Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Angela L Watson

David Leslie Watson

Ryan J Skaff

Derek Hartl

Craig Sandvig

Jeffrey Allen Greenberg

Paul Stephen Bryan

Paul Aldighieri

Dale Gilman

Leslie Bodnar

Stephen Richard Burke

Steven Bishop

Engin Erdogan

Susanne Stage

Sohel Merchant

Altay Jun Wakui Sendil

Robert Jay Louch

Ivette Hernandez

Anthony Howard

Michael Alan Blommer

James Belloli

John Shutko

Leann Kridner

Michael Lerman

Ivette Hernández

A trip gauge for a vehicle information display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. The trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle's range or distance to empty value. Moreover, the positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. Accordingly, drivers may be either reassured that they are expected to reach their destination successfully or warned if they are not so the drivers can modify their driving behavior or change their destination.

Information display system and method

A computer-implemented method of displaying vehicle range includes receiving input corresponding to a level of charge remaining in a vehicle having at least a partial electric power source usable for vehicle locomotion. The method also includes determining a maximum remaining range which the vehicle can travel based at least on the level of charge. The method further includes displaying a maximum range boundary overlaid on a map, including at least an indicator at the center of the range indicating a current location of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus for reporting state of charge in electric vehicles

A computer-implemented method includes displaying a plurality of power consuming and producing vehicle components. The method also includes determining what components are currently consuming power and what components are currently delivering power, and to what magnitude the power is flowing between components. The method additionally includes displaying one or more arrows showing a powerflow from at least one power producing component to at least one power consuming or producing component. The method further includes displaying an indicia indicating the magnitude of the powerflow associated with the one or more arrows. Also, the method includes, for at least one power consuming component, displaying a gauge relating to a level of power being consumed by the at least one power consuming component.

Method and apparatus for energy usage display

An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system also indicates how close the engine is to turning on due to an engine on reason by displaying a proximity indicator representing a value associated with the engine on reason and a threshold demarcating values which cause the engine to be on.

Vehicle information display and method

A vehicle display may convey vehicle trip information and vehicle range information graphically to assist drivers in qualitatively visualizing and determining whether they can successfully make it to their destination before an on-board energy source is depleted. A trip gauge may include indicators corresponding to the relative locations of the vehicle, the destination, and a projected zero charge location associated with the vehicle's range or distance to empty value. The positions of the indicators relative to one another may indicate whether the excess energy is available for the vehicle to reach the destination or whether the energy available is insufficient. A battery gauge may also convey information associated with the vehicle range. Portions of the trip gauge and the battery gauge, as well as one or more of the associated indicators, may assigned various color values for display based upon energy consumption, vehicle range, and target distance information.

An information display system for a vehicle includes an information display for displaying a plurality of selectable information display levels according to an information display hierarchy. Each selectable information display level may include one or more visual gauges for conveying vehicle information. Each successive selectable information display level may include additional and/or alternative vehicle information when compared to the preceding selectable information display level. The information display system further includes a controller configured to display the plurality of selectable information display levels according to an at least one driver input. In this way, the information display can display a particular selectable information display level best suited to a driver's individual preferences or understanding of the vehicle's operations.

A multi-functional, composite fuel display for displaying both fuel level information and fuel economy information is provided. The fuel level is displayed using a plurality of bar segments, each corresponding to a single unit of fuel. Once a single unit of fuel is consumed, the corresponding bar segment changes size to indicate an average fuel economy for that unit of fuel. The bar segment corresponding to the current unit of fuel being consumed changes size in real time to indicate instantaneous fuel economy. An indicator is provided over the bar segments corresponding to single unit of consumed fuel to indicate average fuel economy for the current tank of fuel.

Multi-functional vehicle fuel display

An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system determines which engine on reasons are true and applies a prioritization strategy to determine which engine on reasons are displayed to an operator via an information display.

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.

System and method for displaying vehicle efficiency

An information display for a vehicle includes an indicator arrangement having a visual display configured to provide driver demand information to a vehicle driver. The visual display includes a dynamic target range for operating the vehicle, which includes a first boundary and a second boundary indicating a driver demand that would cause the engine to start. A control system includes at least one controller, and is configured to receive at least one input related to current operating conditions of the vehicle and to provide at least one output to the indicator arrangement to position the target range on the visual display and to indicate to the driver a current level of driver demand. In this way, the visual display indicates to the driver the current level of driver demand relative to the position of the target range.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Angela L Watson