Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a controller and method to estimate drive range indicator for a vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] A possible duration of engine operation of electronically controlled OFF-High-Way (OHW) vehicle / Commercial Vehicle (CV) before the fuel tank is empty is not considered for calculation of drive range indicator, as majority of these applications involves standstill engine operation (like Bulldozers, earth movers, long haul trucks etc.,). Currently only estimation of Distance-to-Empty (DTE) is in place for most Off-highway vehicles using mechanical control and electronic control. In addition, for Passenger Car (PC) segment and two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles, the current DTE feature does not consider standstill engine running conditions.

[0003] According to state of the art US2015185063, an apparatus and method for displaying distance to empty of vehicle is disclosed. A method for displaying a distance to empty (DTE) of a vehicle include calculating an indicated distance to empty based on a learned fuel efficiency which is learned before starting. A target distance to empty is calculated based on an updated learned fuel efficiency which is updated until a present time. A driving mode is determined according to a difference between the indicated distance to empty and the target distance to empty. A final distance to empty is calculated according to the driving mode, and the final distance to empty is displayed.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a controller to estimate a drive range indicator for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for estimating the drive range indicator for the vehicle, according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a controller to estimate a drive range indicator for a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The drive range indicator 112 is estimated based on parameter comprising a level 116 of energy source in the vehicle, characterized in that, the controller 110 configured to estimate the drive range indicator 112 based on at least one additional parameter selected from a group comprising actual consumption 118 of the energy source and operational time 114 of a prime mover in the vehicle. According to the present invention, the energy source is at least one of a fuel in a fuel tank and a charge in a battery for an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) as the prime mover and an electric machine as the prime mover, respectively.

[0008] According to the present invention, the controller 110 is provided with necessary signal detection, acquisition, and processing circuits. The controller 110 is the control unit which comprises input/output interfaces having pins or ports, a memory element 108 such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and/or Read Only Memory (ROM), Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and a Digital-to-Analog Convertor (DAC), clocks, timers, counters and at least one processor (capable of implementing machine learning) connected with each other and to other components through communication bus channels. The memory element 108 is pre-stored with logics or instructions or programs or applications or modules/models and/or threshold/safe limit values/ranges, which is/are accessed by the at least one processor as per the defined routines. The internal components of the controller 110 are not explained for being state of the art, and the same must not be understood in a limiting manner. The controller 110 may also comprise communication units to communicate with Engine Control Unit (ECU) of the vehicle through wireless or wired means such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, serial networks, Controller Area Network (CAN), and the like. The controller 110 is implementable in the form of System-in-Package (SiP) or System-on-Chip (SOC) or any other known types. Alternatively, the controller 110 is itself the ECU of the vehicle or a Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) of the vehicle. Examples of controller 110 are but not limited to microprocessor, microcomputer, microcontroller, and the like.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the drive range indicator 110 is at least one of a Time-To-Empty (TTE) 122 and a Distance-To-Empty (DTE) 126 for a fuel in a fuel tank or electric charge in a battery of the combustion engine based vehicle or the electric vehicle, respectively. Alternatively, the vehicle is a hybrid vehicle, i.e. combination of engine and electric motor. Further, the DTE 126 is calculated using a mileage 124 of the vehicle, the level 116 of energy source and the estimated TTE 122. The mileage 124 is computed using the actual consumption 118 of the energy source and a distance travelled 120. The distance travelled 120 is calculated using the vehicle speed measured using the vehicle speed sensor and the time taken to travel the distance.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the actual consumption 118 of the energy source is computed for the combustion engine vehicle based on injection quantity through the fuel injector at every event of the injection, which uses engine map stored in the memory element 108. Similarly, for the electric vehicle, the energy provided by the battery is measured using current/voltage sensors or conventional sensors. The fuel injector and the current/voltage/conventional sensors are referred by first sensor 102. Similarly, an engine speed sensor is used to measure the operational time 114 of the engine which is combination of idle time and running time Similarly, a rotor speed sensor is used to measure the operational time 114 of the electric motor. The engine speed sensor and a rotor speed sensor are referred by second sensor 104. The vehicle speed sensor or wheel speed sensors or geo positioning systems, collectively referred by the third sensor 106 are used to measure the distance travelled 120 for both type of vehicles. Other types of in-vehicle sensors may be used to aid in the calculations which are not specifically disclosed for simplicity in understanding of the present invention.

[0011] According to the present invention, a working of the controller 110 is provided. Consider the combustion engine vehicle with below information, Fuel Level = 10 Litres, Fuel Consumption = 1lit/hour, Engine Running (Idling) for 1 hour, Distance travelled is 0km, Vehicle standstill (Vehicle Speed is 0 Km/h), Average Mileage for idling Engine – 12km/l (sample), Average mileage for Vehicle moving – 10km/l (sample). Based on the above information, the controller 110 is configured to calculate the TTE 122 as a function of fuel level 116 in the fuel tank, actual fuel consumption 118 and the operational time 114 of the engine. The TTE 122 is calculated providing value in hours or minutes. The controller 110 then calculates the instantaneous/average mileage 124 as a function of the distance travelled 120 and actual consumption 118. Furthermore, the controller 110 calculates the DTE 126 as a function of instantaneous/average mileage124 and the TTE 122. In other words, the DTE 126 is corrected or revised based on the TTE 122.

