# US 2018/0023692 A1 · System and method for changing driving modes using navigation and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0023692 A1 - Document ID: US20180023692A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/214,292 - Filed: 2016-07-19 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-19 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher T. Gauthier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023692A1 ## CPC - F16H 61/0213: {characterised by the method for generating shift signals} - F16H 59/44: dependent on machine speed {, e.g. the vehicle speed} (F16H59/46 takes precedence) - F16H 59/54: dependent on signals from the brakes, e.g. parking brakes - F16H 59/58: dependent on signals from the steering - F16H 59/66: Road conditions, e.g. slope, slippery - F16H 2059/663: {Road slope} - F16H 2059/666: {Determining road conditions by using vehicle location or position, e.g. from global navigation systems [GPS]} - F16H 2061/0223: {Generating of new shift maps, i.e. methods for determining shift points for a schedule by taking into account driveline and vehicle conditions} - F16H 2061/0227: {Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving} - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract Methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically changing vehicle driving modes. An automatic shift control system includes a transmission configured to provide engine output for movement of the vehicle and a navigation unit configured to obtain navigational information including a current location of the vehicle. The automatic shift control system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the navigation unit. The ECU is configured to determine a current route having multiple segments based on the current location and a destination location and determine a shift schedule based on a driver behavior pattern. The ECU is configured to control the transmission to cause shifts of the transmission based on the shift schedule and the current location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An automatic shift control system for a vehicle, comprising: a transmission configured to provide engine output for movement of the vehicle; a navigation unit configured to obtain navigational information including a current location of the vehicle; and an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the navigation unit, the ECU configured to: determine a current route having a plurality of segments based on the current location and a destination location, determine a shift schedule that includes a respective transmission shift command for a respective segment of the plurality of segments based on a driver behavior pattern, and control the transmission to cause shifts of the transmission based on the shift schedule and the current location. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The automatic shift control system of claim 1, wherein to determine a shift schedule for the respective segment the ECU is further configured to match the respective segment of the current route to a corresponding previously-driven segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The automatic shift control system of claim 2, wherein to determine the shift schedule the ECU is further configured to determine the respective transmission shift command for the respective segment by associating the driver behavior pattern of the corresponding previously-driven segment with a driving mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The automatic shift control system of claim 1, further comprising: one or more sensors configured to obtain a driver behavior pattern for a previously-driven segment of a plurality of previously-driven segments for a plurality of previously-driven routes; and a memory configured to store the driver behavior pattern for each segment of the plurality of previously-driven segments. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The automatic shift control system of claim 4, wherein the driver behavior pattern is further associated with a time of day and day of week of when the corresponding previously-driven segment of the previously-driven route was driven and the shift schedule is further based on a current time of day and day of week. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The automatic shift control system of claim 1, wherein the driver behavior pattern includes at least one of steering angle information, vehicle speed information, or braking information for the previously-driven segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The automatic shift control system of claim 1, further comprising: one or more sensors configured to detect at least one of a road condition or a traffic condition for the respective segment of the plurality of segments; and wherein the shift schedule is further based on the at least one of the road condition or the traffic condition for the respective segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The automatic shift control system of claim 7, wherein the road condition includes at least one of a grade level for the respective segment, a degree of curvature for the respective segment or an estimated cruising speed for the respective segment, wherein the traffic condition includes an estimated density of traffic for the respective segment. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The automatic shift control system of claim 1, wherein the respective transmission shift command is a signal to the transmission to enter into a sport mode, a sport-plus mode, an economy mode, an economy-plus mode or a normal driving mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, the ECU is further configured to: collect a current driver behavior pattern associated with the current route; and adjust the shift schedule based on the current driver behavior pattern. ### Claim 11 A method for controlling an automatic transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising: collecting and storing one or more driving modes for a plurality of previously-driven segments for a previously-driven route; determining a route having a plurality of segments based on a current location of the vehicle and a destination location; determining a driving mode of a respective segment of the plurality of segments based on a current location and a corresponding previously-driven segment of the plurality of previously-driven segments; and controlling operation of the vehicle while traveling the respective segment of the route based on the driving mode of the respective segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein storing the one or more driving modes for the plurality of previously-driven segments further comprises: associating one of the one or more driving modes to one of a respective previously-driven segment of the plurality of previously-driven segments; and storing the association with the respective previously-driven segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining that the vehicle is traveling the respective segment of the route based on a current location of the vehicle, a starting location of the respective segment, and the route. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein determining the driving mode of the respective segment further comprises: identifying the corresponding previously-driven segment by matching the starting location and the ending location of the respective segment with a starting location and an ending location of one of the plurality of previously-driven segments, wherein the matched one of the plurality of previously-driven segments is the corresponding previously-driven segment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein determining the driving mode of the respective segment is further based on the association. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein controlling operation of the vehicle while traveling the respective segment of the route based on the driving mode of the respective segment includes adjusting the operation to maximize fuel efficiency or increase drivability of the vehicle. ### Claim 17 A method for controlling a transmission of a vehicle, the method comprising: obtaining navigational information including a current location of the vehicle; determining a route based on the current location and a destination location; determining a plurality of segments for the route based on at least one of the navigational information or user input; determining a shift schedule for the route, the shift schedule including a driving mode for each segment of the plurality of segments, the transmission shift command for each segment of the plurality of segments being based on additional user input. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining the plurality of segments for the route based on navigation information further comprises: analyzing road features of the route; and segregating the route into the plurality of segments based on the analyzed road features. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein determining the plurality of segments for the route based on user input further comprises: receiving user input that divides the route into the plurality of segments; and segregating the route into the plurality of segments based on the received user input. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim of claim 19, wherein additional user input includes a user selection of at least one of a sport mode, sport plus mode, an economy mode, an economy-plus mode or a normal driving mode.