METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20170072944A1
• Filed: 09/14/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: CHEVALIER, Alain Marie Roger, BITSANIS, Evangelos, MARBAIX, Michael, STEFAN, Frederic
• Granted Patent: US 10,137,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/00 Input parameters relating to exterior conditions, not covered by groups B60W2552/00, B60W2554/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/24 Adaptation to external conditions, e.g. road surface conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3605 Destination input or retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A system and method for operating a vehicle having different operating modes affecting emissions include activating, by a vehicle controller, at least one of the different operating modes affecting emissions selected in response to an estimated population density of a designated area associated with a current location or an anticipated future location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle having different operating modes affecting emissions, comprising:

activating, by a vehicle controller, at least one of the different operating modes affecting emissions selected in response to an estimated population density of a designated area associated with a current location or an anticipated future location of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising estimating the population density, by the vehicle controller, based on detection of persons present in the area based on a wireless data transmission.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the estimated population density from a remote server.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeatedly estimating the population density by the vehicle controller while the vehicle is moving, wherein the designated area for which the population density is estimated is updated based on a current position of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anticipated future location is anticipated in response to a destination or route received by a navigation system of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises a hybrid vehicle and the different operating modes comprise an electric mode.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the different operating modes in response to air quality of the current location or the anticipated future location.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the different operating modes based on respective energy expenditure associated with the one of the different operating modes relative to other of the operating modes.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising selecting one of the different operating modes in response to a number or type of emission sources present in the current location or the anticipated future location.

7. The method of claim 7 further comprising selecting the electric mode in response to the population density exceeding a threshold population density.

11. A vehicle comprising:

a controller programmed to control the vehicle using a selected one of a plurality of operating modes each having different associated emissions profiles, the operating mode selected based on at least one of an estimated population density and an air quality associated with a location of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the location is a current location of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising a navigation system, wherein the location is a location based on a destination or route stored in the navigation system.

14. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the estimated population density is received by the controller from a remote server.

15. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises an electric mode and a hybrid mode.

16. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the controller is further programmed to estimate the population density based on wireless transmission data transmission.

17. A vehicle having a plurality of operating modes including an electric mode, comprising:

a controller programmed to control the vehicle according to one of the plurality of operating modes selected in response to a population density of a location of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the controller is further programmed to select the electric mode in response to a first population density and a different operating mode in response to a second population density higher than the first population density.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the controller is further programmed to select one of the plurality of operating modes in response to an air quality of the location.

20. The vehicle of claim 17 wherein the location comprises a location on a vehicle route programmed into a navigation system.