IP Library Granted Patent US 11,254,225
Granted Patent B2
US 11,254,225 · App. 16/117,024 · Granted Feb 22, 2022

Managing vehicle information

Inventors: Justin Ashton (Somerville, MA); Neal Ennis Brenner (Needham, MA)
Assignee: XL Hybrids
B60L53/00B60L50/10G07C5/008
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,254,225
App. No.
16/117,024
Granted
Feb 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system includes a computing device for receiving information representative of activities of an operating first vehicle that includes a propulsion system. The computing device is configured to produce one or more control parameters from the received information in combination with information received from other vehicles, and, provide the one or more control parameters to control operations of a second vehicle.

Claims (47)

1. A computing device-implemented method comprising:

receiving information representative of activities of a first vehicle that includes a propulsion system;

producing one or more control parameters from the received information in combination with information received from other vehicles, the one or more control parameters including a target efficiency threshold; and

providing the one or more control parameters for controlling operations of a controller of the first vehicle or a second vehicle, wherein the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters includes a hybrid electric propulsion system, the provided one or more control parameters causing the controller to control a level of assistance that an electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system provides to a combustion engine of the hybrid electric propulsion system,

wherein the provided one or more control parameters cause the controller to control the level of assistance based on an efficiency level of the combustion engine, the target efficiency threshold, and an available electric energy, wherein the efficiency level of the combustion engine represents a distance per volume of fuel consumed by the combustion engine.

2. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the received information represents aspects of a hybrid electric propulsion system.

3. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein producing the one or more control parameters is executed external to the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

4. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to charging one or more batteries to produce the available electric energy.

5. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information representative of activities of the first vehicle is received substantially in real time.

6. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles has been previously collected.

7. The computing device-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles is received from a computer readable storage device.

8. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the level of assistance comprises charging one or more batteries of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters to produce the available electric energy.

9. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to an operation of the electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system.

10. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the available electric energy is retrievable from a battery of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters, wherein the battery is chargeable by an electric energy source external to the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

11. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the target efficiency threshold represents a target fuel consumption ratio representing a target distance per volume of fuel consumed.

12. The computing device-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the target efficiency threshold represents a target miles-per-gallon threshold.

13. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the level of assistance is further based on one or more environmental parameters.

14. The computing device-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more environmental parameters are associated with an environmental temperature of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

15. The computing device-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein the one or more environmental parameters are associated with a cooling system of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

16. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the efficiency level of the combustion engine represents an instantaneous miles-per-gallon rating of the combustion engine.

17. A system comprising:

a computing device for receiving information representative of activities of a first vehicle that includes a propulsion system; and

wherein the computing device is configured to

produce one or more control parameters from the received information in combination with information received from other vehicles, the one or more control parameters including a target efficiency threshold; and

provide the one or more control parameters for controlling operations of a controller of the first vehicle or a second vehicle, wherein the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters includes a hybrid electric propulsion system, the provided one or more control parameters causing the controller to control a level of assistance that an electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system provides to a combustion engine of the hybrid electric propulsion system,

wherein the provided one or more control parameters cause the controller to control the level of assistance based on an efficiency level of the combustion engine, the target efficiency threshold, and an available electric energy, wherein the efficiency level of the combustion engine represents a distance per volume of fuel consumed by the combustion engine.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the received information represents aspects of the hybrid electric propulsion system.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein producing the one or more control parameters is executed external to the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to charging one or more batteries to produce the available electric energy.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the information representative of activities of the first vehicle is received substantially in real time.

22. The system of claim 17 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles has been previously collected.

23. The system of claim 22 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles is received from a computer readable storage device.

24. The system of claim 17 , wherein the level of assistance comprises charging one or more batteries of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters to produce the available electric energy.

25. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to an operation of the electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system.

26. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving information representative of activities of a first vehicle that includes a propulsion system;

producing one or more control parameters from the received information in combination with information received from other vehicles, the one or more control parameters including a target efficiency threshold; and

providing the one or more control parameters for controlling operations of a controller of the first vehicle or a second vehicle, wherein the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters includes a hybrid electric propulsion system, the provided one or more control parameters causing the controller to control a level of assistance that an electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system provides to a combustion engine of the hybrid electric propulsion system,

wherein the provided one or more control parameters cause the controller to control the level of assistance based on an efficiency level of the combustion engine, the target efficiency threshold, and an available electric energy, wherein the efficiency level of the combustion engine represents a distance per volume of fuel consumed by the combustion engine.

27. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein the received information represents aspects of the hybrid electric propulsion system.

28. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein producing the one or more control parameters is executed external to the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters.

29. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to charging one or more batteries to produce the available electric energy.

30. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein the information representative of activities of the first vehicle is received substantially in real time.

31. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles has been previously collected.

32. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 31 , wherein the information received from the other vehicles is received from a computer readable storage device.

33. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein the level of assistance comprises charging one or more batteries of the first or second vehicle being provided the one or more control parameters to produce the available electric energy.

34. The non-transitory computer readable media of claim 26 , wherein at least one of the one or more control parameters relate to an operation of the electric motor of the hybrid electric propulsion system.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2022
From: SILICON VALLEY BANK
To: XL HYBRIDS, INC.
Reel/Frame 062035/0847 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 3, 2019
From: XL HYBRIDS, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK
Reel/Frame 050615/0555 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 7, 2018
From: ASHTON, JUSTIN; BRENNER, NEAL ENNIS
To: XL HYBRIDS
Reel/Frame 047030/0461 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15205181 · Jul 8, 2016
Continuation 13756911 · Feb 1, 2013
Provisional Application 61593612 · Feb 1, 2012
Related Publication 20190232800A1 · Aug 1, 2019