Minimum Energy Route For A Motor Vehicle

• US 20110246004A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Mineta, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Minimum energy routes for a motor vehicle are determined. The minimum energy routes can be calculated using an energy map. Energy management information is determined and provided along the minimum energy route.

Claims

1. A method of operating a navigation system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a minimum energy route request from an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle, the request including a starting location and an ending location;

retrieving information from an energy map, the energy map including charge and discharge information related to a battery of the motor vehicle;

calculating a minimum energy route between the starting location and the ending location using the energy map; and

sending information related to the minimum energy route to the electronic control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of receiving a state of charge associated with the battery.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method includes a step of receiving a fuel level associated with a fuel tank of the motor vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the use of electrical energy.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes battery overcharge and battery empty conditions of the battery.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the amount of fuel consumed by an engine of the motor vehicle.

7. A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a starting location and an ending location;

retrieving information from an energy map, the energy map including charge and discharge information related to a battery of the motor vehicle;

calculating a minimum energy route between the starting location and the ending location using the energy map; and

providing directions to the user for guiding the vehicle to the ending location along the minimum energy route.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the information associated with the energy map is stored in at least one database.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the database is disposed within the motor vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the starting location is received from a user.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the starting location is received from a GPS receiver.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the ending location is received from a user.

13. A method of operating a navigation system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a minimum energy route request from an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle, the request including a starting location and an ending location;

retrieving information from an energy map, the energy map including energy information related to a first power source and a second power source that is different from the first power source;

calculating a minimum energy route between the starting location and the ending location that minimizes the energy consumed by the first power source and the second power source; and

sending information related to the minimum energy route to the electronic control unit.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the total energy consumed by the first power source and the second power source.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the energy consumed by the first power source.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the energy consumed by the second power source.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first power source is a combustible fuel associated with an engine and wherein the second power source is a battery associated with an electric motor.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first power source is a combustible fuel associated with an engine and wherein the second power source is a hydrogen fuel associated with a hydrogen fuel cell.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first power source is a hydrogen fuel associated with a hydrogen fuel cell and wherein the second power source is a battery associated with an electric motor.

20. A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a starting location and an ending location;

retrieving information from an energy map, the energy map including energy information related to a plurality of different power sources;

calculating a minimum energy route between the starting location and the ending location that minimizes the energy consumed by at least one of the power sources of the plurality of different power sources; and

providing directions to the user for guiding the vehicle to the ending location along the minimum energy route.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of different power sources includes at least two power sources.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plurality of different power sources includes at least three power sources.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the total energy consumed by the at least two power sources.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the minimum energy route is a route that minimizes the total energy consumed by the at least three power sources.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least two power sources include a combustible fuel and a battery.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein the at least two power sources include a hydrogen fuel and a battery.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the at least three power sources include a combustible fuel, a nuclear power source and a battery.

28. A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving navigational information related to a minimum energy route between a starting location and an ending location;

receiving energy management information related to the minimum energy route;

providing directions to a user for directing the motor vehicle between the starting location and the ending location along the minimum energy route;

controlling a gasoline engine and an electric motor of the motor vehicle using the energy management information associated with the minimum energy route.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the energy management information includes information related to an energy map.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the energy map includes charge and discharge information related to a battery for an electric motor of the motor vehicle.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the energy map includes hydrogen fuel consumption information related to a hydrogen fuel cell.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the energy map includes fuel consumption information related to a fuel for a combustion engine.

33. The method according to claim 28, wherein the energy management information includes road slope information.

34. The method according to claim 28, wherein the energy management information includes traffic speed information.

35. The method according to claim 28, wherein the energy management information includes traffic congestion information.

36. A method of operating a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving a starting location and an ending location;

detecting an energy level associated with a power source of the motor vehicle;

preparing a navigation request related to a minimum energy route; and

submitting the navigation request including the starting location, the ending location and the energy level.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the step of detecting an energy level includes a step of detecting a fuel level of a fuel tank associated with a combustion engine.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein the step of detecting an energy level includes a step of detecting a state of charge of a battery associated with an electric motor.

39. The method according to claim 36, wherein the step of detecting an energy level includes a step of detecting a hydrogen fuel level of a hydrogen fuel cell.

40. The method according to claim 36, wherein the navigation request and the energy level are submitted to a service provider.

41. A method of operating a navigation system, comprising the steps of:

receiving a minimum energy route request from a navigation unit of a motor vehicle, the request including a starting location and an ending location;

receiving an energy level from the motor vehicle associated with a power source of the motor vehicle;

retrieving information from an energy map, the energy map including energy information;

calculating a minimum energy route between the starting location and the ending location using the energy map and the energy level; and

sending information related to the minimum energy route to the navigation unit.

42. The method according to claim 41, wherein the energy level is associated with a fuel level of a fuel tank for a combustion engine.

43. The method according to claim 42, wherein the energy level is a state of charge of a battery for an electric motor.

44. The method according to claim 42, wherein the energy level is a hydrogen fuel level associated with a hydrogen fuel cell.

45. The method according to claim 42, wherein the calculated minimum energy route can change according to the energy level.