Method and device for outputting driving information indicating an acceleration option that is optimal in terms of power consumption in a motor vehicle

• US 9,079,588 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Frauenkron, Helge
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/616,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20100152956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,071 Days
• Field of Search: 701/70, 701/99, 701/101, 701/110, 701/123, 340/439, 340/441, 340/467, 731/145.2, 731/145.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention

Abstract

A method for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, including the following steps of ascertaining a target vehicle acceleration that is optimal in terms of consumption, as a function of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle, as well as of at least one tractive-resistance quantity, ascertaining an actual vehicle acceleration, generating the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration, and outputting the driving information.

Claims

1. A method for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

ascertaining, by a computer processor, a target value of an acceleration of the vehicle that is calculated to provide consumption that is optimal at conditions of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle and at least one tractive-resistance quantity;

ascertaining an actual vehicle acceleration by a transducer device;

generating the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration by the processor; and

determining, by the processor and based on the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, whether to output the driving information via an output device, the determining being performed according to a condition that the driving information is not output because of a value of the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, even where the actual vehicle acceleration deviates from the ascertained target value of the acceleration.

2. A device for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a transducer device to ascertain an actual vehicle acceleration;

an output device; and

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

ascertain a target value of an acceleration of the vehicle that is calculated to provide consumption that is optimal at conditions of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle and at least one tractive-resistance quantity;

generate the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration; and

determine, based on the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, whether to output the driving information via the output device, the determination being performed according to a condition that the driving information is not output because of a value of the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, even where the actual vehicle acceleration deviates from the ascertained target value of the acceleration.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the processing device is a control unit.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one current operating state quantity includes at least one of a vehicle velocity and an engine speed.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein, through the at least one current operating state quantity, at least one of the following quantities is taken into account:

(i) longitudinal vehicle acceleration, (ii) drive position information, (iii) vehicle weight, and (iv) an indication as to whether the vehicle is operated with a trailer.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the output of the driving information is in a way that allows the driver to recognize whether the actual vehicle acceleration is less than or greater than the target vehicle acceleration of the driving state that is optimal in terms of consumption.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein the driving information is weighted or valuated with a weighting factor that differs, in particular, as a function of the drive position.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the driving information is at least one of optically, haptically, and acoustically output in the motor vehicle.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the driver information is output during at least one of a steady-state driving operation and in acceleration phases between a first shift point and a second shift point, the first shift point signifying an instant of clutch engagement, and the second shift point signifying an instant of clutch disengagement.

10. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a device for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, including;

a transducer device to ascertain an actual vehicle acceleration;

an output device; and

a processing device, wherein the processing device is configured to;

ascertain a target value of an acceleration of the vehicle that is calculated to provide consumption that is optimal at conditions of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle and at least one tractive-resistance quantity;

generate the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration; and

determine, based on the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, whether to output the driving information via the output device, the determination being performed according to a condition that the driving information is not output because of a value of the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, even where the actual vehicle acceleration deviates from the ascertained target value of the acceleration.

11. The motor vehicle of claim 10, wherein the processing device is a control unit.

12. A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processing unit, comprising:

a program code arrangement having program code for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, by performing the following;

ascertaining a target value of an acceleration of the vehicle that is calculated to provide consumption that is optimal at conditions of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle and at least one tractive-resistance quantity;

ascertaining an actual vehicle acceleration by a transducer device;

generating the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration by the processor; and

determining, based on the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, whether to output the driving information via an output device, the determining being performed according to a condition that the driving information is not output because of a value of the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, even where the actual vehicle acceleration deviates from the ascertained target value of the acceleration.

13. A method for outputting driving information to indicate a power consumption-optimized driving state to a driver of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

ascertaining, by a computer processor, a target value of an acceleration of the vehicle, which is optimal in terms of consumption, as a function of at least one current operating state quantity of the vehicle, and of at least one tractive-resistance quantity;

ascertaining an actual vehicle acceleration by a transducer device;

generating the driving information as a function of the ascertained target vehicle acceleration and of the actual vehicle acceleration by the processor; and

determining, by the processor and based on the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, whether to output via an output device the driving information, the determining being performed according to a condition that the driving information is not output because of a value of the at least one tractive-resistance quantity, even where the actual vehicle acceleration deviates from the ascertained target value of the acceleration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one current operating state quantity includes at least one of a vehicle velocity and an engine speed.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, through the at least one current operating state quantity, at least one of the following quantities is taken into account:

(i) longitudinal vehicle acceleration, (ii) drive position information, (iii) vehicle weight, and (iv) an indication as to whether the vehicle is operated with a trailer.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the output of the driving information is in a way that allows the driver to recognize whether the actual vehicle acceleration is less than or greater than the target vehicle acceleration of the driving state that is optimal in terms of consumption.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the driving information is weighted or valuated with a weighting factor that differs, in particular, as a function of the drive position.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the driving information is at least one of optically, haptically, and acoustically output in the motor vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is applied in at least one of a steady-state driving operation and in acceleration phases between a first shift point and a second shift point, the first shift point signifying an instant of clutch engagement, and the second shift point signifying an instant of clutch disengagement.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one tractive-resistance quantity represents a grade of a roadway upon which the motor vehicle is traveling.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the target value of acceleration is a positive acceleration by which the vehicle'"'"'s speed would be increased, and the driving information is generated as a function of the actual vehicle acceleration being determined, in a comparison to the target value of positive acceleration, to be less than the target vehicle acceleration.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one tractive-resistance quantity includes at least one of a rolling resistance, an air resistance, a climbing resistance, an acceleration resistance, and a roadway grade.