# US 11,999,347 B2 · Nighttime driving vehicle speed limiting > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,347 B2 - Document ID: US11999347B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/534,153 - Filed: 2019-08-07 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-07 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Allen Magolan; Steve Skikun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999347B2 ## CPC - B60W 30/18009: {related to particular drive situations} - B60Q 5/00: Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices - B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 10/20: including control of steering systems - B60W 30/162: {Speed limiting therefor} - B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling} - B60W 60/0051: {from occupants to vehicle} - B60W 2050/0075: {Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means} - B60W 2540/215: Selection or confirmation of options - B60W 2552/40: Coefficient of friction - B60W 2555/20: Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain - B60W 2556/50: of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data - B60W 2556/55: using telemetry - B60W 2710/18: Braking system - B60W 2710/20: Steering systems - B60W 2720/10: Longitudinal speed - B60Y 2200/116: Ambulances - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information} - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method of operating a vehicle may include determining if a vehicle speed is controlled by a driver, and if the vehicle speed is controlled by the driver, determining if the vehicle is operating during night conditions. If the vehicle is operating during night conditions, activating a night drive mode that limits a maximum speed of the vehicle without regard to road speed limits. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a vehicle comprising: (a) determining if a vehicle speed is controlled by a driver; (b) if the vehicle speed is controlled by the driver, determining if the vehicle is operating during night conditions, which includes determining if a light sensor is detecting ambient light below a predetermined level, and if the ambient light is below the predetermined level, then employing a global positioning system and a telematics system to confirm that the vehicle is operating during night conditions; and (c) if the vehicle is operating during night conditions, activating a night drive mode that limits a maximum speed of the vehicle without regard to road speed limits. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) further includes, if the global positioning system and the telematics system do not confirm that the vehicle is operating during night conditions, determining if the vehicle is operating during inclement weather; and step (c) includes, if operating during inclement weather, activating the night drive mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: (d) if the night drive mode is activated in step (c), determining if a driver override request is requested; and (e) if the driver override request is requested, determining if the driver override request is approved. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein if the driver override request is approved, deactivating the night drive mode. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein if the driver override request is approved, (f) determining if the vehicle is within a geofence area; and (g) if the vehicle is within a geofence area, continue operating the vehicle in the night drive mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5 wherein a geofence area is determined based on locations having high pedestrian traffic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein determining if the driver override request is requested includes activating a vehicle siren and activating a button in the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein if the driver override request is not approved, the vehicle continues operating in the night drive mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein the driver override request is requested by employing the global positioning system and the telematics system to wirelessly contact a remote location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the activation of the night drive mode also activating an indicator on an instrument cluster that the vehicle is in night drive mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the activation of the night drive mode also altering the operation of a steering system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the activation of the night drive mode also increasing boost assist for a braking system. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) includes the activation of the night drive mode also altering operation of a drive dynamics system. ### Claim 14 A method of operating a vehicle comprising: (a) determining if a vehicle speed is controlled by a driver; (b) if the vehicle speed is controlled by the driver, determining if the vehicle is operating during night conditions by determining if a light sensor is detecting ambient light below a predetermined level, and if so employing a global positioning system and a telematics system to confirm that the vehicle is operating during night conditions; (c) if the light sensor detects night conditions but the global positioning system and the telematics system do not confirm that the vehicle is operating during night conditions, determining if the vehicle is operating during inclement weather; (d) if the vehicle is determined to be operating during inclement weather in step (c), activating a night drive mode that limits the maximum speed of the vehicle without regard to road speed limits; and (e) if the light sensor detects night conditions and the global positioning system and the telematics system confirm that the vehicle is operating during night conditions, activating the night drive mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein determining if the vehicle is operating during inclement weather includes detecting of windshield wipers are on. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein determining if the vehicle is operating during inclement weather includes estimating that road friction for the vehicle is below a predetermined threshold.