Method and device for planning a travel route for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9291469-B2
Application number	US-201214008852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2012
Priority date	Apr 1, 2011
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A method for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit includes a) transmitting a destination sequence to an arithmetic logic unit coupled to a data memory storing data concerning a road network, b) calculating a route sequence for the destination sequence, c) calculating a projected amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit for the route sequence, d) ascertaining, at least for one destination in the destination sequence, based on the projected amount of energy remaining, the road network and a projected energy consumption, points in the road network still reachable from this destination with the projected amount of energy remaining, and e) generating, for at least the one destination, a graphic map depiction in which this destination and the points in the road network still reachable from this destination are visually represented. A corresponding device for carrying out the method is also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit for storing energy to power the vehicle, comprising:
transmitting, for planning of the travel route, a destination sequence and user-specifiable time of arrival at at least one destination of the destination sequence, to an arithmetic logic unit coupled to a data memory in which data concerning a road network for the vehicle is stored,
calculating, by the arithmetic logic unit, at least in part as a function of the user-specifiable time of arrival, a route sequence which connects destinations in the destination sequence,
calculating a projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit for traveling the route sequence,
ascertaining, at least for a geographical position of the vehicle at one destination of the destinations in the destination sequence, based on the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, the stored road network and a projected energy consumption in traveling the road network, points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy at the one destination, and
generating, for at least the one destination in the destination sequence, a graphic map depiction in which the geographical position of the one destination and the points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle at the one destination are visually represented.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein data concerning geographical positions of energy-supply stations for the vehicle is stored in the data memory, and the geographical positions of energy-supply stations which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle are visually represented in the graphic map depiction.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the route sequence includes a geographical position of an energy-supply station as an intermediate destination, and further comprising:
generating a graphic map depiction for the intermediate destination, in which the geographical position of the intermediate destination and points in the road network which are still reachable prior to replenishing the energy storage unit at the energy-supply station are visually represented, and further, points in the road network which are reachable after the energy storage unit has been replenished at the energy-supply station are visually represented.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a reference position, and
when calculating the route sequence, ensuring that the reference position lies within a remaining traveling range of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the reference position also lies within the remaining traveling range of the vehicle if, in order to reach the reference position, the vehicle must stop at an energy-supply station for the vehicle as an intermediate destination.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
while traveling the calculated route sequence, sensing an amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, and
at least upon reaching a destination in the destination sequence, generating an adjusted graphic map depiction in which the geographical position of the destination and points in the road network which are still reachable from the destination with the sensed amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle are visually represented.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
while traveling the calculated route sequence, sensing an amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, and comparing the sensed amount of energy remaining to the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle for a corresponding route position, and
if a deviation of the sensed amount of energy remaining from the projected remaining amount of energy exceeds a limiting value, recalculating the route sequence based on the sensed amount of energy remaining.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a preference with respect to at least one destination of the destination sequence, the preference including a tolerance for deviation from the user-specifiable time of arrival.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the destination sequence and the time of arrival are transmitted from an electronic calendar.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a departure time from the at least one destination.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining the destination sequence based on appointment data, the appointment data including a beginning time and an end time of at least one appointment.

12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a velocity of the vehicle for the travel route based on at least one of: road characteristics and driver behavior.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the calculation of the projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on a gradient of a road.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the calculating of the projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on characteristics of the vehicle when encountering a curve in the road.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the calculating a projected remaining amount of energy is performed iteratively such that the projection is based at least in part on a charge state of the energy storage unit.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the calculating a projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on expected behavior of a vehicle occupant.

17. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining a parking facility for the at least one destination of the destination sequence based on at least one of: whether the parking facility includes an energy-supply station, a distance of the parking facility to the at least one destination, and a user walking speed.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further comprising determining a parking facility based on a likelihood of reaching the at least one destination at the time of arrival, the likelihood being determined based on a user walking speed.

19. A device for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit for storing energy to power the vehicle, comprising:
an arithmetic logic unit,
a data memory, coupled to the arithmetic logic unit, in which data concerning a road network for the vehicle is stored,
an interface coupled to the arithmetic logic unit and adapted to transmit, for planning of the travel route, a destination sequence and user-specifiable time of arrival to the arithmetic logic unit, and
an output unit coupled to the arithmetic logic unit, wherein the arithmetic logic unit is adapted to:
calculate a projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit for traveling the route sequence,
ascertain, at least for a geographical position of the vehicle at one destination of destinations in the destination sequence, based on the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, the stored road network and a projected energy consumption in traveling the road network, points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy

Assignees

• Hoch Nicklas
• Werther Bernd
• Anders Peter
• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Hoch Nicklas
• Werther Bernd
• Anders Peter

Classifications

• G01C21/3676

  Overview of the route on the road map · CPC title

• G01C21/3697

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G08G1/096866

  where the complete route is shown to the driver · CPC title

• G01C21/3469 Primary

  Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects · CPC title

• G08G1/096822

  where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times · CPC title