Energy minimization routing of vehicle using satellite positioning an topographic mapping
First Claim
1. A system for determining an energy efficient route for a motor vehicle, the route having an origin and a destination, comprising:
- a database containing route information, where each possible route comprises one or more segments, and ground elevation information, where each segment of each possible route is characterized by an average elevational change value; and
a computer in communication with the database, the computer receiving the origin and destination, and accessing the database to determine possible routes existing between the origin and the destination,the computer further accessing the elevation information, determining an energy consumption for each segment based at least in part on the average elevational change value for the segment, adding the energy consumptions of the segments of a route to determine the energy consumption for the route, and determining a select route having a minimum energy consumption among the possible routes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining an energy-optimum route for a vehicle to take between an origin and a destination includes a computer onboard the vehicle. A global positioning system (GPS) transceiver is also onboard the vehicle for receiving vehicle position data from the satellite. The computer access a database containing both topographical map information and vehicle energy consumption data, and based thereon the computer determines and displays an energy-optimum route. The computer can also display information regarding nearby refueling stations. Also, the vehicle energy consumption data can be modified as appropriate based on the operation of the vehicle, to account for the particular vehicle'"'"'s actual fuel consumption characteristics.
123 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for determining an energy efficient route for a motor vehicle, the route having an origin and a destination, comprising:
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a database containing route information, where each possible route comprises one or more segments, and ground elevation information, where each segment of each possible route is characterized by an average elevational change value; and a computer in communication with the database, the computer receiving the origin and destination, and accessing the database to determine possible routes existing between the origin and the destination, the computer further accessing the elevation information, determining an energy consumption for each segment based at least in part on the average elevational change value for the segment, adding the energy consumptions of the segments of a route to determine the energy consumption for the route, and determining a select route having a minimum energy consumption among the possible routes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer program device medium residing in a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a computer program storage device readable by a digital processing system; and a means on the program storage device and embodying logic means recognizable by the digital processing system for performing method steps for determining an energy efficient route between an origin and a destination, comprising; logic means for receiving the origin and destination; logic means for accessing a database containing route information for a plurality of possible routes from the origin to the destination, each possible route comprises one or more segments, and ground elevation information, where each segment of each possible route is characterized by an average elevational change value; logic means for determining an energy consumption for each segment based at least in part on the average elevational change value for the segment, and for adding energy consumptions of the segments of a route to determine the energy consumption for the route; and logic means for determining a select route having a minimum energy consumption among the possible routes. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle, comprising:
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a receiver for receiving vehicle location information from a satellite; a database containing route information, where each possible route comprises one or more segments, and elevation information, where each segment of each possible route is characterized by an average elevational change value; a vehicle energy consumption information source containing energy consumption information relative to the vehicle; a computer in communication with the database, vehicle energy consumption source, and receiver, the computer receiving an origin and a destination, the computer accessing the database to determine possible routes existing between the origin and the destination, the computer further accessing the elevation information and the vehicle energy consumption source, determining an energy consumption for each segment based at least in part on the average elevational change value for the segment, adding the energy consumptions of the segments of a route to determine the energy consumption for the route and determining a select route having a minimum energy consumption among the possible routes; and a display on the vehicle, the display being connected to the computer for causing the display to present information representative of the select route. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification