Method and device for controlling a display system for displaying content representing the consumption of an electric vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a display system of an electric vehicle. For this purpose, first data representative of platoon and non-platoon driving modes are received. The electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle is determined for each driving mode. The display of a graphical content (30) is controlled to display this graphical content (30) on a display device (23), the graphical content (30) comprising a set of graphical objects (31 to 35) each representative of the quantities of electrical energy consumed according to the different driving modes. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling a display system for displaying content representing the consumption of an electric vehicle Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to methods and devices for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle, in particular but not exclusively an electric motor vehicle. The present invention also relates to a method and a display system or device for signaling the electrical energy consumption of the vehicle according to several driving modes in a platoon and outside a platoon. Technological background

[0002] The autonomy of an electric vehicle is an important criterion for the development and promotion of electric vehicles. There are several solutions to increase the autonomy of electric vehicles.

[0003] A first solution consists of equipping these electric vehicles with traction batteries of greater capacity. This first solution, however, has the disadvantage of being expensive.

[0004] A second solution is to reduce the electrical energy requirements of electric vehicles to lower their electrical energy consumption. One way to reduce the consumption of an electric vehicle is to improve its aerodynamic performance.

[0005] Aerodynamic performance, determined in particular by a coefficient of penetration into the air commonly called Cx or the drag of a vehicle, is in fact an important criterion for an electric vehicle traveling at high speed, such as on a highway or fast lane. It directly impacts the autonomy of such a vehicle. The lower a vehicle's coefficient of penetration into the air, the more efficient it will be, and therefore the more it will be able to travel long distances at high speed for the same amount of on-board energy.

[0006] Various studies have examined the effects that the drafting phenomenon could have on the performance of vehicles, such as in competition, where the speed of the vehicle benefiting from the drafting phenomenon is increased. The results show that the greatest benefits are observed when the speed is high. Indeed, at high travel speeds and for the same coefficient of penetration in the air, the aerodynamic force generated by air resistance is greater than at low speed, but is lower when the vehicle benefits from the suction of another vehicle in front of it.

[0007] The energy impact of an electric vehicle, even at an average speed, is reduced by reducing the aerodynamic force generated by air resistance, this resulting in a reduction in the energy consumption on board a battery on board the electric vehicle for the same autonomy, or by a greater autonomy for the same quantity of energy stored in a battery on board the electric vehicle.

[0008] Informing the driver of an electric vehicle about the electric consumption of his electric vehicle is another way to reduce consumption and increase the vehicle's autonomy. A driver aware of the vehicle's consumption according to the driving mode will be able to favor one driving mode or another in order to reduce the vehicle's consumption.

[0009] Providing the driver with clear information associated with the consumption of an electric vehicle is one of the current challenges for reducing vehicle consumption and ultimately reducing electrical energy production needs. Summary of the present invention

[0010] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to optimize the energy consumption of an electric vehicle.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to clearly inform a driver of an electric vehicle of the consumption of his vehicle.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to improve the user experience with regard to information associated with the electrical energy consumption of an electric vehicle.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle, the display system comprising a display device, the electric vehicle being configured to travel in a group of vehicles in a platoon, the method comprising the following steps: - receiving first data representative of a set of driving modes of the electric vehicle, the set of driving modes comprising a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to the leading vehicle of the platoon, a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle of the platoon and a third driving mode corresponding to an off-road driving mode platoon; - determination, based on second data received from a device controlling a traction battery of the electric vehicle, of information representative of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric vehicle over a distance determined according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode; - control of display of graphic content on the display device, the graphic content comprising a set of graphic objects each representative of the quantities of electrical energy consumed according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode.

[0015] Such a method makes it possible to visually inform a driver of an electric vehicle about the consumption of the vehicle according to the driving mode used over a determined distance, for example over the last 100 kilometers (km) traveled with the electric vehicle. The different driving modes include in particular driving modes according to which the electric vehicle travels in platoon mode, such a mode being able to reduce the aerodynamic force experienced by the electric vehicle, depending on its position in the platoon in particular. The driver being informed of the energy consumption associated with each driving mode, he can then control the electric vehicle accordingly to reduce the consumption of the vehicle if he wishes.

[0016] According to one variant, the graphic content comprises: - at least one first graphic object representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the first driving mode; - at least one second graphic object representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the second driving mode; and - at least a third graphic object representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the third driving mode.

[0017] According to another variant, the at least one first graphic object, the at least one second graphic object and the at least one third graphic object are presented in the graphic content as a function of a distance traveled by the electric vehicle according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode respectively, the distance traveled according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode respectively corresponding to a part of the determined distance.

[0018] According to another variant, the graphic content further comprises: - a fourth graphic object representing an average quantity of electrical energy consumed over the distance determined according to a driving mode combining the first driving mode and the second driving mode; - a fifth graphic object representing an average quantity of energy electric consumed over the distance determined according to the third driving mode.

[0019] According to an additional variant, at least a part of the at least one first, at least one second, at least one third, fourth and fifth graphic objects corresponds to a three-dimensional graphic object, the at least one first, at least one second, at least one third, fourth and fifth graphic objects being represented on the same diagram comprising on the abscissa a distance scale and on the ordinate a scale of quantity of electric energy.

[0020] According to an additional variant, the determined distance corresponds to the last 100 km traveled by the electric vehicle at a time instant associated with the display control of the graphic content.

[0021] According to another variant, the method further comprises a step of receiving third data representative of a command to display the graphic content from a human-machine interface of the electric vehicle, the display control being triggered by the reception of the third data.

[0022] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a device for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0023] According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to an electric vehicle, for example of the automobile type, comprising a device as described above according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0024] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for executing the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0025] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0026] According to a fifth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0027] On the one hand, the recording medium may be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium may comprise a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit type ROM memory, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

[0028] Furthermore, this recording medium may also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or hertzian radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention may in particular be downloaded from an Internet-type network.

[0029] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to perform or to be used in performing the method in question. Brief description of the figures

[0030] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description of the particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the appended figures 1 to 5, in which:

[0031] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates an environment of an electric vehicle, according to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a display screen on board the vehicle electrical of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a device configured for the control of a on-board display system in the electric vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] [Fig.5] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a method for controlling a on-board display system in the electric vehicle of [Fig.l], according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of implementation

[0036] A method and a device for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle will now be described in the following with joint reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the description which follows.

[0037] The terms "first(s)", "second(s)" (or "first(s)", "second(s)"), etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to enable different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below to be identified and distinguished. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0038] According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention, the control of a display system on board a vehicle is for example implemented implemented by one or more vehicle computers, for example via one or more processors, or by one or more processors of a mobile communication device on board the vehicle, in particular when the display system is integrated into the mobile communication device.

[0039] For this purpose, first data representative of a set of driving modes of the electric vehicle are received. The set of driving modes comprises a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to the leading vehicle of the platoon, a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle of the platoon and a third driving mode corresponding to a non-platoon driving mode. These first data are for example received from a computer of a system for supervising the driving of the vehicle in autonomous mode and / or from a computer controlling a communication system of the electric vehicle for implementing platoon driving, for example a vehicle-to-everything (V2X) type communication system.

[0040] Information representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric vehicle, over a determined distance corresponding for example to the last 100 kilometers traveled by the electric vehicle, according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode are determined from second data received from a device controlling a traction battery of the electric vehicle, for example a device or system of the BMS type (from the English “Battery Management System” or in French “Battery control system”).

[0041] The display of graphical content is controlled in such a way that this graphical content is displayed on a display device of the display system of the electric vehicle. The graphical content advantageously comprises a set of graphical objects, two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D), each representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed respectively according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode.

[0042] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a road environment 1 associated with a wireless communication network, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] [Fig.l] illustrates a set of vehicles 11, 12, 13 traveling on a traffic lane 1000 of a road. According to a particular example illustrated in [Fig.l], the set of vehicles 11, 12, 13 form a platoon (also called a train of vehicles or road convoy or group of vehicles), the vehicle 11 corresponding for example to the first vehicle of the platoon, that is to say the lead vehicle of the platoon. Vehicle 11 is followed by vehicle 12, itself followed by vehicle 13 according to the direction of travel of vehicles 11, 12, 13, vehicle 13 closing the platoon and corresponding to the last vehicle in the platoon, i.e. the vehicle at the back of the platoon.

[0044] Such grouping of vehicles in a platoon is made possible by an automated highway system (also called smart road) which corresponds to an intelligent transport system designed to allow the circulation of vehicles, for example without a driver, on dedicated roads, these vehicles circulating for example in an autonomous driving mode without driver intervention.

