Method and device for entering coasting mode of motor vehicle taking into account entry into tolerance zone

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle in the range of distance and / or speed control of the vehicle. The device is designed to predict a distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle during coasting operation starting from a current travel course of the vehicle and to compare the predicted distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle with an entry tolerance zone near a target distance and / or target speed of the distance and / or speed control of the vehicle, the entry tolerance zone is narrower than the exit tolerance zone with respect to at least one tolerance zone boundary. The device is further designed to initiate a coasting run as a function of the comparison.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle which is designed to be operated in a coasting mode. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a corresponding device for entering a coasting mode of a motor vehicle in combination with distance and / or speed control. Background Art

[0002] A vehicle with an internal combustion engine can be configured to temporarily disconnect the internal combustion engine from the drive train of the vehicle during travel and, if necessary, shut down the internal combustion engine to reduce the energy consumption of the vehicle. In other words, the vehicle can be configured to temporarily operate in a coasting mode during travel. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present document is concerned with the object of enabling a particularly energy-efficient and / or comfortable coasting operation of a vehicle, in particular in conjunction with distance and / or speed control of the vehicle.

[0004] This object is achieved by each independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are further described in the dependent claims. It should be pointed out that the additional features of the dependent claims of the independent claim can form a separate invention that is independent of the combination of all features of the independent claim without the features of the independent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent claim, which invention can become the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application. This applies in an analogous manner to the technical teachings described in the description, which can form an invention that is independent of the features of the independent claim.

[0005] According to one aspect, a (control) device for controlling a coasting operation of a (motor) vehicle within the scope of a distance and / or speed control of the vehicle is described. During the operation of the distance and / or speed control, the driving speed can be automatically adapted, in particular regulated (to a target distance and / or a target speed) according to a target distance to a preceding vehicle (directly) in front of the vehicle (determined by the driver) and / or (in free travel) according to a target speed (determined by the driver). The distance and / or speed control can use a regulator (e.g. a P, I and / or D regulator) to adjust the driving speed and / or the distance.

[0006] The device can be designed to decouple a drive engine (especially an internal combustion engine) of the vehicle from the drive train of the vehicle (and, if necessary, deactivate the drive engine) in order to start the coasting operation. Alternatively or additionally, the device can be designed to couple the drive engine to the drive train of the vehicle (and, if necessary, activate the drive engine) in order to end the coasting operation. In the coasting operation, the vehicle can slide without the effect of a drive torque and / or a traction torque of the drive engine.

[0007] Therefore, during the coasting operation of the vehicle, a driving and / or traction torque is usually not caused by the vehicle's drive engine. If necessary, a braking torque (generated by one or more friction brakes of the vehicle) cannot be caused during the coasting operation. Therefore, active distance and / or speed regulation may not be performed during the coasting operation. However, it can be monitored that during the coasting operation, the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle in front remains within a predefined (exit) tolerance band near the target distance, and / or the driving speed of the vehicle remains within a predefined (exit) tolerance band near the target speed. Outside the coasting operation, active distance and / or speed regulation (adjustment to the target distance or target speed) can be achieved. In particular, it can be achieved that the distance and / or driving speed are directly adjusted to the target distance or target speed after the coasting operation ends.

[0008] The device may be designed to predict a distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation starting from the respective current driving progress of the vehicle (e.g. starting from the current time point and / or starting from the current position). The predicted distance and / or speed profile may indicate (starting from the current driving progress) the time and / or spatial distance of the vehicle from a preceding vehicle (directly) in front of the vehicle and / or the driving speed of the vehicle as a function of the driving progress. The predicted distance and / or speed profile may extend over a predefined prediction horizon starting from the current driving progress. The device may be designed to repeatedly update the predicted distance and / or speed profile (starting from the respective current driving progress).

[0009] The driving progress may indicate or correspond to the position of the vehicle along the road traveled by the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the driving progress may indicate or correspond to a corresponding point in time when the vehicle is traveling. Thus, the predicted horizon may correspond to a specific distance and / or time horizon (e.g., 100 meters or more, or 500 meters or more; or 10 seconds or more, or 20 seconds or more).

