Fuel use efficiency system for a vehicle for assisting the driver to improve fuel economy
US6092021A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L3/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fuel efficiency monitoring and display system for a vehicle dynamically evaluates vehicle performance parameters to detect conditions that cause excessive fuel consumption. The conditions include increased aerodynamic drag due to excessive speed, high RPM, braking and accelerating, excessive idling, and rapid throttle movements. The system dynamically estimates gross vehicle weight, roadway grade and drag factor from monitored parameters and uses these estimates to detect inefficient fuel use. The system indicates to the driver when inefficient fuel use is detected. For example, it displays a measure of excess fuel consumed and messages indicating actions that can be taken to improve fuel economy in response to detecting inefficient fuel use.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.