Driver Feedback to Improve Vehicle Performance

• US 20080042489A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Russell, John D., Lewis, Donald J., Tuttle, Christopher S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/152
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A system for a hybrid vehicle driver by an operator, comprising of an energy storage device, a regenerative braking system coupled to the energy storage device, a dissipative braking system coupled to the vehicle, a brake lever, a haptic operator interface, and a control system for operating one or both of the regenerative and dissipative braking system in response to actuation of the brake lever, and providing feedback to the operator through the haptic interface differentiating a type of braking operation.

Claims

1. A system for a hybrid vehicle driver by an operator, comprising:

an energy storage device;

a regenerative braking system coupled to the energy storage device;

a dissipative braking system coupled to the vehicle;

a brake lever;

a haptic operator interface; and

a control system for operating one or both of the regenerative and dissipative braking system in response to actuation of the brake lever; and

providing feedback to the operator through the haptic interface differentiating a type of braking operation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device includes at least one battery.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said feedback is indicative of dissipative braking.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said controller differentiates between regenerative braking and dissipative braking.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said type of braking is responsive to an amount of braking actuation.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said dissipative brake system includes wheel brakes.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein regenerative braking includes storing energy in the energy storage device via generative action.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said haptic operator interface is coupled to the brake lever.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said feedback is responsive to a road grade, vehicle mass, and ambient conditions.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said feedback is responsive to a level of driver performance in braking efficiency.

11. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:

providing an indication to a vehicle operator that as a result of driver braking actuation, dissipative braking in addition to, or in place of, regenerative braking is to be performed or being performed.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the vehicle has a haptic operator interface, and said indication is provided through the haptic operator interface.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said braking actuation include brake pedal actuation.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said indication is provided when brake actuation exceeds a threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said threshold varies with battery state of charge.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said threshold varies with road grade.

17. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle having regenerative and dissipative braking ability, the vehicle operated by an operator, comprising:

during a first level of driver braking actuation, applying regenerative braking without dissipative braking to brake the vehicle and providing an indication of such to the operator;

during a second level of driver braking actuation, applying dissipative braking and providing an indication of such to the operator, where said second level is greater than said first level at least during one condition.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein regenerative braking applied during said second level of braking.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said indications include a signal or an absence of a signal.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said indications are provided through a haptic interface.

21. An aftermarket apparatus for providing coaching feedback to an operator of a vehicle that will encourage the vehicle to be driven with high fuel economy, comprising:

a haptic actuator for providing feedback to the vehicle operator, said haptic actuator including a mounting to facilitate installation on a brake control assembly of said vehicle;

an interface having a plurality of fuel savings settings of increasing fuel economy in addition to a setting without said coaching feedback; and

a haptic controller enclosed in a housing having a first interface for connecting to a diagnostic port of said vehicle and a second interface for communicating with said interface, said haptic controller having a programmed instruction set for causing said haptic actuator to provide coaching feedback to said operator differentiating between at least regenerative and dissipative braking of the vehicle.