Method for calculating consumption and/or a remaining range of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

• US 8,825,443 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2011
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Lange, Rainer, Harries, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US13/988,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20130325403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 702/181
• US Class Current: 702/181
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04

Abstract

A method calculates a remaining range and/or consumption of a motor vehicle with an energy storage system for a drive which acts on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle. The remaining range and/or the consumption can be calculated in a first fashion by using a first algorithm and in a second fashion by using a second algorithm. The second fashion requires a higher degree of expenditure on calculation than the first fashion. Switching over between the first fashion and the second fashion occurs as a function of the energy stored in the energy storage system.

Claims

1. A method for calculating a remaining range and/or a consumption of a motor vehicle with an energy storage system for a drive which acts on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, comprising:

calculating, using a calculation device, the remaining range and/or the consumption by using a first algorithm;

calculating, using the calculation device, the remaining range and/or the consumption by using a second algorithm, the calculation by the calculation device of the remaining range and/or the consumption using the second algorithm requiring a higher computing load on the calculation device than the calculation by the calculation device of the remaining range and/or the consumption using the first algorithm,

switching over between using the first algorithm and using the second algorithm as a function of energy stored in the energy storage system, wherein

the first algorithm is an algorithm which is based on area segments with respectively assigned energy costs, and

the second algorithm is a Dijkstra algorithm, which is based on road segments, or an algorithm which is derived from the Dijkstra algorithm, the second algorithm having energy values as a cost function.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the energy storage system comprises a fuel tank and/or a battery.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the energy stored in the energy storage system is less than a limiting value, the second algorithm is used, and otherwise the first algorithm is used.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the limiting value is adapted as a function of a user input.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

for switching over between the first algorithm and the second algorithm, a limiting value for energy stored in the energy storage system, is used, and

the limiting value is adapted as a function of a user input.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

in a map a partial area which can be reached is determined from the remaining range of the motor vehicle, and

the partial area is displayed.

7. A motor vehicle comprising:

a calculation device to calculate a remaining range and/or consumption of the motor vehicle;

a drive which acts on at least one wheel of the motor vehicle; and

an energy storage system for the drive,

wherein the calculation device comprises;

a first calculation unit to calculate the remaining range and/or the consumption using a first algorithm which is based on area segments with respectively assigned energy costs;

a second calculation unit to calculate the remaining range and/or the consumption using a second algorithm, the calculation by the second calculation unit of the remaining range and/or the consumption using the second algorithm requiring a higher computing load on the second calculation unit than a computing load on the first calculation unit for the calculation of the remaining range and/or the consumption using the first algorithm, the second algorithm corresponding to a Dijkstra algorithm based on road segments or an algorithm which is derived from the Dijkstra algorithm, the second algorithm using energy values as a cost function; and

a switching unit to switch over between using the first algorithm and using the second algorithm as a function of energy stored in the energy storage system.

8. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the energy storage system comprises a fuel tank and/or a battery.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the calculation device is part of a navigation system.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the energy stored in the energy storage system is less than a limiting value, the second algorithm is used, and otherwise the first algorithm is used.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein the limiting value is adapted as a function of a user input.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein

for switching over between the first algorithm and the second algorithm by the switching unit, a limiting value for energy stored in the energy storage system is used, and

the limiting value is adapted as a function of a user input.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a display device to display the calculated remaining range and/or calculated consumption,

wherein the display device further displays a map including a partial area which corresponds to destinations on the map which can be reached based on the energy stored in the energy storage system, the partial area being determined from the remaining range of the motor vehicle calculated using one of the first algorithm or second algorithm.