[0045] The present invention advantageously relates to an electric vehicle corresponding to a vehicle circulating in a platoon, the electric vehicle then corresponding to any one of the vehicles 11, 12 and 13.

[0046] The present invention also relates to an electric vehicle traveling outside of a platoon such as the electric vehicle 14, that is to say without being attached or associated with a platoon of vehicles.

[0047] The present invention thus relates to an electric vehicle configured to travel on the same route or on several routes according to several different driving modes, the plurality of driving modes comprising: - a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to the leading vehicle of the platoon, i.e. vehicle 11 according to the example in [Fig.l]; - a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode according to which the electric vehicle corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle in the platoon, i.e. vehicle 12 or 13 traveling behind vehicle 11 depending on the direction of travel of vehicles 11, 12 and 13; and - a third driving mode corresponding to a non-platoon driving mode, i.e. to vehicle 14 according to the example in [Fig.l].

[0048] The vehicles 11 to 14 each correspond to an electric vehicle comprising one or more electric motors powered by a traction battery. The electric vehicles 11 to 14 thus correspond, for example, to a land vehicle, for example a car, a truck, a bus.

[0049] The electric vehicles 11 to 14 correspond to so-called connected vehicles, that is to say vehicles configured to communicate data according to a wireless communication mode, for example via a wireless network infrastructure.

[0050] For this purpose, the electric vehicles 11 to 14 each comprise a communication system or interface comprising, for example, one or more communication antennas connected to a telematics control unit, called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit"), itself connected to one or more computers of the vehicle's on-board system. The antenna(s), the TCU and the computer(s) form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the implementation of various services useful for the proper operation of the vehicle and to assist the driver and / or passengers of the vehicle in controlling the vehicle. The computer(s) and the TCU communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a communication bus of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (according to the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0051] The electric vehicles 11 to 14 (like any vehicle configured to travel in a vehicle platoon grouping mode) advantageously communicate using a so-called V2X communication system, for example based on the 3GPP LTE-V or IEEE 802.1 lp standards of ITS G5. In such a V2X communication system, each vehicle carries a node (or wireless communication system / interface) to enable vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) and / or vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication, the pedestrians being equipped with mobile devices (for example a smartphone) configured to communicate with the vehicles.

[0052] The network infrastructure comprises, for example, communication devices 101, 102, each device 101, 102 corresponding, for example, to an antenna of a cellular network of the LTE 4G or 5G type or to a UBR (“Roadside Unit”), each corresponding to a node of the network, in addition to the nodes equipping the vehicles.

[0053] According to a particular embodiment, all of the nodes (i.e. the wireless communication systems or interfaces associated with the vehicles 11 to 14 and the antennas or UBRs 101, 102) of the network form, for example, an ad hoc wireless network (also called WANET (from the English "Wireless Ad Hoc Network") or MANET (from the English "Mobile Ad Hoc Network")), corresponding to a decentralized wireless network. The ad hoc wireless network advantageously corresponds to an ad hoc vehicular network (or VANET, from the English "Vehicular Ad hoc NETwork") or to an intelligent ad hoc vehicular network (or InVANET, from the English "Intelligent Vehicular Ad hoc NETwork"), also called "GeoNetworking" network. In such a network, 2 or more vehicles each carrying a node can communicate with each other in the context of a vehicle-to-vehicle V2V communication (from the English "vehicle-to-vehicle"); each vehicle can communicate with the infrastructure set up as part of a vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication; each vehicle can communicate with one or more pedestrians equipped with mobile devices (for example a smartphone) as part of a vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communication.

[0054] The nodes corresponding to the antennas (or UBRs) 101 and 102 are advantageously connected to one or more remote servers 110 or to the “cloud” 100 (or in French “nuage”) via a wired and / or wireless connection. The antennas or UBRs 101 and 102 can thus act as a relay between the “cloud” 100 and its servers 110 on the one hand and the electric vehicles 11 to 14 (i.e. each connected vehicle configured to travel in a platoon).

[0055] The electric vehicles 11 to 14 are advantageously each configured to travel under the control of the driver and / or under the control of one or more AD AS systems supplied with data by the devices and sensors associated with the AD AS systems. The electric vehicles 11 to 14 thus correspond, for example, to a vehicle adapted to travel in an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode, that is to say under the partial or total supervision of one or more AD AS systems embedded in the vehicle. The electric vehicles 11 to 14 are, for example, each configured to travel in the environment 1 with a level of autonomy greater than or equal to 4 according to the scale defined by the American federal agency which has established 5 levels of autonomy ranging from 1 to 5, level 0 corresponding to a vehicle having no autonomy, the driving of which is under the total supervision of the driver, and level 5 corresponding to a completely autonomous vehicle.

