Deceleration-running evaluating device

• US 8,229,610 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Harumoto, Satoshi, Matsuda, Yuusaku, Kiyo, Kouei
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US12/003,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,672 Days
• Field of Search: 701/93, 701/22, 701/123, 701/114, 701/33, 701/102, 701/110, 701/101, 731/13, 731/145.2, 731/143.8
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion

Abstract

A total distance calculating unit calculates a total running distance and an energy-cut-off distance calculating unit calculates a deceleration running distance of a vehicle. The deceleration running distance is a distance for which the vehicle runs while the vehicle is in a deacceleration state and no energy is supplied to a motor of the vehicle. A deceleration-running evaluating unit evaluates deceleration running of the vehicle based on a ratio of the deceleration running distance to the total running distance. The result of the evaluation is displayed for the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An apparatus that evaluates a deceleration running of a vehicle, the deceleration running being a deceleration state of the vehicle having an energy cut-off mechanism that cuts off energy supply to a motor of the vehicle during the deceleration running, the apparatus comprising:

a first calculating unit that calculates a first running distance, the first running distance being a distance run by the vehicle while the vehicle is in the deceleration state during a predetermined period, the predetermined period being from a time when a start of the deceleration state of the vehicle is detected to a time when a start of an acceleration state of the vehicle is detected;

a second calculating unit that calculates a second running distance, the second running distance being an ideal distance run by the vehicle when the vehicle decelerates at a predetermined ideal deceleration for energy saving while the vehicle is in the deceleration state during the predetermined period, the second running distance is calculated based on;

a running speed of the vehicle at the time when the start of the deceleration state of the vehicle is detected;

a running speed of the vehicle at the time when the start of an acceleration state of the vehicle is detected; and

the predetermined ideal deceleration for energy saving;

an evaluating unit that evaluates the deceleration running of the vehicle based on the first running distance and the second running distance; and

a notifying unit that notifies a result of evaluation obtained by the evaluating unit.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third calculating unit that calculates a third running distance of the vehicle during the predetermined period;

a detecting unit that detects an energy cut-off state in which the energy cut-off mechanism cuts-off energy supply to the motor; and

a fourth calculating unit that calculates a fourth running distance of the vehicle, the fourth running distance being a distance traveled by the vehicle while the vehicle is in the energy cut-off state during the predetermined period, wherein

the evaluating unit evaluates deceleration running of the vehicle based on the third running distance and the fourth running distance.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaluating unit evaluates deceleration running of the vehicle based on a ratio of the fourth running distance to the third running distance.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the evaluating unit evaluates deceleration running of the vehicle based on a ratio of the first running distance to the second running distance.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notifying unit includes a display unit that displays the result of evaluation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second running distance is a distance run by the vehicle while decelerating at the ideal deceleration between a first running speed and a second running speed.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined ideal deceleration is based on characteristics of the vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tire-rotation-pulse detection sensor for detecting rotation of a tire, wherein the first running distance is calculated based on;

a number of pulses detected by the tire-rotation-pulse detection sensor, and

a circumferential length of the tire.