Method and device for controlling an electric vehicle display system incorporating a traction battery control system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and device for controlling a display system of an electric vehicle comprising a battery management system (BMS), the display system comprising a screen (13). For this purpose, first and second data representing the electrical consumption of the electric motor and other electrical systems of the electric vehicle, respectively, are received from the BMS. Graphic content (210) is displayed on the screen (13) based on the first and second data, the graphic content (210) comprising a first graphic representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and at least one other graphic representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the other electrical systems. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method and device for controlling an electric vehicle display system incorporating a traction battery control system. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to methods and devices for controlling a display system in an electric vehicle, particularly, but not exclusively, a motor vehicle. The invention specifically relates to a method and device for controlling the display of information concerning the electric vehicle's energy consumption. The invention also relates to a method and device for assisting the driver in a vehicle. Technological background

[0002] The range of electric vehicles depends on several factors including the total electrical energy storage capacity of the electric vehicle's traction battery, the type of journey, the activation of on-board electrical systems such as the air conditioning system, but also the behavior of the electric vehicle driver and their driving style.

[0003] During a journey in an electric vehicle, it is known to display a set of information useful to the driver for monitoring the electric vehicle's performance. Among this information, it is known to display the electric vehicle's electrical energy consumption, for example, in the form of instantaneous consumption or average consumption per 100 km. This consumption encompasses all the electrical consumption of all the electric vehicle's electrical systems or components operating via the electrical energy supplied by the traction battery, such as, for example, the electric motor, the air conditioning system, the lighting system, etc.

[0004] Feedback on the amount of electrical energy consumed allows the driver to adapt certain parameters to, for example, improve the range of the electric vehicle, for example by deactivating certain electrical systems consuming electrical energy or by adapting the driving style to reduce consumption.

[0005] One of the associated problems is that the information relating to electrical energy consumption returned to the driver is not always sufficient to adapt the control of the electric vehicle in order, for example, to improve its range. Summary of the present invention

[0006] One object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the problems of the technological background described above.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is, for example, to improve the control of an electric vehicle.

[0008] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for controlling a display system of a first electric vehicle, the first electric vehicle carrying a control system for a traction battery of the first electric vehicle, called BMS system, the display system comprising a screen, the method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving first data representative of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by an electric motor of the first electric vehicle during a first journey carried out with the first electric vehicle, the first data being received from the BMS system; - reception of second data representing a quantity of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of the first electric vehicle during the first journey, the second data being received from the BMS system, the set of electrical systems being different from the electric motor; - control of display of graphic content on the screen according to the first and second data, the graphic content comprising a first graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and a set of at least one other graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems.

[0009] The use of various signals received from the BMS system, carrying data relating to the electrical energy consumption of the electric motor on the one hand and the electrical energy consumption of one or more other electrical systems of the electric vehicle on the other, makes it possible to provide several pieces of information relating to the electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle, namely the consumption of the electric motor and the consumption of the other electrical systems of the electric vehicle. This allows the driver to target which component or components are the main energy consumers in order to adapt the control of this or these components to more effectively reduce the electrical energy consumption of the electric vehicle.

[0010] According to one variant, the electrical systems package includes a pre-conditioning heat pump for the traction battery of the first electric vehicle, a reversible heat pump for a heating and air conditioning system of the first electric vehicle, and a set of other auxiliary electrical systems of the first electric vehicle, The second set of data includes representative data on the amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery pre-conditioning heat pump, representative data on the amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump, and representative data on the amount of electrical energy consumed by all auxiliary electrical systems. The set of at least one other graphic information includes a second graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery preconditioning heat pump, a third graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump, and a fourth graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the set of auxiliary electrical systems.

[0011] According to another variant, the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and the amount of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems each correspond to an average amount of electrical energy consumed per 100 km.

[0012] According to another variant, the method further includes a control of the electric motor and / or at least one electrical system as a function of the first graphic information and at least one other graphic information.

[0013] According to yet another variant, the method further comprises the following steps: - receiving, via a wireless connection, third data representative of an average of quantities of electrical energy consumed by electric motors of a set of second electric vehicles during a plurality of second journeys made with the set of second electric cars; - reception, via said wireless connection, of fourth data representing an average of quantities of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of the set of second electric vehicles during the plurality of second journeys; - comparison of the first data to the third data and comparison of the second data to the fourth data; - control of display of a first graphic object and a set of at least one other graphic object in the graphic content on the screen, the first graphic object being representative of a result of the comparison of the first data to the third data and the set of at least one other graphic object being representative of a result of the comparison of the second data to the fourth data.