[0010] The device can be designed to determine the gradient curve ahead of the road traveled by the vehicle (for predicting the field of view). This information can be determined based on a digital map of the road network traveled by the vehicle. The distance and / or speed curve of the vehicle in coasting operation can then be predicted in an accurate manner based on the gradient curve ahead.

[0011] The device can also be designed to determine state data related to the vehicle state (e.g., current driving speed) and / or to the state (e.g., current driving speed) of a preceding vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle. The distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in coasting mode can then be predicted in a particularly accurate manner based on the state data.

[0012] When predicting the distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle, it can be assumed that the vehicle is in coasting mode during the entire prediction horizon. In addition, assumptions can be made about the behavior of the vehicle ahead during the prediction horizon. For example, it can be assumed that the driving speed of the vehicle ahead remains constant during the entire prediction horizon.

[0013] The device is further designed to compare the predicted distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle with at least one tolerance band boundary of an entry tolerance band in the vicinity of a target distance and / or target speed for a distance and / or speed control of the vehicle.

[0014] An entry tolerance band for making a decision about entering a taxiing operation (ie starting a taxiing operation) is narrower (about at least one or two tolerance band boundaries) than an exit tolerance band for making a decision about (subsequently) exiting a taxiing operation (ie deciding about the end of the taxiing operation).

[0015] For example, the tolerance zone upper boundary of the exit tolerance zone can be between 3% and 13% above the target distance and / or the target speed, in particular between 5% and 10%. For example, the tolerance zone lower boundary of the exit tolerance zone can be between 3% and 13% below the target distance and / or the target speed, in particular between 5% and 10%.

[0016] The upper tolerance zone boundary of the entry tolerance zone can be smaller than the upper tolerance zone boundary of the exit tolerance zone, in particular smaller than it by a parameterizable reserve value (approximately 5%-10%). Alternatively or in addition, the lower tolerance zone boundary of the entry tolerance zone can be larger than the lower tolerance zone boundary of the exit tolerance zone, in particular larger than it by a parameterizable reserve value (approximately 5%-10%). For example, the entry tolerance zone can be arranged 5%-20% narrower than the exit tolerance zone near the target distance and / or target speed.

[0017] The device is also designed to start the coasting operation based on the comparison. In other words, the coasting operation can be entered based on the comparison of the predicted distance and / or speed curve with the entry tolerance zone.

[0018] By using a relatively narrow entry tolerance band for making the decision regarding entering the coasting operation, a particularly robust and comfortable coasting operation can be achieved.

[0019] The device may be designed to determine a continuous driving process section starting from the current driving process, in which the predicted distance and / or speed profile remains within the entry tolerance range. In this case, the continuous driving process section may be determined so that the predicted distance and / or speed profile has a target distance and / or target speed at the end of the continuous driving process section, or (alternatively) the predicted distance and / or speed profile intersects a tolerance zone boundary of the entry tolerance zone at the end of the continuous driving process section.

[0020] The coasting operation can start, in particular, only when the time and / or space length of the continuous driving process section is greater than or equal to the (predefined) time and / or space minimum length. Therefore, a particularly comfortable and energy-saving coasting operation can be achieved.

[0021] The device may be designed to determine whether the predicted distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle (starting from the current driving process) will (again) reach a target distance and / or target speed in the upcoming driving process without prematurely leaving the entry tolerance band.

[0022] The coasting operation can be started at the current driving process, in particular only when the predicted distance and / or speed curve of the vehicle is determined to reach the target distance and / or target speed without leaving the entry tolerance zone prematurely. This coasting entry condition can achieve a particularly comfortable and energy-saving coasting operation.

[0023] The device can be designed to predict an updated distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation from the corresponding current driving progress of the vehicle during the vehicle's coasting operation. Therefore, the predicted distance and / or speed profile can be repeatedly updated.

[0024] The vehicle's corresponding updated, predicted distance and / or speed profile can then be compared with the exit tolerance band (in particular the tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band) and the coasting operation can be terminated in a robust and comfortable manner based on the comparison (with the exit tolerance band, in particular the tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band).

