Camera based vehicle start-stop feature

• US 10,731,618 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2019
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tedesco, Brian J., Charugundla Gangadhar, Sai Sunil
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Hai H
• Application Number:
  US16/258,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20190162151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 1231793, 1231794, 701112, 701113, 701117, 701118, 701119
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/00 Transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive; Brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems arrangements for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions B60T8/00; valves incorporated in such systems B60T15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/18 operated by wayside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18018 Start-stop drive, e.g. in a traffic jam
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/00 Power-assisted or power-driven steering for non-deflectable wheels B62D11/00; fluid-pressure servomotors in general F15B
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0837 Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/102 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/12 said parameters being related to the vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/125 : Information about other vehicles, traffic lights or traffic congestion
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/582 : of traffic signs
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/584 : of vehicle lights or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/588 : Recognition of the road, e.g. of lane markings; Recognition of the vehicle driving pattern in relation to the road
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems

Abstract

A method of vehicular control includes providing a camera and a control at a vehicle, and maneuvering the vehicle along a road while capturing image data via the camera. Image data captured by the camera is processed at the control to determine presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road. Responsive to determination of presence of the stopping area, the operating capacity of the vehicle engine is reduced so that the engine operates at reduced capacity as the vehicle moves toward and stops at the determined stopping area. After stopping the vehicle at the stopping area, the control determines if a hazard is present in the field of view of the camera. Responsive to determining that no hazard is present, the operating capacity of the engine is restored to its normal operating capacity.

Claims

1. A method of vehicular control, said method comprising:

providing a camera at a vehicle equipped with an engine, a powertrain system, a steering system and a braking system, wherein providing the camera comprises mounting the camera at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

providing a control at the vehicle, the control comprising a data processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;

maneuvering the vehicle along a road;

capturing image data via the camera as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

processing at the control image data captured by the camera;

determining, via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera, presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

responsive to determination of presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, reducing via the control operating capacity of the engine of the vehicle so that the engine operates at reduced capacity as the vehicle moves toward the determined stopping area;

stopping the vehicle at the stopping area;

after stopping the vehicle at the stopping area, determining via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera if a hazard is present in the field of view of the camera; and

responsive to determining that no hazard is present in the field of view of the camera, controlling via the control the operating capacity of the engine to restore normal operating capacity of the engine.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising, responsive to determining that a hazard is present in the field of view of the camera, controlling the operating capacity of the engine to limit movement of the vehicle at the stopping area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises turning off the engine.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising preventing operation of the engine responsive to determining that a hazard is present in the field of view of the camera.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determined hazard present in the field of view of the camera comprises a pedestrian at the road ahead of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 3, comprising powering a power steering system and a power braking system of the vehicle via a battery when the engine is operating at reduced capacity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the stopping area comprises determining presence of an intersection ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the stopping area comprises determining presence of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a stop sign ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, (ii) a stopping line on the road ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle and (iii) a traffic light ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the stopping area is determined responsive at least in part to a wireless communication from a system remote from the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises reducing operating capacity of the engine by controlling a powertrain module of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises partially shutting down the engine.

12. A method of vehicular control, said method comprising:

providing a camera at a vehicle equipped with an engine, a powertrain system, a steering system and a braking system, wherein providing the camera comprises mounting the camera at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

providing a control at the vehicle, the control comprising a data processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;

maneuvering the vehicle along a road;

capturing image data via the camera as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

processing at the control image data captured by the camera;

determining, via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera, presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

wherein determining the stopping area comprises determining presence of an intersection ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle;

responsive to determination of presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, reducing via the control operating capacity of the engine of the vehicle so that the engine operates at reduced capacity as the vehicle moves toward the determined stopping area;

stopping the vehicle at the stopping area;

after stopping the vehicle at the stopping area, determining via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera if a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that no pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle, controlling via the control the operating capacity of the engine to restore normal operating capacity of the engine.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein, responsive to determining that a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle, controlling the operating capacity of the engine to limit movement of the vehicle at the stopping area.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises turning off the engine, and wherein said method comprises preventing via the control operation of the engine responsive to determining that a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the stopping area is determined responsive at least in part to a wireless communication from a system remote from the vehicle.

16. A method of vehicular control, said method comprising:

providing a camera at a vehicle equipped with an engine, a powertrain system, a steering system and a braking system, wherein providing the camera comprises mounting the camera at the vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior and forward of the vehicle;

providing a control at the vehicle, the control comprising a data processor operable to process image data captured by the camera;

maneuvering the vehicle along a road;

capturing image data via the camera as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

processing at the control image data captured by the camera;

determining, via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera, presence of a stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle as the vehicle is maneuvered along the road;

wherein determining the stopping area comprises determining presence of at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) a stop sign ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, (ii) a stopping line on the road ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle and (iii) a traffic light ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle;

responsive to determination of presence of the stopping area ahead of the vehicle and being approached by the vehicle, and while the vehicle is moving toward the determined stopping area, reducing via the control operating capacity of the engine of the vehicle so that the engine operates at reduced capacity as the vehicle moves toward the determined stopping area;

stopping the vehicle at the stopping area;

after stopping the vehicle at the stopping area, determining via processing at the control of image data captured by the camera if a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle; and

responsive to determining that no pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle, controlling via the control the operating capacity of the engine to restore normal operating capacity of the engine.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising, responsive to determining that a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle, controlling the operating capacity of the engine to limit movement of the vehicle at the stopping area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises turning off the engine, and wherein said method comprises preventing via the control operation of the engine responsive to determining that a pedestrian is present in the field of view of the camera and at the road ahead of the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the stopping area is determined responsive at least in part to a wireless communication from a system remote from the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein reducing operating capacity of the engine comprises turning off the engine, and wherein said method comprises powering a power steering system and a power braking system of the vehicle via a battery when the engine is operating at reduced capacity.