INTELLIGENT RANGE MAP FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20130173097A1
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Jotanovic, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,655,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• 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 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• 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: 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An intelligent driving range system for a vehicle for automatically communicating a one-way driving range or a two-way (i.e. round-trip) driving range to a user of the vehicle. The driving range system utilizes a processor for determining whether to select the one-way distance range or the two-way distance range for communication. The processor determines the current driving range and may interface with a vehicle positioning system or navigation components for determining the current location of the vehicle. Either the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range is selected and communicated to the user of the vehicle. The selection may be based upon the current location of the vehicle. The driving range may be communicated by displaying a range map, by displaying a visual notification, or by sounding an audible notification.

Claims

1. A method for displaying either a one-way driving range or a two-way driving range for a vehicle having a processor and a display, the method comprising:

automatically selecting, using the processor, either a one-way display mode for displaying the one-way driving range or a two-way display mode for displaying the two-way driving range;

automatically determining, using the processor and based upon an energy level of the vehicle, either the one-way driving range when the one-way display mode is automatically selected or the two-way driving range when the two-way display mode is automatically selected; and

selectively displaying, using the display, either the one-way driving range when the one-way display mode is automatically selected or the two-way driving range when the two-way display mode is automatically selected.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of selectively displaying either the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range further includes selectively displaying, using the display, a range map, and

the range map includes either;

the one-way driving range, but not the two-way driving range, when the one-way display mode is automatically selected, or

the two-way driving range, but not the one-way driving range, when the two-way display mode is automatically selected.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the range map identifies:

a location of the vehicle,

a first contour disposed around the location of the vehicle and representing the one-way driving range when the one-way display mode is automatically selected, or

a second contour disposed around the location of the vehicle and representing the two-way driving range when the two-way display mode is automatically selected.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a location of the vehicle and wherein the step of automatically selecting either the one-way display mode or the two-way display mode is based upon the location of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of automatically selecting either the one-way display mode or the two-way display mode based upon the location of the vehicle includes automatically selecting the two-way display mode when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a home address of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of automatically selecting either the one-way display mode or the two-way display mode based upon the location of the vehicle includes automatically selecting the one-way display mode when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of an energy refueling location for the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of automatically selecting either the one-way display mode or the two-way display mode based upon the location of the vehicle includes automatically selecting the one-way display mode when the vehicle is being navigated by a navigation system to a second location.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of selectively displaying either the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range includes selectively displaying a numerical element corresponding either to the one-way driving range when the one-way display mode is automatically selected or to the two-way driving range when the two-way display mode is automatically selected.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating, using the processor, an alert to a user of the vehicle when the energy level of the vehicle corresponds to a driving range under a predetermined threshold of either the one-way driving range when the one-way display mode is automatically selected or the two-way driving range when the two-way display mode is automatically selected.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the alert includes at least one of generating, using an audio output unit of the vehicle, an audible notification or displaying, using the display, a visual notification to the user of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein:

the one-way driving range includes a first set of destinations towards which the vehicle can complete a one-way trip, and

the two-way driving range includes a second set of destinations towards which the vehicle can complete a first trip and from which the vehicle can complete a second trip.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the energy level of the vehicle is a current battery charge state of the vehicle.

13. A method for automatically communicating a range map for an electric vehicle having a processor comprising:

providing a battery connected to the vehicle and a display connected to the vehicle;

determining, using the processor, a location of the vehicle;

determining a one-way driving range or a round-trip driving range for the vehicle based upon a charge level of the battery;

choosing, using the processor, either the one-way driving range or the round-trip driving range based upon the location of the vehicle; and

displaying the chosen one-way driving range or the round-trip driving range as a range map on the display.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the range map is configured to use a first color for representing the one-way driving range and a second color for representing the round-trip driving range.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of choosing either the one-way driving range or the round-trip driving range based upon the location of the vehicle includes choosing the round-trip driving range when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a home address the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of choosing either the one-way driving range or the round-trip driving range based upon the location of the vehicle includes choosing the one-way driving range when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of an energy refueling station for the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of choosing either the one-way driving range or the round-trip driving range based upon the location of the vehicle includes choosing the one-way driving range when the vehicle is being navigated by a navigation system to a second location.

18. An automobile comprising:

a battery; and

a processor coupled to the battery and configured to

determine a location of the vehicle,

determine a one-way driving range or a two-way driving range for the vehicle based upon a charge level of the battery,

select either the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range based upon the location of the vehicle, and

communicate the selected one-way driving range or the two-way driving range.

19. The automobile of claim 18 further comprising a display connected to the processor and configured to display a range map corresponding to the selected one-way driving range or the two-way driving range.

20. The automobile of claim 19 wherein the range map includes a map identifying

the location of the vehicle, and

an outline surrounding the location of the vehicle and corresponding to the one-way driving range or the two-way driving range.