[0025] Therefore, the device can be designed to compare the corresponding updated, predicted distance and / or speed curve of the vehicle with the tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band near the target distance and / or target speed of the distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle. The predicted distance curve of the vehicle can be compared in particular with the upper tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band near the target distance. Alternatively or in addition, the predicted speed curve of the vehicle can be compared with the lower tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band near the target speed.

[0026] The coasting operation can then be ended in a particularly energy-efficient and / or comfortable manner as a function of one or more comparisons.

[0027] The device can be designed to determine the exit driving process based on the comparison (at the exit driving process, exiting the coasting mode and / or transitioning to active distance and / or speed control is achieved). The coasting mode can then be terminated in a particularly energy-saving and / or comfortable manner during the exit driving process.

[0028] The device can be designed in particular to obtain the intersection travel course (i.e., the intersection point) of the predicted distance and / or speed curve of the vehicle in the coasting operation and the tolerance band boundary of the exit tolerance band. In particular, the intersection travel course (i.e., the intersection point) of the predicted distance curve and the tolerance band (upper) boundary of the exit tolerance band near the target distance can be obtained. Alternatively or in addition, the intersection travel course (i.e., the intersection point) of the predicted speed curve and the tolerance band (lower) boundary of the exit tolerance band near the target speed can be obtained. Then, the exit travel course can be obtained based on the intersection travel course. Here, the exit travel course can be located at an offset value (predefined if necessary) in front of the intersection travel course. Therefore, a particularly comfortable and energy-saving coasting operation can be achieved.

[0029] The device can be designed to determine the offset value (for determining the exit from the driving process) as a function of the value of the vehicle acceleration achieved by the vehicle's drive engine within the scope of the distance and / or speed control after the end of the coasting operation. The vehicle can be accelerated (after the coasting operation) in order to bring the actual speed of the vehicle closer to the target speed and / or bring the actual distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle traveling ahead of the vehicle closer to the target distance.

[0030] The offset value can be determined as a function of the value of the acceleration of the distance and / or speed control so that the actual speed and / or actual distance of the vehicle does not leave the corresponding exit tolerance band (either during the coasting operation or during the distance and / or speed control directly after the coasting operation). Thus, a particularly comfortable coasting operation can be achieved in combination with the distance and / or speed control.

[0031] According to a further aspect, a (street) motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car or a truck or a bus or a motorcycle, is described, which comprises a (control) device as described in this document.

[0032] According to another aspect, a method for controlling a coasting operation of a (motor) vehicle within the scope of a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle is described. The method comprises predicting a distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle in the coasting operation starting from the current driving process of the vehicle. The method also comprises comparing the predicted distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle with an entry tolerance band or a tolerance band boundary of the entry tolerance band in the vicinity of a target distance and / or target speed of the distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle. In this case, the entry tolerance band is usually narrower (with respect to at least one or both tolerance band boundaries) than an exit tolerance band for making a decision about a subsequent exit from the coasting operation. The method also comprises starting the coasting operation based on the comparison.

[0033] According to a further aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The software program can be designed to be executed on a processor (for example on a control unit of a vehicle) and thereby to carry out the method described in this document.

[0034] According to another aspect, a storage medium is described. The storage medium may include a software program designed to be executed on a processor and thereby to perform the method described in this document.

[0035] It should be noted that the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be used not only alone, but also in combination with other methods, devices or systems described in this document. In addition, any aspects of the methods, devices and systems described in this document can be combined with each other in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined with each other in various ways. In addition, the functions listed in brackets should be understood as optional features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] In the following, the present invention is described in detail with reference to embodiments.

