With Indication Of Fuel Consumption Rate Or Economy Of Usage Patents (Class 701/123)
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Publication number: 20120179359Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes determining the reachability of one or more known refueling points along a route-to-be-traveled. The method also includes selecting one or more recommended refueling points, based at least in part on the determined reachability of the one or more known refueling points. The method further includes outputting at least a portion of the route-to-be-traveled including at least one recommended refueling point and providing an option to route a vehicle to the recommended refueling point. The method additionally includes, responsive to a selection of an option to route the vehicle to the recommended refueling point, providing a route from a present destination to the recommended refueling point, wherein, when the recommended refueling point has been reached, the route reverts to the route-to-be-traveled.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Elizabeth Profitt-Brown, Kelly Lee Zechel, Joseph Paul Rork, Brian Petersen, Edward Andrew Pleet
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Publication number: 20120179360Abstract: The magnitude (Y) of a data associated to a journey of an automotive vehicle is expressed by a function (f) of at least one input parameter (x). This method includes at least the steps of: a) defining a first model (ft=0) of the function; b) running the vehicle on a reference trip, the input parameter (x, m, p) and the magnitude (Y) being measured (YM, xM) during or at the end of the reference trip; c) computing a value (YC) of the magnitude by using the first model (ft=0) of the function (f) and the value of the parameter (xM) measured at step b); d) comparing the values (YM, YC) of the magnitude at said time; and e) adjusting the function (ft=1) in a way corresponding to the reduction of the difference between the measured value (YM) and the computed value (YC).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2009Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: RENAULT TRUCKSInventor: Romain Montelimard
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Publication number: 20120173121Abstract: The present invention provides an onboard system for determining vehicle emissions. The emissions are determined in real-time and may be transmitted to a remote terminal for storage and/or analysis. Data is supplied solely to an emissions unit from a vehicle diagnostic system: the vehicle diagnostic system receives vehicle data from vehicle systems and sub-systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Inventor: Alexander Willard
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Publication number: 20120173132Abstract: The present invention discloses a vehicle emission monitoring device and a method thereof. The method of the present invention comprises steps: obtaining an OBS instantaneous fuel consumption and a carbon dioxide emission from an on-board emission measurement system (OBS); working out an OBS fuel consumption-carbon dioxide emission relationship with a statistical method or a regression method; obtaining an OBD instantaneous fuel consumption from an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system; establishing an OBS-OBD fuel consumption relationship; and converting the OBD instantaneous fuel consumption into an carbon dioxide emission according to the OBS-OBD fuel consumption relationship and the OBS fuel consumption-carbon dioxide emission relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH & TEST CENTERInventors: KE-WEI LIN, SHIH-CHANG CHEN, YU-CHI SHIUE, CHIH-WEI CHUANG
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Patent number: 8214103Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring of vehicle efficiency use wireless remote sensors associated with the vehicle and with a fueling station. Vehicle data is collected from the wireless sensors in conjunction with fueling of the vehicle. Efficiency is calculated, such as by calculating miles per gallon for the vehicle, and the information is stored in a computing system. Vehicle efficiency may be tracked over time to identify deviations or irregularities that may be addressed to improve overall vehicle efficiency, and overall vehicle efficiency for a fleet of vehicles that are all monitored in such a manner.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Stemco LPInventors: Mark J. Kranz, Daylen Borders
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Patent number: 8204640Abstract: Past limit electric power generation costs and past limit electric assist costs are stored as pieces of planning information, based on each of which a fuel consumption amount is estimated assuming that a vehicle travels according to a past traveling pattern. An average estimated fuel consumption amount is computed by averaging the fuel consumption amounts estimated for the pieces of planning information. The piece of planning information including the lowest average estimated fuel consumption amount is selected for the next traveling. An improvement amount during electric power generation and an improvement amount during assistance are computed based on the selected piece of planning information (limit electric power generation cost), the limit electric assist cost, and the present generating and electric assist costs required actually while the vehicle is traveling. An engine and a motor/generator of the vehicle are controlled based on the two improvement amounts.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2010Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Keisuke Tani, Akira Sakamoto, Tadashi Sakai
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Publication number: 20120143484Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for ranking a driver's fuel efficiency among other drivers based on various variables associated with the environment in which the vehicle is being driven. More particularly, the present invention, selects, as a category, one or more factors affecting fuel efficiency, and, as one or more, variables another one or more. Vehicle data is then collected by a communications device which is associated with a particular trip. Next an average of the fuel efficiencies and an average of the variables for the trip are calculated accordingly the selected one more categories. The fuel efficiency of the trip corresponding to a same category for every coordinate point of the variable is then statistically processed to calculate the average of the fuel efficiency and the standard deviation of the fuel efficiency and regularized (processed as a GAP calculation) to determine the ranking of a vehicle driver.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Applicants: HYUNDAI MOTOR JAPAN R&D CENTER, INC., KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventor: Osamu Sawada
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Patent number: 8190533Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing fuel costs, along with a corresponding apparatus, and a corresponding medium are described. The method includes receiving transaction information at a Network Administrator, the transaction information being associated with: (a) a shipper who has arranged for a shipment of goods from an origin to a destination; and (b) a corresponding carrier that has agreed to transport the shipment using a pre-determined maximum number of eligible units of fuel, where the fuel is purchased by the carrier at a pre-set base price per eligible unit, and where the fuel is purchased from pre-selected fueling locations. The maximum number of eligible units of fuel and the base price per eligible unit for the shipment are established between the shipper and the carrier, while the fueling locations are established by the Network Administrator. The actual price paid for the fuel is set by the market.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2010Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Inventor: Craig S. Dickman
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Patent number: 8190354Abstract: A fuel efficiency measurement system includes a fuel supply tank for supplying hydrogen to be used as a fuel to a fuel cell of the vehicle during measurement of fuel efficiency and a precision electronic balance for detecting a weight of the fuel supply tank so as to perform the measurement of fuel efficiency based on a vehicle driving distance and a change in weight of the fuel supply tank measured by the electronic balance during measurement of fuel efficiency. According to the fuel efficiency measurement system, it is possible to more accurately calculate fuel efficiency without using hydrogen of a hydrogen tank installed in the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Young Woo Jung, Jeong Kyu Park, Hyung Seuk Oh, Chang Hwan Ye
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Patent number: 8185302Abstract: A route-determination method includes gathering road-related data in a vehicle navigation system (VNS) for a plurality of routes between two locations. This may include weighting two or more of the possible routes in the VNS based at least on the road-related data. Also, this may include adjusting the weighting in the VNS for each weighted route based on projected fuel consumption and determining an optimal fuel usage route in the VNS based on the adjusted weighting. Further, this may include outputting at least one optimal fuel usage route.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Mark Schunder
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Patent number: 8165791Abstract: An actual fuel consumption rate and a tentative fuel consumption rate are repeatedly acquired from an air-conditioning apparatus. The tentative fuel consumption rate is a fuel consumption amount per unit time to generate a power consumed under a post-offset preset temperature being different from a present temperature by an offset temperature. Based on the acquired actual fuel consumption rate and the acquired tentative fuel consumption rate, an actual fuel consumption accumulation amount and a tentative fuel consumption accumulation amount are calculated in the same record period and are recorded as a data set in a travel history database. Then, several data sets recorded over the several record periods are read out from the travel history database. The total of the actual fuel consumption accumulation amounts and the total of the tentative fuel consumption accumulation amounts over the read several data sets are notified.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kazunao Yamada, Yusuke Mizuno, Yasushi Sakuma
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Patent number: 8165782Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel saving apparatus that provides information, such as vehicle speed, a fuel injection period, fuel efficiency and engine load, to a driver in real time, thereby enabling the driver to develop economic driving and economical driving habits.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2007Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: Mosomoto Co., Ltd.Inventor: Seung Hyun Jeong
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Patent number: 8155867Abstract: A method for communicating with a vehicle about then-current vehicle operating conditions is disclosed herein. The method includes real-time monitoring, via a telematics unit in a vehicle, of vehicle data when the vehicle is traveling on a road segment, comparing the real-time monitored vehicle data with previously stored data of one or more other vehicles that previously traveled the road segment, and based on the comparison, determining an operation of the vehicle in order to achieve optimal fuel efficiency. The method further includes submitting, to the vehicle, the operation of the vehicle for i) increasing a then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle or ii) maintaining the then-current fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Also disclosed herein is a system for accomplishing the same.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: General Motors LLCInventor: Kevin R. Krause
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Patent number: 8155868Abstract: Historic vehicle state information specifying a plurality of performance values associated with the plurality of subsystems of the vehicle at a plurality of time points, including a current time point is stored at the vehicle. Historic neighbor vehicle state information specifying a plurality of performance values associated with a plurality of subsystems of a vehicle at a plurality of time points, including a current time point is received from a neighbor vehicle proximate to the vehicle. A forward-looking model is generated based on vehicle state information. An performance value associated with a subsystem of the plurality of subsystems of the vehicle is determined based on the historic vehicle state information, the historic neighbor vehicle state information, and the forward-looking model. A recommendation to a driver of the vehicle is provided based on the optimized performance value.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2009Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Toyota InfoTechnology Center Co., Ltd.Inventors: Daniel Xing, Vinuth Rai, Roger D. Melen, Matthew Kresse, Kezhu Hong
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Patent number: 8150615Abstract: An improved system for delivering propane or other consumable liquid to remotely located storage tanks including a novel combination of remote monitoring of customer tanks and an improved method of using the remote monitoring data to optimally schedule deliveries, improve safety, and more efficiently operate a propane dealership. More accurate and timely information concerning the status of customer tanks serves to improve operational efficiencies and increase safety. Data received from remote sensors can be collected and organized so that it is easily understood and utilized through the implementation of a user interface accessible via the Internet that allows the information to be presented in an efficient graphical and contextual fashion. Operational efficiencies can also be improved by taking historical propane usage for each tank, weather conditions, and projected fuel usage into account.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Inventor: Richard L. Humphrey
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Patent number: 8150572Abstract: An electric power generation control apparatus mounted to a motor vehicle predicts an operational point of an internal combustion engine in the future based on driving path information supplied from a navigation system mounted to the motor vehicle. The apparatus further predicts an increased amount of fuel consumption which is caused by electric power generation of an alternator based on the predicted operational point of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus sets a reference value of an electric power economy index which is an amount of fuel consumption per electric power generation. On driving the motor vehicle on a path, the apparatus sequentially predicts the operational point of the internal combustion engine, and controls the alternator so that the actual electric power economy index becomes equal to the reference value based on the operational point of the internal combustion engine predicted.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Hiroyoshi Yamamoto, Akira Kato
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Publication number: 20120078496Abstract: A driver assistance system for driver assistance for consumption controlled driving combines tactile and visual feedback functions, especially in the form of a drive configuration, a display concept and/or a deceleration assistant, wherein the emphasis is, on the one hand, on a modified accelerator pedal characteristic and, on the other hand, on the ECO tips for interactive output of efficient driving instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke AktiengesellschaftInventors: Stefan LINDHUBER, Christian Popp, Christof Schulze
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Publication number: 20120072098Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing aircraft. Data about components for the aircraft is identified. Fuel efficiency of the aircraft is identified using the data about the components for the aircraft and a model of the aircraft. The model of the aircraft identifies fuel use. The aircraft is managed using the fuel efficiency identified for the aircraft.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2010Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANYInventors: Luigi Peter Righi, Mark A. Talbot, Gregory Mark Wellbrook, John Lyttle, Fred Austin, Douglas Olie Nelson
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Patent number: 8140253Abstract: A shift map switching control unit includes a fuel level sensor 72, plural shift maps for deriving the shift timing of an automatic transmission 1b, and a controller 101 that selects one shift map out of the plural shift maps and controls the shift of the automatic transmission 1b according to the selected shift map. The controller 101 switches a standard shift map 103 to a high fuel economy shift map 104 in which fuel consumption is reduced when it is sensed that the residual quantity of fuel is equal to or below a predetermined value. An operational mode display lamp 99 displays the selected shift map. As the residual quantity of fuel is sensed, based upon a mean value of output signals from the fuel level sensor 72 in predetermined time, the shift maps can be prevented from being frequently switched.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2007Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Kojima, Yoshiaki Nedachi
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Publication number: 20120065874Abstract: An apparatus is provided for providing users diagnosis on driving operations in the same manner as diagnosing vehicle failures and for presenting evaluation with supporting data so that users may recognize their driving operations. The apparatus reads out driving data for a plurality of driving cycles from an electronic control unit on board the vehicle. The electronic control unit includes a memory for storing driving data representing fuel efficiency condition of the vehicle in accordance with driving operation by a user in each driving cycle of the vehicle. Charts are produced representing fuel efficiency condition for each driving operation by the user for each driving cycle, based on the read out driving data. The charts are output as comparison results for each one of the driving cycles.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2010Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yasushi Sato, Hideyuki Tsuchikiri, Mai Fujii, Hiroshi Inoue
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Patent number: 8135538Abstract: A portable navigation device is set out for calculating fuel related parameters and returning related data to the user of the device. The related data may include fuel cost of a particular calculated route. Additional data may include particular displays of information including a theoretical calculated volumetric amount of fuel used by a vehicle in traveling along a calculated route before, during or after completion of travel. Other displayed data includes a theoretical calculated financial cost of fuel used by the vehicle in traveling along the calculated route before, during or after completion of travel. Still further displayed data may include an optimal calculated route chosen from many possible calculated routes, the optimization occurring on account of the relative fuel cost of each of the calculated routes.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: TomTom International B.V.Inventors: Pieter Geelen, Harold Goddijn, Alexander Ribbink
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Publication number: 20120053824Abstract: Provided is an Internet telematics service providing system and method that may provide driving information for mileage enhancement. In interaction with a telematics system of a vehicle and a communication terminal of a user, the Internet telematics service providing system may include a data receiver to receive driving data associated with a mileage of the vehicle from the telematics system, a data storage unit to store the driving data in a webpage associated with the user, a data providing unit to provide the stored driving data to the telematics system and/or the communication terminal using a Web service, a guide generator to generate driving guide information of the vehicle based on the driving data, and a guide providing unit to provide the driving guide information to the user using the telematics system and/or the communication terminal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NHN CORPORATIONInventors: Kyung Bo NAM, Choong Hee LEE
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Publication number: 20120054086Abstract: The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide monitoring apparatus for vehicles, and to a carbon dioxide management system and carbon dioxide management method using same. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a carbon dioxide monitoring apparatus for vehicles, as well as a carbon dioxide management system and a carbon dioxide management method using same, which enable drivers and passengers to visually check the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by vehicles to alert the drivers and passengers to the emission of carbon dioxide, and which compensate vehicle owners for reducing the emission of carbon dioxide by maintaining a constant travel speed or the like, thereby correcting driving habits and reducing the emission of carbon dioxide, thus achieving environmentally-friendly fuel-saving effects.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventor: Jung Hwang Choi
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Publication number: 20120053825Abstract: A route-determination method includes gathering road-related data in a vehicle navigation system (VNS) for a plurality of routes between two locations. This may include weighting two or more of the possible routes in the VNS based at least on the road-related data. Also, this may include adjusting the weighting in the VNS for each weighted route based on projected fuel consumption and determining an optimal fuel usage route in the VNS based on the adjusted weighting. Further, this may include outputting at least one optimal fuel usage route.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventor: Mark Schunder
