Deactivating or disabling various vehicle systems and/or components when vehicle operates in an autonomous mode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10025899-B2
Application number	US-201615186380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Jun 17, 2016
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A computing system for a vehicle is provided. The computing system includes one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to determine if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle. If the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, the system may control the vehicle so as to disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computing system for a vehicle, the computing system comprising one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
determine if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle;
if the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components,
wherein the user pre-selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components include one or more of headlights, head-up displays, dashboard lights, satellite navigation system displays, and other displays.

2. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determine if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle; and
if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

3. The computing system of claim 2 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and
if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disable and/or deactivate user pre-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

4. The computing system of claim 1 wherein the user pre-selected ones of the passenger-usage systems/components include one or more of dome lights and overhead lights.

5. A vehicle including a computing system in accordance with claim 1 .

6. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising steps of:
determining if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle;
if the vehicle is operating without at least one occupant inside the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and/or passenger-usage systems/components;
if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determining if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle;
if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components;
if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determining if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode;
if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components; and
if the vehicle is not operating in a driverless driving mode, leaving the driver-usage systems/components active or enabled.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
if the vehicle is operating with at least one occupant inside the vehicle, determining if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle; and
if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of:
if at least one vehicle occupant is in a driver seat of the vehicle, determining if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and
if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disabling and/or deactivating selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of the driver-usage systems/components include one or more of headlights, head-up displays, dashboard lights, satellite navigation system displays, and other displays.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of the passenger-usage systems/components include one or more of dome lights and overhead lights.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components are user-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components and passenger-usage systems/components.

12. A computing system for a vehicle, the computing system comprising one or more processors for controlling operation of the computing system, and a memory for storing data and program instructions usable by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
determine if the vehicle is operating with a vehicle occupant in a driver seat of the vehicle;
if the vehicle is operating with a vehicle occupant in a driver seat of the vehicle, determine if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode; and
if the vehicle is operating in a driverless driving mode, disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

13. The computing system of claim 12 wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to:
if at least one vehicle occupant is not in a driver seat of the vehicle, disable and/or deactivate selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

14. The computing system of claim 12 wherein the selected ones of driver-usage systems/components are user-selected ones of driver-usage systems/components.

15. A vehicle including a computing system in accordance with claim 12 .

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Tarte Christopher T
• Prokhorov Danil V

Classifications

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title

• B60Q2300/054

  Variable non-standard intensity, i.e. emission of various beam intensities different from standard intensities, e.g. continuous or stepped transitions of intensity · CPC title

• B60Q2300/22

  Seat occupation · CPC title

• B60Q3/10

  for dashboards · CPC title

• B60Q1/143

  combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers · CPC title