Display device for electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10600262-B2
Application number	US-201715711219-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2017
Priority date	Oct 6, 2016
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A display device for an electric vehicle includes a calculation unit which calculates a power consumption rate of the electric vehicle, and a display unit which displays the power consumption rate calculated by the calculation unit, and a possible travel range achievable at the power consumption rate. The display unit includes a power consumption rate scale indicating scales of the power consumption rate, a possible travel range scale indicating scales of the possible travel range and disposed corresponding to the power consumption rate scale, and a line portion displayed between the power consumption rate scale and the possible travel range scale. An end portion of the line portion closer to the power consumption rate scale indicates the power consumption rate, and an end portion of the line portion closer to the possible travel range scale indicates the possible travel range.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display device for an electric vehicle, comprising:
a calculation unit which calculates a power consumption rate of the electric vehicle on the basis of a travel distance of the electric vehicle and power consumption of a traction battery of the electric vehicle relative to the travel distance, and which calculates a possible travel range for each corresponding power consumption rate based on a remaining amount of the traction battery; and
a display unit which displays the power consumption rate calculated by the calculation unit, and the calculated travel range, wherein
the display unit includes:
a power consumption rate scale indicating scales of the power consumption rate;
a possible travel range scale indicating scales of the possible travel range and disposed corresponding to the power consumption rate scale; and
a line portion displayed between the power consumption rate scale and the possible travel range scale, and

the line portion has two end portions including an end portion that is closer to the power consumption rate scale and indicates the power consumption rate, and an end portion that is closer to the possible travel range scale and indicates the possible travel range.

2. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit:
displays the power consumption rate scale having vertical or horizontal scales;
displays the possible travel range scale having vertical or horizontal scales, such that the possible travel range scale is arranged vertically or horizontally side by side with the power consumption rate scale; and
displays the line portion as a horizontal line or a vertical line, with a scale value of the power consumption rate scale being a fixed value and a scale value of the possible travel range scale being a variable value based on the remaining amount.

3. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit:
displays the power consumption rate scale having vertical or horizontal scales;
displays the possible travel range scale having vertical or horizontal scales, such that the possible travel range scale is arranged vertically or horizontally side by side with the power consumption rate scale; and
displays the line portion as an oblique line, with a scale value of the power consumption rate scale and a scale value of the possible travel range scale being fixed values.

4. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays a mark indicating a target value of the power consumption rate.

5. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein the display unit displays a mark indicating a target value of the power consumption rate.

6. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein the display unit displays a mark indicating a target value of the power consumption rate.

7. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein
the electric vehicle includes a traction motor and electrical equipment other than the traction motor which receive power supply from the traction battery,
the calculation unit calculates, as the power consumption rate: a first power consumption rate based on an instantaneous travel distance of the electrical vehicle at a current moment and based on the power consumption relative to the instantaneous travel distance; a second power consumption rate based on a predetermined travel distance longer than the instantaneous travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor relative to the predetermined travel distance; and a third power consumption rate based on the predetermined travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor and power consumption of the electrical equipment relative to the predetermined travel distance, and
the display unit displays a line portion indicating the second power consumption rate and a second possible travel range achievable at the second power consumption rate, and a line portion indicating the third power consumption rate and a third possible travel range achievable at the third power consumption rate, such that these line portions are arranged side by side with a line portion indicating the first power consumption rate and a first possible travel range achievable at the first power consumption rate.

8. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 2 , wherein
the electric vehicle includes a traction motor and electrical equipment other than the traction motor which receive power supply from the traction battery,
the calculation unit calculates, as the power consumption rate: a first power consumption rate based on an instantaneous travel distance of the electrical vehicle at a current moment and based on the power consumption relative to the instantaneous travel distance; a second power consumption rate based on a predetermined travel distance longer than the instantaneous travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor relative to the predetermined travel distance; and a third power consumption rate based on the predetermined travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor and power consumption of the electrical equipment relative to the predetermined travel distance, and
the display unit displays a line portion indicating the second power consumption rate and a second possible travel range achievable at the second power consumption rate, and a line portion indicating the third power consumption rate and a third possible travel range achievable at the third power consumption rate, such that these line portions are arranged side by side with a line portion indicating the first power consumption rate and a first possible travel range achievable at the first power consumption rate.

9. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 3 , wherein
the electric vehicle includes a traction motor and electrical equipment other than the traction motor which receive power supply from the traction battery,
the calculation unit calculates, as the power consumption rate: a first power consumption rate based on an instantaneous travel distance of the electrical vehicle at a current moment and based on the power consumption relative to the instantaneous travel distance; a second power consumption rate based on a predetermined travel distance longer than the instantaneous travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor relative to the predetermined travel distance; and a third power consumption rate based on the predetermined travel distance and based on power consumption of the traction motor and power consumption of the electrical equipment relative to the predetermined travel distance, and
the display unit displays a line portion indicating the second power consumption rate and a second possible travel range achievable at the second power consumption rate, and a line portion indicating the third power consumption rate and a third possible travel range achievable at the third power consumption rate, such that these line portions are arranged side by side with a line portion indicating the first power consumption rate and a first possible travel range achievable at the first power consumption rate.

10. The display device for the electric vehicle according to claim 4 , wherein
the electric vehicle includes a traction motor and electrical equipment other than the traction motor which receive power supply from the traction battery,
the calculation unit calculates, as the power consumption rate: a first power consumption rate based on an instantaneous travel distance of the electrical vehicle

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Motors Corp

Inventors

• Ohta Jinichi
• Mizui Toshifumi

Classifications

• B60L3/12 Primary

  Recording operating variables {; Monitoring of operating variables} · CPC title

• G01D7/02

  Indicating value of two or more variables simultaneously · CPC title

• B60L15/20 Primary

  for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed · CPC title

• B60L2250/16

  by display · CPC title

• B60L2260/52

  drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance · CPC title