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Patent number: 8122848Abstract: A film forming apparatus which forms a film on a substrate by utilizing a chemical solution, including: a correlation data creating unit which creates a correlation data that is related to the quality of a chemical solution, from data that is related to the properties of the chemical solution including at least one of data on storage temperature for the chemical solution to be loaded and data on pressure applied to the chemical solution to be loaded; and a determining unit which determines whether or not the chemical solution holds expected quality thereof on the bases of the correlation data.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Daisuke Kawamura
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Publication number: 20120041671Abstract: An information providing device, having a route acquisition unit that acquires a reference travel route between two points, a route finding unit that finds a fuel-saving travel route between the two points, a fuel cost calculating unit that calculates a difference in cost of fuel between the reference travel route and the fuel-saving travel route based on fuel consumption and a fee of fuel, a communication cost calculating unit that calculates a communication cost concerning the fuel-saving travel route, and a control unit that executes control for transmitting predetermined information to a terminal device based on the result of a comparison between the difference in cost of fuel and the communication cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki MIURA, Junichi NONOMURA
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Publication number: 20120041670Abstract: A system for assessing a toll on a vehicle traveling past a toll station in which a tag mounted on the vehicle transmits an output signal having data representative of the fuel consumption of the vehicle and the identity of an account associated with the tag. A receiver at the toll station receives the output signal from the tag and provides the received data to a processor. The processor then calculates a toll which varies as a function of the data and thus of the fuel consumption of the vehicle and then assesses that toll to the account.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.Inventor: Hideki Hada
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Patent number: 8115612Abstract: A display device for a vehicle that display an amount of a particulate matter collected in a filter device for exhaust gas purification. A vehicle 1 includes distance storage apparatus 46 for storing a travel distance, a filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification for trapping a particulate matter contained in an exhaust gas, and collected amount detection apparatus 25 for finding an amount of the particulate matter collected in the filter device 5 for exhaust gas purification. A display control unit 42 normally acquires a travel distance from the distance storage apparatus 46 and displays the travel distance as a numerical value on a segment display unit 41, and when instructed to display a collected amount of the particulate matter, the display control unit 42 acquires a collected amount from the collected amount detection apparatus 25 and lights up the number of segment groups 61 corresponding to the collected amount, thereby displaying the collected amount.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Isuzu Motors LimitedInventors: Tomoki Hirano, Seiji Kadota, Masakatsu Ukai
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Patent number: 8116972Abstract: A method for generating a fueling strategy that generally minimizes fueling costs for a specified route to be traveled by a vehicle during a multi-day time period may include, based on current and forecasted fuel prices for the multi-day time period, (i) selecting at least one day during the multi-day time period on which to purchase fuel, (ii) selecting at least one fueling station along the route at which to purchase fuel for each selected day, and (iii) determining an amount of fuel to purchase at each selected fueling station.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Erica Klampfl, Oleg Yurievitch Gusikhin, Kacie Alane Theisen, Yimin Liu, Thomas J. Giuii, Perry Robinson MacNeille
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Patent number: 8116971Abstract: A system for training a driver to achieve improved fuel economy monitors the driving parameters of a vehicle, analyzes the monitored driving parameters, calculates suggested driving behavior adjustments, and communicates the driving behavior adjustments to the driver as the driver is driving.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2008Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Wei Tzu Chen, Joseph Figueroa
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Publication number: 20120035843Abstract: A navigation device apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes a fuel consumption determination unit that determines a fuel consumption during a travel of a vehicle. Also included is a fuel consumption information storage unit that stores point information identifying a departing point and a destination in the travel of the vehicle and fuel consumption information identifying the fuel consumption during a previous travel A display unit is included that acquires previous fuel consumption information identifying the fuel consumption during the previous travel corresponding to the departing point and the destination during a current travel of the vehicle, and controls the display of the fuel consumption during the previous travel based on the acquired previous fuel consumption information and the fuel consumption during the current travel determined by the fuel consumption determination unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Applicant: AISIN AW CO., LTD.Inventors: Naoki Miura, Junichi Nonomura