[0056] The 5 levels of autonomy of the classification of the federal agency responsible for road safety are: - level 0: no automation, the vehicle driver has full control over the main functions of the vehicle (engine, accelerator, steering, brakes); - level 1: driver assistance, automation is active for certain vehicle functions, the driver retaining overall control over the vehicle's driving; cruise control is part of this level, as are other aids such as ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP (electro-stabilizer programmed); - level 2: automation of combined functions, the control of at least two main functions is combined in the automation to replace the driver in certain situations; for example, adaptive cruise control combined with lane centering allows a vehicle to be classified as level 2, as does automatic parking assistance (from the English “Park assist”); - level 3: limited autonomous driving, the driver can hand over complete control of the vehicle to the automated system which will then be responsible for critical safety functions; autonomous driving can however only take place in certain specific environmental and traffic conditions (only on motorways for example); - level 4: fully autonomous driving under certain conditions, the vehicle is designed to ensure all critical safety functions on its own over a complete journey; the driver provides a destination or navigation instructions but is not required to make himself available to take back control of the vehicle; - level 5: completely autonomous driving without driver assistance in all circumstances.

[0057] The classification of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers is similar to that listed above, except that it has 6 levels, with level 3 of the American classification being divided into 2 levels in that of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.

[0058] Each electric vehicle 11 to 14 also has a BMS system (Battery Management System) configured to monitor the state of the traction battery and to know the electrical energy consumption of the vehicle at any time. Such a system is for example associated or coupled to the traction battery. Such a BMS system makes it possible to obtain or measure at a given time 't' the state of charge of one or more of the following parameters: - the state of charge, known as SOC (from the English “State of Charge”) or depth of discharge, known as DOD (from the English “Depth of Discharge”) indicating the charge level of the battery; and / or - the voltage: total or of each cell of the battery; and / or - temperature: average temperature, coolant inlet temperature, coolant outlet temperature, temperature of each battery cell; and / or - the state of health, known as SOH (from the English “State Of Health”); and / or - the current (intensity in amperes) into the battery or out of the battery.

[0059] According to a particular embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the electric vehicle 20, which corresponds to any one of the vehicles 11 to 14, has a display system comprising a display device or screen 23 and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) of a graphical MMI on the touch screen 23. The computer corresponds for example to the computer of the infotainment system, called the IVI computer (from the English “In-Vehicle Infotainment” or in French “Infodivertissement embargo”) of the electric vehicle 20.

[0060] According to an alternative embodiment, the display system of the electric vehicle comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a device or system called a head-up display corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in the seat 22 sees the content displayed or projected on the transparent blade when the driver is driving the electric vehicle, or a display screen 25 called a handset or dashboard generally arranged in an area behind the steering wheel 24 in the dashboard 21.

[0061] The screen 23 is for example associated with a touch interface and corresponds for example to a screen of the LCD type (from the English “Liquid Crystal Display” or in French “Display à cristals liquide”), for example of the TFT type (from the English “Thin-Film Transistor” or in French “Transistor en film mince”), or OLED type (from the English “Organic Light-Emitting Diode” or in French “Diode électroluminescente biologique”).

[0062] The screen 23 is configured to display content intended for the driver and passengers of the vehicle. The screen 23 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the electric vehicle 20 to interact with one or more systems embedded in the vehicle via a human machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen 23. For example, the screen 23 is configured to interact with the IVI system and / or a navigation system of the electric vehicle 20.

[0063] According to a particular embodiment, the screen 23 is not integrated into the passenger compartment of the electric vehicle 20 but corresponds to a screen of a mobile communication device (smartphone, tablet), connected in communication, for example wirelessly, with the on-board system of the electric vehicle 20.

[0064] A process for controlling a display system on board the electric vehicle 20 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by a computer of an on-board system of the electric vehicle 20 such as the IVI system or the navigation system or by a processor of the mobile communication device. The on-board display system thus corresponds to a display device integrated into the electric vehicle 20 or to a display system of a mobile communication device itself on board the electric vehicle 20.

[0065] In a first operation of the process, first data representative of a set of driving modes of the electric vehicle are received, for example from a computer of a system for controlling the driving mode of the electric vehicle.

