Information Display System And Method

• US 20120179420A1
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gilman, Dale, Aldighieri, Paul, Watson, David L., Sandvig, Craig, Bodnar, Leslie, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Watson, Angela L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,696,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/186 Displaying information according to relevancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• 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: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A trip gauge for a vehicle information display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. The trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle'"'"'s range or distance to empty value. Moreover, the positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. Accordingly, drivers may be either reassured that they are expected to reach their destination successfully or warned if they are not so the drivers can modify their driving behavior or change their destination.

Claims

1. A trip gauge for a vehicle comprising:

a first end associated with a trip start location;

a second end;

a target indicator associated with a target location and disposed apart from the first end indicating an overall distance between the trip start location and the target location; and

a vehicle indicator associated with a vehicle location, wherein a position of the vehicle indicator relative to the first end indicates a current trip distance and the position of the vehicle indicator relative to the target indicator indicates a current target distance.

2. The trip gauge of claim 1, wherein the target indicator is disposed between the first end and the second end.

3. The trip gauge of claim 1, wherein the target indicator is fixed at the second end.

4. The trip gauge of claim 1, further comprising an empty indicator disposed between the vehicle indicator and the second end, wherein a position of the empty indicator relative to the vehicle indicator indicates an estimated vehicle range.

5. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the target indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the empty indicator when the estimated vehicle range exceeds the current target distance indicating a surplus of energy exists for the vehicle to reach the target location.

6. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the empty indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the target indicator when the current target distance exceeds the estimated vehicle range indicating insufficient energy is available for the vehicle to reach the target location.

7. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the target indicator is static and the vehicle indicator and the empty indicator move along the trip gauge relative to the target indicator.

8. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the empty indicator is static and the vehicle indicator and the target indicator move along the trip gauge relative to the empty indicator.

9. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the empty indicator is disposed between the first end and the second end.

10. The trip gauge of claim 4, wherein the empty indicator is fixed at the second end.

11. An information display system for a vehicle comprising:

an information display including a trip gauge having a first end associated with a trip start location, a second end, a target indicator associated with a target location, and a vehicle indicator associated with a vehicle location; and

a controller in communication with the information display and configured to;

determine a current trip distance,

determine a current target distance, and

transmit signals causing the information display to adjust the position of the vehicle indicator based upon the current trip distance and the current target distance.

12. The information display system of claim 11, wherein the trip gauge further includes an empty indicator disposed between the vehicle indicator and the second end, wherein a position of the empty indicator relative to the vehicle indicator indicates an estimated vehicle range.

13. The information display system of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine the estimated vehicle range;

calculate a difference between the estimated vehicle range and the current target distance; and

transmit signals causing the information display to adjust the position of the empty indicator relative to the target indicator based upon the difference between the estimated vehicle range and the current target distance.

14. The information display system of claim 13, wherein the target indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the empty indicator when the estimated vehicle range exceeds the current target distance indicating an energy surplus exists for the vehicle to reach the target location.

15. The information display system of claim 14, wherein an amount of the energy surplus corresponds to the difference between the estimated vehicle range and the current target distance.

16. The information display system of claim 13, wherein the empty indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the target indicator when the current target distance exceeds the estimated vehicle range indicating an energy deficit exists for the vehicle to reach the target location.

17. The information display system of claim 16, wherein an amount of the energy deficit corresponds to the difference between the estimated vehicle range and the current target distance.

18. A display method comprising:

determining a current target distance based upon a current vehicle location and a target destination;

estimating a current vehicle range based upon an amount of energy remaining in an energy storage device;

calculating a difference between the current vehicle range and the current target distance; and

displaying a trip gauge including;

a vehicle indicator associated with the current vehicle location,

a target indicator associated with the target destination and spaced apart from the vehicle indicator based upon the current target distance, and

an empty indicator spaced apart from the vehicle indicator based upon the current vehicle range and disposed relative to the target indicator based upon the difference between the current vehicle range and the current target distance.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the target indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the empty indicator when the current vehicle range exceeds the current target distance.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the empty indicator is disposed between the vehicle indicator and the target indicator when the current target distance exceeds the current vehicle range.