PROACTIVE LOW FUEL WARNING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120191289A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Guo, Youliang, Wang, Christina, Lasch, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,504,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence

Abstract

A proactive low-fuel warning system provides notifications to a vehicle operator that the energy or fuel remaining in a fuel supply or energy storage device is insufficient to reach a fueling station. When fuel level is too low or the energy stored in a batter is insufficient, the system can be configured to inhibit vehicle operation. Emergency communications can be sent automatically when fuel is depleted, nearly depleted with inclusion of location information by which the vehicles current location can be determined by emergency service providers.

Claims

1. A system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a fuel sensor determining fuel remaining in a reservoir;

a navigation system, having a database of fueling stations; and

a processor coupled to the fuel sensor and the navigation system, the processor being configured to determine whether an amount of fuel remaining in the vehicle is sufficient to reach at least one fueling station.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel is comprised of battery capacity.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to inhibit vehicle operation if fuel in the reservoir is insufficient to reach at least one fueling station.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface, configured to display on a display device, information as to the location of a fueling station within a distance reachable with the fuel remaining in the reservoir.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency communication system coupled to the processor, the communication system being configured to transmit a predetermined message when fuel in the reservoir is substantially depleted.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency communication system coupled to the processor, the communication system being configured to transmit a user-determinable message when fuel in the reservoir is substantially depleted.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two-way radio frequency communication system coupled to the processor, the communication system being configured to transmit a message when fuel in the reservoir is less than a first threshold.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a two-way radio frequency communication system coupled to the processor, the communication system being configured to transmit a message that includes vehicle location information.

10. A low fuel warning system for a vehicle, the system being comprised of:

a processor; and

a memory device coupled to the processor, the memory device storing executable program instructions, which when executed cause the processor to;

determine whether an amount of fuel remaining in the vehicle is sufficient to reach at least one fueling station.

9. The system of claim 11, wherein the vehicle location information is comprised of at least one of:

latitude and longitude; and

an address.

11. The low fuel warning system of claim 10, wherein the memory device stores additional program instructions, which when executed cause the processor to display on a display device, information as to the location of a fueling station within a distance reachable with the fuel remaining in the reservoir.

12. The low fuel warning system of claim 10, further comprised of a radio frequency communications device coupled to the processor, and wherein the memory device stored program instructions, which when executed cause the communications device to transmit a message regarding status of the vehicle.

13. The low fuel warning system of claim 12, wherein the status of the vehicle is comprised of at least one of:

the fuel remaining in the vehicle; and

the location of the vehicle.

14. A method of pro-actively warning of a low fuel condition in a vehicle, the method comprising:

determining an amount of fuel remaining in a fuel reservoir;

determining a fuel efficiency of the vehicle;

calculating a driving range provided by the remaining fuel and fuel efficiency;

determining a location of the vehicle and a distance to a fueling stations statically and while vehicle is moving; and

comparing the distance to a fuel range safety factor; and

displaying a low fuel-related message on a display device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a location of the vehicle and a distance to a fueling station is performed while the vehicle is moving.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a location of the vehicle and a distance to a fueling station is performed while the vehicle is stopped.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the fuel range safety factor is between about five percent and thirty percent of a driving range provided by fuel remaining in a vehicle reservoir.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the low fuel related message is comprised of at least one of:

a driving range provided by the fuel remaining in the fuel tank;

a driving practice required to reach a fueling station with the remaining fuel;

a map route to a fueling station;

directions to a fueling station; and

a message that vehicle operation is changed due to a low fuel condition.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting a message upon the determination of a low fuel condition.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the transmitted message is comprised of a location of the vehicle.

21. The system of claim 14, further comprising the step of changing vehicle operation upon a determination of a low fuel condition.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining a location of the vehicle and a distance to a fueling stations, is comprised of obtaining information from a navigation system.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of obtaining information form a navigation system is comprised of obtaining location information from at least one of:

a global positioning system;

an inertial navigation system and a LORAN system.