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Publication number: 20120029803Abstract: A fuel-consumption projecting apparatus estimates fuel consumption by a vehicle for a given interval. A projecting unit uses a first equation to project the fuel consumption before the vehicle begins travel along the given interval. An estimating unit uses a second equation that sets acceleration during travel as a variable, to estimate fuel consumption occurring during travel. A correcting unit corrects the first equation, based on the fuel consumption projected by the projecting unit and the fuel consumption estimated by the estimating unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2009Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: PIONEER CORPORATIONInventors: Mitsuo Yasushi, Masatoshi Yanagidaira
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Patent number: 8106759Abstract: A system and method is provided for controlling the operation of notifying drivers of the fluid level. Primary and secondary keys are adapted to be associated to primary and secondary drivers. A key ignition device is positioned on the primary and secondary keys and generate driver status signals. A fluid level sensing device is operable to generate a fluid level signal indicative of the fluid level. A controller is coupled to the fluid level sensing device and the key ignition device. The controller determines whether the driver of the vehicle is the primary or secondary driver in response to the driver status signals. The controller notifies the primary or secondary driver of the fluid level in response to the fluid level signal. The controller selectively controls the operation of notifying the primary or the secondary driver based on whether the driver is the primary or secondary driver.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2008Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Thomas Lee Miller, Matthew J. Dalebout, Andrew D. Sarkisian, Anthony Dwayne Cooprider, Ronald Patrick Brombach, Kevin Thomas Hille, Karl William Wojcik, Terry Thomas Cwik, Brian Bennie, John Robert Van Wiemeersch, Scott Alan Watkins
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Patent number: 8108136Abstract: The invention is an intelligent advisory system, which may be based on fuzzy rule-based logic to guide a vehicle driver in selecting an optimal driving strategy to achieve best fuel economy. The advisory system includes separate controllers for providing advisory information regarding driver demand for power and advisory information regarding vehicle braking, which are conveyed to the driver.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC.Inventors: Dimitar Petrov Filev, Fazal Urrahman Syed
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Publication number: 20120022775Abstract: An actual fuel consumption rate and a tentative fuel consumption rate are repeatedly acquired from an air-conditioning apparatus. The tentative fuel consumption rate is a fuel consumption amount per unit time to generate a power consumed under a post-offset preset temperature being different from a present temperature by an offset temperature. Based on the acquired actual fuel consumption rate and the acquired tentative fuel consumption rate, an actual fuel consumption accumulation amount and a tentative fuel consumption accumulation amount are calculated in the same record period and are recorded as a data set in a travel history database. Then, several data sets recorded over the several record periods are read out from the travel history database. The total of the actual fuel consumption accumulation amounts and the total of the tentative fuel consumption accumulation amounts over the read several data sets are notified.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2011Publication date: January 26, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Kazunao YAMADA, Yusuke MIZUNO, Yasushi SAKUMA
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Patent number: 8103391Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclose managing a charging process of an electric vehicle. Begin by monitoring a set of operational parameters of the charging process during the flow of electricity for one or more interruptions in response to receiving, from an energy transaction execution engine, a request signaling the start of the charging process. The process then detects the one or more interruptions during the flow of electricity from the set of operational parameters, which conform to a set of predefined interrupt conditions. In one embodiment, the one or more interruptions include at least one of a device capability interruption, a preference interruption, and a data services interruption. The process sends a response to the energy transaction execution engine to terminate the charging transaction in response to detecting the one or more interruptions.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2008Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Erica Haefner Ferro, Mark William Trekell, Paul Stuart Williamson
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Publication number: 20120016575Abstract: A system and method for determining an expected fuel usage for a flight segment. The system and method including receiving current parameters for a departing airport and an arriving airport for a flight segment of an aircraft, comparing the current parameters to a compilation of historical parameters to determine the historical parameters that correlate to the current parameters, determining an off-to-on time for the flight segment based on the historical parameters and determining an expected fuel usage for the flight segment based on the off-to-on time.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2010Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventor: Thomas White
