Regenerative braking feedback display and method

• US 9,919,693 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Aldighieri, Paul, Greenberg, Jeffrey Allen, Watson, David L., Gilman, Dale, Skaff, Ryan, Crombez, Dale Scott, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US13/344,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20120179347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,265 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/16 Type of output information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• 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: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Driver braking performance feedback may be conveyed to a vehicle operator as a braking efficiency score using a vehicle display system. The display system may include a vehicle display for displaying a braking efficiency indicator or gauge corresponding to the braking efficiency score. The braking efficiency score may be based on a comparison of the total regenerative braking energy recaptured during at least one braking event to a either a maximum amount of braking energy that may be recaptured during the at least one braking event or an actual total braking energy expended during the at least one braking event. The braking efficiency score may be displayed upon the completion of a braking event or upon a completion of a trip including a plurality of braking events. The display may also convey a distance corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking.

Claims

1. A display system comprising:

a display including a braking efficiency indicator associated with a braking efficiency score; and

a controller configured to;

determine an amount of regenerative braking energy captured during a braking request; and

output the braking efficiency score based on a comparison of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured and a total braking energy value associated with the braking request when vehicle speed drops below a threshold.

2. The display system of claim 1, wherein the braking efficiency indicator conveys the braking efficiency score numerically.

3. The display system of claim 1, wherein the display further includes a braking efficiency gauge including the braking efficiency indicator for conveying the braking efficiency score graphically, wherein a position of the braking efficiency indicator within the braking efficiency gauge corresponds to the braking efficiency score.

4. The display system of claim 1, wherein the amount of regenerative braking energy is based on an integration of regenerative braking power during the braking request and the total braking energy value is based on an integration of total braking power during the braking request.

5. The display system of claim 1, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to an actual total braking energy expended during the braking request.

6. The display system of claim 1, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the braking request.

7. The display system of claim 6, wherein the total recapturable braking energy value is based on a regenerative braking power limit during the braking request.

8. A display system for a vehicle having an electric machine and a battery, the display system comprising:

a controller configured to;

receive input indicative of a braking request, regenerative braking energy captured by the electric machine and stored in the battery during the braking request and a total braking energy value associated with the braking request, and

output a braking efficiency score based on a comparison of the regenerative braking energy captured and the total braking energy value when vehicle speed drops below a threshold; and

a vehicle display, in communication with the controller, including a braking efficiency indicator corresponding to the braking efficiency score.

9. The display system of claim 8, wherein the braking efficiency indicator conveys the braking efficiency score numerically.

10. The display system of claim 8, wherein the display further includes a braking efficiency gauge configured to convey the braking efficiency score graphically using the braking efficiency indicator, wherein a position of the braking efficiency indicator within the braking efficiency gauge corresponds to the braking efficiency score.

11. The display system of claim 8, wherein the regenerative braking energy captured is based on regenerative braking power output during the braking request and the total braking energy value is based on a total braking power value associated with the braking request.

12. The display system of claim 8, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to an actual total braking energy expended during the braking request.

13. The display system of claim 8, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the braking request.

14. The display system of claim 13, wherein the total recapturable braking energy value is based on maximum regenerative braking power limits throughout a duration of the braking request.

15. A display method comprising:

determining an amount of regenerative braking energy captured during a braking request; and

displaying a braking efficiency score based on a comparison of the amount of regenerative braking energy captured and a total braking energy value associated with the braking request only when vehicle speed drops below a threshold.

16. The display method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining an amount of regenerative braking energy captured comprises:

receiving input indicative of an instantaneous regenerative braking power; and

integrating the instantaneous regenerative braking power over a duration of the braking request.

17. The display method of claim 15, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to an actual total braking energy expended during the braking request.

18. The display method of claim 15, wherein the total braking energy value corresponds to a total recapturable braking energy value associated with the braking request.

19. The display method of claim 15, wherein the braking efficiency score is displayed on a braking efficiency gauge using a braking efficiency indicator.