Fuel use efficiency system for a vehicle for assisting the driver to improve fuel economy
First Claim
1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle to improve fuel economy while operating the vehicle on a roadway, the method comprising:
- collecting vehicle performance data during operation of the vehicle;
during operation of the vehicle, monitoring for two or more conditions in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel;
during operation of the vehicle, detecting from the vehicle performance data whether at least one of the conditions exist in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; and
during operation of the vehicle, indicating to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed due to the detected condition and a cause of the detected condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel efficiency monitoring and display system for a vehicle dynamically evaluates vehicle performance parameters to detect conditions that cause excessive fuel consumption. The conditions include increased aerodynamic drag due to excessive speed, high RPM, braking and accelerating, excessive idling, and rapid throttle movements. The system dynamically estimates gross vehicle weight, roadway grade and drag factor from monitored parameters and uses these estimates to detect inefficient fuel use. The system indicates to the driver when inefficient fuel use is detected. For example, it displays a measure of excess fuel consumed and messages indicating actions that can be taken to improve fuel economy in response to detecting inefficient fuel use.
404 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle to improve fuel economy while operating the vehicle on a roadway, the method comprising:
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collecting vehicle performance data during operation of the vehicle; during operation of the vehicle, monitoring for two or more conditions in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; during operation of the vehicle, detecting from the vehicle performance data whether at least one of the conditions exist in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; and during operation of the vehicle, indicating to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed due to the detected condition and a cause of the detected condition. - 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, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A fuel efficiency indicator for a vehicle, comprising:
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an output device; and an instrumentation control for receiving vehicle performance parameters monitored during operation of the vehicle, for detecting from the vehicle performance data whether a condition exists in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel during operation of the vehicle, and for controlling the output device to indicate to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed, including indicating during operation of the vehicle a quantity of fuel consumed due to the detected condition. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A fuel efficiency indicator for a vehicle, comprising:
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a display device; and an instrumentation control unit in communication with the display device, the instrumentation control unit operable to receive vehicle performance parameters, operable to detect from the vehicle performance data whether a condition exists in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel, and operable to control the output device to indicate to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed in response to detecting the condition, to indicate a message indicating a driver action to reduce excess fuel consumption due to the detected condition, and to display a measure of excess fuel consumed due to the detected action.
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45. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle to improve fuel economy while operating the vehicle on a roadway, the method comprising:
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collecting vehicle performance data during operation of the vehicle; during operation of the vehicle, monitoring for two or more conditions in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; during operation of the vehicle, detecting from the vehicle performance data whether at least one of the conditions exist in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; measuring fuel consumption attributable to a detected condition in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; and during operation of the vehicle, indicating to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed due to the detected condition, within a predefined period of detecting the condition and a cause of the detected condition. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification