IP Library Granted Patent US 11,753,028
Granted Patent B1
US 11,753,028 · App. 17/900,757 · Granted Sep 12, 2023

Pedal control system and method for an electric vehicle

Inventors: Sachin Hagaribommanahalli (Santa Clara, CA); Christopher Ostafew (Mountain View, CA)
Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
B60W50/10B60K26/02B60K26/04B60W50/085B60K2026/025B60K2026/026B60T2220/02B60T2220/06B60W40/09B60W2050/0083B60W2540/10B60W2540/106B60W2540/12
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,753,028
App. No.
17/900,757
Granted
Sep 12, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of controlling an electric vehicle includes operating the vehicle in accordance with a current pedal map. A plurality of alternative pedal maps is defined. A variance for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps is determined. Operation of the vehicle is switched from the current pedal map to one of the alternative pedal maps based on the determined variance.

Claims (48)

1. A method of controlling an electric vehicle comprising:

operating the vehicle in accordance with a current pedal map;

defining a plurality of alternative pedal maps;

determining a variance for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps; and

switching operation of the vehicle from the current pedal map to one of the alternative pedal maps based on the determined variance.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

determining an inverse alternative pedal map for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps, each of the inverse alternative pedal maps being based on a vehicle speed, a torque request based on the current pedal map, and the respective alternative pedal map.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

the variance for each of the plurality of inverse alternative pedal maps is compared to a variance for each of the respective plurality of alternative pedal maps.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

obtaining sensor data to determine a scene associated with an operational environment of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising

determining an inverse alternative pedal map for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps, each of the inverse alternative pedal maps being based on a vehicle speed, a torque request based on the current pedal map and the scene, and the respective alternative pedal map.

6. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising

the sensor data used to determine the scene includes at least one of a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to another vehicle in the vicinity and a distance from the vehicle to the other vehicle in the vicinity.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the current pedal map is switched to the one of the alternative pedal maps having the smallest variance.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein

the variance is determined over a predetermined amount of time.

9. The method according to claim 2 , wherein

a torque offset is added to the torque request to determine the alternative inverse pedal map.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising

operating the vehicle with a pedal that controls accelerating and braking.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein

the current pedal map outputs a torque request based on a vehicle speed and an accelerator pedal output of the pedal.

12. A pedal control system for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a pedal configured to control acceleration and braking of the vehicle;

a memory configured to store a current pedal map; and

an electronic controller configured to output a torque request based on a vehicle speed, an accelerator pedal output of the pedal, and the current pedal map, the controller being further configured to

define a plurality of alternative pedal maps;

determine a variance for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps; and

switch operation of the vehicle from the current pedal map to one of the alternative pedal maps based on the determined variance.

13. The pedal control system according to claim 12 ,

the controller is further configured to determine an inverse alternative pedal map for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps, each of the inverse alternative pedal maps being based on a vehicle speed, a torque request based on the current pedal map, and the respective alternative pedal map.

14. The pedal control system according to claim 13 , wherein

the variance for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps is determined based on the respective inverse alternative pedal map.

15. The pedal control system according to claim 12 , wherein

a sensor is configured to obtain sensor data to determine a scene associated with an operational environment of the vehicle.

16. The pedal control system according to claim 15 , wherein

the controller is further configured to determine an inverse alternative pedal map for each of the plurality of alternative pedal maps, each of the inverse alternative pedal maps being based on a vehicle speed, a torque request based on the current pedal map and the scene, and the respective alternative pedal map.

17. The pedal control system according to claim 15 , wherein

the sensor data obtained by the sensor and used to determine the scene includes at least one of a relative speed of the vehicle with respect to a vehicle in the vicinity and a distance from the vehicle to a vehicle in the vicinity.

18. The pedal control system according to claim 12 , wherein

the current pedal map is switched to the one of the alternative pedal maps having the smallest variance.

19. The pedal control system according to claim 12 , wherein

the variance is determined over a predetermined amount of time.

20. The pedal control system according to claim 13 , wherein

a torque offset is added to the torque request to determine the alternative inverse pedal map.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2024
From: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 067982/0980 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2022
From: HAGARIBOMMANAHALLI, SACHIN; OSTAFEW, CHRISTOPHER
To: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Reel/Frame 060960/0272 →