Vehicle Gauge for Displaying Electric Mode Status and Method of Doing the Same
First Claim
1. A method of displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a non-throttle sensor reading from a non-throttle sensor and using the non-throttle sensor reading to determine a first gauge allocation for a vehicle gauge;
(b) receiving a throttle sensor reading from a throttle sensor and using the throttle sensor reading to determine a second gauge allocation for the vehicle gauge;
(c) using the first and second gauge allocations to determine the electric mode status of the vehicle; and
(d) displaying the electric mode status of the vehicle with the vehicle gauge, wherein the vehicle can operate in an electric mode and at least one alternative mode of operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle gauge and method for displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle that can operate in both an electric mode and one or more alternative modes. According to one exemplary embodiment, the method evaluates a number of throttle and non-throttle conditions and allocates portions of the total range of the vehicle gauge to these conditions. Based on these allocations, the method determines an overall vehicle gauge position that is representative of the electric mode status of the vehicle and provides this to the vehicle gauge so that the electric mode status can be displayed to the driver.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a non-throttle sensor reading from a non-throttle sensor and using the non-throttle sensor reading to determine a first gauge allocation for a vehicle gauge; (b) receiving a throttle sensor reading from a throttle sensor and using the throttle sensor reading to determine a second gauge allocation for the vehicle gauge; (c) using the first and second gauge allocations to determine the electric mode status of the vehicle; and (d) displaying the electric mode status of the vehicle with the vehicle gauge, wherein the vehicle can operate in an electric mode and at least one alternative mode of operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a battery sensor reading from a battery sensor that is coupled to a high-voltage battery used for vehicle propulsion and using the battery sensor reading to determine a first gauge allocation for the vehicle gauge, wherein the first gauge allocation is influenced by the amount of charge on the high-voltage battery; (b) receiving a throttle sensor reading from a throttle sensor that is coupled to an accelerator pedal and using the throttle sensor reading to determine a second gauge allocation for the vehicle gauge, wherein the second gauge allocation is influenced by the amount of torque requested by the driver; (c) adding the first and second gauge allocations together to determine a total gauge allocation, wherein the total gauge allocation generally indicates how close the vehicle is to transitioning from an electric mode to an engine mode; and (d) controlling the vehicle gauge with a command signal that is generated using the total gauge allocation.
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16. A vehicle gauge for displaying an electric mode status of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first end representing the beginning of an electric mode range; a second end representing the end of the electric mode range and the beginning of an alternative mode of operation; a total range extending from the first end to the second end; and an indicator moving between the first end and the second end along the total range, wherein the position of the indicator indicates the electric mode status of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification