Driver Advisory System for Fuel Economy Improvement of a Hybrid Electric Vehicle
First Claim
1. A driver advisory system for a vehicle powertrain having at least one power source, a vehicle driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal assembly, a driver-controlled friction brake pedal assembly and a vehicle system controller for controlling power distribution to vehicle traction wheels from the power source;
- a power transmission system for delivering power to the traction wheels;
a powertrain controller for controlling delivery of power to the traction wheels through the transmission;
the controller comprising an intelligent system for identifying a current driving pattern for a vehicle driver and for guiding the driver in selecting an optimal driving pattern for current operating conditions and vehicle speed; and
a haptic feedback mechanism forming a part of the accelerator pedal assembly for conveying to the driver a feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize operating economy of the power source for given operating conditions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is an intelligent advisory system, which may be based on fuzzy rule-based logic to guide a vehicle driver in selecting an optimal driving strategy to achieve best fuel economy. The advisory system includes separate controllers for providing advisory information regarding driver demand for power and advisory information regarding vehicle braking, which are conveyed to the driver.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A driver advisory system for a vehicle powertrain having at least one power source, a vehicle driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal assembly, a driver-controlled friction brake pedal assembly and a vehicle system controller for controlling power distribution to vehicle traction wheels from the power source;
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a power transmission system for delivering power to the traction wheels; a powertrain controller for controlling delivery of power to the traction wheels through the transmission; the controller comprising an intelligent system for identifying a current driving pattern for a vehicle driver and for guiding the driver in selecting an optimal driving pattern for current operating conditions and vehicle speed; and a haptic feedback mechanism forming a part of the accelerator pedal assembly for conveying to the driver a feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize operating economy of the power source for given operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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2. A driver advisory system for a vehicle powertrain having at least one power source, a vehicle driver-controller vehicle accelerator pedal assembly, a driver-controlled brake pedal assembly and a vehicle system controller for controlling power distribution to vehicle traction wheels from the power source;
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a power transmission system for delivering power to the traction wheels; a powertrain controller for controlling delivery of power from the power source to the traction wheels through the transmission; the controller comprising an intelligent system for identifying a current driving pattern for a vehicle driver and for guiding the driver in selecting an optimal driving pattern for current operating conditions and vehicle speed; a first haptic feedback system forming a part of the accelerator pedal assembly for conveying to the driver an acceleration pedal position feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize operating efficiency of the power source for given operating conditions; and a second haptic feedback system forming a part of the brake pedal assembly for conveying to the driver a brake pedal position feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize brake operating efficiency for given operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 13)
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4. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain that includes an accelerator pedal controlled internal combustion engine power source and an electric power source that includes an electric motor, an electric generator and an electric battery, the transmission delivering power to vehicle traction wheels from each power source;
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the method comprising the steps of; managing power flow from each power source through the transmission to selectively provide hybrid drive, mechanical drive using solely engine power, electric drive using solely power of the motor, regenerative braking, engine starting and battery power maintenance; determining an optimum accelerator pedal position for possible operating conditions based upon desired fuel economy and actual instantaneous fuel economy; determining a fuel economy error; determining a rate of change of fuel economy error; determining an accelerator pedal position modifier based on fuel economy error, rate of change of fuel economy error and actual instantaneous engine power; and integrating the accelerator pedal position modifier within appropriate saturation limits to determine an optimum accelerator pedal position for a driver demand for power for a given instantaneous operating condition, whereby the driver is provided with guidance to improve engine fuel combustion economy. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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5. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain that includes an accelerator pedal controlled internal combustion engine power source and an electric power source that includes an electric motor, an electric generator and an electric battery, the transmission delivering power to vehicle traction wheels from each power source;
