Rate of consumption gauge with variable rate of consumption limits

• US 6,480,106 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ochocinski, Christopher A., Crombez, Dale Scott, Napier, Steven Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/681,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/455, 340/461, 340/462, 340/815.45, 340/815.69, 340/636, 320/48
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• 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: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/004 Indicating the operating range of the engine economical driving B60R16/0236, F02B77/084; measuring liquid fuel of an engine G01F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

The invention is an improved method and system to monitor vehicle operation state and operator requests. It combines into a single gauge information indicating current vehicle operating state and ability to increase power assist using a display of instantaneous rate of consumption usage superimposed over available rate of power consumption limits. The invention can display whether an operator is requesting power assist, regenerative braking or battery charging while also displaying the available amount of each under present operating conditions. A vehicle system controller (VSC) or similar type controller is connected to the gauge, which can limit instantaneous rate of consumption usage or charge to the available rate of power consumption or charge limits. The invention can use analog needles or LEDs in various configurations as well as adding warning lamps or chimes when the instantaneous rate of consumption usage approaches or exceeds the available rate of power consumption limits.

Claims

1. A display for a vehicle comprising:

a first gauge element indicating instantaneous rate of energy consumption; and

a second gauge element indicating available rate of energy consumption;

wherein said first gauge element is superimposed over said second gauge element.

2. The display of claim 1 further comprising:

a vehicle system controller (VSC);

a set of vehicle state inputs connected to the first gauge element and second gauge element; and

an output from the display to the VSC, wherein the VSC limits the instantaneous rate of energy consumption to the available rate of energy consumption.

3. The display of claim 1 wherein said second gauge element indicating available rate of energy consumption comprises a charge side and an assist side.

4. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said first gauge element indicating instantaneous rate of energy consumption comprises an analog needle; and

said second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption comprises light emitting diodes (LEDs).

5. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said first gauge element indicating the instantaneous rate of energy consumption comprises LEDs; and

said second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption comprises LEDs.

6. The display of claim 1 wherein:

said first gauge element indicating the instantaneous rate of energy consumption comprises an analog needle; and

said second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption comprises analog needles.

7. The display of claim 1 further comprising a warning when

a desired first gauge element indicating the instantaneous rate of energy consumption approaches said second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption.

8. The display of claim 1 further comprising a warning when a desired first gauge element indicating the instantaneous rate of energy consumption exceeds said second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption.

9. The display of claim 7 wherein the warning comprises an indicator lamp on the display.

10. The display of claim 8 wherein the warning comprises an indicator lamp on the display.

11. The display of claim 7 wherein the warning comprises a chime.

12. The display of claim 8 wherein the warning comprises a chime.

13. A method of displaying vehicle energy status comprising the steps of:

monitoring instantaneous rate of energy consumption;

monitoring available rate of energy consumption; and

superimposing a first gauge element indicating the instantaneous rate of energy consumption over a second gauge element indicating the available rate of energy consumption.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of monitoring available rate of energy consumption comprises steps of monitoring charge and monitoring assist.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein indicating is achieved using light emitting diodes.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein indicating is achieved using an analog needle.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein indicating is achieved using a combination of analog needles and LEDS.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of warning an operator when a desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption approaches the available rate of energy consumption.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of warning an operator when a desired instantaneous rate of energy consumption exceeds the available rate of energy consumption.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of warning is achieved using an indicator lamp.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of warning is achieved using a chime.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of warning is achieved using an indicator lamp.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of warning is achieved using a chime.