Method and device for signaling several pieces of information that are relevant for operating a motor vehicle

• US 7,417,532 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kustosch, Mario, Grill, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lu; Shirley
• Application Number:
  US10/522,296
• Publication Number:
  US 20060109097A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/438, 340/705, 364/424.04, 364/442, 364/431.01, 701/123
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/021 with means for providing feel, e.g. by changing pedal force characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/10 of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine

Abstract

A method and a device for signaling several items of information relevant for operating a motor vehicle are provided, which are registered by the driver of the vehicle in a particularly reliable manner, and which do not distract the driver from the traffic. To this end, different items of information are represented by unambiguous haptic signals, particularly having a maximum, at different positions of a control element of the vehicle, particularly an accelerator pedal.

Claims

1. A method for signaling several items of information relevant for operating a motor vehicle having a drive unit, comprising:

representing different items of information by using unambiguous haptic signals at different positions of a control element of the vehicle;

forming the different items of information by different fuel consumption values;

respectively representing the different fuel consumption values by a characteristic of one of the haptic signals on the control element having a maximum at the associated position of the control element;

determining a specific fuel consumption from a resulting setpoint value for an output variable of the drive unit and a current engine speed;

converting said specific fuel consumption into a consumption per unit of distance value; and

ascertaining the one of the haptic signals as a function of said consumption per unit of distance using an additional characteristics function.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the haptic signals have a maximum.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the control element includes an accelerator pedal.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the characteristic of the one of the haptic signals includes a saw-tooth-shaped characteristic.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

specifying at least one of the fuel consumption values using an input unit.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

forming the one of the haptic signals by a restoring a force acting on the control element.

7. A device for signaling several items of information relevant for operating a motor vehicle, having a drive unit, comprising:

an arrangement for representing different items of information by using unambiguous haptic signals at different positions of a control element of the vehicle;

an arrangement for forming the different items of information by different fuel consumption values;

an arrangement for respectively representing the different fuel consumption values by a characteristic of one of the haptic signals on the control element having a maximum at the associated position of the control element;

an arrangement for determining a specific fuel consumption from a setpoint value for an output variable of the drive unit and a current engine speed using a characteristics function, and for determining a consumption per unit of distance from the specific fuel consumption; and

an arrangement for ascertaining the one of the haptic signals as a function of said consumption per unit of distance using an additional characteristics function.

8. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the haptic signals have a maximum.

9. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the control element includes an accelerator pedal.

10. The device as recited in claim 7, wherein:

the characteristic of the one of the haptic signals includes a saw-tooth-shaped characteristic.