[0037] Figure 1 Exemplary components of a vehicle are shown;

[0038] Figure 2a An exemplary driving situation of a vehicle is shown;

[0039] Figure 2b An exemplary grade curve of a road is shown;

[0040] Figure 3 shows an exemplary predicted distance and / or speed profile during a taxiing operation; and

[0041] Figure 4 A flow chart of an exemplary method for entering into a coasting operation of a vehicle is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] As mentioned at the outset, the present document relates to increasing the energy efficiency and / or comfort of a coasting operation of a motor vehicle, which increase relates to the distance and / or speed control of the vehicle. In this case, Figure 1 An exemplary vehicle 100 is shown. The vehicle 100 includes one or more environmental sensors 102 (e.g., at least one camera, radar sensor, lidar sensor, and / or ultrasonic sensor), which are designed to detect environmental data (i.e., sensor data) related to the environment of the vehicle 100. In addition, the vehicle 100 includes one or more vehicle sensors 106, which are designed to detect state data (i.e., sensor data) related to the state of the vehicle 100 (e.g., related to the driving speed).

[0043] The (control) device 101 of the vehicle 100 may be designed to operate a drive engine 103 (in particular an internal combustion engine) of the vehicle 100 as a function of environmental data and / or as a function of status data in order to at least partially automatically guide the vehicle 100 longitudinally. In particular, an automatic distance and / or speed control (in particular ACC, adaptive cruise control) may be implemented, wherein the driving speed of the vehicle 100 is automatically adjusted in order to adjust the distance between the vehicle 100 and a preceding vehicle traveling directly in front of the vehicle 100 to a target distance (which has been determined, for example, by the driver of the vehicle 100) and / or to adjust the driving speed of the vehicle 100 to a target speed (which has been determined, for example, by the driver of the vehicle 100) during free travel (without a preceding vehicle).

[0044] Figure 2a An exemplary driving situation is shown in which the vehicle 100 is traveling on a road 202 behind a front vehicle 200. The distance 201 between the vehicle 100 and the front vehicle 200 is adjusted to a specific target distance by a device 101 of the vehicle 100. Here, the distance 201 may be a spatial distance corresponding to the spatial distance between the vehicle 100 and the front vehicle 200 (e.g. measured in meters). Alternatively or in addition, the distance 201 may be a time distance corresponding to the time required for the vehicle 100 to reach the front vehicle 200 at the current driving speed (assuming that the front vehicle 200 is stationary). The time distance may correspond, for example, to the quotient of the spatial distance between the vehicle 100 and the front vehicle 200 and the current driving speed of the vehicle 100.

[0045] The (control) device 101 can be designed to operate the vehicle 100 at least temporarily in a so-called coasting mode during active distance and / or speed control. To this end, the clutch 105 of the vehicle 100 can be caused to decouple the drive engine 103 from the drive train of the vehicle 100, in particular one or more driven wheels of the vehicle 100. In addition, the drive engine 103 can be deactivated and / or stopped. The vehicle 100 then slides on the road 202 on which the vehicle 100 is traveling (without traction torque and / or without drive torque of the drive engine 103). As a result, the energy consumption of the vehicle 100 can be reduced.

[0046] The vehicle 100 may include a position sensor 104, which is designed to detect position data (i.e., sensor data) related to the respective current position of the vehicle 100. The position data may include, for example, coordinates of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), such as GPS coordinates. The device 101 may be designed to determine the spatial course of the road 202 on which the vehicle 100 will travel based on the position data and based on a digital map related to the road network that the vehicle 100 has traveled. If necessary, a driving route through the road network can be planned with the help of a navigation system of the vehicle 100. Based on the driving route, it can be identified which road 202 the vehicle 100 will travel along starting from the current time point and / or starting from the current position. In addition, the spatial course of the road 202 ahead, in particular the gradient curve, can be determined based on the digital map.

[0047] Figure 2b An exemplary grade curve 210 of a road 202 traveled by vehicle 100 is shown. Grade curve 210 indicates a grade 212 of road 202 as a function of location on road 202 and / or as a function of a point in time while traveling (typically as a function of the progress of vehicle 100).