[0014] According to a further variant, the first graphic object and at least one other graphic object are each representative of a level of the amount of electrical energy consumed in the first electric vehicle relative to the average of the amounts of electrical energy consumed in the set of second electric vehicles.

[0015] According to yet another variant, one type of the first electric vehicle corresponds to one type of each second electric vehicle in the set of second electric vehicles.

[0016] According to another variant, the plurality of second journeys is selected from a set of journeys taken with the set of second vehicles according to a set of characteristics of the first journey.

[0017] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a control device for a display system of an electric vehicle, the device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for the implementation of the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0018] 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 or a system as described above according to the third aspect of the present invention.

[0019] According to a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a computer program which includes instructions adapted for carrying out the steps of the process according to the first aspect of the present invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at least one processor.

[0020] Such a computer program may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate code between source code and object code, such as in a partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

[0021] 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 process according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0022] On the one hand, the recording medium can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, the medium can include a storage means, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM or a microelectronic circuit-type ROM, or a magnetic recording means or a hard disk drive.

[0023] On the other hand, this recording medium can also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be transmitted via an electrical or optical cable, by conventional or Hertzian radio, by self-directing laser beam, or by other means. The computer program according to the present invention can, in particular, be downloaded onto an Internet-type network.

[0024] Alternatively, the recording medium may be an integrated circuit in which the computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in the execution of the process in question. Brief description of the figures

[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the particular and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 5, in which:

[0026] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates part of the passenger compartment of an electric vehicle, according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a display device for the electric vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a first particular and non-limiting example of the present invention;

[0028] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates the display device of the electric vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a second particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] [Fig.4] illustrates a device configured to control a display system of the electric vehicle of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] [Fig.5] illustrates a flowchart of the different stages of a control process of an electric vehicle display system of the [Fig.1], according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Description of examples of achievements

[0031] A method and a control device for a display system of an electric vehicle will now be described in what follows with joint reference to Figures 1 to 5. The same elements are identified with the same reference signs throughout the following description.

[0032] The terms "first," "second" (or "firsts," "seconds"), etc., are used in this document by arbitrary convention to allow for the identification and distinction of different elements (such as operations, means, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below. Such elements may be distinct or correspond to a single element, depending on the embodiment.

[0033] According to a particular and non-limiting example of an embodiment of the present invention, the control of an on-board display system in a first electric vehicle is for example implemented by one or more vehicle computers, for example via one or more processors.

[0034] To this end, initial data representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by an electric motor of the first electric vehicle during a first journey with the first electric vehicle are received from a control system of a traction battery of the first electric vehicle, called a BMS system (from the English "Battery Management System" or in French "Système de contrôle des batteries").Second data points, representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of the first electric vehicle during the first journey, are also received from the BMS. This set of electrical systems is distinct from the electric motor and includes, for example, a heat pump for preconditioning the traction battery of the first electric vehicle, a reversible heat pump for the heating and air conditioning system of the first electric vehicle, and a set of other auxiliary electrical systems of the first electric vehicle, such as the multimedia system, the lighting system, the windshield wiper control system, etc. The first data points are obtained, for example, as a first signal emitted by the BMS, and the second data points as a second signal, separate from the first signal, also emitted by the BMS.

[0035] Upon receiving the first and second data points, the control unit manages the display of specific graphic content, determined based on this data, to display this graphic content on a screen of the electric vehicle's display system. The graphic content includes a first graphic representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and one or more other graphical elements, each representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by an electrical system within a set of electrical systems of the electric vehicle.

[0036] Such a process makes it possible to monitor the electrical consumption of the electric vehicle and to determine which components or systems consume the most, which makes it possible to adapt the control of this or these components or systems to reduce the electrical consumption of the electric vehicle if necessary.

[0037] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates part of the passenger compartment of an electric vehicle 10, referred to as the first electric vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Vehicle 10 corresponds to an electric vehicle comprising one or more electric motors powered by a traction battery. Electric vehicle 10 thus corresponds, for example, to a land vehicle, such as a car, a truck, a bus, or a utility vehicle.

