Energy Mapping Systems
First Claim
1. A motor vehicle configured to collect energy information for use in an energy mapping system, the motor vehicle comprising:
- a navigation system including an electronic control unit;
a first energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a first power source;
a second energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a second power source, wherein the second power source is different than the first power source; and
a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of the motor vehicle;
wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with the first energy level sensor, the second energy level sensor, and the GPS receiver; and
wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the steps of;
receiving a first location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a first portion of a roadway segment from the GPS receiver;
measuring a first energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a second energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the first energy level value and the second energy level value corresponding to the first location;
receiving a second location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a second portion of the roadway segment from the GPS receiver; and
measuring a third energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a fourth energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the third energy level value and the fourth energy level value corresponding to the second location.
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Abstract
An energy map for a motor vehicle and an energy mapping system for making the energy map are disclosed. The energy map includes energy information related to energy consumption and energy recharging of various power sources along various roadway segments. The energy mapping system may include a navigation system for a motor vehicle comprising a GPS receiver, various energy level sensors, and an electronic control unit. A probe vehicle may be used to measure energy consumption and energy recharging for various power sources. The energy mapping system may also include a service provider. The navigation system may measure energy levels for the various power sources along various roadway segments and transmit the measurements to the service provider. The service provider may then associate differences in the measured energy levels for each of the various power sources with the various roadway segments.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A motor vehicle configured to collect energy information for use in an energy mapping system, the motor vehicle comprising:
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a navigation system including an electronic control unit; a first energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a first power source; a second energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a second power source, wherein the second power source is different than the first power source; and a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of the motor vehicle; wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with the first energy level sensor, the second energy level sensor, and the GPS receiver; and wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the steps of; receiving a first location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a first portion of a roadway segment from the GPS receiver; measuring a first energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a second energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the first energy level value and the second energy level value corresponding to the first location; receiving a second location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a second portion of the roadway segment from the GPS receiver; and measuring a third energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a fourth energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the third energy level value and the fourth energy level value corresponding to the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An energy mapping system for collecting energy information associated with a plurality of roadway segments, the energy mapping system comprising:
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a service provider configured to receive energy information from a plurality of probe vehicles travelling along the plurality of roadway segments; and the plurality of probe vehicles, each probe vehicle comprising; a navigation system including an electronic control unit; a first energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a first power source; a second energy level sensor configured to detect an amount of energy associated with a second power source, wherein the second power source is different than the first power source; and a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of the probe vehicle; wherein, for each probe vehicle, the electronic control unit is in communication with the first energy level sensor, the second energy level sensor, and the GPS receiver; and wherein, for each probe vehicle, the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the steps of; receiving a first location of the probe vehicle corresponding to a first portion of a roadway segment from the GPS receiver; measuring a first energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a second energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the first energy level value and the second energy level value corresponding to the first location; receiving a second location of the probe vehicle corresponding to a second portion of the roadway segment from the GPS receiver; and measuring a third energy level value of the first power source from the first energy level sensor and measuring a fourth energy level value of the second power source from the second energy level sensor, the third energy level value and the fourth energy level value corresponding to the second location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20)
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15. An energy mapping system for collecting energy information associated with a plurality of roadway segments, the energy mapping system comprising:
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a service provider configured to receive energy information from a probe vehicle travelling along the plurality of roadway segments; and the probe vehicle, comprising; a navigation system including an electronic control unit, a fuel level sensor configured to detect an amount of liquid fuel in a fuel tank associated with an engine; a battery charge sensor configured to detect a state of charge of a battery associated with an electric motor; and a GPS receiver configured to determine a location of the probe vehicle; and a wireless network connection in communication with the service provider over a wireless network; wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to perform the steps of; receiving a first location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a first portion of a roadway segment from the GPS receiver; measuring a value of a first fuel level of the fuel tank using the fuel level sensor and measuring a value of a first state of charge of the battery using the battery charge sensor, the first fuel level and the first state of charge corresponding to the first location; receiving a second location of the motor vehicle corresponding to a second portion of the roadway segment from the GPS receiver; measuring a value of a second fuel level of the fuel tank using the fuel level sensor and measuring a value of a second state of charge of the battery using the battery charge sensor, the second fuel level and the second state of charge corresponding to the second location; and transmitting at least the first location, the first fuel level, the first state of charge, the second location, the second fuel level, and the second state of charge to the service provider through the wireless network connection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification