IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,609,588
Granted Patent B2
US 11,609,588 · App. 16/680,944 · Granted Mar 21, 2023

Vehicle control system

Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda (Chofu, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D25/02B60W30/0956F21S41/10G05D1/021B60W2040/0863
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,609,588
App. No.
16/680,944
Granted
Mar 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device. The light switch includes a light-off position and an auto-light position for executing an auto-light process. A vehicle control system includes a first controller for executing an automated driving of the vehicle, and a second controller for controlling a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch. The first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving. The second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.

Claims (24)

1. A vehicle control system installed on a vehicle, the vehicle including a light switch for manually operating a lighting state of a lighting device installed on a body, the light switch including a light-off position in which the lighting device is always turned off, and an auto-light position to execute an auto-light process in which the lighting state of the lighting device is automatically switched according to a luminance of an external environment, the system comprising:

a first controller configured to execute an automated driving of the vehicle; and

a second controller configured to control a lighting state of the lighting device based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the light switch,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for executing the auto-light process to the second controller during execution of the automated driving,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the light-off position.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the lighting device includes a small lamp including a side marker lamp or a tail lamp, and a headlight,

wherein the light switch further includes a small-lamp-on position for constantly lighting the small lamp,

wherein the auto-light process is configured to turn on the small lamp when a luminance of an external environment detected by a luminance sensor is smaller than a predetermined first determination value, and to turn on the headlight when the luminance is smaller than a second determination value smaller than the first determination value,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the auto-light process when the luminance is smaller than the second determination value in a case where the auto-light request is received from the first controller in a state where the light switch is operated to the small-lamp-on position.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit, during execution of the automated driving, a specific operation rejection request for executing a specific operation rejection process for rejecting control of the lighting device based on a specific operation of the light switch to the second controller,

wherein the specific operation includes an operation of the light switch to the light-off position,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the lighting device includes a headlight capable of adjusting a light distribution,

wherein the light switch includes a light distribution control switch for operating ON and OFF of a light distribution control for automatically controlling the light distribution of the headlight according to an external environment,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the light distribution control when the light distribution control switch is operated to be ON, and stop the light distribution control when the light distribution control switch is operated to be OFF,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit a light distribution control request for executing the light distribution control to the second controller during execution of the automated driving,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the light distribution control when the light distribution control request is received from the first controller in a state where the light distribution control switch is operated to be OFF.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit, during execution of the automated driving, a specific operation rejection request for executing a specific operation rejection process for rejecting control of the lighting device based on a specific operation of the light switch to the second controller,

wherein the specific operation includes an operation to OFF of the light distribution control switch,

wherein the second controller is configured to execute the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: UEDA, KAZUHIKO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 050983/0704 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-213944 · Nov 14, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200150702A1 · May 14, 2020