RATE OF CONSUMPTION GAUGE WITH VARIABLE RATE OF CONSUMPTION LIMITS

• US 20020171541A1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Ochocinski, Dale Scott Crombez, Steven Lee Napier
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Ochocinski, Dale Scott Crombez, Steven Lee Napier
• Inventors: Crombez, Dale Scott, Ochocinski, Christopher A., Napier, Steven Lee
• Granted Patent: US 6,480,106 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• 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: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• 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: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved method and system to monitor vehicle operation state and operator requests. The invention combines into a single, easy to read, gauge information indicating the current vehicle operating state and the ability to increase power assist. This involves a display of instantaneous rate of consumption usage superimposed over the available rate of power consumption limits. The present invention can display whether an operator is requesting power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging while also showing the amount of power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging that is possible for the vehicle under present operating conditions. Through the use of a vehicle system controller (VSC) or similar type controller connected to the display of the present invention, the instantaneous rate of consumption usage or charge can be limited to the available rate of power consumption or charge limits. The invention can use analog needles or light emitting diodes in various configurations as well as adding warning lamps or chimes when the instantaneous rate of consumption usage approaches or exceeds the available rate of power consumption limits.

Claims

1. A combination display for a vehicle showing instantaneous rate of energy consumption superimposed over available rate of energy consumption.

2. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle system controller (VSC);

an energy source connected to the VSC;

a set of vehicle state inputs connected to the combination display; and

an output from the display to the VSC, wherein the VSC limits the instantaneous rate of energy consumption to the available rate of energy consumption.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein the available rate of energy consumption comprises a charge side and an assist side.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein the instantaneous rate of energy consumption is shown by an analog needle and the available rate of energy consumption is shown by light emitting diodes (LEDs).

5. The display of claim 1 wherein the instantaneous rate of energy consumption is shown by LEDs and the available rate of energy consumption is shown by LEDs.

6. The display of claim 1 wherein the instantaneous rate of energy consumption is shown by an analog needle and the available rate of energy consumption is shown by analog needles.

7. The display of claim 1 further comprising a warning when desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption approaches the available rate of energy consumption.

8. The display of claim 1 further comprising a warning when desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption exceeds the available rate of energy consumption.

9. The display of claim 7 wherein the warning is an indicator lamp on the display.

10. The display of claim 8 wherein the warning is an indicator lamp on the display.

11. The display of claim 7 wherein the warning is a chime.

12. The display of claim 8 wherein the warning is a chime.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of monitoring available rate of energy consumption comprises the steps of monitoring charge and monitoring assist.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein monitoring is achieved using light emitting diodes.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein monitoring is achieved using an analog needle.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein monitoring is achieved using a combination of analog needles and LEDS.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of warning an operator when a desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption approaches the available rate of energy consumption.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of warning an operator when a desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption exceeds the available rate of energy consumption.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the warning is achieved using an indicator lamp.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the warning is achieved using a chime.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the warning is achieved using an indicator lamp.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the warning is achieved using a chime.

13. A method of monitoring vehicle energy status comprising the steps of:

monitoring instantaneous rate of energy consumption;

monitoring available rate of energy consumption; and

superimposing the monitoring of instantaneous rate of energy consumption over the monitoring of available rate of energy consumption.