IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,112,620

Granted Patent B2

US 10,112,620 · App. 14/234,327 · Granted Oct 30, 2018

Drive assist apparatus

Inventors: Satoru Matsumoto (Nagoya, JP); Kentaro Takahashi (Toyota, JP); Masato Endo (Nagoya, JP)

Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

B60W50/08 B60K35/00 B60L11/1848 B60L11/1862 B60W20/12 B60W40/12 G01C21/3469 G01C21/3667 G01C21/3676 G09B29/007 G09B29/10 B60K6/20 B60K2350/1076 B60L2240/622 B60L2240/72 B60L2250/16 B60L2260/52 B60L2260/54 B60W2510/244 B60W2550/402 B60W2750/40 B60Y2200/92 H04M1/0202 H04W4/80 Y02T10/6269 Y02T10/7005 Y02T10/705 Y02T10/7044 Y02T10/7072 Y02T10/7291 Y02T10/84 Y02T90/121 Y02T90/128 Y02T90/14 Y02T90/16 Y02T90/161 Y02T90/162 Y02T90/163 Y02T90/169 Y04S30/14 Y10S903/903

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,112,620
App. No.: 14/234,327
Granted: Oct 30, 2018
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An electronic control unit of a drive assist apparatus acquires electric power source identification information for identifying a source of an electric power currently charged in a battery and electric power amount information representing an electric power amount corresponding to the source from an electric power acquisition unit, thereby recognizing a battery remaining amount SOCrg representing a green electric power, a battery remaining amount SOCj representing a privately generated green electric power, and a battery remaining amount SOCrs representing a non-green electric power. The unit presents travelable ranges each formed by connecting a group of maximum reachable points to which a PHV can reach by using each of a battery total remaining amount SOCr and the battery remaining amounts SOCrg, SOCj, and SOCrs to a user (driver) by using an information presentation unit.

Claims (61)

1. A system comprising:

a drive assist apparatus for assisting a driver driving a vehicle that travels by using an electric power charged in a battery installed thereon and by using a driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery,

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein

the drive assist apparatus includes:

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor configured to:

receive (A) the first information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

determine (1) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery based upon the second information and (2) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery based on the first and second information; and

superimpose and display the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in a distinguishable manner on the vicinity map of the display,

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery is displayed as a first area on the vicinity map,

the distinguishable manner is a visual distinctiveness between the displayed first and second areas, and

the second area is greater than and includes the first area.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the visual distinctiveness is based on a border line distinguishing the first area and a difference between the first area and the second area.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a first color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a second color on the vicinity map, visually distinctive from the first color.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a first shading on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery has a second shading on the vicinity map, visually distinctive from the first shading.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is further configured to:

based on an acquired current position of the vehicle, notify the driver of the vehicle of a change to the determined maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle.

8. A system comprising:

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein the drive assist apparatus includes:

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle; and

a microprocessor configured to:

receive (A) the first information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

superimpose and display the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in a first travel mode and the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in a second travel mode in a distinguishable manner on the vicinity map of the display; and

notify the driver of the vehicle when a change of travel modes between the first and second travel modes may be necessary based on the determined maximum travelable ranges, wherein the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode is greater than and includes the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a first color on the vicinity map,

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a second color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the first and second colors is visually distinctive.

12. A system comprising:

an electric power sensor configured to determine second information regarding the electric power charged in the battery, and

a driving power other than the electric power sensor configured to determine first information regarding the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery, wherein

the drive assist apparatus includes:

a display configured to display a vicinity map including a current position of the vehicle;

a microprocessor configured to:

receive (A) the information from the driving power other than the electric power sensor and (B) the second information from the electric power sensor;

determine (1) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery based upon the first information and (2) a maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery based on the first and second information; and

the displayed determined maximum travelable ranges circumscribe the current position of the vehicle,

the current position of the vehicle is displayed at a center of the vicinity map,

when the position of the vehicle changes, an updated position of the vehicle approaches the displayed determined maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle, and

the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode is greater than and includes the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the electric power charged in the battery includes an electric power externally supplied to the vehicle.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the maximum travelable ranges of the vehicle comprise maximum travelable ranges for making a round trip of the vehicle departing from a current position to return to the current position again.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein

the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a first color on the vicinity map,

a difference between the determined (2) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using (i) the driving power other than the electric power charged in the battery in combination with (ii) the electric power charged in the battery in the second travel mode and the determined (1) maximum travelable range of the vehicle using the electric power charged in the battery in the first travel mode has a second color on the vicinity map, and

a difference between the first and second colors is visually distinctive.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 22, 2014

From: MATSUMOTO, SATORU; TAKAHASHI, KENTARO; ENDO, MASATO

To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Reel/Frame 032021/0892 →

Priority Claims (1)

JP 2011-158765 · Jul 20, 2011 · national

Continuity (1)

Related Publication 20140163854A1 · Jun 12, 2014