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the method comprising the steps of; managing power flow from each power source through the transmission to selectively provide hybrid drive, mechanical drive using solely engine power, electric drive using solely power of the motor, regenerative braking, engine starting and battery power maintenance; determining an optimum brake pedal position using total braking power and total regenerative power to determine a brake pedal position modifier based on uncaptured braking power and upon whether a desired regenerative braking flag indicates that the capturing of regenerative energy is desired under current vehicle operating conditions; and integrating the brake pedal position modifier with appropriate saturation limits to determine an optimum brake pedal position, whereby the driver is provided with guidance to improve engine fuel combustion economy by modifying actual brake pedal position to achieve optimum vehicle braking. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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14. A driver advisory system for a vehicle powertrain having at least one power source, a vehicle driver-controlled vehicle accelerator pedal assembly, a driver-controlled friction brake pedal assembly and a vehicle system controller for controlling power distribution to vehicle traction wheels from the power source;
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a power transmission system for delivering power to the traction wheels; a powertrain controller for controlling delivery of power to the traction wheels through the transmission; the controller comprising an intelligent system for identifying a current driving pattern for a vehicle driver and for guiding the driver in selecting an optimal driving pattern for current operating conditions and vehicle speed; means for calculating an upper limit for driver demand for power for given operating conditions; and a haptic feedback mechanism forming a part of the accelerator pedal assembly for conveying to the driver a feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize operating economy of the power source for given operating conditions when the driver demand for power exceeds the upper limit. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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15. A driver advisory system for a vehicle powertrain having at least one power source, a vehicle driver-controller vehicle accelerator pedal assembly, a driver-controlled brake pedal assembly and a vehicle system controller for controlling power distribution to vehicle traction wheels from the power source;
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a power transmission system for delivering power to the traction wheels; a powertrain controller for controlling delivery of power from the power source to the traction wheels through the transmission; the controller comprising an intelligent system for identifying a current driving pattern for a vehicle driver and for guiding the driver in selecting an optimal driving pattern for current operating conditions and vehicle speed; means for calculating an upper limit for driver demand for power for current operating conditions; a first haptic feedback system forming a part of the accelerator pedal assembly for conveying to the driver an acceleration pedal position feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize operating efficiency of the power source for given operating conditions when the driver demand for power exceeds the upper limit; and a second haptic feedback system forming a part of the brake pedal assembly for conveying to the driver a brake pedal position feedback sensory signal for guidance to maximize powertrain operating efficiency for given operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 26)
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17. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain that includes an accelerator pedal controlled internal combustion engine power source and an electric power source that includes an electric motor, an electric generator and an electric battery, the transmission delivering power to vehicle traction wheels from each power source;
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the method comprising the steps of; managing power flow from each power source through the transmission to selectively provide hybrid drive, mechanical drive using solely engine power, electric drive using solely power of the motor, regenerative braking, engine starting and battery power maintenance; determining an optimum accelerator pedal position for possible operating conditions based upon desired fuel economy and actual instantaneous fuel economy; determining a fuel economy error; determining a rate of change of fuel economy error; determining an accelerator pedal position modifier based on fuel economy error, rate of change of fuel economy error and actual instantaneous engine power; and integrating the accelerator pedal position modifier within appropriate saturation limits to determine an accelerator pedal upper position limit for a driver demand for power for a given instantaneous operating condition, whereby the driver is provided with guidance to improve engine fuel combustion economy when the accelerator pedal upper limit is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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18. A method for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain that includes an accelerator pedal controlled internal combustion engine power source and an electric power source that includes an electric motor, an electric generator and an electric battery, the transmission delivering power to vehicle traction wheels from each power source;
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the method comprising the steps of; managing power flow from each power source through the transmission to selectively provide hybrid drive, mechanical drive using solely engine power, electric drive using solely power of the motor, regenerative braking, engine starting and battery power maintenance; determining an optimum brake pedal position using total braking power and total regenerative power to determine a brake pedal position modifier based on uncaptured braking power and upon whether a desired regenerative braking flag indicates that the capturing of regenerative energy is desired under current vehicle operating conditions; and integrating the brake pedal position modifier with appropriate saturation limits to determine an upper limit for brake pedal position, whereby the driver is provided with guidance to improve powertrain operating efficiency by modifying actual brake pedal position when the brake pedal position upper limit is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification