Engine control system for providing incentive to drivers

• US 6,366,848 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Trucks North America Incorporated (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Gustavsson, Tommy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/664,882
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 701/123, 701/29, 701/30, 701/34, 701/35, 701/36, 701/45, 123/351, 340/439
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/103 Speed profile
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method of providing an incentive in the form of increased allowable vehicle operating speed for meeting a minimum fuel economy goal. The operation of the vehicle is limited to speeds below the allowable vehicle operating speed. Signals indicative of vehicle fuel economy over a predetermined distance of vehicle travel are collected and stored. A determination is made as to whether the operator has met the minimum fuel economy based on the collected signals, such as percentage of operating time spent idling. The allowable vehicle operating speed is increased to an incentive speed when said operator has met the minimum fuel economy. The collected signals are replaced with newly collected signals after the vehicle has traveled the predetermined distance. The allowable vehicle operating speed is equal to the incentive speed during the interval in which the vehicle has not yet traveled the predetermined distance of vehicle travel.

Claims

1. A method of providing an incentive to an operator of a vehicle for meeting at least one predetermined performance goal, wherein said vehicle has an operation cycle comprising a period of vehicle operation beginning with engine ignition and ending with engine shut down, said method comprising:

collecting and storing signals indicative of vehicle function related to operator performance over a predetermined distance of vehicle travel during a plurality of operation cycles;

determining whether said operator has met said at least one performance goal over said predetermined distance of travel based on said collected signals;

providing said incentive to said operator during a subsequent operation cycle if said performance goal has been met; and

replacing said collected signals with newly collected signals after said vehicle has traveled said predetermined distance.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the following steps:

setting a vehicle operating speed limit and limiting operation of said vehicle to said vehicle operating speed limit;

establishing a default maximum vehicle speed and an incentive speed limit, wherein said incentive speed exceeds said default maximum speed;

wherein the step of providing said incentive to said operator is performed by setting said vehicle operating speed limit to said incentive speed limit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance goal is a minimum fuel economy.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said fuel economy is calculated by dividing the miles traveled by said vehicle by a fuel rate for said vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said performance goal is a maximum percentage of vehicle operating time spent idling.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said percentage of vehicle operating time spent idling is calculated by accruing time on a timer when vehicle speed is zero mph, engine speed is greater than zero rpm, and engine torque is below a predetermined limit and wherein said timer does not begin accruing time until after a predetermined delay time after the vehicle begins to idle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said incentive is provided to said operator during initial operation cycles that occur prior to the vehicle traveling said predetermined distance of vehicle travel.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of determining whether said operator is wearing a safety belt and wherein the step of providing said incentive to said operator is performed if said operator is wearing said safety belt.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said incentive is provided at the beginning of a given operation cycle and is maintained throughout the entire operation cycle.

9. A method of providing an incentive in the form of increased allowable vehicle operating speed for meeting a minimum fuel economy goal, wherein said vehicle has an operation cycle comprising a period of vehicle operation beginning with engine ignition and ending with engine shut down, said method comprising:

controlling the operation of said vehicle to limit the operation of said vehicle to speeds below said allowable vehicle operating speed;

collecting and storing signals indicative of vehicle fuel economy over a predetermined distance of vehicle travel during a plurality of operation cycles;

determining whether said operator has met said minimum fuel economy based on said collected signals over said predetermined distance of travel;

increasing said allowable vehicle operating speed to an incentive speed during a subsequent operation cycle when said operator has met said fuel economy; and

replacing said collected signals with newly collected signals after said vehicle has traveled said predetermined distance.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said determining step is performed by calculating a percentage of operating time said vehicle spends idling.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said allowable vehicle operating speed is equal to said incentive speed during initial operation cycles that occur prior to the vehicle traveling said predetermined distance of vehicle travel.

12. The method of claim 9 comprising the step of determining whether said operator is wearing a safety belt and wherein the step of increasing said allowable vehicle speed is performed if said operator is wearing said safety belt.

13. A computer readable medium containing instructions for performing a method of providing an incentive in the form of increased allowable vehicle operating speed for meeting a minimum fuel economy goal, wherein said vehicle has an operation cycle comprising a period of vehicle operation beginning with engine ignition and ending with engine shut down, said method comprising the steps of:

controlling the operation of said vehicle to limit the operation of said vehicle to speeds below said allowable vehicle operating speed;

collecting and storing signals indicative of vehicle fuel economy over a predetermined distance of vehicle travel during a plurality of operation cycles;

determining whether said operator has met said minimum fuel economy based on said collected signals;

increasing said allowable vehicle operating speed to an incentive speed during a subsequent operation cycle when said operator has met said fuel economy; and

replacing said collected signals with newly collected signals after said vehicle has traveled said predetermined distance.