Apparatus for indicating distance to empty of a vehicle, and a method thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling of a vehicle, comprising:
- first means for detecting an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;
second means for detecting if a fuel tank lid is open or closed;
third means for detecting the vehicle speed;
fourth means for calculating a fluctuating fuel consumption rate based on information from the first means, second means, and third means, and calculating an initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and a predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate; and
fifth means for displaying the calculated initial distance to empty.
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Abstract
In an apparatus and a method for indicating initial distance to empty (DTE) at completion of fueling, the initial DTE is calculated based on a fluctuating fuel consumption rate and is compensated by a compensation value so that DTE can be determined with more accuracy compared with an initial DTE calculated based on the fixed fuel consumption rate. The DTE to be confirmed can be thereby prevented from abruptly changing.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling of a vehicle, comprising:
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first means for detecting an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;
second means for detecting if a fuel tank lid is open or closed;
third means for detecting the vehicle speed;
fourth means for calculating a fluctuating fuel consumption rate based on information from the first means, second means, and third means, and calculating an initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and a predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate; and
fifth means for displaying the calculated initial distance to empty. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. The method for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling comprising:
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determining if fueling of the fuel tank has started;
calculating, when the fueling of the fuel tank has started, a fluctuating fuel consumption rate by calculation of traveled distance divided by amount of fuel consumption between completion of previous fueling and start of current fueling;
determining if fueling of the fuel tank is completed;
calculating, when the fueling of the fuel tank is completed, the amount of fuel; and
calculating the initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and the predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification