Vehicle information display and method

• US 7,898,405 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2008
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Watson, David Leslie, Burke, Stephen Richard, Lerman, Michael Scott, Watson, Angela L., Skaff, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout; Brent
• Application Number:
  US12/054,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20090243827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340438-439, 340455-462, 3406361-63619, 701/22, 701/29, 701/70, 701/123, 180/65.265, 180/65.21, 903/903, 903/918, 903/951, 307/43, 324/76.11
• US Class Current: 340/461
• 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: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable

Abstract

An information display for a vehicle includes an indicator arrangement having a visual display configured to provide driver demand information to a vehicle driver. The visual display includes a dynamic target range for operating the vehicle, which includes a first boundary and a second boundary indicating a driver demand that would cause the engine to start. A control system includes at least one controller, and is configured to receive at least one input related to current operating conditions of the vehicle and to provide at least one output to the indicator arrangement to position the target range on the visual display and to indicate to the driver a current level of driver demand. In this way, the visual display indicates to the driver the current level of driver demand relative to the position of the target range.

Claims

1. An information display for a vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an electric power source configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, the information display comprising:

an indicator arrangement including a visual display configured to provide driver demand information to a driver of the vehicle, the visual display including a dynamic target range for operating the vehicle, the target range including a first boundary and a second boundary indicating a driver demand that would cause the engine to start; and

a control system including at least one controller, the control system being configured to receive at least one input related to current operating conditions of the vehicle and to provide at least one output to the indicator arrangement to position the target range on the visual display and to indicate to the driver a current level of driver demand such that the visual display indicates to the driver the current level of driver demand relative to the position of the target range.

2. The information display of claim 1, the vehicle further including an accelerator pedal, and wherein the at least one input to the control system includes at least one of a state of charge of the electric power source or a discharge rate for the electric power source, and at least one of a driver demand for power, a driver demand for torque, or an accelerator pedal position.

3. The information display of claim 1, the vehicle further including an accelerator pedal, and wherein the driver demand information includes at least one of a driver demand for power, a driver demand for torque, or an accelerator pedal position.

4. The information display of claim 1, wherein the target range is not displayed on the visual display when the engine is on because of at least one non-driver demand factor.

5. The information display of claim 1, wherein the first boundary of the target range is fixed and the second boundary of the target range is movable based on current vehicle conditions.

6. The information display of claim 5, wherein the first boundary of the target range indicates zero driver demand.

7. The information display of claim 1, wherein the first and second boundaries of the target range are each movable based on current vehicle conditions.

8. The information display of claim 7, the vehicle further including a regenerative braking system and a friction braking system, and wherein the first boundary indicates a driver demand that would cause the friction braking system to be engaged.

9. An information display for a vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an electric power source configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, the information display comprising:

an indicator arrangement including a visual display configured to provide information indicative of a driver demand for power, the visual display including a target range for operating the vehicle, the target range including a movable boundary indicating a driver demand that would cause the engine to start; and

a control system including at least one controller, the control system being configured to receive at least one input related to current operating conditions of the vehicle and to provide at least one output to the indicator arrangement to position the movable boundary and a current level of driver demand on the visual display such that the position of the movable boundary relative to the current level of driver demand is observable.

10. The information display of claim 9, the vehicle further including an accelerator pedal, and wherein the movable boundary is positioned based on at least one of a state of charge of the electric power source or a discharge rate for the electric power source.

11. The information display of claim 9, the vehicle further including an accelerator pedal, and wherein the information indicative of a driver demand for power includes at least one of a driver demand for power, a driver demand for torque, or an accelerator pedal position.

12. The information display of claim 9, wherein the movable boundary is not displayed on the visual display when the engine is on because of at least one non-driver demand factor.

13. The information display of claim 9, wherein the current level of driver demand exceeds the movable boundary when the driver demand causes the engine to be on.

14. A method for providing information to a driver of a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and an electric machine, each operable to provide torque to propel the vehicle, the vehicle further including an electric power source configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, an indicator arrangement including a visual display, and a control system including at least one controller, the method comprising:

determining at least one current operating condition of the vehicle and communicating the at least one current operating condition to the control system;

determining a first driver demand threshold beyond which the engine will start, the determination of the first driver demand threshold being performed by the control system and based on the at least one current operating condition;

displaying the first driver demand threshold on the visual display;

determining through the control system current driver demand information; and

displaying the current driver demand information relative to the displayed first driver demand threshold on the visual display.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising removing from the visual display the first driver demand threshold when the engine is on because of at least one non-driver demand factor.

16. The method of claim 14, the vehicle further including a regenerative braking system and a friction braking system, the method further comprising:

determining a second driver demand threshold beyond which the friction braking system will be engaged, the determination of the second driver demand threshold being performed by the control system and based on the at least one current operating condition; and

displaying the second driver demand threshold relative to the current driver demand on the visual display.