Method and System for Extending an Operating Range of a Motor Vehicle

• US 20110160992A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• 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 9,079,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method and system are described for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and an economy mode of operation. A vehicle range may be estimated based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of operation. A distance to a fuel location may also be estimated. The economy mode of vehicle operation may be automatically entered a predetermined period of time after the estimated vehicle range based on the vehicle fuel level and the first operating mode decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to a fuel location.

Claims

1. A method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle for use with an alternative fuel, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and an economy mode of operation, the method comprising:

estimating a vehicle range based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of vehicle operation;

estimating a distance to a location of the alternative fuel;

automatically entering the economy mode of vehicle operation a predetermined period of time after the estimated vehicle range decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to the fuel location.

2. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

providing, when the estimated vehicle range decreases to within the predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to a fuel location, an indication to a vehicle user that the vehicle will enter the economy mode of vehicle operation

remaining in the first mode of vehicle operation if, during the predetermined period of time after providing the indication, the user provides a command to refrain from entering the economy mode of operation; and

exiting the economy mode of vehicle operation after the entering the economy mode of vehicle operation in response to a user command to exit the economy mode of vehicle operation.

3. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the alternative fuel comprises one of ethanol, hydrogen, electricity for a battery, and natural gas.

4. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein the economy mode of vehicle operation comprises one of limiting vehicle speed, limiting vehicle acceleration, modifying vehicle acceleration response characteristics, and altering vehicle climate control system operation.

5. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 wherein estimating a distance to a fuel location comprises receiving fuel locations from one of a navigation system, a user input and a learned locations list.

6. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 further comprising providing an indication to the vehicle user that the vehicle is operating in the economy mode.

7. The method for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 1 further wherein automatically entering the economy mode of vehicle operation comprises determining whether the economy mode of vehicle operation is authorized.

8. A system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle for use with an alternative fuel, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and an economy mode of operation, the system comprising a controller configured to:

estimate a vehicle range based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of vehicle operation;

estimate a distance to a location of the alternative fuel; and

generate an entry command signal for use in automatically entering the economy mode of vehicle operation after the estimated vehicle range decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to the fuel location.

9. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 further comprising:

a communications interface configured to output from the controller the information signal and the entry command signal;

wherein the controller is further configured to

generate, when the estimated vehicle range decreases to within the predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to the fuel location, an information signal for use in providing an indication to a vehicle user that the vehicle will enter the economy mode of vehicle operation,

refrain from generating the entry command signal in order to remain in the first mode of vehicle operation if, during the predetermined period of time after generating the information signal for use in providing the indication, the user provides a command to refrain from entering the economy mode of operation, and

generate an exit command signal for use in exiting the economy mode of vehicle operation after entering the economy mode of vehicle operation in response to a user command to exit the economy mode of vehicle operation;

and wherein the communications interface is further configured to input to the controller a signal indicative of the user command to refrain from entering the economy mode of operation and a signal indicative of the user command to exit the economy mode of vehicle operation, and to output from the controller the exit command signal.

10. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the alternative fuel comprises one of ethanol, hydrogen, electricity for a battery, and natural gas.

11. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the economy mode of vehicle operation comprises one of limiting vehicle speed, limiting vehicle acceleration, modifying vehicle acceleration response characteristics, and altering vehicle climate control system operation.

12. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein, to estimate a distance to a fuel location, the controller is further configured to receive fuel locations from one of a navigation system, a user input and a learned locations list.

13. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to generate another information signal for use in providing an indication to the vehicle user that the vehicle is operating in the economy mode.

14. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 8 wherein the interface is further configured determine if the economy mode of vehicle operation is authorized.

15. A system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation, the system comprising a controller configured to:

estimate a vehicle range based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of vehicle operation;

estimate a distance to a location of a source of vehicle fuel;

generate, when the estimated vehicle range decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to the fuel location, an information signal for use in providing an indication to a vehicle user that the vehicle will enter the second mode of vehicle operation;

generate, if the user fails to provide a command to refrain from entering the second mode of operation during a predetermined period of time after generating the information signal for use in providing the indication to the vehicle user, an entry command signal for use in automatically entering the second mode of vehicle operation; and

generate an exit command signal for use in exiting the second mode of vehicle operation in response to a user command to exit the second mode of vehicle operation.

16. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein the vehicle fuel is an alternative fuel comprising one of ethanol, hydrogen, electricity for a battery, and natural gas.

17. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein the second mode of vehicle operation is an economy mode of vehicle operation and comprises one of limiting vehicle speed, limiting vehicle acceleration, modifying vehicle acceleration response characteristics, and altering vehicle climate control system operation.

18. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein, to estimate a distance to a location of a source of vehicle fuel, the controller is further configured to receive fuel source locations from one of a navigation system, a user input and a learned locations list.

19. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to generate another information signal for use in providing an indication to the vehicle user that the vehicle is operating in the second mode.

20. The system for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a communications interface configured to output from the controller the information signal, entry command signal, and exit command signal, and to input to the controller signals indicative of user commands to refrain from entering the second mode of operation, and to exit the second mode of operation.