Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a vehicle
First Claim
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1. In a vehicle computing system, a method, comprising:
- obtaining an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location, a vehicle ending location and data from one or more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length or one or more route characteristics;
generating a vehicle operational profile representing one or more vehicle operating parameters as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile is based in part on the one or more route characteristics of the optimized route and includes vehicle operating parameter values of one or more of acceleration, speed, and gear selection along the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal;
and during vehicle travel,monitoring data including vehicle operating parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, and gear selection;
comparing the monitored data with the vehicle operational profile; and
notifying the vehicle operator via a human-machine interface if the monitored data deviates from the operational profile in a manner that will adversely affect fuel efficiency.
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Abstract
Operational efficiency and/or control systems and methods for vehicles are provided in order to improve fuel efficiency when traveling in a fuel powered vehicle from point A to point B. The systems and methods can determine the “best” or most efficient route to take based on one or more priorities, make driving recommendations to the operator, and/or automatically control one or more systems (e.g., engine, brakes, transmission, etc.) of the vehicle. The systems and methods can calculate the “best” route based on predefined trip requirements, including cost, schedule, route preferences, and/or risk of potential delays, etc.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a vehicle computing system, a method, comprising:
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obtaining an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location, a vehicle ending location and data from one or more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length or one or more route characteristics; generating a vehicle operational profile representing one or more vehicle operating parameters as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile is based in part on the one or more route characteristics of the optimized route and includes vehicle operating parameter values of one or more of acceleration, speed, and gear selection along the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal; and during vehicle travel, monitoring data including vehicle operating parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, and gear selection; comparing the monitored data with the vehicle operational profile; and notifying the vehicle operator via a human-machine interface if the monitored data deviates from the operational profile in a manner that will adversely affect fuel efficiency. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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9. In a vehicle having an engine, a transmission, and one or more computing devices configured to control one or more of the engine and transmission, the one or more computing devices configured to carry out a method for improving the efficiency of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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calculating an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location and a vehicle ending location using data from one or more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length or one or more route characteristics, wherein the vehicle route is optimized based on a list of preselected priorities; generating an operational profile for the calculated route that represents at least one of engine operating parameters and transmission operating parameters as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile includes engine operating parameter values and transmission operating parameter values along the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal; and
during vehicle travel;monitoring one or more of the GPS data types and vehicle parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, and gear selection; and controlling the engine and transmission to operate the vehicle in a manner that matches or improves the operating parameters of the operational profile. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
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one or more sensors for generating data indicative of vehicle attributes; one or more sensors for generating data indicative of vehicle operating parameters; a data acquisition unit that receives location data; and one or more controlling components configured to; obtain data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes; obtain an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location, a vehicle ending location, and data from one more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length and one or more route characteristics; generate an operational profile that represents one or more vehicle operating parameters relating to one or more of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, transmission gear, and braking as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile includes vehicle operating parameter values of one or more of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, transmission gear, and braking over the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal; monitor one or more of the GPS data types and vehicle operating parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, gear selection, and braking; prompt the vehicle operator for one or more vehicle parameter modifications based on the monitored GPS data types and vehicle operating parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification