VEHICLE DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130073129A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Martin, Douglas Raymond, Bryan, Paul Stephen, Skaff, Ryan, Gee, Thomas Scott
• Application Number:
  US13/238,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073129A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/174 Economic driving
• 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 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An information display system includes an information display that communicates relevant information relating to the operation of a vehicle. The information display conveys a score representing lifetime or long-term driving or operating efficiency of the vehicle. The score can be conveyed numerically or graphically using a number of indicators. Each indicator may correspond to a different achievement level attained for efficient driving or vehicle use behavior.

Claims

1. A vehicle display system comprising:

a display for displaying an achievement level score; and

a controller in communication with the display and configured to;

calculate an efficiency score based on an energy consumption rate; and

increment the achievement level score when at least one of a time or a distance threshold has been reached when the efficiency score does not exceed a level promotion threshold.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display includes a number of achievement level indicators corresponding to the achievement level score.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the achievement level score is incremented upon reaching at least one of the time or the distance threshold when the display is in a demonstration mode.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the efficiency score based on the energy consumption rate when the energy consumption rate is less than a first efficiency threshold.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating an efficiency score based on an energy consumption rate comprises:

receiving an efficiency score increment amount based on the energy consumption rate; and

increasing the efficiency score by the efficiency score increment amount.

6. The display system of claim 1, further comprising determining the level promotion threshold based on a current achievement level score.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein display of the achievement level score is hidden from a driver until the efficiency score exceeds a first level promotion threshold or at least one of a first time or a first distance threshold has been reached.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the step of calculating an efficiency score based on an energy consumption rate comprises:

receiving an efficiency score decrement amount based on the energy consumption rate when the energy consumption rate exceeds a second efficiency threshold; and

decreasing the efficiency score by the efficiency score decrement amount.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a level demotion threshold based on the achievement level score; and

decrement the achievement level score when the efficiency score decreases below the level demotion threshold.

10. An display system for a vehicle comprising:

a display including a number of achievement level indicators; and

a controller in communication with the display and configured to calculate an achievement level score based on a cumulative vehicle operating parameter and transmit a signal so that the display displays the number of achievement level indicators based on the achievement level score.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the cumulative vehicle operating parameter is an efficiency score and wherein the controller is further configured to increase the achievement level score when the efficiency score exceeds a level promotion threshold.

12. The display system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive an efficiency score increment amount based on a current energy consumption rate; and

increase the efficiency score by the efficiency score increment amount.

13. The display system of claim 11, wherein the efficiency score is based on electric vehicle mode utilization.

14. The display system of claim 10, wherein the cumulative vehicle operating parameter is a distance value and wherein the controller is further configured to increase the achievement level score when the distance value exceeds a level promotion threshold.

15. The display system of claim 14, wherein the distance value corresponds to a distance traveled by the vehicle while operating in an electric mode.

16. The display system of claim 10, wherein the cumulative vehicle operating parameter is a time value and wherein the controller is further configured to increase the achievement level score when the time value exceeds a level promotion threshold.

17. The display system of claim 16, wherein the time value corresponds to an amount of time the vehicle spent operating in an electric mode.

18. A method comprising:

calculating an efficiency score based on a vehicle operating efficiency;

receiving a level promotion threshold based on an achievement level score;

incrementing the achievement level score when either the efficiency score exceeds the level promotion threshold or at least one of a time or a distance threshold has been reached; and

displaying, using a vehicle display, a number of achievement level indicators corresponding to the achievement level score.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of calculating an efficiency score based on a vehicle operating efficiency comprises:

receiving an efficiency score increment amount based on an energy consumption rate; and

increasing the efficiency score by the efficiency score increment amount.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the achievement level score is incremented upon reaching at least one of the time or distance threshold when the vehicle display is in a demonstration mode.