Methods and systems for inhibiting stop-start functionality
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsKenneth James Miller, Douglas Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for selectively disabling a stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of a driver of the vehicle upon merging into transverse traffic. In one example, selectively disabling the stop-start function of a vehicle based on a predicted anxiety of the driver of the vehicle includes, when approaching an intersection having a first traffic pattern, disabling a stop-start function responsive to an estimated merging acceleration for the intersection exceeding a threshold acceleration rate of the vehicle.
Claims20
A method for a vehicle, comprising:
- when approaching an intersection having a first traffic pattern, disabling a stop-start function of an engine of the vehicle responsive to an estimated merging acceleration rate for the intersection exceeding a threshold acceleration rate of the vehicle.
A method for a controller of a vehicle, comprising:
- in a first condition, disabling an engine stop-start of the vehicle in response to a predicted level of anxiety of a driver of the vehicle increasing at an intersection prior to merging into transverse traffic, even if conditions indicate an increased fuel efficiency of shutting off an engine of the vehicle, so that the engine is not shut off while the vehicle is stopped at the intersection;
- and
- in a second condition, stopping the engine of the vehicle in response to a predicted level of anxiety of the driver not increasing at the intersection prior to merging into transverse traffic and the conditions indicate an increased fuel efficiency of shutting off the engine, so that the engine of the vehicle is shut off while the vehicle is stopped at the intersection, to save fuel.
A system for controlling an engine of a vehicle, comprising:
- a stop-start controller of the engine of the vehicle;
- a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed during operation of the vehicle, cause the controller to:
- when at an intersection, estimate a probability that the vehicle will merge into transverse traffic;
- and
- in response to the probability exceeding a threshold probability, execute a selective inhibition routine of a stop-start function of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.