Route based energy consumption estimation using physical models

• US 9,759,573 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Meyer, Jason, Tseng, Fling Finn, Kristinsson, Johannes Geir
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US14/474,074
• Publication Number:
  US 20160061611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 701423, 701411, 701414, 701424, 701439, 701 314, 701532, 705 714, 340441, 702142
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to a system, apparatus, method, and process for generating a route based energy consumption estimation based on physical models. More particularly, the disclosure describes the generation of the route based energy consumption estimation based on physical models for a vehicle traveling on a specific road segment. The energy consumption estimation may be based on information related to historical energy consumption information for the vehicle, external information that may affect energy consumption by the vehicle, vehicle systems information that may affect energy consumption by the vehicle, and/or selected road segment information that may be used to predict energy consumption by the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

batterie(s), a display, climate control, processor(s) configured to;

(a) calculate, for traffic stops along a predetermined route, stopping probability and stopping time;

(b) calculate an energy conversion efficiency of the batterie(s) based on (a);

(c) calculate a climate control energy consumption along the route based on (a) and (b);

(d) display an energy cost of the route to the batterie(s) based on (c).

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to project the energy conversion efficiency of the batterie(s) by referencing an energy efficiency database that relates a plurality of different vehicle speeds to a plurality of different energy conversion efficiencies.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the energy conversion efficiency of the battierie(s) relates energy consumed by the batterie(s) to energy supplied by the batterie(s).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the the processor(s) are configured to:

determine whether vehicle window(s) are in an up or down state, and calculate the climate control energy consumption along the route based on the determined state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

determine, at each of said traffic stops, whether the route includes a left turn, a right turn, or continuing straight;

for each of said traffic stops, base the stopping probability and the stopping time on said determination.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the energy conversion efficiency mathematically compensates for energy loss that the batterie(s) incur in converting energy stored in a first form into electrical energy for powering the climate control.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes at least one component selected from the group of lighting components, audio system components, infotainment system components, speaker system components, heated seats components, solenoid valves components, electric fans components, vehicle control modules components, and sensor components;

and the processor(s) are configured to;

calculate energy consumption of said component based on (a) and (b).

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor(s) are configured to project the energy conversion efficiency, at least in part, by referencing an entry in the energy efficiency database corresponding to a vehicle speed of zero.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

calculate the stopping probability and stopping time based on direction of the route at each of said traffic stops.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the processor(s) are configured to:

calculate (a) based on determinations of route direction at each of said traffic stops.

11. A method, comprising:

via processor(s) of a vehicle having batterie(s), a display, and climate control;

calculating;

(a) stopping probability and stopping time for traffic stops along a predetermined route;

(b) an energy conversion efficiency of the batterie(s) based on (a);

(c) a climate control energy consumption based on (a) and (b);

displaying an energy cost of the route to the batterie(s) based on (c).