System state indicator

• US 7,079,018 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Bouiges, Thierry, Shepherd, Russel, Hottebart, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/965,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 340442-449, 340439-441, 340/450.2, 340/459, 340/461, 340/462, 731/46, 731/462, 731/463, 731/464, 731/465, 731/468, 116/34.R, 116/34.A, 116/34.B, 701 1- 93, 151/152, 151/151
• US Class Current: 340/442
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/02 Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously

Abstract

System state indicator in particular for a vehicle dashboard, the system having a given use potential and comprising evaluation means such that, on the basis of measurements related to the conditions of use of the vehicle and/or the physical characteristics of the system and/or the vehicle and/or the vehicle environment conditions, the evaluation means calculate at a time t parameters characteristic of the state of the system, characterized in that the state indicator simultaneously displays at time t at least three different parameters characteristic of the state of the system and its range.

Claims

1. State indicator for a flat running system comprising at least, for each wheel, a tire casing, a deflation warning device and means for supporting a tread of the tire casing in the event of deflation of the tire casing, the system having a given use potential and comprising evaluation means such that, on the basis of measurements related to conditions of use of said vehicle and/or to physical characteristics of said system and/or to said vehicle and/or to environment conditions of said vehicle, said evaluation means calculate at a time t parameters characteristic of the state of said system, in which said state indicator simultaneously displays at said time t at least:

the potential for use of said system at said given time t;

the range of use of said system at said given time t; and

a quantity C related to the severity of the parameters of use of said system at said given time t.

2. Indicator according to claim 1, in which said potential ids displayed graphically.

3. Indicator according to claim 2, in which said potential is represented by an area A with a given color whose surface area represents the value of said potential.

4. Indicator according to claim 3, in which said area A is separated into two areas A1 and A2 whose respective surface areas are a function of the value of said quantity C.

5. Indicator according to claim 1, in which said quantity C is displayed graphically.

6. Indicator according to claim 5, in which the value of the quantity C related to the severity of the current conditions of use of said vehicle is in addition displayed numerically.

7. State indicator according to claim 1, such that it comprises means for:

Recording the range of use required by the driver at a given time; and

Updating this range of use required by the driver by deducting the distances actually traveled or the actual time of use, according to circumstances.

8. Indicator according to claim 7, in which the evaluation and display means compare the required range and the calculated range, and convert these data into a display recommending to the driver the behavior to be adopted in order to regain a sufficient calculated range of use.

9. Indicator according to claim 1, in which the quantity C, representing the severity of the current conditions of use of said system, is the temperature of the internal air of the tire casing.

10. On-board “

monitoring and recommendation”

system, characterized in that it uses at least one state indicator according to claim 1, controlled by electronic memory and logic circuit means, in particular one or more algorithms, supplied with information coming from appropriate sensors.

11. System according to claim 10, such that it comprises a screen capable of successively displaying at least two “

modes”

in the form of at least two different respective functionalities, chosen from amongst “

fuel range”

, “

tire wear range”

, “

flat running system range”

, “

range before service”

, “

battery range”

modes, with a function of priority display of a failed mode, the successive display being controlled at least partially by a control means activated by the driver or at least partially controlled automatically by a logic system and its memory.

12. Indicator according to claim 1, wherein said state indicator moreover simultaneously displays the maximum and minimum values of the range of use of said system at said given time t.

13. Indicator according to claim 12 such that the maximum and minimum values of the range of use of said system at said time t are evaluated by integrating the use potential with said given time t.

14. Indicator according to claim 12, such that the maximum and minimum possible values of the range of use of said system at said time t are evaluated by integrating the vehicle driving parameters.

15. Indicator according to claim 12, in which the maximum and minimum possible values of the range of use of said system at the time t are evaluated by integrating the vehicle environment parameters.