Motor Vehicle, Indicating Device and Operating Method

• US 20090030582A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: JACOBI, Stefan, HOFMANN, Rolf
• Granted Patent: US 9,205,740 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/51
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/13 for measuring the tractive or propulsive power of vehicles

Abstract

An indicating device for a motor vehicle and an operating method are provided. The motor vehicle includes a drive train with at least one drive unit. The indicating device shows in a differentiable manner to the driver the drive states of accelerating, unpowered driving (coasting) and decelerating using the drive train, and at a minimum signals to the driver when the coasting state exists so as to permit the driver to optimize efficient use of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An indicating device for a motor vehicle having a drive train and at least one drive unit which is disengagable from the drive train, wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate directly to the driver when the at least one drive unit is not providing an accelerating or decelerating torque into the drive train.

2. The indicating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate whether the at least one drive unit is introducing accelerating torque, decelerating torque or no torque into the drive train.

3. The indicating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the indicating device is configured for a graduated indication of the intensity of at least one of the accelerating torque and the decelerating torque.

4. The indicating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the indicating device is configured for a continuous indication of the intensity of at least one of the accelerating torque and the decelerating torque.

5. The indicating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating device is a visual display.

6. The indicating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating device is an acoustic indication.

7. The indicating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicating device is a haptic indication.

8. The indicating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the indicating device is configured to indicating at least one of a no torque state and a transition between an introduction of a decelerating torque and the no torque state and a transition between the no torque state and an introduction of an accelerating torque.

9. The indicating device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the indicating device is integrated into an operational control element.

10. The indicating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the indication is provided by a force step in the force-travel curve of the operational control element.

11. The indicating device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the operational control element is bi-directional, such that the operational control element is unpowered in an operating position that corresponds to the no torque state, and is configured to command an accelerating torque from the drive train by being actuated in a first operating direction from the torque state operating position and to command a decelerating torque from the drive train by being actuated in a second direction from the torque stated operating position.

12. The indicating device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the operational control element does not provide a reset force from a position away from the no torque state operating position back to the no torque operating position.

13. The indicating device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the operational control element provides a reset force from a position away from the no torque state operating position back to the no torque operating position.

14. The indicating device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the operational control element exhibits a lock at an operational control position that corresponds to the introduction of a decelerating torque into the drive train.

15. The indicating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operational control element is operable by motion of a driver'"'"'s foot.

16. The indicating device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operational control element is operable by hand.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a drive train;

at least one drive unit which is disengagable from the drive train; and

an indicating device,

wherein the indicating device is configured to indicate directly to the driver when the at least one drive unit is not providing an accelerating or decelerating torque into the drive train.

18. A method for operating an indicating device for a motor vehicle having a drive train and at least one drive unit which is disengagable from the drive train, comprising the acts of:

determining whether the at least one drive unit is in an operating state of providing an accelerating torque, decelerating torque or no torque into the drive train;

providing an indication with the indicating device to the driver to indicate when the at least one drive unit is not providing an accelerating or decelerating torque into the drive train,

wherein the operating state of providing an accelerating torque, a decelerating torque or no torque into the drive train is determined by reference to a characteristic graph of the drive unit.

19. The operating method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the operating state of the at least one drive unit is determined an amount of torque of the drive unit delivered to the drive train when the drive unit is connected to the drive train.

20. The operating method as claimed in claim 18, wherein

the indicating device is integrated into an operational control element,

the indication is provided by a force step in the force-travel curve of the operational control element,

the operational control element is bi-directional, such that the operational control element is unpowered in an operating position that corresponds to the no torque state, and is configured to command an accelerating torque from the drive train by being actuated in a first operating direction from the torque state operating position and to command a decelerating torque from the drive train by being actuated in a second direction from the torque stated operating position, and

a hysteresis is provided for the operating position that corresponds to the no torque state, such that the hysteresis expands a position of the operational control element that corresponds to no torque state to a range, and/or a dead time is provided for at least one of delayed activation and deactivation of the no torque state.

21. The operating method as claimed in claim 20, wherein parameters of the hysteresis are adjustable by the driver.

22. The operating method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the parameters are adjustable by the driver in an uniformly adjustable manner.

23. The operating method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the indicating device includes a coasting selection position which supports coasting in the no torque state, the coasting selection position including a wide hysteresis range and a short switch-off dead time.

24. The operating method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the indicating device includes a non-coasting selection position in which at least one of automatic activation of coasting and for deactivation of indication device is switched off.

25. The operating method as claimed in claim 24, wherein the indicating device includes at least one of an increased resistance and a locking position which is reached prior to reaching the non-coasting selection position.