Apparatus for indicating distance to empty of a vehicle, and a method thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling of a vehicle, comprising:
- first means for detecting an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;
second means for detecting if a fuel tank lid is open or closed;
third means for detecting the vehicle speed;
fourth means for calculating a fluctuating fuel consumption rate based on information from the first means, second means, and third means, and calculating an initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and a predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate; and
fifth means for displaying the calculated initial distance to empty, wherein the fluctuating fuel consumption rate is derived from calculation of traveled distance divided by amount of fuel consumption between previous closing and current opening of the fuel tank lid, wherein the calculating the initial distance to empty comprises;
calculating the first distance to empty based on the predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating the second distance to empty based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating a compensation value defined as the first distance to empty subtracted by the second distance to empty; and
calculating the initial distance to empty by calculation of the second distance to empty subtracted by the compensation value.
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Abstract
In an apparatus and a method for indicating initial distance to empty (DTE) at completion of fueling, the initial DTE is calculated based on a fluctuating fuel consumption rate and is compensated by a compensation value so that DTE can be determined with more accuracy compared with an initial DTE calculated based on the fixed fuel consumption rate. The DTE to be confirmed can be thereby prevented from abruptly changing.
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Citations
4 Claims
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1. An apparatus for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling of a vehicle, comprising:
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first means for detecting an amount of fuel in a fuel tank;
second means for detecting if a fuel tank lid is open or closed;
third means for detecting the vehicle speed;
fourth means for calculating a fluctuating fuel consumption rate based on information from the first means, second means, and third means, and calculating an initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and a predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate; and
fifth means for displaying the calculated initial distance to empty, wherein the fluctuating fuel consumption rate is derived from calculation of traveled distance divided by amount of fuel consumption between previous closing and current opening of the fuel tank lid, wherein the calculating the initial distance to empty comprises;
calculating the first distance to empty based on the predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating the second distance to empty based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating a compensation value defined as the first distance to empty subtracted by the second distance to empty; and
calculating the initial distance to empty by calculation of the second distance to empty subtracted by the compensation value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for indicating an initial distance to empty at completion of fueling comprising:
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determining if fueling of the fuel tank has started;
calculating, when the fueling of the fuel tank has started, a fluctuating fuel consumption rate by calculation of traveled distance divided by amount of fuel consumption between completion of previous fueling and start of current fueling;
determining if fueling of the fuel tank is completed;
calculating, when the fueling of the fuel tank is completed, the amount of fuel; and
calculating the initial distance to empty available from the fuel at completion of fueling based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and a predetermined fixed fuel consumption rate, wherein the calculating the initial distance to empty comprises;
calculating the first distance to empty based on the predetermine fixed fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating the second distance to empty based on the fluctuating fuel consumption rate and the amount of fuel;
calculating a compensation value defined as calculation of the first distance to empty subtracted by the second distance; and
calculating the initial distance to empty by calculation of the second distance to empty subtracted by the compensation value.
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Specification