Regenerative braking feedback display and method

• US 8,874,344 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aldighieri, Paul, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Watson, David L., Gilman, Dale, Skaff, Ryan, Crombez, Dale Scott, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US13/344,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/32.5, 701/70, 116/28.R, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• 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 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Driver braking performance feedback may be conveyed to a vehicle operator as a braking efficiency score using a vehicle display system. The display system may include a vehicle display for displaying a braking efficiency indicator or gauge corresponding to the braking efficiency score. The braking efficiency score may be based on a comparison of the total regenerative braking energy recaptured during at least one braking event to a either a maximum amount of braking energy that may be recaptured during the at least one braking event or an actual total braking energy expended during the at least one braking event. The braking efficiency score may be displayed upon the completion of a braking event or upon a completion of a trip including a plurality of braking events. The display may also convey a distance corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a vehicle display including a trip braking efficiency indicator associated with a trip braking efficiency value; and

a controller in communication with the vehicle display and configured to;

determine an amount of regenerative braking energy captured during a vehicle trip; and

output the trip braking efficiency value as a percentage of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured and a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the vehicle trip.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the trip braking efficiency indicator conveys the braking efficiency value numerically.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the amount of regenerative braking energy is based on an integration of regenerative braking power during the vehicle trip and the total recapturable braking energy value is based on an integration of total recapturable braking power during the vehicle trip.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the total recapturable braking energy value is based on maximum regenerative braking power limits during the vehicle trip.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle trip corresponds to a vehicle on/off cycle.

6. The display system of claim 5, wherein the trip braking efficiency indicator is displayed at a conclusion of the vehicle trip.

7. The display system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle trip includes a number of braking events since a trip reset.

8. The display system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle display further includes a regenerative distance achievement indicator associated with a regenerative braking distance achievement value corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the regenerative braking distance achievement value is based on the trip distance and a ratio of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured during the vehicle trip and a total amount of powertrain energy output during the vehicle trip.

10. A display system for a vehicle having an electric machine and a battery, the display system comprising:

a controller configured to;

detect completion of a vehicle trip,

receive input indicative of an amount of regenerative braking energy captured by the electric machine and stored in the battery during the vehicle trip and a total braking energy value associated with the vehicle trip, and

output a trip braking efficiency value as a ratio of the regenerative braking energy captured and the total braking energy value upon completion of the vehicle trip; and

a vehicle display, in communication with the controller, including a trip braking efficiency indicator corresponding to the trip braking efficiency value.

11. The display system of claim 10, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to an actual total braking energy expended during the vehicle trip.

12. The display system of claim 10, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the vehicle trip.

13. The display system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle display further includes a regenerative distance achievement indicator associated with a regenerative braking distance achievement value corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein the regenerative braking distance achievement value is based on the trip distance and a ratio of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured during the vehicle trip and a total amount of powertrain energy output during the vehicle trip.

15. A display method comprising:

calculating, by a controller, an amount of regenerative braking energy captured during a vehicle trip; and

upon completion of the vehicle trip, displaying, by a vehicle display, a trip braking efficiency value as a percentage of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured and a total braking energy value associated with the vehicle trip.

16. The display method of claim 15, wherein displaying the trip braking efficiency value comprises:

comparing the total braking energy value to a total braking energy threshold; and

displaying the trip braking efficiency value when the total braking energy value exceeds the total braking energy threshold.

17. The display method of claim 15, wherein displaying the trip braking efficiency value comprises:

comparing a number of braking events associated with the vehicle trip to a trip minimum number of braking events; and

displaying the trip braking efficiency value when the number of braking events exceeds the trip minimum number of braking events.

18. The display method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving input indicative of a trip distance and a total amount of powertrain energy output during the vehicle trip; and

displaying a regenerative braking distance achievement value based on the trip distance and a ratio of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured during the vehicle trip and the total amount of powertrain energy output during the vehicle trip.

19. The display method of claim 15, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to an actual total braking energy expended during the vehicle trip.

20. The display method of claim 15, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the vehicle trip.