[0066] The set of driving modes includes: - a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to the leading vehicle in the platoon, - a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle in the platoon, and - a third driving mode corresponding to a non-platoon driving mode.

[0067] The default driving mode corresponds for example to the third driving mode, the system controlling the driving mode controlling the transition from one driving mode to another depending for example on the data exchanged with other connected vehicles when the electric vehicle 20 switches to platoon grouping mode. The data exchanged correspond to data communicated according to a V2X wireless communication mode, for example V2V.

[0068] The data exchanged allows the driving mode control system to further determine whether the electric vehicle 20 has taken the lead of the pack or is part of the pack, behind the leading vehicle, the data communicated in V2X and V2V being specific to each driving mode.

[0069] According to a variant, the first data are received from a human-machine interface (HMI) of the electric vehicle when the driving mode control system waits for confirmation from the driver (via the HMI, which corresponds for example to a touch interface associated with the screen 23 or to a control member of the control lever type or physical button on the steering wheel 24 or on the dashboard 21) before changing the driving mode.

[0070] In a second operation of the process, information representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric vehicle is determined for each driving mode, that is to say depending on whether the electric vehicle 20 is traveling according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode or the third driving mode.

[0071] For each driving mode, the electrical energy consumption information (expressed for example in kWh) is determined and stored in memory for a determined distance traveled by the electric vehicle in one or more journeys.

[0072] The recorded electrical energy consumption information includes, for example, instantaneous consumption.

[0073] This information makes it possible to determine energy consumption statistics over the determined distance, such as, for example, the average consumption over the determined distance or the maximum consumption. The average consumption is thus, for example, expressed in kWh / 100 km (kilowatt-hour per 100 kilometers), i.e. the determined distance is equal to 100 km and corresponds to the last 100 kilometers traveled at the time when the average consumption is determined, for example.

[0074] According to a variant, the determined distance is equal to 10 km or 1000 km.

[0075] This consumption information is determined based on data from a device controlling the traction battery of the electric vehicle, which corresponds for example to the computer controlling the BMS associated with the traction battery.

[0076] In a third operation of the process, the display of graphical content is controlled so that this graphical content is displayed on a display device, for example the screen 23.

[0077] The display control is for example triggered by the reception of third data representative of a command to display the graphic content received from an HMI of the electric vehicle 20. The HMI corresponds for example to the touch interface of the screen 23, the third data corresponding to data representative of a touch press on the screen 23 at the location of an icon or a graphic object of the HMI provided so that a user requests the display of the graphic content by pressing this icon.

[0078] The graphic content advantageously comprises a set of graphic objects each representative of the quantities of electrical energy consumed according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode.

[0079] Controlling the display includes rendering the graphic content, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations performed by one or more processors to generate the set of pixels associated with the graphic content. For example, rendering involves associating pixel data (e.g., color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) space) with the pixels of each graphic object making up the graphic content.

[0080] A graphic object (or virtual graphic object) corresponds to a graphic element obtained for example by image synthesis.

[0081] [Fig.3] illustrates an example of the result of rendering a graphic content 30 on the screen 23.

[0082] The graphic content 30 comprises: - at least one first graphic object 31 representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the first driving mode, the first graphic object 31 of [Fig.3] being represented in solid lines; - at least one second graphic object 32 representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the second driving mode, the 2 second graphic objects 32 of [Fig.3] being represented by lines formed of round dots; and - at least one third graphic object 33 representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to the third driving mode, the 2 third graphic objects 33 of [Fig.3] being represented in dotted lines.

[0083] According to an alternative embodiment, the graphic content 30 further comprises: - a fourth graphic object 34 representative of an average quantity of electrical energy consumed over the distance determined according to a driving mode grouping the first driving mode and the second driving mode; and - a fifth graphic object 35 representative of an average quantity of electrical energy consumed over the distance determined according to the third driving mode.

[0084] In [Fig.3], the graphic objects 31, 32 and 33 correspond to 3D objects and the graphic objects 34 and 35 to 2D objects.

[0085] Of course, the invention is not limited to such an exemplary embodiment, the graphic objects being able to be in 2D or in 3D depending on the objects, according to all possible combinations.

