Method for Displaying the Remaining Range of a Motor Vehicle

• US 20100219945A1
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Breisinger, Marc, Schreiber, Nicolas, Schumann, Josef
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method displays the remaining range of a motor vehicle. The method determines repeatedly estimated values relating to the remaining range of the motor vehicle based on a fill level of an energy storage unit and at least one additional motor-vehicle state influencing the remaining range. A first remaining-range value is determined based on the estimated values and displayed as a first display value by a first graphical element on the display device. An updated second remaining-range value is determined during the display of the first display value. If the difference, in terms of amount, between the first and the second remaining-range values exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the second remaining-range value is displayed as a second display value by a second graphical element in addition to the first display value on the display device.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a remaining range of a motor vehicle using an information device of the motor vehicle including a device for determining a fill level of an energy storage unit of the vehicle, a computer for determining estimated values relating to the remaining range, and a graphical display device for displaying the remaining range, the method comprising the acts of:

repeatedly determining estimated values relating to the remaining range of the motor vehicle based on the fill level of the energy storage unit and at least one additional state of the motor vehicle that influences the remaining range;

determining a first remaining-range value based on the estimated values and displaying the first remaining range value as a first display value by a first graphical element on the display device;

determining an updated second remaining-range value during the display of the first display value;

determining a difference in terms of amount between the first remaining-range value and the updated second remaining range value; and

if the difference exceeds a predetermined threshold value, displaying the second remaining-range value as a second display value by a second graphical element in addition to the first display value on the display device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

determining an updated third remaining range value during the display of the first display value and the second display value;

if the updated third remaining-range value is closer to the second remaining-range value than to the first remaining-range value, accepting the second remaining-range value as the first display value and displaying the second remaining-range value by the first graphical element, wherein the second graphical element remains faded-in on the display device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

determining an updated third remaining range-value during the display of the first display value and the second display value;

if the third remaining-range value is closer to the second remaining-range value than to the first remaining-range value, accepting the second remaining-range value as the first display value and displaying the second remaining-range value by the first graphical element, wherein the second graphical element is faded out on the display device.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first graphical element is a bar.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second graphical element is an arrowhead.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

during the display of the first display value and before the display of the second display value, monitoring a change of the at least one additional state of the motor vehicle that influences the remaining range;

if a remaining-range change in terms of amount resulting from the change of the state of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined change threshold value, displaying a third graphical element representing the change in addition to the first display value.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the third graphical element representing the change provides a qualitative display of a decrease or increase in the remaining range.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the display of the third graphical element occurs along with a color change of the first graphical element.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein:

delaying-in-time the determination of the second remaining-range value in relation to the display of the third graphical element, said third graphical element having substantially the same appearance as the second graphical element and being substantially faded-out on the display device at the same time as a fade-in of the second graphical element.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the second and third graphical elements are displayed only in one of several operating modes of the motor vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a change in the remaining range of the motor vehicle is displayed on the display device by a fourth graphical element in a case of a transition into said one operating mode of the motor vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein a change in the remaining range of the motor vehicle is displayed on the display device by a fourth graphical element in a case of a transition into an operating mode proceeding said one operating mode of the motor vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fourth graphical element is an arrowhead.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the fourth graphical element is displayed along with a color change of the first graphical element.

15. A method for displaying a remaining range of a motor vehicle on a display device, the method comprising the acts of:

repeatedly determining estimated values indicative of a remaining-range of the motor vehicle as a function of a consumable quantity stored in the vehicle and an additional state of the motor vehicle that influences the remaining-range;

displaying a first graphical element on the display device, the first graphical element being indicative of a first remaining-range value determined based on the estimated values;

during the display of the first graphical element, determining an updated second remaining-range value;

if a difference in terms of amount between the first and the second remaining-range values exceeds a predetermined threshold value, displaying a second graphical element in addition to the first graphical element, the second graphical element being indicative of the second remaining range value.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the acts of:

determining an updated third remaining-range value while displaying the first and second graphical elements;

if the third remaining-range value is closer to the second remaining-range value than to the first remaining-range value, displaying the second remaining-range value through the first graphical element, and keeping the second graphical element faded-in on the display device.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the acts of:

determining an updated third remaining-range value while displaying the first and second graphical elements;

if the third remaining-range value is closer to the second remaining-range value than to the first remaining-range value, displaying the second remaining-range value through the first graphical element, and keeping the second graphical element faded-out on the display device.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the acts of:

monitoring for a change of the additional state of the motor vehicle during the display of the first and second graphical elements; and

if a remaining-range change resulting from the monitored change of the state of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined change threshold value, displaying a third graphical element indicative of the remaining-range change in addition to the first graphical element.