[0048] The device 101 can be designed to predict a distance curve and / or a speed curve of the vehicle 100 in the coasting mode based on the gradient curve 210 of the road ahead 202. The distance curve can indicate the (temporal and / or spatial) distance 201 of the vehicle 100 from the vehicle 200 ahead as a function of position and / or as a function of time (usually as a function of the driving process). The speed curve can indicate the driving speed of the vehicle 100 as a function of position and / or as a function of time (usually as a function of the driving process). It can be assumed that the vehicle 100 is traveling in the coasting mode (without the influence of the driving and / or braking torque generated by the vehicle 100). In addition, a certain speed behavior of the vehicle 200 ahead can be assumed (for the determination of the distance curve); for example, it can be assumed that the vehicle 200 ahead is traveling at a constant driving speed. The distance curve and / or the speed curve can be predicted, for example, for a spatial prediction horizon of 50 meters or more or 100 meters or more (starting from the current position of the vehicle 100) and / or for a temporal prediction horizon of 5 seconds or more or 10 seconds or more.

[0049] The activation (also referred to as entering) and / or deactivation (also referred to as exiting) of the coasting operation of the vehicle 100 can be carried out in a precise and energy-saving manner (when using a distance and / or speed controller) according to a predicted distance curve and / or according to a predicted speed curve. In particular, the device 101 of the vehicle 100 can be designed to predict the distance curve and / or speed curve of the vehicle 100 in the coasting operation (while the distance and / or speed controller is in operation) starting from the current position of the vehicle 100 and / or starting from the current point in time (usually starting from the current driving process). Entering into or exiting the coasting operation can be achieved according to the predicted distance curve and / or according to the predicted speed curve.

[0050] Figure 3 An exemplary predicted distance and / or speed curve 310 is shown during the coasting operation of vehicle 100. As already explained, distance and / or speed curve 310 indicates the actual distance and / or actual speed 301 of vehicle 100 as a function of driving progress 302 (e.g. as a function of position and / or as a function of time point) while vehicle 100 is traveling.

[0051] Figure 3 Also shown is an exemplary tolerance band 335 about the target distance and / or target speed 331 having a lower threshold or tolerance band lower boundary 333 and an upper threshold or tolerance band upper boundary 332 about the target distance and / or target speed 331 . Figure 3 In particular, a tolerance band 335 about the target speed 331 is shown (for speed control after exiting the coasting operation). The aspects described in this document can also be applied to distance control after exiting the coasting operation.

[0052] Device 101 can be designed to determine, based on the predicted distance and / or speed curve 310, that the predicted distance or speed curve 310 will intersect with the threshold value or tolerance band boundary 332, 333 of the tolerance band 335 (in particular, the lower threshold value 333 of the speed tolerance band 335 and / or the upper threshold value 332 of the distance tolerance band 335) at the intersection driving process 341.

[0053] The device 101 can also be designed to realize an exit from the coasting operation at an exit driving course 343, which is located at a specific offset value 342 before the intersection driving course 341. At the exit driving course 343, the vehicle 100 may have an actual driving speed 301 that is lower than the target speed 331 (and / or have an actual distance 301 that is higher than the target distance 331).

[0054] Device 101 may be designed to (immediately) accelerate vehicle 100 within the scope of distance and / or speed control after exiting the coasting mode in order to accelerate vehicle 100 to target speed 331 and / or to provide vehicle 100 with target distance 331 .

[0055] In order to provide an energy-saving and / or comfortable coasting operation, the duration of the coasting phase of the vehicle 100 in the coasting operation should not be less than a certain minimum duration. Therefore, before entering the coasting operation, it can be checked whether the distance and / or speed profile 310 predicted at the corresponding time point can achieve a sufficiently long coasting phase. If so, then entering the coasting operation can be achieved. On the other hand, entering the coasting operation can be prevented if necessary.

[0056] The predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 is calculated based on a prediction of the gradient data from the digital map and / or based on the current vehicle data. During the actual coasting process, deviations from the initially predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 (before entering the coasting operation) may occur, which may lead to an early end of the coasting process, because the limits 332, 333 of the tolerance band 335 are reached early. It may therefore happen that the actual duration of the coasting phase is shorter than the minimum duration.

