Systems and methods for providing driver shift aids

• US 8,587,423 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Olsen, Stephan, Ott, Ethan A., Slaton, Zachary, Nievelstein, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): CROSLAND, DONNIE L
• Application Number:
  US13/205,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20130038438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 340/439, 340/456, 701/64
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/00 Arrangement of lighting devices for vehicle interiors; Lighting devices specially adapted for vehicle interiors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/022 Calculation or estimation of optimal gear ratio, e.g. best ratio for economy drive or performance according driver preference, or to optimise exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/426 with means for advising the driver for proper shift action, e.g. prompting the driver with allowable selection range of ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for displaying a driver shift aid are disclosed. In one aspect, an electronic control unit causes a shift indicator to be presented if a need for a shift is detected and vehicle performance after the shift would not be unduly impacted. If the vehicle operator follows the guidance of the shift indicator, vehicle fuel efficiency may be improved while vehicle performance remains adequate. In one aspect, a different indicator may be displayed to prompt the vehicle operator to shift either one gear or two gears.

Claims

1. A method for presenting a shift indicator in a vehicle, the method comprising:

monitoring one or more vehicle performance characteristics;

determining, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle;

determining, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio; and

presenting a shift indicator instructing an operator of the vehicle to switch to the different transmission gear ratio in response to determining that fuel consumption would be lowered and minimum driveability would be maintained.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that presentation of a shift indicator is enabled.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing presentation of the shift indicator in response to determining that minimum driveability would no longer be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising ceasing presentation of the shift indicator in response to determining that fuel consumption would no longer be lowered after switching to the different transmission gear ratio.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes calculating a predicted engine speed value at the different transmission gear ratio.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes comparing the predicted engine speed value to a minimum engine speed for peak power value.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes:

predicting an available power based on the predicted engine speed; and

comparing the predicted available power to a current power plus a reserve power amount.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes:

determining whether a current power value is greater than a threshold power value; and

in response to determining that the current power value is greater than the threshold power value;

determining a duration for which the current power value has been greater than the threshold power value; and

comparing the duration to a threshold duration.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio includes determining whether a driveline of the vehicle has been closed for more than a predetermined duration.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio includes:

predicting an engine speed value at the different transmission gear ratio based on the different transmission gear ratio and a deceleration offset; and

comparing the predicted engine speed value to an engine speed threshold.

11. A method for lowering fuel consumption in a vehicle, the method comprising:

detecting a need to shift based on a plurality of current vehicle operating conditions, the vehicle operating in a first transmission gear;

calculating a first predicted vehicle operating condition based on switching to a second transmission gear;

calculating a second predicted vehicle operating condition based on switching to a third transmission gear;

comparing the first predicted vehicle operating condition and the second predicted vehicle operating condition to a desired vehicle operating condition;

presenting a prompt to a vehicle operator to switch to the second transmission gear in response to determining that the second transmission gear and not the third transmission gear meets the desired vehicle operating condition; and

presenting a prompt to the vehicle operator to switch to the third transmission gear in response to determining that the third transmission gear meets the desired vehicle operating condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second transmission gear is adjacent to the first transmission gear.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the third transmission gear is adjacent to the second transmission gear.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the desired vehicle operating condition includes a desired driveability of the vehicle.

15. A system for presenting a shift indicator in a vehicle, the system comprising:

one or more electronic control units configured to;

monitor one or more vehicle performance characteristics;

determine, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle;

determine, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio; and

present a shift indicator instructing an operator of the vehicle to switch to the different transmission gear ratio in response to determining that fuel consumption would be lowered and minimum driveability would be maintained.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to determine, based on the vehicle performance characteristics, that presentation of a shift indicator is enabled.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to cease presentation of the shift indicator in response to determining that minimum driveability would no longer be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to cease presentation of the shift indicator in response to determining that fuel consumption would no longer be lowered after switching to the different transmission gear ratio.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes calculating a predicted engine speed value at the different transmission gear ratio.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes comparing the predicted engine speed value to a minimum engine speed for peak power value.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes:

predicting an available power based on the predicted engine speed; and

comparing the predicted available power to a current power plus a reserve power amount.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein determining that fuel consumption would be lowered by switching to a different transmission gear ratio of a manual transmission of the vehicle includes:

determining whether a current power value is greater than a threshold power value; and

in response to determining that the current power value is greater than the threshold power value;

determining a duration for which the current power value has been greater than the threshold power value; and

comparing the duration to a threshold duration.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein determining that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio includes determining whether a driveline of the vehicle has been closed for more than a predetermined duration.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein determining that minimum driveability would be maintained after switching to the different transmission gear ratio includes:

predicting an engine speed value at the different transmission gear ratio based on the different transmission gear ratio and a deceleration offset; and

comparing the predicted engine speed value to an engine speed threshold.