Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Kenichi Mineta

Maja Kurciska

Taisuke Tsurutani

Tsuneo Ohno

Koichiro Takemasa

Yoshinori Aoki

Lisa Umeda

Takumi Shimomura

A route searching device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an estimated fuel consumption amount computing unit that computes an estimated fuel consumption amount of each interval constituting plural routes from a departure point to a destination and an optimum route selecting unit that selects a route in which a total of the estimated fuel consumption amount from the departure point to the destination is minimized. The estimated fuel consumption amount may be obtained by adding a cruise fuel consumption amount, a gradient fuel consumption amount, and a vehicle-speed fluctuation fuel consumption amount. In a further aspect, an average fuel consumption value for each speed range of an interval may be determined based on limited fuel consumption data, and fuel consumption values may be updated using measured probe data.

Devices and methods for determining fuel consumption and searching vehicle routes

An energy map for a motor vehicle and an energy mapping system for making the energy map are disclosed. The energy map includes energy information related to energy consumption and energy recharging of various power sources along various roadway segments. The energy mapping system may include a navigation system for a motor vehicle comprising a GPS receiver, various energy level sensors, and an electronic control unit. A probe vehicle may be used to measure energy consumption and energy recharging for various power sources. The energy mapping system may also include a service provider. The navigation system may measure energy levels for the various power sources along various roadway segments and transmit the measurements to the service provider. The service provider may then associate differences in the measured energy levels for each of the various power sources with the various roadway segments.

Energy mapping systems

A route searching device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an estimated fuel consumption amount computing unit that computes an estimated fuel consumption amount of each interval constituting plural routes from a departure point to a destination and an optimum route selecting unit that selects a route in which a total of the estimated fuel consumption amount from the departure point to the destination is minimized. The estimated fuel consumption amount computing unit includes a cruise fuel consumption amount computing unit that computes a cruise fuel consumption amount for each interval by multiplying a distance of the interval and a fuel consumption rate determined according to an average vehicle speed a vehicle-speed fluctuation fuel consumption amount computing unit that computes a vehicle-speed fluctuation fuel consumption amount for each interval in each road category by multiplying the distance of the interval and the a fuel consumption rate, the fuel consumption rate being determined from an average vehicle speed and the road category of the interval and a gradient fuel consumption amount computing unit that computes a gradient fuel consumption amount for each interval by multiplying the distance of the interval and a fuel consumption rate determined according to a road average gradient. The estimated fuel consumption amount is obtained by adding the cruise fuel consumption amount, the gradient fuel consumption amount, and the vehicle-speed fluctuation fuel consumption amount.

Route searching device

A user selects route preferences related to weighing or considering different factors when determining a requested candidate route to a destination and chooses a candidate route ranking. A motor vehicle detects a condition associated with a vehicle state. The motor vehicle displays the candidate route based on the detected vehicle condition in a preselected order determined by the route ranking.

System and method for displaying a route based on a vehicle state

An energy map for a motor vehicle and a method of making the energy map are disclosed. The energy map includes energy information related to energy consumption and energy recharging of various power sources along various roadway segments. A probe vehicle is used to measure energy consumption and energy recharging for various power sources.

Energy maps and method of making

Minimum energy routes for a motor vehicle are determined. The minimum energy routes can be calculated using an energy map. Energy management information is determined and provided along the minimum energy route.

Minimum energy route for a motor vehicle

A comparator is supplied with a hold visit code and a visit guidance message, which are received by a receiver from a broadcasting device via radio waves. Alternatively, the comparator is supplied with a hold visit code and a visit guidance message, which are received by a communicating unit from a server through a public circuit network, a wireless link, a cellular phone unit, and another wireless link. The comparator then compares the supplied HVC with an HVC that is stored in a message table in a storage unit. If the HVCs compared by the comparator agree with each other, then an information output unit resets the HVC stored in the message table, and outputs the visit guidance message to an output unit.

Information delivery system, vehicle and broadcasting apparatus for an information delivery system, and method of outputting related information therefor

Growing community of inventors

Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, United States of America

Kenichi Mineta