[0057] In order to take into account such deviations between the distance and / or speed profile 310 initially predicted (before entering the taxiing operation) and the actual distance and / or speed profile (during the taxiing operation), an entry tolerance band 325 which is narrower than an exit tolerance band 335 for determining an exit time 343 for exiting the taxiing operation can be used to make a decision about the entry. The entry tolerance band 325 can have an upper tolerance band limit 322 which is, for example, lower than the upper tolerance band limit 332 of the exit tolerance band 335 by a reserve value 324. The lower tolerance band limit 323 of the entry tolerance band 325 can be higher than the lower tolerance band limit 333 of the exit tolerance band 335 by a reserve value 324. For example, the exit tolerance band 335 can be within ±7%-12% of the target distance or target speed 331. The entry tolerance band 325 can be, for example, within ±5%-7% of the target distance or target speed 331.

[0058] The device 101 can be designed to determine a predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 before entering the coasting mode, starting from a specific current driving process 302. Then, it can be checked whether the coasting mode is entered based on the predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 and on the basis of the entry tolerance band 325. In particular, it can be determined whether the predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 remains within the entry tolerance band 325 in a sufficiently long driving process section.

[0059] For example, one or more of the following conditions for entering the coasting operation may be checked:

[0060] The predicted distance and / or speed curve 310 has an intersection 311 with the target distance or target speed 331; and / or

[0061] The continuous driving course segments 313 in which the predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 remains within the entry tolerance band 325 have a time and / or space length that is greater than or equal to the minimum time and / or space length 312 .

[0062] Thus, a decision on entering the coasting operation can be made based on entry tolerance band 325. On the other hand, a decision on exiting the coasting operation can be made based on exit tolerance band 335. Thus, comfort and energy efficiency can be further improved. Thus, in particular, the robustness of the coasting operation of vehicle 100 can be increased. Reserve value 324 or reserve between entry tolerance band 325 and exit tolerance band 335 can be parameterized.

[0063] Figure 4 A flow chart of a (possibly computer-implemented) method 400 for controlling a coasting operation of a (motor) vehicle 100 within the scope of a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle 100 is shown, wherein a driving speed 401 of the vehicle 100 is adjusted, in particular regulated, as a function of a target distance 331 to a preceding vehicle 200 and / or (in free travel) as a function of a target speed 331.

[0064] Method 400 includes predicting 401 a distance and / or speed profile 310 of vehicle 100 in coasting mode, starting from the current driving process of vehicle 100 (in particular starting from the current time and / or starting from the current position of vehicle 100). Distance and / or speed profile 310 can be predicted based on profile 210 of gradient 212 of road 202 traveled by vehicle 100. It can be assumed that vehicle 100 is in coasting mode (and therefore is not driven by drive engine 103 and / or therefore drive engine 103 does not cause a traction torque) throughout predicted distance and / or speed profile 310.

[0065] Method 400 further comprises comparing 402 predicted distance and / or speed profile 310 of vehicle 100 with an entry tolerance zone 325 about a target distance 331 and / or a target speed 331 of a distance and / or speed regulation of vehicle 100. In this case, entry tolerance zone 325 (with respect to at least one or both tolerance zone boundaries 322, 323) is narrower than an exit tolerance zone 335, which is used for deciding on a subsequent exit from the coasting operation.

[0066] Furthermore, method 400 includes starting 403 a coasting operation based on the comparison.

[0067] The measures described in this document make it possible to achieve a particularly energy-saving and / or comfortable coasting operation within the scope of active distance and / or speed control.

[0068] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In particular, it should be noted that the description and drawings are intended only to illustrate the principles of the proposed methods, devices and systems.

Claims

1. A device (101) for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle (100) within a range of distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein: The device (101) is designed to: - predicting (310) a distance and / or speed profile of the vehicle (100) in coasting operation based on a current driving progress of the vehicle (100); - comparing the predicted distance and / or speed curve (310) of the vehicle (100) with tolerance band boundaries (322, 323) of an entry tolerance band (325) in the vicinity of a target distance (331) and / or a target speed (331) of a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein the entry tolerance band (325) is narrower than an exit tolerance band (335) with respect to at least one tolerance band boundary (322, 323), the exit tolerance band being used to determine exit from the coasting operation; and - starting the coasting operation as a function of the comparison.

