# US 8,751,102 B2 · Vehicle ready light control method and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,102 B2 - Document ID: US8751102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/421,868 - Filed: 2009-04-10 - Published: 2010-10-14 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-10 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Joseph Francis Valascho; Jamala Massenburg; Raymond C. Siciak; Dino H Candela; Michael L. Gusta - Inventors: Joseph Francis Valascho; Jamala Massenburg; Raymond C. Siciak; Dino H Candela; Michael L. Gusta - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751102B2 ## CPC - B60Q 3/16: Circuits; Control arrangements - B60K 35/20: Output arrangements, i.e. from vehicle to user, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K 35/28: characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver - B60L 2240/441: Speed - B60L 2240/486: Operating parameters - B60W 2510/0638: Engine speed - B60W 2510/1005: Transmission ratio engaged - B60W 2520/28: Wheel speed - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - 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 ## Abstract A vehicle ready light control method includes providing a vehicle having a vehicle ready light and illuminating the vehicle ready light when a powertrain of the vehicle is enabled and at least one of the following conditions exists: the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode; an engine RPM speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value and a wheel speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed. A vehicle ready light control system is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated, comprising the steps of: illuminating said vehicle ready light when an engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of said vehicle is enabled, and at least one of the following conditions is sensed: the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode; an engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and a wheel speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are met or extinguishing said ready light when none of the conditions are sensed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The control method of claim 3 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The control method of claim 5 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The control method of claim 1 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The control method of claim 7 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph. ### Claim 9 A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, comprising: providing a vehicle having a vehicle ready light, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated; initiating operation of said vehicle by enabling a engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of said vehicle; illuminating said vehicle ready light for a predetermined time interval; maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light after said predetermined time interval when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and at least one of the following conditions is sensed: said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode; an engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and a wheel speed of said vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are sensed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control method of claim 11 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control method of claim 13 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined wheel speed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The control method of claim 15 wherein said maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light comprises maintaining illumination of said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode, said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM and said wheel speed of said vehicle is below about 3 mph. ### Claim 17 A control method for a vehicle ready light of a vehicle, said vehicle ready light indicating whether said vehicle is ready to be operated, comprising the steps of: turning the vehicle on; illuminating the vehicle ready light when a engine or electric driven hybrid powertrain of the vehicle is enabled, and when at least one of the following conditions is sensed: the vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode; an engine RPM speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined RPM value; and a wheel speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined wheel speed; and maintaining the vehicle ready light in a non-illuminated condition when none of the conditions are sensed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said vehicle is in park mode or neutral mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below said predetermined RPM value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein said illuminating said vehicle ready light comprises illuminating said vehicle ready light when said powertrain of said vehicle is enabled and said engine RPM speed of said vehicle is below about 500 RPM.