IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,197,217
Granted Patent B2
US 12,197,217 · App. 17/969,240 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Vehicle control system

Inventor: Kazuhiko Ueda (Chofu, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
G05D1/0088B60Q1/08B60S1/08B60W30/18B60W40/08B60W50/08B60Q1/34B60W2040/0818B60W2050/0071B60W2540/26
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 12,197,217
App. No.
17/969,240
Filed
Oct 19, 2022
Granted
Jan 14, 2025
Kind
B2
Examiner
WONG, YUEN H
Art Unit
3667
USPC
701/23
Abstract

The vehicle includes an operation switch for manually operating the operation state of the accessories. The vehicle control system includes a first controller that performs an evacuation traveling in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level, and a second controller that controls an operation state of the accessories based on a request from the first controller or operation information of the operation switch. The first controller is configured to transmit, to the second controller, a specific operation rejection request for performing a specific operation rejection process of rejecting the control of the accessories based on the specific operation of the operation switch in response to a decrease in the driver's consciousness level. The second controller is configured to perform the specific operation rejection process when the specific operation rejection request is received from the first controller.

Claims (42)

1. A vehicle control system installed on a vehicle, the vehicle including an operation switch for manually operating an operation state of accessories installed on the vehicle, the system comprising:

a first controller configured to execute driving control of the vehicle, and to perform an evacuation traveling for automated evacuating and stopping the vehicle when a driver state meets a first condition that a degree of consciousness of a driver is lower than a predetermined determination value; and

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

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit a specific operation rejection request to the second controller for performing a specific operation rejection process for rejecting a control of the accessories operated by the driver based on the manual specific operation of the operation switch and to maintain or switch the operation state of the accessories to an auto position for performing a process for automatically switching the operation state of the accessories from an OFF to ON position in accordance with an external environment when the driver state meets the first condition,

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

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the accessories include a headlight,

wherein the operation switch includes a light switch including a light-on position for turning on the headlight and keeping the headlight on, an auto-light position for performing an auto-light process for automatically switching the operation state of the headlight from an ON to OFF or the OFF to ON position in accordance with the external environment, and a light-off position for turning off the headlight and keeping the headlight off,

wherein the specific operation rejection process includes an operation of the light switch to the light-on position.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 2 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for performing the auto-light process to the second controller when the degree of consciousness of the driver is lower than the predetermined determination value,

wherein the second controller is configured to perform 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.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the accessories include a wiper,

wherein the operation switch includes a wiper switch including a wiper-on position for driving the wiper, an auto-wiper position for performing an auto-wiper process for automatically switching an operating state of the wiper from an ON to OFF position or the OFF to ON position in accordance with the external environment, and a wiper-off position for stopping the wiper,

wherein the specific operation rejection process includes an operation of the wiper switch to the wiper-on position.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 4 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit an auto-wiper request for performing the auto-wiper process to the second controller when the degree of consciousness of the driver is lower than the predetermined determination value,

wherein the second controller is configured to perform the auto-wiper process when the auto-wiper request is received from the first controller in a state where the wiper switch is operated to the wiper-on position.

6. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 , further comprising a driver-state detection sensor which detects the degree of consciousness of the driver based on at least one of a heartbeat state and a breathing state of the driver.

7. The vehicle control system according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is stopped at a road shoulder.

8. A vehicle control system installed on a vehicle, the vehicle including accessories installed on the vehicle, the system comprising:

a controller configured to maintain or switch an operation state of the accessories to an auto position for performing a process for automatically switching the operation state of the accessories from an OFF to ON position in accordance with an external environment and execute driving control of the vehicle when a driver state meets a first condition that a degree of consciousness of a driver is lower than a predetermined determination value.

9. The vehicle control system according to claim 8 ,

wherein the vehicle including an operation switch for manually operating an operation state of accessories installed on a body,

wherein the controller configured to maintain or switch the operation state of the accessories to the auto position regardless of the operating state of the operation switch when the driver state meets the first condition.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 9 ,

wherein the accessories include a headlight,

wherein the operation switch includes a light switch including a light-on position for turning on the headlight and keeping the headlight on, an auto-light position for performing an auto-light process for automatically switching the operation state of the headlight from an ON to OFF position or the OFF to ON position in accordance with the external environment, and a light-off position for turning off the headlight and keeping the headlight off,

wherein the specific operation rejection process includes an operation of the light switch to the light-on position.

11. The vehicle control system according to claim 10 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit an auto-light request for performing the auto-light process to the second controller when the degree of consciousness of the driver is lower than the predetermined determination value,

wherein the second controller is configured to perform 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.

12. The vehicle control system according to claim 9 ,

wherein the accessories include a wiper,

wherein the operation switch includes a wiper switch including a wiper-on position for driving the wiper, an auto-wiper position for performing an auto-wiper process for automatically switching an operating state of the wiper from an ON to OFF position or the OFF to ON position in accordance with the external environment, and a wiper-off position for stopping the wiper,

wherein the specific operation rejection process includes an operation of the wiper switch to the wiper-on position.

13. The vehicle control system according to claim 12 ,

wherein the first controller is configured to transmit an auto-wiper request for performing the auto-wiper process to the second controller when the degree of consciousness of the driver is lower than the predetermined determination value,

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

14. The vehicle control system according to claim 9 , further comprising a driver-state detection sensor which detects the degree of consciousness of the driver based on at least one of a heartbeat state and a breathing state of the driver.

15. The vehicle control system according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is stopped at a road shoulder.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2022
From: UEDA, KAZUHIKO
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061792/0122 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2018-213867 · Nov 14, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16680807 · Nov 12, 2019
Related Publication 20230040632A1 · Feb 9, 2023
References Cited (51)
US 6947576B2 · Stam et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7653215B2 · Stam · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8120652B2 · Bechtel et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 9410491B2 · Chang · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 11435746B1 · Ebrahimi Afrouzi et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20030138132A1 · Stam et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040218401A1 · Okubo et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050278093A1 · Kameyama · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060177098A1 · Stam · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20090010494A1 · Bechtel et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20120116632A1 · Bechtel et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130345935A1 · Chang · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140156133A1 · Cullinane et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150002015A1 · Hayakawa et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150073621A1 · Kida · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20170235306A1 · Seki · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170322558A1 · Teshima et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170332010A1 · Asakura et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180043904A1 · Cullinane et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180111628A1 · Tamagaki · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180181128A1 · Urano · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180334173A1 · Cullinane et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180356828A1 · Teshima · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190039617A1 · Miura · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200148171A1 · Ueda · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200150702A1 · Ueda · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200198586A1 · Doi · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210188281A1 · Jung et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
JP 200673013A · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009151522A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 201419390A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 201424368A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 201554604A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 201688201A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016196285A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017138724A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017146723A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017202768A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018132533A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
Office Action issued Feb. 16, 2022 for U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,807, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action issued May 24, 2022 for related U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,944, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance issued on Jul. 21, 2022 to U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,807, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action issued Mar. 22, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,954, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance issued on Jul. 18, 2022, to U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,954, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Second Non-Final Office Action issued on Sep. 15, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,944, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance issued Jan. 19, 2023 to U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,944, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,807, filed Nov. 12, 2019, Kazuhiko Ueda. [cited by applicant]
Corrected Notice of Allowability issued Oct. 26, 2022 to U.S. Appl. No. 16/680,807, filed Nov. 12, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Apr. 25, 2023, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 18/085,911, filed Dec. 21, 2022. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action dated Feb. 14, 2024, Issued to U.S. Appl. No. 18/357,744, filed Jul. 24, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance pertaining to U.S. Appl. No. 18/357,744 dated May 30, 2024, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]