2. The device (101) according to claim 1, wherein: The device (101) is designed to: - determining a continuous driving process section (313) starting from the current driving process, in which the predicted distance and / or speed profile (310) remains within an entry tolerance range (325); and - starting the coasting mode, in particular starting the coasting mode only when the time and / or space length of the continuous driving process segment (313) is greater than or equal to the time and / or space minimum length (312).

3. The device (101) according to claim 2, wherein: The device (101) is designed to determine the continuous driving process segment (313) so that the predicted distance and / or speed curve (310) has the target distance (331) and / or the target speed (331) at the end of the continuous driving process segment (313), or - Intersecting with the tolerance zone boundaries (322, 323) of the entry tolerance zone (325).

4. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device (101) is designed to: - determining whether the predicted distance and / or speed profile (310) of the vehicle (100) will reach the target distance (331) and / or the target speed (331) at the preceding driving course (311) without leaving the entry tolerance zone (325) prematurely; and - starting the coasting operation at the current driving process, in particular starting the coasting operation only when a predicted distance and / or speed profile (310) of the vehicle (100) is determined to reach the target distance (331) and / or the target speed (331) without leaving the entry tolerance band (325) prematurely.

5. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The entry tolerance zone (325) is 5%-20% narrower than the exit tolerance zone (335) and is arranged near the target distance (331) and / or the target speed (331).

6. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the tolerance zone upper limit (322) of the entry tolerance zone (325) is smaller than the tolerance zone upper limit (332) of the exit tolerance zone (335), in particular smaller than the tolerance zone upper limit by a parameterizable reserve value (324), and / or The tolerance zone lower limit (323) of the entry tolerance zone (325) is greater than the tolerance zone lower limit (333) of the exit tolerance zone (335), in particular greater than the tolerance zone lower limit by a parameterizable reserve value (324).

7. The device (101) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The device (101) is designed to, while the vehicle (100) is operating in the coasting mode, - predicting an updated distance and / or speed profile (310) of the vehicle (100) in the coasting mode, starting from the respective current driving progress of the vehicle (100); - comparing the corresponding updated, predicted distance and / or speed profile (310) of the vehicle (100) with the exit tolerance band (335); and - ending the coasting operation as a function of the comparison.

8. The device (101) according to claim 7, wherein: The device (101) is designed to: - comparing the respectively updated, predicted distance and / or speed profile (310) of the vehicle (100) with tolerance band boundaries (332, 333) of an exit tolerance band (335) in the vicinity of a target distance (331) and / or a target speed (331) for a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); - determining an exit from the driving process based on the comparison (343); and - ending the coasting operation at the exit driving process (343).

9. The device (101) according to claim 8, wherein: The device (101) is designed to: - determining a travel course (341) of an intersection of a correspondingly updated predicted distance and / or speed curve (310) of the vehicle (100) in the coasting operation and a tolerance band boundary (332, 333) of the exit tolerance band (335); and - determining the exit driving course (343) based on the intersection driving course (341), wherein the exit driving course (343) is located in particular at an offset value (342) in front of the intersection driving course (341).

10. The device (101) according to claim 9, wherein: The device (101) is designed to determine the offset value (342) based on the value of the acceleration achieved by the drive engine (103) of the vehicle (100) within the range of the distance and / or speed regulation after the end of the coasting operation, in particular to make the actual speed (301) of the vehicle (100) approach the target speed (331) and / or to make the actual distance (301) between the vehicle (100) and a preceding vehicle (200) traveling ahead of the vehicle (100) approach the target distance (331).

11. A method (400) for controlling a coasting operation of a vehicle (100) within the range of a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein: The method (400) comprises, - predicting (401) a distance and / or speed curve (310) of the vehicle (100) in the coasting operation based on the current driving progress of the vehicle (100); - comparing (402) a predicted distance and / or speed curve (310) of the vehicle (100) with tolerance band boundaries (322, 323) of an entry tolerance band (325) in the vicinity of a target distance (331) and / or a target speed (331) of a distance and / or speed regulation of the vehicle (100); wherein the entry tolerance band (325) is narrower with respect to at least one tolerance band boundary (322, 323) than an exit tolerance band (335) for deciding to exit the coasting operation; and - starting the coasting operation as a function of the comparison.

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