Vehicle control based on connectivity of a portable device

• US 9,886,034 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2015
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boesch, Mathew Alan, Yako, Sarra Awad
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Luat T
• Application Number:
  US14/938,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20170131714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 701 23, 701 36, 701 41, 701 46
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0863 due to erroneous selection or response of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0064 using a remote, e.g. cordless, transmitter or receiver unit, e.g. remote keypad or mobile phone
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2400/00 Indexing codes relating to detected, measured or calculated conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/221 Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/229 Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/24 Drug level, e.g. alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/18 Braking system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2900/00 : Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• 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 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 : from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0059 : Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2302/05 : Leading to automatic stopping of the vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle computer is programmed to: detect a portable computing device communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer. The vehicle computer is further programmed to control at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the presence of the portable device, the at least one vehicle operation including at least one of control of steering, propulsion, and brakes.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

detect a portable computing device communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer;

control at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on detecting the portable device, wherein the at least one vehicle operation includes at least one of control of steering, propulsion, and brakes;

request operator input from the portable device; and

end control of the at least one vehicle operation upon failing to receive the input within a predetermined amount of time.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to end control of the at least one vehicle operation upon determining that the portable device is not in communication with the vehicle computer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to detect a plurality of portable devices communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer, to identify at least one of the plurality of portable devices as associated with a vehicle operator, and to request the operator input from the one of the plurality of portable devices associated with the vehicle operator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to receive data from one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer and to control the at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the received operator input and received sensor data from the portable device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of time is in part determined by at least one of the vehicle speed, the vehicle course, and received sensor data from the portable device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to instruct the portable device to suspend operation of at least one application on the portable device until receiving the operator input.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to message the operator by at least one of audible output, visual output, and haptic output based on the sensor data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to control based at least in part on biometric sensor data from the portable device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the biometric sensor data includes at least one of a heart rate, a pupil dilation, and data indicating motion of a vehicle operator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle computer is further programmed to at least one of end control of the at least one vehicle operation and modify control of the at least one vehicle operation, based at least in part on data received from vehicle sensors communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer, upon failing to receive the input within a predetermined amount of time.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of time is in part determined based on a location and surrounding environment of the vehicle.

12. A method, comprising:

detecting, in a vehicle computer, a portable device communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer;

based at least in part on detecting the portable device, controlling at least one vehicle operation, wherein the at least one vehicle operation includes at least one of control of steering, propulsion, and brakes;

requesting operator input from the portable device; and

ending control of the at least one vehicle operation upon failing to receive the input within a predetermined amount of time.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising ending control of the at least one vehicle operation upon determining that the portable device is not in communication with the vehicle computer.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting a plurality of portable devices communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer;

identifying at least one of the plurality of portable devices as associated with a vehicle operator; and

requesting the operator input from the one of the plurality of portable devices associated with the vehicle operator.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data from one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer;

and

controlling the at least one vehicle operation based at least in part on the received operator input and received sensor data from the portable device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined amount of time is in part determined by at least one of the vehicle speed, the vehicle course, and received sensor data from the portable device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising instructing the portable device to suspend operation of at least one application on the portable device until receiving the operator input.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising messaging the operator by at least one of audible output, visual output, and haptic output based on the sensor data.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising controlling based at least in part on biometric sensor data from the portable device.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising at least one of ending control of the at least one vehicle operation and modifying control of the at least one vehicle operation, based at least in part on data received from vehicle sensors communicatively coupled to the vehicle computer, upon failing to receive the input within a predetermined amount of time.