VEHICLE SYSTEM

• US 20100286884A1
• Filed: 11/07/2008
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jason Robert Bunn
• Original Assignee: Jason Robert Bunn
• Inventors: Bunn, Jason Robert
• Application Number:
  US12/741,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286884A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/105 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/13 Load or weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A vehicle system comprises: a detector for detecting the position and direction of a vehicle during its displacement; a database of mapping information; a database of gradient information; a display for presenting mapping information relevant to said vehicle'"'"'s position and its anticipated displacement path; said display being configured to indicate the option of freewheeling; and a controller which, dependent upon the measured speed of said vehicle and predetermined gradient information for said anticipated displacement path, derives a signal indicative of the extent of freewheeling if said freewheeling option is taken.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a detector for detecting the position and direction of a vehicle during its displacement;

a database of mapping information;

a database of gradient information;

a display for presenting mapping information relevant to said vehicle'"'"'s position and its anticipated displacement path;

said display being configured to indicate the option of freewheeling; and

a controller which, dependent upon the measured speed of said vehicle and predetermined gradient information for said anticipated displacement path, derives a signal indicative of the extent of freewheeling if said freewheeling option is taken.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller automatically switches the vehicle between modes of operation dependent upon the reaching of a point of said displacement path.

3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting the presence of a gradient in a displacement path.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting the weight of the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface for selecting an option or entering data representative of the weight of the vehicle.

6. The system according to claim 1, which is configured to compare the extent of freewheeling for a plurality of displacement paths.

7. The system according to claim 1, which is configured to calculate the likely fuel consumption for a plurality of displacement paths and for rating said paths dependent upon the likely fuel consumption values.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller operates in conjunction with an externally visible indicator for indicating to other drivers that a vehicle is in a freewheeling mode of operation.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller indicates the option of freewheeling at a variable point along the displacement path dependent upon measured speed of vehicle, weight of vehicle and at least one event in the displacement path.

10. (canceled)