Apparatuses, methods, and systems for avoiding unintended vehicle acceleration

A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

• operating a first integrated circuit-based electronic controller to receive a plurality of inputs including at least one of an acceleration request and a braking request and to provide a control output via a datalink dedicated to control a prime mover system of the vehicle;
• operating a three-axis accelerometer configured to provide acceleration outputs indicative of acceleration of the accelerometer relative to three axes;
• and
• operating a second integrated circuit-based electronic controller independently of the first integrated circuit-based controller to receive the acceleration request, the braking request, and the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer to at least one of:
• (a) determine a vehicle orientation limit event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and operate a switch operatively coupled with the datalink to interrupt communication of the control output from the first integrated circuit-based electronic controller to the prime mover system of the vehicle in response to the vehicle orientation limit event, and (b) determine an unintended acceleration event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and at least one of the acceleration request and the braking request and to operate the switch to interrupt communication of the control output from the first integrated circuit-based electronic controller to the prime mover system of the vehicle in response to the unintended acceleration event.

A system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a first integrated circuit-based electronic controller configured to receive a plurality of inputs including an acceleration request and a braking request and to provide a control output to control a prime mover component of an electric vehicle system;
• a high voltage interlock loop (HVIL) operatively coupled with the first integrated circuit-based electronic controller;
• a three-axis accelerometer to provide acceleration outputs indicative of acceleration of the accelerometer relative to three dimensions;
• and
• a second integrated circuit-based electronic controller operative independently of the first integrated circuit-based controller and configured to receive the acceleration request, the braking request, configured to receive the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer, and operatively coupled with a switch coupled with the HVIL,
• wherein the second integrated circuit-based electronic controller is configured to at least one of:
• (a) determine a vehicle orientation limit event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and operate the switch to interrupt current flowing through the HVIL in response to the vehicle orientation limit event, and
• (b) determine an unintended acceleration event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and at least one of the acceleration request and the braking request, and to operate the switch to interrupt current flowing through the HVIL in response to the unintended acceleration event.

A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising:

• operating a first integrated circuit-based electronic controller to receive a plurality of inputs including at least one of an acceleration request and a braking request and to provide a control output to control a prime mover component of an electric vehicle system;
• operating a high voltage interlock loop (HVIL) operatively coupled with the first integrated circuit-based electronic controller to allow control of the prime mover component;
• operating a three-axis accelerometer to provide acceleration outputs indicative of acceleration of the accelerometer relative to three dimensions;
• and
• operating a second integrated circuit-based electronic controller independently of the first integrated circuit-based controller and to receive the at least one of an acceleration request and a braking request and the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer, and at least one of (a) determine a vehicle orientation limit event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and operate a switch operatively coupled with the HVIL to interrupt current flowing through the HVIL in response to the vehicle orientation limit event, and (b) determine an unintended acceleration event in response to the acceleration outputs of the three-axis accelerometer and at least one of the acceleration request and the braking request, and operate the switch to interrupt current flowing through the HVIL in response to the unintended acceleration event.