Apparatus and method for vehicle economy improvement

• US 10,488,221 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2015
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Mobility Solutions BV (Bridgestone Corporation), TomTom Telematics BV (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TomTom Telematics BV (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Verheijen, Paul Roeland, Pauwelussen, Jasper Johannes Anthonius, Ebert, Christoph, Orlowsky, Steffen, Leupold, Marco, Kreim, Stefan, Schmidt, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): LaRose, Renee
• Application Number:
  US15/523,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• 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: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/18081 With torque flow from driveshaft to engine, i.e. engine being driven by vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0623 Fuel flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0642 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0647 Coasting condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/213 Fuel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0655 : Coasting condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 : Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 : Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 : Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 : Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 : Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/52 : Engine fuel consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/366 : Engine or motor speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0218 : Calculation or estimation of the available ratio range, i.e. possible gear ratios, e.g. for prompting a driver with a display
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/426 : with means for advising the driver for proper shift action, e.g. prompting the driver with allowable selection range of ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/44 : dependent on machine speed of the machine, e.g. the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/46 : dependent on a comparison between speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/70 : dependent on the ratio established
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 : characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0246 : characterised by initiating reverse gearshift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 : Ratio indicator devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3632 : Guidance using simplified or iconic instructions, e.g. using arrows G01C21/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3673 : Labelling using text of road map data items, e.g. road names, POI names
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/06 : Indicating or recording devices, e.g. for remote indication indicating or recording in general G01D; registering or indicating working conditions of vehicles G07C5/00
• 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 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 : Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/06 : in graphical form
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 : Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 : using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 : Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 : using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 : from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 : for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0137 : for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 : for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 : with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09626 : where the origin of the information is within the own vehicle, e.g. a local storage device, digital map
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 : Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096827 : where the route is computed onboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09685 : where the complete route is computed only once and not updated
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096861 : where the immediate route instructions are output to the driver, e.g. arrow signs for next turn
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 : Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method and apparatus for evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network is disclosed. The method comprises determining a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle, and determining when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle. An acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, is compared with a predetermined reference acceleration, and an application of braking during the coasting is determined based on the result of the comparison. A method and apparatus is also disclosed for determining a score indicative of the relative amount of time for which the vehicle is coasting without braking during a journey.

Claims

1. A method of evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network, comprising:

determining a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle;

determining when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle;

comparing an acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, with a predetermined reference acceleration;

determining an application of braking during the coasting based on a result of the comparing; and

displaying, in a display device, as an indication of a driver'"'"'s driving performance while coasting, a representation of a score indicative of a proportion of coasting during the journey for which the vehicle is coasting without braking, the score being determined based on the application of braking, and/or transmitting data about the application of braking to a remote device for use thereby in characterizing the driver'"'"'s driving performance while coasting.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the application of braking during the coasting comprises determining that the vehicle is coasting with braking when the acceleration of the vehicle is less than the predetermined reference acceleration.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising determining a first time indicative of the duration of time for which the vehicle is coasting with braking during the journey.

4. The method of claim 3, comprising at least one of:

displaying a representation of the first time on a display device, optionally within the vehicle; and

transmitting the first time to a remote device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the application of braking during the coasting comprises determining that the vehicle is coasting without braking when the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than or equal to the reference acceleration.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising determining a second time indicative of the duration of time for which the vehicle is coasting without braking during the journey.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising at least one of:

displaying a representation of the second time on a display device, optionally within the vehicle; and

transmitting the first time to a remote device.

8. The method of claim 6, comprising:

determining a first time indicative of the duration of time for which the vehicle is coasting with braking during the journey; and

determining the score indicative of the proportion of coasting during the journey for which the vehicle is coasting without braking based on the first and second times.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising determining a coasting state of the vehicle based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle, and selecting the predetermined reference acceleration based on the determined coasting state.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the coasting state is one of:

coasting in gear; and

coasting in neutral.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the coasting state is determined based upon a comparison between the fuel usage rate and at least one predetermined threshold.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the coasting state is determined to be coasting in gear when the fuel usage rate is less than an idle fuel usage rate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the coasting state is determined to be coasting in neutral when the fuel usage rate is less than a predetermined threshold based upon an idle fuel usage rate.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the coasting state is determined to be coasting in neutral based upon the fuel usage rate and when the engine speed is less than a predetermined threshold based upon an idle engine speed.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined reference acceleration is determined based upon an air resistance component and an engine resistance component.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the air resistance component is based upon one or more of:

vehicle speed;

air density;

air drag coefficient;

vehicle frontal area; and

vehicle mass.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the engine resistance component is based upon the engine speed.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of an apparatus comprising at least one processor, cause the apparatus to operate according to the method of claim 1.

19. An apparatus for evaluating the driving of a vehicle performing a journey on a road network, comprising at least one processor and a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to:

determine a fuel usage rate and an engine speed of a vehicle;

determine when the vehicle is coasting based upon at least one of the fuel usage rate and the engine speed of the vehicle;

compare an acceleration of the vehicle, when the vehicle is determined to be coasting, with a predetermined reference acceleration;

determine an application of braking during the coasting based on the result of the comparison; and

wirelessly transmit data indicative of the application of braking in the coasting state to a remote computing device to be used for characterizing the driver'"'"'s driving performance while coasting.

20. A system, comprising:

an apparatus according to claim 19; and

a remote computing device arranged to receive the data indicative of the application of braking in the coasting state from the apparatus and use the data indicative of the application of braking for characterizing the driver'"'"'s driving performance while coasting.