METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETERMINING A RANGE LIMIT BASED ON A VEHICLE'S ENERGY SOURCE STATUS

• US 20130009765A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gilman, Dale, Aldighieri, Paul, Kridner, Leann, Skaff, Ryan, Patel, Vilay, Orris, Stephen Jay
• Application Number:
  US13/177,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20130009765A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/455
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/10 DC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• 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 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• 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

Various embodiments relate to determining a range limit for a vehicle based on the vehicle'"'"'s energy source status. An energy status of a vehicle and a location of an energizing station for the vehicle may be received at a computer. The computer may be operable to communicate with one or more vehicle systems. A travel distance value from a current location of the vehicle to the location of the energizing station may be calculated. Additionally, a range limit value for the vehicle based on the energy source status and the travel distance value may be calculated. Based on the range limit value, one or more range values of the vehicle with respect to returning to the energizing station may be determined.

Claims

1. A system for managing usage of an energy source in a vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one computer operable to communicate with one or more vehicle systems, the computer being configured to;

receive from at least one vehicle system an energy status of a vehicle defined as a distance value to empty;

receive from the at least one vehicle system a location of an energizing station for the vehicle;

calculate a travel distance value from a current location of the vehicle to the location of the energizing station;

calculate a range limit value for the vehicle based on the distance value to empty and the travel distance value; and

determine one or more range values of the vehicle with respect to returning to the energizing station based on the range limit value.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

monitor for a depletion of the one or more range values; and

upon depletion, determine a new range value of the vehicle with respect to returning to the energizing station based on the range limit value.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer configured to determine the one or more range values by splitting a value difference between the travel distance value and the distance value to empty.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the splitting is by half.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one computer is configured to include one or more range buffer values to determine the one or more range values.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is configured to:

determine a direction of travel of the vehicle with respect to the energizing station; and

determine one or more range values of the vehicle with respect to returning to the energizing station based on the range limit value and the direction of travel.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the range values dynamically change based on a direction of travel of the vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is configured to determine the one or more range values of the vehicle when the distance value to empty is greater than the travel distance value.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one computer is configured to repeatedly determine the one or more range values of the vehicle as long as the distance value to empty is greater than the travel distance value.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is configured to repeatedly determine the one or more range values of the vehicle until the travel distance value is equal to the distance value to empty or the calculated range value is equal to or near equal to a zero range value.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer is further configured to output a notification when the range value is equal to or near equal to the range limit value.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the notification includes an alert to return to the energizing station.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising one or more displays in communication with the at least one computer for displaying the notification.

14. A computer-program product for managing usage of an energy source in a vehicle, the computer-program product executing on a computer readable medium and having instructions for:

receiving a charge status of a vehicle;

receiving a location of a charge station for the vehicle;

calculating a travel distance value between a current location of the vehicle and the location of the charge station;

calculating one or more range values for the vehicle based on the charge status and the travel distance value; and

determining a range limit value based on the one or more calculated range values for outputting a notification that an available charge of the vehicle is equal to or near equal to the range limit value.

15. The computer-program product of claim 14 further comprising instructions for outputting a notification for each calculated range value.

16. The computer-program product of claim 14 further comprising instructions for searching for an alternative charging station if the range limit value is exceeded.

17. The computer-program product of claim 14 further comprising instructions for

monitoring for a depletion of the one or more range values;

and

upon depletion, determining a new range value of the vehicle with respect to returning to the charging station based on the range limit value.

18. An apparatus configured to:

receive a distance to empty (DTE) value and a location of a charging station for a vehicle;

calculate a travel distance value between the vehicle'"'"'s current location and the charging station location;

calculate a range limit value based on the DTE and the travel distance value;

determine range values for returning to the charging station based on the range limit value.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further configured to, based on the range values, identify a direction of travel of the vehicle with respect to the charging station.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the direction of travel is toward the charging station or away from the charging station.