초록 ▼

A fuel efficiency monitoring and display system for a vehicle dynamically evaluates vehicle performance parameters to detect conditions that cause excessive fuel consumption. The conditions include increased aerodynamic drag due to excessive speed, high RPM, braking and accelerating, excessive idlin

A fuel efficiency monitoring and display system for a vehicle dynamically evaluates vehicle performance parameters to detect conditions that cause excessive fuel consumption. The conditions include increased aerodynamic drag due to excessive speed, high RPM, braking and accelerating, excessive idling, and rapid throttle movements. The system dynamically estimates gross vehicle weight, roadway grade and drag factor from monitored parameters and uses these estimates to detect inefficient fuel use. The system indicates to the driver when inefficient fuel use is detected. For example, it displays a measure of excess fuel consumed and messages indicating actions that can be taken to improve fuel economy in response to detecting inefficient fuel use.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [45.] A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle to improve fuel economy while operating the vehicle on a roadway, the method comprising:collecting vehicle performance data during operation of the vehicle;during operation of the vehicle, monitoring for two or more conditions in which

[ We claim:] [45.] A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle to improve fuel economy while operating the vehicle on a roadway, the method comprising:collecting vehicle performance data during operation of the vehicle;during operation of the vehicle, monitoring for two or more conditions in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel;during operation of the vehicle, detecting from the vehicle performance data whether at least one of the conditions exist in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel;measuring fuel consumption attributable to a detected condition in which the vehicle is consuming excess fuel; andduring operation of the vehicle, indicating to the driver that excess fuel is being consumed due to the detected condition, within a predefined period of detecting the condition and a cause of the detected condition.