IP Library Granted Patent US 11,338,822
Granted Patent B2
US 11,338,822 · App. 16/596,307 · Granted May 24, 2022

Vehicle and stop switch apparatus

Inventors: Junichi Yukawa (Kanagawa, JP); Kenji Sugihara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
B60W50/14G05D1/0061G05D1/0088B60K6/28B60K35/00B60K37/06B60W2050/0073B60Y2200/91B60Y2200/92B60Y2400/432
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,338,822
App. No.
16/596,307
Granted
May 24, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle and a stop switch apparatus capable of accommodating various unexpected situations in a software operable vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a first operation section that allows operation of the vehicle without software, a second operation section capable of operating the vehicle by using software, a communicator that communicates with an external apparatus, and a stop switch that is provided physically and operable to stop operation of the second operation section without software.

Claims (30)

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a first operation section that allows operation of the vehicle without software;

a second operation section capable of operating the vehicle by using software;

a communicator that communicates with an apparatus outside of the vehicle; and

a switch that is provided physically and operable to stop operation of the second operation section without software,

wherein the first operation section is a steering system that is steered only by a mechanical mechanism including a steering wheel, a steering shaft, a tie rod, a pinion gear, a rack, a knuckle arm, and a wheel when the switch stops operation of the second operation section without software during operation of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein

the switch is a start switch of the vehicle,

the switch functions as the start switch in a first operation mode of the switch and

the switch functions as a stop switch in a second operation mode of the switch.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein

the switch is a two stage switch,

the switch functions as the start switch by operation in a first stage, and

the switch functions as the stop switch by operation in a second stage.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein how to cause the switch to function as the stop switch is displayed on a display mounted on the vehicle.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a part of the second operation section that performs an operation which affects a driving operation of the vehicle is excluded from a part whose operation is to be stopped.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the part of the second operation section excluded from an object whose operation is to be stopped includes at least one of an internal combustion engine control apparatus, a headlight control apparatus, an airbag control apparatus, a wiper control apparatus, a hazard lamp control apparatus, a power window control apparatus, and a door lock control apparatus.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second operation section is capable of operating the vehicle independently of operation by a driver.

8. The vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the part of the second operation section excluded from an object whose operation is to be stopped includes a negative pressure electric pump when the vehicle is an electric vehicle (EV).

9. The vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein

the operation in the first stage and the operation in the second stage are each a pressing operation, and

a pressing pressure for the operation in the second stage is larger than a pressing pressure for the operation in the first stage.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein a press-in amount for the operation in the second stage is larger than a press-in amount for the operation in the first stage.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the communicator performs radio communication via the Internet connection with the apparatus outside of the vehicle.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is any one of a gasoline vehicle, a diesel vehicle, a hybrid vehicle (HV), a plug in hybrid vehicle (PHV), a plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), and an electric vehicle (EV).

13. The vehicle according to claim 3 , further comprising a predetermined operation section that is stopped when the operation in the second stage is performed, the predetermined operation section includes at least one of an assist motor, a torque sensor, an internal combustion engine control apparatus, a headlight control apparatus, an airbag control apparatus, a communication control apparatus, a power steering control apparatus, a transmission control apparatus, and a throttle valve actuator.

14. A stop switch apparatus to be mounted on a vehicle, the vehicle including a first operation section that allows operation of a vehicle without software, a second operation section capable of operating the vehicle by using software, and a communicator that communicates with an apparatus outside of the vehicle, the stop switch apparatus comprising:

a stop switch provided physically; and

a hardware logic circuit that stops operation of the second operation section without software when the stop switch is operated, and

wherein the first operation section includes a steering system which is steered only by a mechanical mechanism including a steering wheel, a steering shaft, a tie rod, a pinion gear, a rack, a knuckle arm, and a wheel when the second operation section does not function by the stop switch during operation of the vehicle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0245 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2020
From: YUKAWA, JUNICHI; SUGIHARA, KENJI
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051927/0419 →