SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING AN INSTANTANEOUS FUEL ECONOMY OF A VEHICLE

• US 20100211240A1
• Filed: 02/19/2009
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Crombez, Dale Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/16 longitudinal
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An information display system and method are provided for displaying an energy efficiency of a vehicle. The vehicle may include an engine and an electric machine that operates to provide torque to propel the vehicle. The vehicle may also include an energy source that provides energy to the electric machine. The information display system may comprise an information display configured to display an efficiency indicator, the efficiency indicator being configured to indicate an efficiency of the vehicle. The information display system may further comprise a controller configured to receive information related to the braking system of the vehicle. The controller further being configured to determine an energy efficiency value based upon the braking system information. The controller may also be configured to transmit the energy efficiency value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the energy efficiency value.

Claims

1. An information display system for a vehicle, the information display system comprising:

an information display configured to display an efficiency indicator, the efficiency indicator being configured to indicate an efficiency of the vehicle; and

a controller being configured to;

receive information related to the braking system of the vehicle;

determine an energy efficiency value based upon the braking system information; and

transmit the energy efficiency value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the energy efficiency value.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the braking system information includes information indicative to a deceleration of the vehicle.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further includes an engine and an electric machine each being operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an energy source configured to provide energy to the electric machine;

and

the braking system further including a regenerative braking system and a friction braking system, wherein the regenerative braking system and the friction braking system may be configured to decelerate the vehicle, and the regenerative braking system further being configured to generate energy during deceleration of the vehicle.

4. The information display system of claim 3, wherein the current operating conditions further includes information indicative to when the braking system is decelerating the vehicle using the regenerative braking system.

5. The information display system of claim 4, wherein the current operating conditions further includes information indicative to an amount of energy being recaptured by the regenerative braking system during deceleration of the vehicle.

6. The information display system of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the energy efficiency value based upon the amount of energy recaptured by the vehicle using the regenerative braking system, and the controller further being configured to determine the energy efficiency value based upon the amount of energy being depleted using the friction braking system.

7. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the current operating conditions further configured to:

determine an acceleration value indicative of the rate at which the vehicle accelerates; and

transmit the acceleration value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the acceleration value.

8. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the current operating conditions further configured to:

determine a time period during which the vehicle is being operated inefficiently;

adjust the energy efficiency value based at least in part upon the time period of inefficient vehicle operation; and

transmit the adjusted energy efficiency value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the energy efficiency value.

9. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an instantaneous fuel efficiency value indicative of an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle with respect to a distance traveled by the vehicle; and

transmit the instantaneous fuel efficiency value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the instantaneous fuel efficiency value.

10. An information display system for a vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an energy source configured to provide energy to the electric machine, the information display system comprising:

an information display configured to display an efficiency indicator, the efficiency indicator being configured to indicate an efficiency of the vehicle; and

a controller being configured to;

receive information related to the braking system of the vehicle, the braking system including a friction braking system and a regenerative braking system, wherein the regenerative braking system and the friction braking system may be configured to decelerate the vehicle, and the regenerative braking system further being configured to generate energy during deceleration of the vehicle;

determine an instantaneous fuel efficiency value based upon the braking system information; and

transmit the instantaneous fuel efficiency so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the instantaneous fuel efficiency.

11. The information display system of claim 10, wherein the braking system information includes information indicative to a deceleration force applied by the braking system, and the deceleration force being indicative of an amount of force used to decelerate the vehicle.

12. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the braking system information further includes information indicative to when the braking system is decelerating the vehicle using the regenerative braking system.

13. The information display system of claim 12, wherein the braking system information further includes information indicative to an amount of energy being recaptured by the regenerative braking system during deceleration of the vehicle.

14. The information display system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the energy efficiency value based upon the amount of energy recaptured by the vehicle using the regenerative braking system, and the controller further being configured to determine the energy efficiency value based upon amount of energy depleted as a result of the deceleration force of the vehicle.

15. The information display system of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine an instantaneous fuel efficiency value indicative of an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle with respect to a distance traveled by the vehicle; and

transmit the instantaneous fuel efficiency value so that the information display displays the efficiency indicator based upon the instantaneous fuel efficiency value.

16. A method for displaying information pertaining to an energy efficiency of a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an energy source configured to provide energy to the electric machine, the method comprising:

receiving information related to one or more current vehicle operating conditions;

determining an energy efficiency value based upon the current vehicle operating conditions; and

transmitting the energy efficiency value so that an information display displays an efficiency indicator based upon the energy efficiency value.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving information related to a braking system that includes a regenerative braking system and a friction braking system, wherein the regenerative braking system and the friction braking system may be configured to decelerate the vehicle, and the regenerative braking system further being configured to generate energy during deceleration of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving information related to a deceleration force applied by the braking system; and

receiving information related to when the braking system is decelerating the vehicle using the regenerative braking system.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving information related to an amount of energy being recaptured by the regenerative braking system during deceleration of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining the energy efficiency value based upon the amount of energy recaptured by the vehicle using the regenerative braking system, and determining the energy efficiency value based upon the amount of energy depleted as a result of the deceleration force of the vehicle.