IP Library Granted Patent US 9,682,705
Granted Patent B2
US 9,682,705 · App. 14/825,259 · Granted Jun 20, 2017

Vehicle having ACC stop and go with braking auto-hold to increase engine autostop availability

Inventors: Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy (Dearborn, MI); Kirk Pebley (Novi, MI); Aaron L. Mills (Ann Arbor, MI); Chad Michael Korte (Grosse Ile, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60W30/09B60W10/06B60W10/184B60W2520/04B60W2520/10B60W2540/10B60W2550/10B60W2550/142B60W2550/308B60W2710/0666B60W2720/10B60W2720/106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,682,705
App. No.
14/825,259
Granted
Jun 20, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes an engine with auto-stop and auto-start functions. The vehicle additionally includes a braking system configured to apply braking torque to vehicle wheels. The vehicle further includes a controller configured to control the engine and braking system via an ACC system in response to a detected forward object. The controller is configured to automatically control the braking system in response to a distance to the detected forward object falling below a first predefined threshold and a vehicle speed falling below a second predefined threshold. In response to these inputs, the controller automatically controls the braking system to apply a braking torque to hold the vehicle stationary in the absence of powertrain torque based on a current road grade. The controller additionally controls the engine to auto-stop in response to these inputs.

Claims (19)

1. A vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a braking system; and

a controller configured to, independent of brake pedal position,

responsive to a detected forward object and an adaptive cruise control mode being active, control the engine and braking system to decelerate the vehicle, and

responsive to a distance to the detected forward object falling below a first predefined threshold and a vehicle speed falling below a second predefined threshold with the adaptive cruise control mode being active, automatically control the braking system to apply a braking torque to brake the vehicle to a full stop and hold the vehicle stationary in an absence of powertrain torque based on a current road grade, and subsequently auto-stop the engine and increase the braking torque.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to the distance to the detected forward object not increasing within a predefined time interval after the engine is auto-stopped, maintain the engine in an auto-stopped condition independent of a gear shifter position.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to the distance to the detected forward object increasing within a predefined time interval, auto-start the engine.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to a vehicle subsystem auto-stop-inhibit condition being satisfied, auto-start the engine.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, responsive to actuation of an accelerator pedal, auto-start the engine.

6. A method comprising:

independent of brake pedal position, and responsive to adaptive cruise control being active, a distance to a detected forward object falling below a first predefined threshold, a vehicle speed falling below a second predefined threshold, and a detected road grade, automatically applying braking torque to full stop a vehicle and hold the vehicle stationary in an absence of powertrain torque, and subsequently auto-stopping an engine and increasing the braking torque.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to the distance to the detected forward object remaining constant within a predefined time interval after the engine is auto-stopped, maintaining the engine in an auto-stopped condition independent of a gear shifter position.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to the distance to the detected forward object increasing within a predefined time interval after the engine is auto-stopped, auto-starting the engine.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to a vehicle subsystem auto-stop-inhibit condition being satisfied, auto-starting the engine.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, responsive to a driver actuation of an accelerator pedal, auto-starting the engine.

11. A method comprising:

independent of brake pedal position, and responsive to adaptive cruise control decelerating a vehicle based on a detected forward object to a speed below a speed threshold, a distance to the forward object being below a distance threshold, and a detected road grade, controlling a braking system to provide a braking torque to hold the vehicle stationary at the road grade independent of powertrain torque, and subsequently auto-stopping an engine and increasing the braking torque.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, responsive to the distance to the detected forward object remaining constant within a predefined time interval after the engine is auto-stopped, maintaining the engine in an auto-stopped condition independent of a gear shifter position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2015
From: KHAFAGY, HAFIZ SHAFEEK; PEBLEY, KIRK; MILLS, AARON L.; KORTE, CHAD MICHAEL
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 036317/0780 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170043767A1 · Feb 16, 2017