Patent US8818608B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US8818608B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 7.1 years remaining
Engaging and disengaging for autonomous driving
Assignee: Google LLC
•
Filing: 2013-12-03
•
Granted: 2014-08-26
•
Expires: 2033-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Aspects of the present disclosure relate switching between autonomous and manual driving modes. In order to do so, the vehicle's computer may conduct a series of environmental, system, and driver checks to identify certain conditions. The computer may correct some of these conditions and also provide a driver with a checklist of tasks for completion. Once the tasks have been completed and the conditions are changed, the computer may allow the driver to switch from the manual to the autonomous driving mode. The computer may also make a determination, under certain conditions, that it would be detrimental to the driver's safety or comfort to make a switch from the autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Cullinane
- 👤 Philip Nemec
- 👤 Manuel Christian Clement
- 👤 Robertus Christianus Elisabeth Mariet
- 👤 Lilli Ing-Marie JONSSON
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W50/00; B60W50/08; B60W50/082; G; G05; G05D; G05D1/00; G05D1/02; G05D1/021; G05D1/0212; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/22; B60K35/28; B60K35/29; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/023; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60W30/00; B60W50/14; B60W60/00; B60W60/005; B60W60/0051; B60W60/0053; B60W60/0059; G05D1/0055; G05D1/0061; G05D1/0223; G05D1/60; G05D1/646; G05D1/65; G05D1/80; G05D1/81; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/16; B60K2360/172; B60K2360/175; B60R2022/4866; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/10; B60R2300/105; B60W2050/0001; B60W2050/0002; B60W2050/0062; B60W2050/0075; B60W2050/146; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/045; B60W2540/16; B60W2540/215; B60W2540/229; B60W2552/00; B60W2552/20; B60W2552/30; B60W2552/53; B60W2554/00; B60W2554/80; B60W2554/801; B60W2555/00; B60W2555/20; B60W2556/00; B60W2556/45; B60W2556/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors, a request to switch a vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, using, by the one or more processors, protocol data to assess (i) the status of the vehicle's environment, (ii) the vehicle, and systems of the vehicle, and (iii) a user of the vehicle; selecting, by the one or more processors, a set of driving conditions from a plurality of predetermined driving conditions based on one or more of the assessments; generating, by the one or more processors, a set of tasks based on the selected set of driving conditions wherein each task is one that may be performed by a driver to change the condition; selecting, by the one or more processors, as a first task of the set of tasks based on a priority of the tasks; displaying, by the one or more processors, to the user of the vehicle the first task of the set of tasks; when the first task has been completed by the user, reassessing, by the one or more processors, the priority of the tasks in order to select a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority of the tasks; displaying, by the one or more processors, to the user of the vehicle the second task; upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, switching, by the one or more processors, the vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
260 words
A method comprising: receiving, by one or more processors, a request to switch a vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, using, by the one or more processors, protocol data to assess (i) the status of the vehicle's environment, (ii) the vehicle, and systems of the vehicle, and (iii) a user of the vehicle; selecting, by the one or more processors, a set of driving conditions from a plurality of predetermined driving conditions based on one or more of the assessments; generating, by the one or more processors, a set of tasks based on the selected set of driving conditions wherein each task is one that may be performed by a driver to change the condition; selecting, by the one or more processors, as a first task of the set of tasks based on a priority of the tasks; displaying, by the one or more processors, to the user of the vehicle the first task of the set of tasks; when the first task has been completed by the user, reassessing, by the one or more processors, the priority of the tasks in order to select a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority of the tasks; displaying, by the one or more processors, to the user of the vehicle the second task; upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, switching, by the one or more processors, the vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes: accessing detailed map information; communicating with various systems of the vehicle; and communicating with a remote computer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the current or future weather would make autonomous driving unsafe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle's actual location agrees with the vehicle's location relative to the detailed map information.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether data received from the sensors of the detection system agrees with the corresponding detailed map information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle is currently driving in an area pre-approved for initiating the autonomous mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the roadway is paved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining the width of the roadway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle is on a curved roadway.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining, whether the vehicle is sufficiently centered in a lane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle is facing oncoming traffic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether another vehicle is pulling into the vehicle's lane proximate to the vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether any upcoming maneuvers would prevent a switch from manual to autonomous driving mode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle can be driving in the autonomous mode for a minimum period of time before a switch to manual mode is required.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle has met a minimum maintenance standard.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the vehicle's automatic wipers are currently on.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the assessments includes determining whether the driver's seatbelt is properly buckled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising before generating the set of tasks, correcting by the one or more processors any of the set of driving conditions pre-approved for correction by the one or more processors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising before reassessing the priority of the tasks: using the protocol data to reassess (i) the status of the vehicle's environment, (ii) the vehicle, and systems of the vehicle, and (iii) a user of the vehicle; and reconfiguring the set of tasks based on one or more of the reassessments.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
213 words
A system comprising one or more processors configured to: receive a request to switch a vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, use protocol data to assess (i) the status of the vehicle's environment, (ii) the vehicle, and systems of the vehicle, and (iii) a user of the vehicle; select a set of driving conditions from a plurality of predetermined driving conditions based on one or more of the assessments; generate a set of tasks based on the selected set of driving conditions wherein each task is one that may be performed by a driver to change the condition; select as a first task of the set of tasks based on a priority of the tasks; display to the user of the vehicle the first task of the set of tasks; when the first task has been completed by the user, reassess the priority of the tasks in order to select a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority of the tasks; display to the user of the vehicle the second task; upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, switch the vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
213 words
A system comprising one or more processors configured to: receive a request to switch a vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode; in response to receiving the request, use protocol data to assess (i) the status of the vehicle's environment, (ii) the vehicle, and systems of the vehicle, and (iii) a user of the vehicle; select a set of driving conditions from a plurality of predetermined driving conditions based on one or more of the assessments; generate a set of tasks based on the selected set of driving conditions wherein each task is one that may be performed by a driver to change the condition; select as a first task of the set of tasks based on a priority of the tasks; display to the user of the vehicle the first task of the set of tasks; when the first task has been completed by the user, reassess the priority of the tasks in order to select a second task of the set of tasks based on the priority of the tasks; display to the user of the vehicle the second task; upon determining that all of the tasks of the set of tasks are completed, switch the vehicle from a manual driving mode to an autonomous driving mode.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2017-08-25 | 2018-02-24 | 2018-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2021-08-25 | 2022-02-24 | 2022-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2025-08-25 | 2026-02-24 | 2026-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |