Vehicle fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems
First Claim
1. A system configured to detect excess fuel consumption in a vehicle, the excess fuel consumption detection system comprising:
- an engine computer system including one or more vehicle subsystem sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle feedback information related to operation of mechanical systems of the vehicle;
one or more external supporting sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle environment information; and
one or more processors configured to provide information processing capabilities in the excess fuel consumption detection system, the one or more processors configured to;
determine one or more vehicle parameters based on the vehicle feedback information and/or the vehicle environment information, the one or more vehicle parameters indicating one or more vehicle characteristics;
electronically store the determined one or more vehicle parameters;
detect a vehicle maneuver associated with excessive fuel consumption based on the determined one or more vehicle parameters, wherein the detected vehicle maneuver occurred between a maneuver start point and a maneuver end point;
determine a target fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver by estimating an amount of fuel that would have been consumed by the vehicle at the time of the detected vehicle maneuver if the vehicle had been operated so as to prevent excessive fuel consumption, wherein the target fuel consumption amount is determined based on the detected vehicle maneuver and the determined one or more vehicle parameters;
determine an actual fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver based on actual fuel consumption that occurred between the maneuver start point and the maneuver end point;
determine a consumption difference between the actual fuel consumption amount and the target fuel consumption amount; and
effectuate presentation of the consumption difference to a user.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Excess fuel consumption monitor and feedback systems for vehicles include sensor arrays of two primary types including those sensors deployed as part of a vehicle manufacturer established sensor suite and sensors deployed as after-market sensors. Together, these sensor suites include sensors coupled to vehicle subsystems and operating environments associated with the vehicle. Data from these sensors may be used as parametric inputs to drive algorithmic calculations which have outputs that express excess fuel consumption. Expressions of excess fuel consumption may be made instantaneously as real-time feedback to a vehicle operator/driver and/or a fleet manager as part of a summary report.
897 Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A system configured to detect excess fuel consumption in a vehicle, the excess fuel consumption detection system comprising:
-
an engine computer system including one or more vehicle subsystem sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle feedback information related to operation of mechanical systems of the vehicle; one or more external supporting sensors configured to generate output signals conveying vehicle environment information; and one or more processors configured to provide information processing capabilities in the excess fuel consumption detection system, the one or more processors configured to; determine one or more vehicle parameters based on the vehicle feedback information and/or the vehicle environment information, the one or more vehicle parameters indicating one or more vehicle characteristics; electronically store the determined one or more vehicle parameters; detect a vehicle maneuver associated with excessive fuel consumption based on the determined one or more vehicle parameters, wherein the detected vehicle maneuver occurred between a maneuver start point and a maneuver end point; determine a target fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver by estimating an amount of fuel that would have been consumed by the vehicle at the time of the detected vehicle maneuver if the vehicle had been operated so as to prevent excessive fuel consumption, wherein the target fuel consumption amount is determined based on the detected vehicle maneuver and the determined one or more vehicle parameters; determine an actual fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver based on actual fuel consumption that occurred between the maneuver start point and the maneuver end point; determine a consumption difference between the actual fuel consumption amount and the target fuel consumption amount; and effectuate presentation of the consumption difference to a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method to detect excess fuel consumption in a vehicle, the excess fuel detection method comprising:
-
generating output signals conveying vehicle feedback information related to operation of mechanical systems of the vehicle; generating output signals conveying vehicle environment information; and determining one or more vehicle parameters based on the vehicle feedback information and/or the vehicle environment information, the one or more vehicle parameters indicating one or more vehicle characteristics; electronically store the determined one or more vehicle parameters; detecting a vehicle maneuver associated with excessive fuel consumption based on the determined one or more vehicle parameters, wherein the detected vehicle maneuver occurred between a maneuver start point and a maneuver end point; determining a target fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver by estimating an amount of fuel that would have been consumed by the vehicle at the time of the detected vehicle maneuver if the vehicle had been operated so as to prevent excessive fuel consumption wherein the target fuel consumption amount is determined based on the detected vehicle maneuver and the determined one or more vehicle parameters; determining an actual fuel consumption amount for the detected vehicle maneuver based on actual fuel consumption that occurred between the maneuver start point and the maneuver end point; determining a consumption difference between the actual fuel consumption amount and a target fuel consumption amount; and effectuating presentation of the consumption difference to a user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
-
Specification