Braking Display System And Method

• US 20130049945A1
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• 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, Skaff, Ryan, Hartl, Derek
• Granted Patent: US 9,718,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/453
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A vehicle information display may include a split braking gauge for conveying information relating to braking operation and efficiency to assist drivers in maximizing energy capture during braking in vehicle with regenerative braking systems. The split braking gauge may incorporate a side-by-side or stacked configuration for conveying both regenerative braking and friction braking values. The split braking gauge may include fixed thresholds or boundaries associated with dynamic threshold values that can change based on current vehicle operating conditions.

Claims

1. An information display system comprising:

a regenerative braking gauge including a regenerative braking indicator corresponding to a current regenerative braking value and a static regenerative braking threshold corresponding to a regenerative braking threshold value; and

a control system configured to;

receive at least one input related to current operating conditions of a vehicle,

determine the regenerative braking threshold value based upon the current operating conditions, and

provide at least one output to the regenerative braking gauge to position the regenerative braking indicator relative to the regenerative braking threshold based upon the current regenerative braking value and the regenerative braking threshold value.

2. The information display system of claim 1, further comprising:

a friction braking gauge adjacent the regenerative braking gauge, the friction braking gauge including a friction braking indicator corresponding to a current friction braking value and a static friction braking threshold corresponding to a maximum friction braking value.

3. The information display system of claim 2, wherein the control system is further configured to provide, during a braking event, at least one output to the friction braking gauge for displaying the current friction braking value greater than zero when the current regenerative braking value is less than the regenerative braking threshold and vehicle speed is below a first vehicle speed threshold.

4. The information display system of claim 3, wherein the control system, during the braking event, is further configured to provide, the at least one output to the friction braking gauge for displaying the current friction braking value greater than zero and the at least one output to the regenerative braking gauge for displaying the current regenerative braking value approximately equal to zero when vehicle speed is below a second vehicle speed threshold, the second vehicle speed threshold being less than the first vehicle speed threshold.

5. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the regenerative braking threshold value is static.

6. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the regenerative braking threshold value is dynamic.

7. The information display system of claim 6, wherein the regenerative braking threshold value is a minimum of a powertrain brake limit and a battery electrical charge system limit.

8. The information display system of claim 7, wherein the regenerative braking threshold value is a power-based value and the powertrain brake limit is based on a powertrain brake torque limit and vehicle speed.

9. The information display system of claim 8, wherein the current regenerative braking value is based on vehicle speed and regenerative torque.

10. The information display system of claim 7, wherein the regenerative braking threshold value is a torque-based value.

11. A vehicle braking gauge comprising:

a static first boundary;

a static second boundary;

a braking indicator disposed between the first boundary and the second boundary;

a first region, disposed between the braking indicator and the first boundary, corresponding to a first braking percentage contributed from a first braking source; and

a second region, disposed between the braking indicator and the second boundary, corresponding to a second braking percentage contributed from a second braking source.

12. The braking gauge of claim 11, wherein a position of the braking indicator between the first boundary and the second boundary indicates a current braking distribution between the first braking source and the second braking source.

13. The braking gauge of claim 12, wherein the first braking source is associated with a regenerative braking system.

14. The braking gauge of claim 13, wherein first region corresponds to a current regenerative braking value approximately equal to a regenerative braking threshold value when vehicle speed exceeds a first speed threshold.

15. The braking gauge of claim 13, wherein first region corresponds to a current regenerative braking value less than a regenerative braking threshold value when vehicle speed is less than a first speed threshold and greater than a second speed threshold.

16. The braking gauge of claim 12, wherein the second braking source is associated with a friction braking system.

17. The braking gauge of claim 11, wherein the braking gauge is linear.

18. A method comprising:

displaying a braking gauge having a fixed first boundary and a fixed second boundary;

determining a regenerative braking amount and a friction braking amount to obtain a total braking amount; and

displaying an indicator disposed between the first and second boundary and positioned relative thereto to indicate the regenerative braking amount relative to the total braking amount when the regenerative braking amount and the friction braking amount are greater than zero.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the indicator also corresponds to a regenerative braking threshold value when the regenerative braking amount reaches the regenerative braking threshold value.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the braking gauge is linear.