Predictive cruise control system with selectable speed control bands

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399465-B2
Application number	US-201414555454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Sep 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

An on-board vehicle computer system for a vehicle includes at least one processing unit and a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the on-board vehicle computer system to implement various aspects of a predictive cruise control (PCC) system. In one aspect, the computer system provides a plurality of available speed control bands in a PCC system, and the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle. In another aspect, the computer system provides an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin for a PCC system, and the upper and lower speed margins are adjustable by an operator of the vehicle. Related notifications may be presented via an operator interface (e.g., a touchscreen display provided in a vehicle dashboard or other easily accessible area).

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An on-board vehicle computer system for a vehicle, the on-board vehicle computer system comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to:
cause the on-board vehicle computer system to provide a plurality of available speed control bands in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle; and
cause the on-board vehicle computer system to present one or more operator notifications associated with the predictive cruise control system via an operator interface,
wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is based at least in part on a reminder setting.

2. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 1 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

3. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 1 , wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is further based on a count of predictive cruise control speed change events.

4. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 3 , wherein the count of predictive cruise control speed change events comprises a count of events missed due to deactivation of the predictive cruise control system.

5. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 1 , wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

6. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operator notifications comprise a speed control band adjustment notification that indicates a proposed change from a currently active speed control band to another of the available speed control bands.

7. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 6 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a speed change event in which a new predictive cruise control set speed is outside the currently active speed control band.

8. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 6 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a count of speed change events in which predictive cruise control set speeds are outside the currently active speed control band.

9. An on-board vehicle computer system for a vehicle, the on-board vehicle computer system comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to:
cause the on-board vehicle computer system to provide a plurality of available speed control bands in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle; and
cause the on-board vehicle computer system to present one or more operator notifications associated with the predictive cruise control system via an operator interface,
wherein the one or more operator notifications comprise a speed control band adjustment notification that indicates a proposed change from a currently active speed control band to another of the available speed control bands.

10. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

11. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 9 , wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is based at least in part on a count of predictive cruise control speed change events.

12. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 11 , wherein the count of predictive cruise control speed change events comprises a count of events missed due to deactivation of the predictive cruise control system.

13. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 9 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a speed change event in which a new predictive cruise control set speed is outside the currently active speed control band.

14. The on-board vehicle computer system of claim 9 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a count of speed change events in which predictive cruise control set speeds are outside the currently active speed control band.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:
providing a plurality of available speed control bands in a predictive cruise control system of a vehicle, wherein the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle; and
presenting one or more operator notifications associated with the predictive cruise control system via an operator interface,
wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is based at least in part on a reminder setting.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is further based on a count of predictive cruise control speed change events.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 , wherein the count of predictive cruise control speed change events comprises a count of events missed due to deactivation of the predictive cruise control system.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more operator notifications comprise a speed control band adjustment notification that indicates a proposed change from a currently active speed control band to another of the available speed control bands.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a speed change event in which a new predictive cruise control set speed is outside the currently active speed control band.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 20 , wherein presentation of the speed control band adjustment notification is based at least in part on a count of speed change events in which predictive cruise control set speeds are outside the currently active speed control band.

23. A computer-implemented method comprising:
providing a plurality of available speed control bands in a predictive cruise control system of a vehicle, wherein the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle; and
presenting one or more operator notifications associated with the predictive cruise control system via an operator interface,
wherein the one or more operator notifications comprise a speed control band adjustment notification that indicates a proposed change from a currently active speed control band to another of the available speed control bands.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 , wherein presentation of the one or more operator notifications is based at least in part on a count of predictive cruise control speed change events.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 25 , wherein the count of predictive cruise control speed change events comprises a count of events missed due to deactivation of the predictive cruise control system.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 23 ,

Assignees

• Slaton Zachary
• Van Der Meijs Floris
• Jahns Steven Karl
• Doll John William Arthur
• Lotz Josef
• Harbach Andrew Paul
• Mays Wesley M
• Droogendijk Cas
• Paccar Inc

Inventors

• Slaton Zachary
• Van Der Meijs Floris
• Jahns Steven Karl
• Doll John William Arthur
• Lotz Josef
• Harbach Andrew Paul
• Mays Wesley M
• Droogendijk Cas

Classifications

• B60W2552/20

  Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments · CPC title

• B60W2552/15

  Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction · CPC title

• B60W2556/00

  Input parameters relating to data · CPC title

• B60W2050/0062

  Adapting control system settings · CPC title

• B60W50/085

  Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input · CPC title