is released, and

wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection is based on the vehicle speed when the accelerator pedal is engaged after the brake pedal is released.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving, at an intersection light server from a plurality of vehicles, a plurality of total light counts, a plurality of green light counts, and a plurality of red light counts;

determining, by the intersection light server, for the intersection, an aggregate total light count associated with a total number of times the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, an aggregate green light count associated with a total number of times a green light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection, and an aggregate red light count associated with a total number of times a red light was present when the plurality of vehicles travelled through the intersection; and

communicating, by the intersection light server to the ECU, the aggregate total light count, the aggregate green light count, and the aggregate red light count, and wherein the determining whether the intersection is a green light intersection or a red light intersection comprises;

determining, by the ECU, the intersection is the green light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate green light count to the aggregate total light count exceeds a frequency threshold, and

determining, by the ECU, the intersection is the red light intersection when a ratio of the aggregate red light count to the aggregate total light count is less than the frequency threshold.