Methods and apparatus for reporting state of charge in electric vehicles

• US 10,421,420 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Skaff, Ryan, Hartl, Derek, Aldighieri, Paul, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Watson, David L., Gilman, Dale, Sandvig, Craig, Bodnar, Leslie, Kridner, Leann, Watson, Angela L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hilgendorf, Dale W
• Application Number:
  US12/985,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,183 Days
• Field of Search: 701123, 701527, 701423, 701 22, 701 29, 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/169 Remaining operating distance or charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/344 for additionally illuminating mechanical elements, e.g. pointers or control knobs
• 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 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 related to particular drive situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/004 Indicating the operating range of the engine economical driving B60R16/0236, F02B77/084; measuring liquid fuel of an engine G01F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of displaying vehicle range includes receiving input corresponding to a level of charge remaining in a vehicle having at least a partial electric power source usable for vehicle locomotion. The method also includes determining a maximum remaining range which the vehicle can travel based at least on the level of charge. The method further includes displaying a maximum range boundary overlaid on a map, including at least an indicator at the center of the range indicating a current location of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

calculating projected charge and gasoline usage for a predefined trip;

displaying a stacked bar gauge including both charge and gasoline expected maximum remaining-range, calculated based on historic user travel data and displayed as independent stacked bar components, such that they aggregate to a maximum remaining vehicle range, of a single gauge that, includes an indicator, visually indicating the projected charge and gasoline usage as portions of displayed charge or gasoline remaining-range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying is performed by a vehicle navigation display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying is performed by a remote personal computer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying is performed by a nomadic wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum remaining vehicle range is also based on one or more current weather conditions.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the maximum remaining vehicle range is also based on one or more current traffic conditions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a maximum remaining vehicle travel-time based on at least one of a current level of charge or a total power usage; and

displaying the maximum remaining travel-time on the display.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein if both gasoline and charge are projected to be required to complete the predefined trip, separate indicators are displayed as part of the gauge indicating what portion of each of the gasoline and charge remaining distance components of the gauge will be used up to complete the predefined trip.