[0086] In [Fig. 3], the graphic objects 31 to 35 are represented on a 3-dimensional diagram, with a distance scale, denoted 'D' (for example between 0 and 100 km), on the abscissa, and an electrical energy consumption scale, denoted 'E' (in kWh and / or in kWh / 100 km) on the ordinate. The depth makes it possible, for example, to display the graphic objects 31 to 35 on several depths, the first graphic object 31 being displayed in the foreground (i.e. the plane closest to a user looking at the screen 23), the 2 second graphic objects 32 being displayed in a second plane (behind the foreground with a depth greater than that of the foreground) and the 2 third graphic objects 33 being displayed in a third plane (behind the second plane with a depth greater than that of the second plane).

[0087] The graphic objects 31 to 33 are arranged relative to each other according to the parts of the determined distance to which they refer. For example, according to the particular example of [Fig.3], the last 100 km were traveled according to the following driving modes by the electric vehicle 20: - according to the third driving mode indicated by the leftmost graphic object 33, then - according to the second driving mode indicated by the leftmost graphic object 32, then - according to the first driving mode indicated by the graphic object 31, then - according to the second driving mode indicated by the rightmost graphic object 32, and finally - according to the third driving mode indicated by the graphic object 33 furthest to the right of the diagram.

[0088] The surface of each graphic object 31 to 33 indicates to the driver the quantity of total electrical energy consumed according to the driving mode associated with each of these graphic objects displayed in the diagram.

[0089] Still according to the example of [Fig.3], the average consumption (expressed in kWh / 100 km) calculated over the determined distance (for example 100 km) when the electric vehicle is in convoy mode (at the head or as a following vehicle corresponding to the first driving mode and the second driving mode) is illustrated in the last plane by a line, a curve or a flat surface 34 of a determined color (for example green). The average consumption (expressed in kWh / 100 km) calculated over the determined distance (for example 100 km) when the electric vehicle is in non-convoy mode (corresponding to the third driving mode) is illustrated in the last plane by a line, a curve or a flat surface 35 of a determined color (for example blue), above the line, curve or flat surface 34.

[0090] According to this diagram, it clearly appears that the average consumption of the electric vehicle in convoy mode is lower than the average consumption in non-convoy mode. Indeed, the electric vehicle benefits from the suction of the vehicle(s) in front of it in convoy mode, when the electric vehicle is following.

[0091] The display of such graphic content 30 can thus help the driver of the vehicle to better understand the energy consumption of the electric vehicle 20 and encourage the driver to control the electric vehicle so that it consumes less (for example by favoring the convoy driving mode).

[0092] The representation of the graphic content 30 is not limited to that illustrated in [Fig.3] but extends to any representation according to which the consumption of the electric vehicle is displayed for each driving mode among the 3 driving modes listed previously.

[0093] Other information is for example further displayed in the graphical content 30 in addition to the diagram, such as for example the time, the temperature, icons or buttons for changing the display or changing the menu of the graphical interface, etc.

[0094] [Fig. 4] schematically illustrates a device 4 configured for controlling a display system on board a vehicle, for example the vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The device 4 corresponds for example to a device on board the vehicle 10, for example a computer, or to a device or a unit of a mobile communication device.

[0095] The device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations described with regard to figures 1 to 3 and / or the steps of the method described with regard to [Fig.5]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, on-board electronic equipment such as an on-board computer of a vehicle, an electronic calculator such as an ECU (“Electronic Control Unit”), a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop. The elements of the device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single circuit integrated, in several integrated circuits, and / or in discrete components. The device 4 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0096] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the method and / or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input / output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The device 4 further comprises at least one memory 41 corresponding for example to a volatile and / or non-volatile memory and / or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

[0097] The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored in the 4L memory.

[0098] According to various particular and non-limiting embodiments, the device 4 is coupled in communication with other similar devices or systems and / or with communication devices, for example a TCU (from the English “Telematic Control Unit” or in French “Telematic Control Unit”), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0099] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 42 comprise one or more of the following interfaces: - RF radio frequency interface, for example Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or Bluetooth® type (according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the 868 MHz frequency band, LTE (Long-Term Evolution), LTE-Advanced; - USB interface (from the English “Universal Serial Bus” or “Universal Serial Bus” in French); - HDMI interface (from the English “High Definition Multimedia Interface” or “High Definition Multimedia Interface” in French); - LIN interface (from the English “Local Interconnect Network”).

[0100] According to another particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 comprises a communication interface 43 which makes it possible to establish communication with other devices (such as other computers of the on-board system) via a communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a transmitter configured to transmit and receive information and / or data via the communication channel 430. The communication interface 43 corresponds for example to a wired network of the CAN (Controller Area Network) type, CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by the ISO 17458 standard) or Ethernet (standardized by the ISO / IEC 802-3 standard).