[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates a method for estimating the drive range indicator for the vehicle, according to the present invention. The method comprises plurality of steps, of which a step 202 comprises receiving inputs regarding level 116 of energy source available in the vehicle. A step 204 comprises estimating the drive range indicator 112 based on the level 116 of energy source. The step 204 is characterized by the estimation of the drive range indicator 112 is based on at least one additional parameter selected from a group comprising actual consumption 118 of the energy source and operational time 114 of the prime mover in the vehicle. The energy source is at least one of a fuel in the fuel tank and the charge in the battery for the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle and an electric vehicle, respectively.

[0013] According to the method, the drive range indicator 112 is at least one of said the Time-To-Empty (TTE) 122 and a Distance-To-Empty (DTE) 126 for the fuel in the fuel tank or electric charge in the battery. The method comprise calculating the DTE 126 using the mileage 124 of the vehicle, and the estimated TTE 122. The mileage 124 is computed using the actual consumption 118 of the energy source and the distance travelled 120.

[0014] According to the method, the actual consumption 118 of the energy is computed for the combustion engine vehicle based on injection quantity through the fuel injector at every event of the injection, which uses engine map stored in a memory element 108. Similarly, for the electric vehicle, the energy provided by the battery is measured using current/voltage sensors or conventional sensors. Similarly, an engine speed sensor is used to measure the operational time 114 of the engine which is combination of idle time and running time. Similarly, the rotor speed sensor is used to measure the operational time 114 of the electric motor. The vehicle speed sensor or wheel speed sensors or geo positioning systems are used to measure the distance travelled 120 for both type of vehicles.

[0015] According to the present invention, the controller 110 and method comprises the estimation of duration at which fuel in the tank would be empty based on the inputs from fuel level sensor for fuel level 116, engine speed sensor, vehicle speed sensor etc., within the controller 110. For the electric vehicle, the device and method comprises the estimation of duration at which the electric charge in the battery would be depleted based on inputs from the Battery Management System (BMS), current/voltage sensors, vehicle speed sensor, rotor speed sensor and the like. The estimation comprises calculation of the fuel/charge consumed during engine/motor running at vehicle standstill and moving and possible remaining hours is calculated. The calculated value in terms of time (hours and/or minutes) is sent to the driver/user display device along with low fuel indication. The driver/user could change the display value between distance to empty or hours to empty value of engine operation based on a switch in the display device.

[0016] According to the present invention, the drive range indicator 112 (either TTE 122 or DTE 126) for OFF High Way (OHW) vehicle, commercial vehicle, passenger car vehicle and motorcycles or two-wheelers, buses is provided. The present invention estimates the drive range indicator 112 of the vehicle from within the vehicle subsystem and displays vehicle driver/user the distance or time at which the fuel tank or charge will be empty. The present invention considers possible hours of engine operation during vehicle standstill or moving, which is more accurate than just the DTE 126 estimation which needs the vehicle to be moving. The present invention improves the accuracy of instantaneous/average mileage calculation, DTE 126 estimation considering vehicle standstill and engine running conditions. The driver/user of the vehicle is aware of accurate time to fill the fuel or charge the battery, whether the vehicle is standstill or moving.

[0017] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
 
, Claims:We claim:
1. A controller (110) to estimate a drive range indicator (112) for a vehicle, said drive range indicator (112) is estimated based on parameter comprising a level (116) of energy source in said vehicle, characterized in that, said controller (110) configured to
estimate said drive range indicator (112) based on at least one additional parameter selected from a group comprising actual consumption (118) of said energy source and operational time (114) of a prime mover in said vehicle.

2. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said energy source is at least one of a fuel in a fuel tank and an electric charge in a battery for an Internal Combustion Engine as said prime mover and an electric motor as said prime mover, respectively.

3. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive range indicator (112) is at least one of a Time-To-Empty (TTE) (122) and a Distance-To-Empty (DTE) (126) for a fuel in a fuel tank or electric charge in a battery.

4. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said DTE (126) is calculated using a mileage (124) of said vehicle, said level (116) of energy source and said estimated TTE (122), wherein said mileage (124) is computed using said actual consumption (118) of said energy source and a distance travelled (120).

5. The controller (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said consumption (118) of said energy source is computed from quantity of respective sensor installed in said vehicle.

6. A method for estimating a drive range indicator (112) for a vehicle, said method comprises the steps of,
receiving inputs regarding level (116) of energy source available in said vehicle, and
estimating said drive range indicator (112) based on said level (116) of energy source, characterized by,
said estimation of said drive range indicator (112) is based on at least one additional parameter selected from a group comprising actual consumption (118) of said energy source and operational time (114) of a prime mover in said vehicle.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said energy source is at least one of a fuel in a fuel tank and a charge in a battery for an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle and an electric vehicle, respectively.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said drive range indicator (112) is at least one of said a Time-To-Empty (TTE) (122) and a Distance-To-Empty (DTE) (126) for a fuel in a fuel tank or electric charge in a battery.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, comprise calculating said DTE (126) using a mileage (124) of said vehicle, said level (116) of energy source and said estimated TTE (122), wherein said mileage (124) is computed using said actual consumption (118) of said energy source and a distance travelled (120).

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said consumption (118) of said energy source is computed from quantity of respective sensor installed in said vehicle.