Navigation apparatus, vehicle information display apparatus, and vehicle information display system

• US 9,134,136 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2010
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Tech Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Yamada, Yusaku, Funaba, Yuji, Ishii, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Calvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martinez Borrero, Luis A
• Application Number:
  US13/516,265
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,058 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/22, 701/209, 701/99, 701/35, 701/423, 701/33.4, 701/208, 701/409, 701/117, 701/119, 701/2, 701/410, 701/7, 701/422, 701/468, 180/65.2, 180/65.25, 430/435, 340/990, 340/988, 340/963, 340/971, 340/945
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• 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 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle information display system according to the present invention includes a navigation apparatus and a vehicle information display apparatus. The navigation apparatus includes: a storage section mounted on an electric vehicle, for storing map information and a destination; an own vehicle position information acquisition section for obtaining own vehicle position information; a remaining power amount acquisition section for obtaining a remaining power amount; a travel cost calculation section for calculating a power cost based on the map information, the destination, and the own vehicle position information; a travelable range calculation section for calculating a travelable range based on the power cost and the remaining power amount; and a communication section for transmitting vehicle information including the travelable range to the outside. The vehicle information display apparatus includes: a communication section installed outside the electric vehicle, for receiving the vehicle information; and a control section for outputting the vehicle information.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle, comprising:

a storage device which stores map information and a destination;

a processor which carries out steps comprising;

obtaining own vehicle position information;

obtaining a remaining power amount;

calculating a power cost based on said map information, said destination, and said own vehicle position information; and

calculating a travelable range based on said power cost and said remaining power amount; and

a communication device which transmits vehicle information including said travelable range to the outside of the vehicle to a mobile phone or personal computing device,

wherein the transmitted vehicle information is received by a vehicle information display apparatus located outside of and apart from said electric vehicle and is output to a display device of said mobile phone or personal computing device, said vehicle information being displayed so as to be visible to a vehicle user not riding on said electric vehicle by said display device of said mobile phone or personal computing device located outside said electric vehicle, and

wherein the power cost is calculated by using a travel cost calculation condition for calculating the power cost, said travel cost calculation condition being received from the outside of said electric vehicle, inputted by the vehicle user.

2. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to determining that a round trip between an own vehicle position and the destination is not allowed based on the power cost and the remaining power amount, calculating a charging time necessary for making a round trip, and

transmitting, as the vehicle information, said charging time to the outside.

3. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to determining that an arrival at the destination from an own vehicle position is not allowed based on the power cost and the remaining power amount, calculating a charging time necessary for arriving at the destination or a charging time necessary for making a round trip to the destination; and

transmitting, as the vehicle information, said charging time to the outside.

4. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the power cost is calculated by using a destination received from the outside.

5. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage device stores a registered destination that is a destination registered on a registration list, and

the power cost is calculated by using said registered destination.

6. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage device stores, as a learned destination, a spot that has been set as a destination a predetermined number of times or more, or a destination that has been visited at a predetermined frequency or more, and

the power cost is calculated by using said learned destination.

7. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the storage device stores, as a learned pattern, a travel pattern in which the electric vehicle has previously traveled, and

the power cost is calculated by using said learned pattern.

8. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steps further comprise:

identifying a driver of the electric vehicle, wherein

the storage device stores, as a learned pattern of each of said drivers, a travel pattern in which the electric vehicle has previously traveled,

the power cost is calculated by using the learned pattern of each of said drivers.

9. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said communication device transmits said vehicle information to the outside of said electric vehicle at a time of arrival at the home or at a time of key-off.

10. The navigation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said travel cost calculation condition is ON/OFF of an air conditioner.

11. A vehicle information display system comprising a navigation apparatus mounted on an electric vehicle and a vehicle information display apparatus located outside of and apart from said electric vehicle,

said navigation apparatus including:

a storage device for storing map information and a destination;

a first processor that carries out steps comprising;

obtaining own vehicle position information;

obtaining a remaining power amount;

calculating a power cost based on said map information, said destination, and said own vehicle position information; and

calculating a travelable range based on said power cost and said remaining power amount; and

a first communication device which transmits vehicle information including said travelable range to the outside of the vehicle to a mobile phone or personal computing device,

said vehicle information display apparatus including;

a second communication device installed outside said electric vehicle, for receiving said vehicle information; and

a second processor which outputs said vehicle information to a display device of said mobile phone or personal computing device,

wherein the outputted vehicle information is displayed by said display device of said mobile phone or personal computing device, so as to be visible to a vehicle user not riding on said electric vehicle, and

wherein the power cost is calculated by using a travel cost calculation condition for calculating the power cost, said travel cost calculation condition being received from the outside of said electric vehicle, inputted by the vehicle user.