Vehicle brake light control during one-pedal drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11724642-B2
Application number	US-202017035474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2020
Priority date	Sep 28, 2020
Publication date	Aug 15, 2023
Grant date	Aug 15, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle includes an electric machine, a brake lamp, and a controller. The controller operates the electric machine to selectively brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input. The controller also activates the brake lamp responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
an electric machine;
a brake lamp; and
a controller programmed to, responsive to input indicative of one pedal drive mode being active,
operate the electric machine to selectively brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input, and
responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time, activate the brake lamp, wherein the first threshold demand depends on a speed of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to the brake lamp being activated and the accelerator pedal input being greater than a second threshold demand for at least a second predetermined period of time, deactivate the brake lamp.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on the speed such that the second threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on an estimated weight of the vehicle such that the second threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the second threshold demand is greater than the first threshold demand.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold demand further depends on an estimated weight of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

7. A method for controlling a vehicle comprising:
by a controller,
responsive to input indicative of one pedal drive mode being active,
operating an electric machine to brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input, and
responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time, activating a brake lamp, wherein the first threshold demand depends on a speed of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, responsive to the brake lamp being activated and the accelerator pedal input being greater than a second threshold demand for at least a second predetermined period of time, deactivating the brake lamp.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on the speed such that the second threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on an estimated weight of the vehicle such that the second threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second threshold demand is greater than the first threshold demand.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first threshold demand further depends on an estimated weight of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

13. A vehicle comprising:
an electric machine;
a brake lamp; and
a controller programmed to, responsive to input indicative of one pedal drive mode being active,
operate the electric machine to brake the vehicle according to accelerator pedal input, and
responsive to the accelerator pedal input being less than a first threshold demand for at least a first predetermined period of time, activate the brake lamp, wherein the first threshold demand depends on a weight of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first threshold demand further depends on a speed of the vehicle such that the first threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

15. The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to the brake lamp being activated and the accelerator pedal input being greater than a second threshold demand for at least a second predetermined period of time, deactivate the brake lamp.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on a speed of the vehicle such that the second threshold demand decreases as the speed increases.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second threshold demand depends on the weight such that the second threshold demand increases as the weight increases.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the second threshold demand is greater than the first threshold demand.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hoop Joshua
• Bolger Bryan Michael
• Doan Jacob
• O'Donnell Devin James

Classifications

• B60Q1/44 Primary

  for indicating braking action {or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal} · CPC title

• B60L7/18

  Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60W10/08

  including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators · CPC title

• B60W10/196

  acting within the driveline, e.g. retarders · CPC title

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title