Vehicular display device, method of controlling the same, program, and storage medium having program stored therein

• US 8,116,973 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Soma, Takaya, Niwa, Toshiaki, Kato, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US12/310,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20100010697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 701200-202, 701 22- 23, 701 25- 26, 701/28, 701/211, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.19
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/68 Traffic data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 : of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 : related to vehicle motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 : Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 : Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 : Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 : Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096838 : where the user preferences are taken into account or the user selects one route out of a plurality
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 : where the complete route is shown to the driver
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle has a plurality of traveling modes. A display device for the vehicle comprises: a display unit displaying map information; and a control unit causing the display unit to display recognizably, at a portion of roads in the map information, traveling modes that correspond to the roads. Preferably, the control unit sets a destination in response to an instruction received from an operator, searches for a traveling route extending from a starting point to the destination, divides the traveling route into segments, and associates one of the traveling modes with each of the segments. More preferably, the control unit causes the display unit to display the plurality of candidate traveling routes, each with the traveling mode overlaid thereon, and selects in response to an instruction of the operator one traveling route planned to be taken among the plurality of candidate traveling routes.

Claims

1. A display device for a vehicle having a plurality of traveling modes, comprising:

a display unit displaying map information; and

a control unit causing said display unit to display recognizably, at a portion of roads in said map information, traveling modes that correspond to said roads, wherein;

said control unit sets a destination in response to an instruction received from an operator, searches for a plurality of candidate traveling routes extending from a starting point to said destination, divides said candidate traveling routes into segments, and associates one of said traveling modes with each of said segments; and

said control unit causes said display unit to display said plurality of candidate traveling routes, each with said traveling mode overlaid thereon, selects in response to an instruction of said operator one traveling route planned to be taken among said plurality of candidate traveling routes, and causes said display unit to display at what ratio said plurality of traveling modes occupy said traveling route planned to be taken that is selected.

2. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said control unit associates said traveling mode in accordance with information of said each of said segments of said traveling route divided; and

said information of said each of said segments includes at least one of;

presence/absence of traffic congestion;

a width of said road;

a legal speed limit;

a gradient of said road; and

a length of said each of said segments.

3. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

said vehicle is a hybrid vehicle employing an internal combustion engine and a motor together to travel; and

said plurality of traveling modes include a first traveling mode employing said internal combustion engine and said motor concurrently, and a second traveling mode stopping said internal combustion engine and employing said motor to travel.

4. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control unit causes said display unit to display said plurality of traveling modes in association with mutually different colors, respectively.

5. The display device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control unit causes said display unit to display said plurality of traveling modes in association with good poor mileage.

6. A method of controlling a display device for a vehicle having a plurality of traveling modes and including a display unit displaying map information, comprising the steps of:

determining a traveling mode of said plurality of traveling modes of said vehicle that corresponds to a road;

causing said display unit to display recognizably, at a portion of roads in said map information, traveling modes that correspond to said roads;

setting a destination in response to an instruction received from an operator;

searching for a plurality of candidate traveling routes extending from a starting point to said destination;

dividing said candidate traveling routes into segments, wherein the step of determining associates one of said traveling modes with each of said segments and wherein the step of causing causes said display unit to display said plurality of candidate traveling routes, each with said traveling mode overlaid thereon; and

selecting in response to an instruction of said operator one traveling route planned to be taken among said plurality of candidate traveling routes, and causing said display unit to display at what ratio said plurality of traveling modes occupy said traveling route planned to be taken that is selected.

7. The method of controlling a display device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein:

the step of determining includes associating said traveling mode in accordance with information of said each of said segments of said traveling route divided; and

said information of said each of said segments includes at least one of;

presence/absence of traffic congestion;

a width of said road;

a legal speed limit;

a gradient of said road; and

a length of said each of said segments.

8. The method of controlling a display device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein:

said vehicle is a hybrid vehicle employing an internal combustion engine and a motor together to travel; and

said plurality of traveling modes include a first traveling mode employing said internal combustion engine and said motor concurrently, and a second traveling mode stopping said internal combustion engine and employing said motor to travel.

9. The method of controlling a display device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the step of causing causes said display unit to display said plurality of traveling modes in association with mutually different colors, respectively.

10. The method of controlling a display device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the step of causing causes said display unit to display said plurality of traveling modes in association with good poor mileage.

11. A computer readable storage medium having a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 6.

12. A program for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 6.

13. A computer readable storage medium having a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 7.

14. A computer readable storage medium having a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 8.

15. A computer readable storage medium having a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 9.

16. A computer readable storage medium having a program stored therein for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 10.

17. A program for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 7.

18. A program for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 8.

19. A program for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 9.

20. A program for causing a computer to execute the method of controlling a display device for a vehicle, as recited in claim 10.