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Patent number: 8095253Abstract: A fuel efficiency improvement device for use on each of a plurality of locomotives in a consist includes a processor configured to transmit an initialization message including an identifier and power and fuel consumption rate information for the locomotive on which it is installed to all other locomotives in the consist. One of the devices is chosen to act as a lead device. The lead device is responsible for determining alternative throttle notch settings for each of the locomotives based on the power and fuel consumption rate information in the initialization message. The lead device may be chosen on the basis of identifiers in the initialization messages such as serial numbers. The alternative throttle settings may be determined using greedy value and maximum power calculations.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2008Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Invensys Rail CorporationInventors: Mark Edward Kane, John D. Mix, Mark M. Madden
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Publication number: 20120004839Abstract: A driving assistance apparatus mounted to a vehicle is provided. The driving assistance apparatus includes: an information acquisition component configured to acquire information on at least one of a route condition in a predetermined region of a future travel path of the vehicle, a present vehicle condition, and a past operation condition; a prediction component configured to predict, based on the information acquired by the information acquisition component, whether fuel efficiency of the vehicle is degraded in the future travel path; and a notification component configured to notify an operation for improvement of the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to an occupant of the vehicle in advance in cases where the fuel efficiency of the vehicle is predicted to be degraded in the future travel path.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: DENSO CORPORATIONInventors: Yusuke MIZUNO, Kazunao Yamada, Yasushi Sakuma
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Publication number: 20120004838Abstract: The invention provides a system for calculating a fuel amount of a travel route that may estimate and calculate a fuel consumption amount by road sections according to a traffic situation, and a method thereof.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANYInventors: Tae Suk Lee, Jin Ho Ha
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Publication number: 20110313647Abstract: Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Inventors: Martin Koebler, Jason H. Harper, Stephen J. Brown, Nicole G. Goldstein
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Publication number: 20110313646Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, features a fuel and vehicle monitoring method. The method includes receiving, via a first processor, a first odometer value and a first fuel acquisition value for a vehicle at a first instance. The method also includes determining, with a second processor, whether the first odometer value satisfies a predetermined criterion. The method also includes forecasting a first future fuel economy value for the vehicle based on the first odometer value and the first fuel acquisition value and a plurality of previously received odometer values and fuel acquisition values if the predetermined criterion is satisfied, or the plurality of previously received odometer values and fuel acquisition values if the predetermined criterion is not satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: Wright Express CorporationInventors: Venugopal R. Kancharla, Eric P. Maxham, Samuele M. Rinaldi
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Patent number: 8078392Abstract: There is provided with an ECU for estimating an unburned fuel amount (HC) emitted from an engine after fuel combustion or a temperature of a DPF based upon a required engine operating condition as a control target value. An exhaust gas temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of an exhaust gas emitted directly from the engine is provided. A program for compensating for an estimation error in regard to an estimation value of the unburned fuel amount estimated from the required engine operating condition, that is, an operating condition difference amount between the required engine operating condition and an actual engine operating condition, based upon an engine exhaust gas temperature detected from the exhaust gas temperature sensor is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Shigeto Yahata, Shinichirou Okugawa, Tsutomu Soga
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Patent number: 8068974Abstract: A method for determining driver efficiency in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of measuring a hybrid vehicle parameter, and calculating driver efficiency based, at least in part, on the hybrid vehicle parameter. The hybrid vehicle parameter is influenced, at least in part, by an action taken by a driver.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Vernon L. Newhouse, Kevin S. Kidston, Carlene M. Sienkiewicz, Jonathan R. Schwarz, Emily R. Wu
