Drive assist apparatus

• US 10,112,620 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2012
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Satoru, Takahashi, Kentaro, Endo, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Cass, Jean Paul
• Application Number:
  US14/234,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/12 related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 : Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 : using computer methods
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 : Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 : Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

An electronic control unit of a drive assist apparatus acquires electric power source identification information for identifying a source of an electric power currently charged in a battery and electric power amount information representing an electric power amount corresponding to the source from an electric power acquisition unit, thereby recognizing a battery remaining amount SOCrg representing a green electric power, a battery remaining amount SOCj representing a privately generated green electric power, and a battery remaining amount SOCrs representing a non-green electric power. The unit presents travelable ranges each formed by connecting a group of maximum reachable points to which a PHV can reach by using each of a battery total remaining amount SOCr and the battery remaining amounts SOCrg, SOCj, and SOCrs to a user (driver) by using an information presentation unit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a drive assist apparatus for assisting a driver driving a vehicle that travels by using an electric power charged in a battery installed thereon and by using a driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery,

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein

the drive assist apparatus includes;

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor configured to;

receive (A) the first information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

determine (1) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery based upon the second information and (2) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery based on the first and second information; and

superimpose and display the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in a distinguishable manner on the vicinity map of the display,

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery is displayed as a first area on the vicinity map,

the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery is displayed as a second area on the vicinity map,

the distinguishable manner is a visual distinctiveness between the displayed first and second areas, and

the second area is greater than and includes the first area.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the visual distinctiveness is based on a border line distinguishing the first area and a difference between the first area and the second area.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a first color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a second color on the vicinity map, visually distinctive from the first color.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a first shading on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a second shading on the vicinity map, visually distinctive from the first shading.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

based on an acquired current position of the vehicle, notify the driver of the vehicle of a change to the determined maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle.

8. A system comprising:

a drive assist apparatus for assisting a driver driving a vehicle that travels by using an electric power charged in a battery installed thereon and by using a driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery,

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein the drive assist apparatus includes;

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor configured to;

receive (A) the first information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

determine (1) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery based upon the second information and (2) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery based on the first and second information;

superimpose and display the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in a first travel mode and the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in a second travel mode in a distinguishable manner on the vicinity map of the display; and

notify the driver of the vehicle when a change of travel modes between the first and second travel modes may be necessary based on the determined maximum travelable ranges, wherein the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode is greater than and includes the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a first color on the vicinity map,

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a second color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the first and second colors is visually distinctive.

12. A system comprising:

a drive assist apparatus for assisting a driver driving a vehicle that travels by using an electric power charged in a battery installed thereon and by using a driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery,

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein

the drive assist apparatus includes;

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle;

a microprocessor configured to;

receive (A) the information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

determine (1) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery based upon the first information and (2) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery based on the first and second information; and

superimpose and display the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in a first travel mode and the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in a second travel mode in a distinguishable manner on the vicinity map of the display,

the displayed determined maximum travelable ranges circumscribe the current position of the vehicle,

the current position of the vehicle is displayed at a center of the vicinity map,

when the position of the vehicle changes, an updated position of the vehicle approaches the displayed determined maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle, and

the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode is greater than and includes the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a first color on the vicinity map,

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a second color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the first and second colors is visually distinctive.