System and method for displaying vehicle efficiency

• US 7,996,125 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hartl, Derek, Louch, Robert Jay, Howard, Anthony, Burke, Stephen, Bryan, Paul Stephen, Watson, Angela L., Watson, David, Skaff, Ryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jeanglaud; Gertrude Arthur
• Application Number:
  US12/976,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 230 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/29, 701/70, 701/123, 903/903, 307/43, 180/65.265, 180/65.21, 324/76.11, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 340455-462, 340/636.1, 731/145.2
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• 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: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A system and method for determining and displaying an overall efficiency value of a vehicle. The vehicle may include an engine and an electric machine that operates to provide torque to propel the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle may have an electric power source that provides electric power to the electric machine. A controller may determine and transmit the overall efficiency value so that the information display displays the number of efficiency indicators. Also, the number of efficiency indicators displayed may be based on the overall efficiency value.

Claims

1. An information display system comprising:

an information display configured to display a number of efficiency indicators; and

a controller configured to receive information related to an amount of fuel consumed in order to propel a vehicle, determine an energy efficiency value based upon the amount of fuel consumed, and transmit the energy efficiency value so that the information display displays the number of efficiency indicators based upon the energy efficiency value.

2. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive information related to a predetermined time period and determine the energy efficiency value based on the predetermined time period.

3. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive information related to a predetermined travel distance and determine the energy efficiency value based on the predetermined travel distance.

4. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the energy efficiency value from a time when the vehicle is turned on until the time the vehicle is turned off.

5. The information display system of claim 1, further comprising a driver interface system configured to receive a specified time period or a specified travel distance and transmit the specified time period or specified travel distance to the controller, wherein the controller determines the energy efficiency value based upon the specified time period or the specified travel distance.

6. The information display system of claim 5, further comprising a memory used to store the specified time period and the specified travel distance, and the controller further being configured to retrieve the specified time period and the specified travel distance from the memory.

7. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive information related to a predetermined time period and determine the energy efficiency value from a time after the vehicle is turned on until the predetermined time period has elapsed.

8. The information display system of claim 7, wherein the predetermined time period is specified by a user.

9. The information display system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive information related to a predetermined distance and determine the energy efficiency value from a time after the vehicle is turned on until the predetermined distance has been traveled by the vehicle.

10. The information display system of claim 9, wherein the predetermined distance is specified by a user.

11. A method comprising:

receiving information related to an amount of fuel consumed in order to propel a vehicle;

determining an energy efficiency value using the amount of fuel consumed information;

transmitting the energy efficiency value to an information display; and

displaying a number of efficiency indicators on the information display based on the energy efficiency value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of receiving information related to an amount of fuel consumed comprises receiving information related to a fuel flow rate and an energy density, and the step of determining an energy efficiency value comprises determining a fuel power value using the received fuel flow rate and energy density information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining an energy efficiency value further comprises determining a fuel energy value using the determined fuel power value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining an energy efficiency value further comprises determining a vehicle energy value using the fuel energy value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining an energy efficiency value further comprises determining an energy used per distance value using the vehicle energy value and a distance traveled value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining an energy efficiency value further comprises determining the energy efficiency value by averaging any number of previous energy used per distance values.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the energy efficiency value by averaging any number of previous energy used per distance values comprises determining the energy efficiency when the speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold value and increasing the averaged number of previous energy used per distance values.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising storing in a memory the average energy efficiency value, and the step of transmitting the energy efficiency value to an information display comprises transmitting the average energy efficiency value to the information display.