Coasting guidance timing and learning based on approach lane

• US 9,898,928 B1
• Filed: 10/25/2016
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Payne, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US15/334,224
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 340901, 340905, 340435, 340439, 701 1, 701 70, 701 93, 701 99
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus for adjusting coasting guidance and control to the driver of a vehicle to improve fuel efficiency. The coasting guidance system includes a user interface for displaying coasting information. The coasting guidance system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the user interface. The ECU is configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle and a location of a respective lane of a plurality of lanes. The ECU is configured to determine that the vehicle is travelling in the respective lane based on the current location of the vehicle and location of the respective lane. The ECU is configured to determine a stop area of the respective lane and determine an ideal coasting location based on the stop area. The ECU is configured to provide a notification to begin coasting at or within a threshold distance of the ideal coasting location.

Claims

1. A coasting guidance system for a vehicle, comprising:

a user interface for displaying coasting information; and

an electronic control unit coupled to the user interface and configured to;

obtain a current location of the vehicle and a location of a respective lane of a plurality of lanes,

determine that the vehicle is travelling in the respective lane based on the current location of the vehicle and location of the respective lane,

determine a stop area of the respective lane,

determine an ideal coasting location based on the stop area, and

provide a notification to begin coasting at or within a threshold distance of the ideal coasting location.

2. The coasting guidance system of claim 1, wherein each lane of the plurality of lanes has a stop area, wherein the stop area of each lane of the plurality of lanes is different than at least one other stop area of another lane of the plurality of lanes, wherein determining the stop area of the respective lane is based on a location of a stop event.

3. The coasting guidance system of claim 2, wherein the stop area begins a first distance before the stop event and extends a second distance past the stop event, wherein the stop event is of a particular type of a plurality of types, wherein the plurality of types includes a traffic signal.

4. The coasting guidance system of claim 3, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine the stop area of the respective lane further based on the particular type.

5. The coasting guidance system of claim 2, further comprising:

one or more external databases for providing navigational map information and traffic condition information;

wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to;

obtain the navigational map information and the traffic condition information from the one or more external databases, and

determine the location of the stop event from the navigational map information.

6. The coasting guidance system of claim 5, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to determine that a roadway has the plurality of lanes based on the navigational map information.

7. The coasting guidance system of claim 1,

wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine the stop area for the respective lane based on traffic in the respective lane.

8. The coasting guidance system of claim 1, further comprising:

a navigation unit configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle; and

a memory configured to store a plurality of locations of stop events;

wherein to determine the stop area the electronic control unit is configured to;

compare the current location of the vehicle with each stored location of the plurality of locations of stop events stored in the memory, and

match the current location of the vehicle to one of the plurality of stored locations of stop events.

9. The coasting guidance system of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided through the user interface.

10. A method for providing a notification to begin coasting, comprising:

obtaining a current location of a vehicle and lane information;

determining that the vehicle is in a respective lane of a plurality of lanes based on the current location of the vehicle and the lane information;

determining a location of a stop area of the respective lane of the plurality of lanes, each lane of the plurality of lanes having a stop area, the stop area of the respective lane being different than at least one stop area of another lane of the plurality of lanes;

determining an ideal coasting location based on the stop area of the respective lane; and

providing a notification to begin coasting at or within a proximity of the ideal coasting location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the notification to begin coasting at or within the proximity of the ideal coasting location includes displaying an indication on a user interface.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the ideal coasting location based on the stop area of the respective lane is based on traffic located in the respective lane.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the stop area of the respective lane is based on a respective state of the plurality of states of a stop event.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the location of the stop area of the plurality of lanes includes obtaining the location of the stop area from at least one of a memory that previously stored the location of the stop area or a navigation unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining the location of the stop area of the plurality of lanes includes obtaining the location of the stop area from navigational map information that is obtained using the navigation unit.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting traffic within the respective lane at or within a threshold distance of the stop area; and

adjusting the stop area of the respective lane based on the detected traffic.

17. A coasting guidance system for a vehicle, comprising:

a user interface for displaying coasting information; and

an electronic control unit coupled to the user interface and configured to;

determine that a roadway has a plurality of lanes,

determine a respective lane of the plurality of lanes that the vehicle is travelling in based on a current location of the vehicle and lane information,

determine a location of a stop event for the respective lane of the plurality of lanes that the vehicle is travelling in,

determine a stop area of the respective lane,

determine an ideal coasting location based on the stop area of the respective lane, and

provide a notification to the user interface to begin coasting at or within a proximity of the ideal coasting location.

18. The coasting guidance system of claim 17, wherein the stop area of the respective lane is different than a stop area of another lane of the plurality of lanes.

19. The coasting guidance system of claim 17, further comprising:

one or more sensors for detecting other vehicles in a vicinity of the vehicle;

wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to determine the stop area of the respective lane based on one or more locations of the other vehicles.

20. The coasting guidance system of claim 17, wherein to determine the location of the stop event, the electronic control unit is configured to obtain, from one or more external databases, navigational map information including the location of the stop event.