Method and apparatus for energy usage display

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9613473-B2
Application number	US-98557511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2011
Priority date	Jan 6, 2011
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
displaying a power-consuming accessory and a power-producing vehicle component;
displaying an arrow showing a powerflow from the component to the accessory;
displaying a visual indicator indicating a powerflow magnitude associated with the arrow, the indicator visually varying based on changes in powerflow magnitude; and
displaying a gauge showing instantaneous power consumption of the accessory relative to a maximum power consumption.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a brightness level.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a change of color.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is the speed of a pulse moving along the one or more arrows.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying numeric values for remaining travel distance and/or time based on remaining fuel, wherein the numeric values adjust dynamically as the accessory is set to consume more or less power.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein fuel includes gasoline.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein fuel includes electricity.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a numeric indicator next to the arrow, the indicator demonstrating a level of powerflow between the component and accessory connected by the arrow.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed, cause a vehicle computing system to perform the method comprising:
displaying a power-consuming accessory and power-producing vehicle components;
displaying an arrow showing a powerflow from the component to the accessory;
displaying a visual indicator indicating a powerflow magnitude associated with the arrow, the indicator visually varying as accessory power consumption changes; and
displaying a gauge showing current power being consumed by the accessory.

10. A vehicle system comprising:
a power consuming accessory;
a power producing component, operable to provide power to the accessory;
a vehicle computing system, configured to determine magnitude of a powerflow between the component and accessory and an instantaneous level of power usage for the accessory,
wherein, the vehicle computing system is configured to instruct a display to show an arrow from the component to the accessory, the arrow indicating a magnitude of the powerflow via a visual indicator that visually varies with changes in the magnitude and to show a gauge in proximity to a displayed accessory indicating instantaneous power usage by the accessory.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle computing system is configured to instruct the display to show the instantaneous power usage by the accessory relative to a maximum power usage by the accessory.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vehicle computing system is configured to instruct the display to show the instantaneous power usage by the accessory relative to power usage by at least one other active accessory.

Assignees

• Hartl Derek
• Skaff Ryan
• Watson Angela L
• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hartl Derek
• Skaff Ryan
• Watson Angela L

Classifications

• B60R16/0236

  for economical driving · CPC title

• B60W2530/209

  Fuel quantity remaining in tank · CPC title

• B60W20/00

  Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} · CPC title

• G07C5/0825 Primary

  using optical means · CPC title

• B60W2050/146

  Display means · CPC title