Braking display system and method

• US 9,718,359 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hartl, Derek, Crombez, Dale Scott, Skaff, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Quan-Zhen
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US13/221,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 180165, 340439, 340441, 701 22, 701 70, 702165
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/586 the retarders being of the electric type
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A vehicle information display may include a split braking gauge for conveying information relating to braking operation and efficiency to assist drivers in maximizing energy capture during braking in vehicle with regenerative braking systems. The split braking gauge may incorporate a side-by-side or stacked configuration for conveying both regenerative braking and friction braking values. The split braking gauge may include fixed thresholds or boundaries associated with dynamic threshold values that can change based on current vehicle operating conditions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying by a controller indicia defined by boundaries positioned a fixed distance away from each other during regenerative and friction braking, and representing a total for the regenerative and friction braking such that the fixed distance remains constant as a value of the total changes, and representing a relative contribution of each of regenerative and friction brake power to the total.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the boundaries are positioned a distance away from each other during exclusive regenerative braking such that the distance changes as a value of the regenerative braking changes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the boundaries are positioned a distance away from each other during exclusive friction braking such that the distance changes as a value of the friction braking changes.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a scale extending between the boundaries representing the value.

5. A vehicle comprising:

a friction brake;

a regenerative brake; and

a controller programmed to display indicia defined by boundaries positioned a fixed distance away from each other during regenerative and friction braking, and representing a total for the regenerative and friction braking such that the fixed distance remains constant as a value of the total changes, and representing a relative contribution of each of regenerative and friction brake power to the total.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the boundaries are positioned a distance away from each other during exclusive regenerative braking such that the distance changes as a value of the regenerative braking changes.

7. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the boundaries are positioned a distance away from each other during exclusive friction braking such that the distance changes as a value of the friction braking changes.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 further comprising a scale extending between the boundaries representing the value.