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Publication number: 20110288738Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and enabling apparatus for integrating a new fuel or fuels into an operating transportation system in a continuous, seamless manner. The method disclosed overcomes the economic risk associated with developing a new fuel when there is little or no fuel distribution infrastructure in place for the new fuel. Integrating a new fuel into an existing transportation system can be implemented with two enabling technologies. The first is an engine capable of operating seamlessly on multiple fuels. The second is a system of determining a driving strategy that makes the transition from one fuel to another seamless to the driver. A compact, high-performance gas turbine engine is an enabling apparatus of the above strategy. The system of driving strategy disclosed herein allows the operator of the vehicle or the fleet manager to minimize operational costs by estimating the best combination of fuels, fuel dispensers and driving strategies.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Applicant: ICR TURBINE ENGINE CORPORATIONInventors: Frank Wegner Donnelly, David William Dewis, Douglas W. Swartz
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Patent number: 8065049Abstract: A vehicle includes an internal combustion engine 1 and a rotating electric machine 5 as drive power sources and drives a wheel using a driving force of the internal combustion engine 1 and/or the rotating electric machine 5. A diagnostic control unit 700 diagnoses the vehicle while controlling the same. The diagnostic control unit 700 shifts an operating point of the internal combustion engine 1 to a plurality of diagnostic operating points to diagnose a catalyst or an oxygen sensor. Meantime, the diagnostic control unit 700 compensates for an excess or a deficiency in the driving force of the internal combustion engine 1 accompanied by the shift of the operating point by letting the rotating electric machine 5 perform a power running or regeneration operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Yutaka Takaku
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Publication number: 20110276260Abstract: A vehicle mileage calculation device includes a travel distance calculation unit for calculating a travel distance of a vehicle, an actual fuel consumption amount calculation unit for calculating an actual amount of fuel consumed in an engine, a mileage calculation unit for calculating a mileage based on the travel distance and the actual fuel consumption amount, a stored energy change amount calculation unit for calculating a change amount of stored energy including one of kinetic energy, potential energy and electric energy, and a consumed energy amount calculation unit for calculating an amount of energy consumed when storing the stored energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: BLUEPOINT CO., LTD.Inventor: Song Sim
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Publication number: 20110276261Abstract: A crane operation evaluation device for evaluating an operation status of an operator of a crane performing a crane work by using drive power of an engine. The crane operation evaluation device includes: a display device provided at a position of the crane that is visible to the operator and serving to display predetermined data; a detector for detecting a state of a given part of the crane; and a data control unit that, after a stopping operation of the engine, derives a first fuel consumption index for analyzing a fuel consumption efficiency of the crane work performed between the most recent start of the engine and the stop of the engine by the stopping operation and a first work index for analyzing content of such crane work, on the basis of detection data of the detector, and causes the display device to display the derived first fuel consumption index and first work index.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2009Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.Inventor: Motohiko Mizutani
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Patent number: 8055439Abstract: A system for providing fuel-efficient driving information for a vehicle includes a fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit and a display unit. The fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit calculates a variable fuel-efficient driving area, which is divided into economical, semi-economical, and uneconomical regions, depending on the increase or decrease of the speed of the vehicle, calculates a current fuel efficiency of the vehicle, receives information about the type and condition of a road from a GPS, and adjusts the regions in the fuel-efficient driving area to prompt the driver to increase or decrease the vehicle speed in advance. The display unit displays the fuel-efficient driving area using information calculated by the fuel-efficient driving area calculation unit, and indicates the current fuel efficiency using the regions.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors CorporationInventors: Sang Woo Ji, Dong Jin Shin, Jae Hoon Jeong
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Publication number: 20110270515Abstract: The invention discloses a continuous driving mileage calculation control system and a calculation control method. The calculation control system comprises an MCU microprocessor, a continuous driving mileage digital display, a vehicle speed signal sampling circuit, an instantaneous fuel consumption signal sampling circuit and a fuel signal sampling circuit. According to the received instantaneous fuel consumption signal and the vehicle speed signal, the MCU microprocessor calculates the average fuel consumption, and then calculates the continuous driving mileage according to the average fuel consumption and the current remaining fuel amount. The digital display is used for displaying the continuous driving mileage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2009Publication date: November 3, 2011Applicant: Chery Automobile Co., LTDInventors: Xuejian Gu, Jianyou Ba, Yuejin Sun, Songling Zhao, Lvgen Fang, Jun Deng, Xinhua Gao