[0101] According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 440, touch-sensitive or not, one or more speakers 450 and / or other peripherals 460 (projection system) via output interfaces 44, 45 and 46 respectively. According to a variant, one or other of the external devices is integrated into the device 4.

[0102] [Fig. 5] illustrates a flowchart of the different steps of a method for controlling a display system on board an electric vehicle, for example the electric vehicle 20, according to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The method is for example implemented by a device on board the electric vehicle 20, by a mobile communication device or by the device 4 of [Fig. 4].

[0103] In a first step 51, first data representative of a set of driving modes of the electric vehicle are received, the set of driving modes comprising a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to the leading vehicle of the platoon, a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode in which the electric vehicle corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle of the platoon and a third driving mode corresponding to a non-platoon driving mode.

[0104] In a second step 52, information representative of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric vehicle over a distance determined according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode is determined as a function of second data received from a device controlling a traction battery of the electric vehicle.

[0105] In a third step 53, the display of graphic content is controlled so that this graphic content is displayed on a display device of the vehicle electric, the graphic content comprising a set of graphic objects each representing the quantities of electrical energy consumed according to the first driving mode, the second driving mode and the third driving mode.

[0106] According to a variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of figures 1 to 3 apply to the steps of the method of [Fig.5].

[0107] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying graphic contents which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0108] The present invention also relates to a vehicle, for example an automobile or more generally an autonomous land-based motor vehicle, comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4] or a display system comprising the device 4 of [Fig.4] connected in communication to a screen 13.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle (20), said display system comprising a display device (23), said electric vehicle (20) being configured to travel in a group of vehicles in a platoon, said method comprising the following steps: - receiving (51) first data representative of a set of driving modes of said electric vehicle (20), said set of driving modes comprising a first driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode according to which said electric vehicle (20) corresponds to the leading vehicle of said platoon, a second driving mode corresponding to a platoon driving mode according to which said electric vehicle (20) corresponds to a vehicle traveling behind a leading vehicle of said platoon and a third driving mode corresponding to an out-of-platoon driving mode; - determination (52), as a function of second data received from a device controlling a traction battery of said electric vehicle (20), of information representative of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by said electric vehicle (20) over a distance determined according to said first driving mode, said second driving mode and said third driving mode; - display control (53) of graphic content (30) on said display device (23), said graphic content comprising a set of graphic objects (31 to 35) each representative of the quantities of electrical energy consumed according to said first driving mode, said second driving mode and said third driving mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphical content (30) comprises: - at least one first graphic object (31) representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to said first driving mode; - at least one second graphic object (32) representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to said second driving mode; and - at least one third graphic object (33) representative of the quantity of electrical energy consumed according to said third driving mode.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one first graphical object (31), said at least one second graphical object (32) and said at least one third graphical object (33) are presented in said graphical content (30) as a function of a distance traveled by said electric vehicle (20) according to respectively said first driving mode, said second driving mode and said third driving mode, said distance traveled according to respectively said first driving mode, said second driving mode and said third driving mode corresponding to a part of said determined distance.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, for which said graphic content (30) further comprises: - a fourth graphic object (34) representative of an average quantity of electrical energy consumed over said distance determined according to a driving mode grouping said first driving mode and said second driving mode; - a fifth graphic object (35) representative of an average quantity of electrical energy consumed over said distance determined according to said third driving mode.

5. Method according to claim 4, for which at least a part of said at least one first (31), at least one second (32), at least one third (33), fourth (34) and fifth (35) graphic objects corresponds to a three-dimensional graphic object, said at least one first, at least one second, at least one third, fourth and fifth graphic objects being represented on the same diagram comprising on the abscissa a distance scale and on the ordinate a scale of quantity of electrical energy.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, for which said determined distance corresponds to the last 100 km traveled by said electric vehicle (20) at a time instant associated with said display control (53) of said graphic content.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a step of receiving third data representative of a display command of said graphic content from a human-machine interface of said electric vehicle, said display control (53) being triggered by the reception of said third data.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims. preceding, when these instructions are executed by a processor.

9. Device (4) for controlling an on-board display system in an electric vehicle, said device (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Electric vehicle (20) comprising the device (4) according to claim 9.

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