Predictive cruise control system with advanced operator control and feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988049-B2
Application number	US-201615206166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

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. A computer-implemented method comprising:
by an on-board vehicle computing system of a vehicle, determining a new predictive cruise control set speed for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system;
by the on-board vehicle computing system, detecting that the predictive cruise control system is disabled; and
presenting a predictive cruise control activation reminder notification via an operator interface of the vehicle based at least in part on a count of missed speed change events that occur while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the predictive cruise control system is disabled by an operator of the vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein presenting the predictive cruise control activation reminder notification is further based on a reminder setting.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the count of missed speed change events is incremented if the new predictive cruise control set speed is calculated while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:
by an on-board vehicle computing system of a vehicle, determining a speed control band for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the speed control band comprises an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin;
comparing the upper speed margin with a driver rewards offset value; and
based on the comparing, updating the upper speed margin for the speed control band.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is less than the upper speed margin, and wherein the updated upper speed margin is equal to the driver rewards offset value.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a current driver reward speed offset.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a maximum vehicle speed bonus.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a fuel economy setting.

12. In an on-board vehicle computing system for a vehicle comprising a predictive cruise control system, a method comprising:
by the predictive cruise control system, analyzing roadway slope information;
by the predictive cruise control system, calculating a predictive cruise control set speed based at least in part on the roadway slope information and a currently active speed control band, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from a plurality of available speed control bands; and
presenting an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in vehicle speed based on the calculated predictive cruise control set speed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from the plurality of available speed control bands by an operator of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising presenting an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in roadway slope based on the roadway slope information.

15. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle:
determine a new predictive cruise control set speed for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system;
detect that the predictive cruise control system is disabled; and
cause a predictive cruise control activation reminder notification to be presented via an operator interface of the vehicle based at least in part on a count of missed speed change events that occur while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the predictive cruise control system is disabled by an operator of the vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein presenting the predictive cruise control activation reminder notification is further based on a reminder setting.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

19. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

20. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the count of missed speed change events is incremented if the new predictive cruise control set speed is calculated while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

21. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein the computer system comprises an on-board vehicle computer system.

22. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle:
determine a speed control band for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the speed control band comprises an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin;
perform a comparison the upper speed margin with a driver rewards offset value; and
based on the comparison, update the upper speed margin for the speed control band.

23. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is less than the upper speed margin, and wherein the updated upper speed margin is equal to the driver rewards offset value.

24. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a current driver reward speed offset.

25. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a maximum vehicle speed bonus.

26. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a fuel economy setting.

27. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the computer system comprises an on-board vehicle computer system.

28. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:
at least one processing unit; and
a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle:
analyze roadway slope information;
calculate a predictive cruise control set speed based at least in part on the roadway slope information and a currently active speed control band, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from a plurality of available speed control bands; and
present an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in vehicle speed based on the calculated predictive cruise control set speed.

29. The computer system of claim 28 , wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from the plurality of available speed control bands by an operator of the vehicle.

30. The computer system of claim 28 , wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to ca

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

• B60W2050/0062

  Adapting control system settings · 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

• B60W2720/12

  Lateral speed · CPC title