[0039] The first vehicle 10 carries a traction battery and a BMS (Battery Management System) device or system configured to monitor the state of the traction battery and to know the electrical energy consumption of the first electric vehicle 10 at any given time. Such a BMS 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 or level of charge via one or more of the following parameters: - the state of charge, called SOC (State of Charge), or the depth of discharge, called DOD (Depth of Discharge), indicating the battery's charge level; 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) in the battery or out of the battery.

[0040] The first electric vehicle 10 includes a set of electrical systems, organs or components powered by electrical energy from the traction battery of the first electric vehicle 10. In the following description, the expression "electrical system" is used to designate any system, component or organ of the first electric vehicle powered by electrical energy to operate from the traction battery of the first electric vehicle 10.

[0041] The electrical systems package of the first electric vehicle 10 includes, for example, a pre-conditioning heat pump for the traction battery of the first electric vehicle, a reversible heat pump for a heating and air conditioning system of the first electric vehicle, a display system comprising one or more screens, a multimedia system (also called an IVI system (In-Vehicle Infotainment)), a lighting system, a windshield wiper system comprising one or more motors for operating the windshield wipers, a seat adjustment system for the first electric vehicle 10, a seat heating system, a set of computers or ECUs (Electronic Control Unit), one or more ADAS (Advanced Driver-Assistance System) systems, a navigation and geolocation system,also called GNSS (Geolocation and Navigation by a Satellite System), for example a GPS type system (from the English "Global Positioning System" or in French "Système de géo-positionnement par satellites"), or Galileo, a wireless communication module or unit, called TCU (from the English "Telematic Control Unit" or in French "Unité de Contrôle Télématique").

[0042] The first electric vehicle 10 thus incorporates a set of embedded systems, each controlled by one or more computers. These computers form, for example, a multiplexed architecture for the implementation of various services useful for the proper functioning of the first vehicle and for assisting the driver and / or passengers of the first vehicle in controlling the first electric vehicle 10 via the control of the embedded system(s) in the first electric vehicle 10.Computers communicate and exchange data with each other via one or more computer buses, for example a CAN (Controller Area Network), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (according to ISO 17458), LIN (Local Interconnect Network), or Ethernet (according to ISO / IEC 802-3) type communication bus.

[0043] The first electric vehicle 10 advantageously incorporates a display system including a screen 13, for example with a touch interface, and a computer configured to control the display of content(s) from a graphic HMI (Human-Machine Interface) on the touch screen 13. 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 étoilé") of the first electric vehicle 10.

[0044] The screen 13 corresponds for example to an LCD type screen (from the English "Liquid Crystal Display" or in French "Affichage à cristals liquide"), for example of type TFT (from the English "Thin-Film Transistor" or in French "Transistor en film mince"), or OLED (from the English "Organic Light-Emitting Diode" or in French "Diode électroluminescente organique").

[0045] The screen 13 is configured to display content for the driver and passengers of the first electric vehicle 10. According to one variant, the screen 13 is also configured to allow the driver and / or passengers of the first electric vehicle to interact with one or more systems embedded in the first electric vehicle via a human-machine interface (HMI) displayed on the screen 13, in particular when the screen 13 is a touch screen.

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, the display system comprises one or more other screens, for example a screen of a so-called head-up display device or system, corresponding for example to a transparent or semi-transparent blade arranged in such a way that a driver seated in seat 15 sees the content displayed or projected onto the transparent blade when the driver drives the first electric vehicle 10. The display system includes, for example, in addition a display screen called a combination or instrument panel and usually arranged in an area 12 behind the steering wheel 14 in the dashboard 11.

[0047] A control process for an embedded display system in the first electric vehicle 10 is advantageously implemented by one or more processors of the display system, for example by a computer of an embedded system of the first electric vehicle 10 such as the IVI system.

[0048] In a first operation of the process, first data and second data representative of the amount of electrical energy consumed by different electrical systems of the first electric vehicle 10 are received.

[0049] The initial data represents the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor of the first electric vehicle 10 during a first journey undertaken with the first electric vehicle. The initial data is received from the BMS system, which emits a first electrical signal carrying this initial data. This first signal is transmitted on the on-board network of the first electric vehicle and thus received by the computer implementing the process via one or more data buses.

[0050] The amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor corresponds, for example, to the total amount of electrical energy consumed over the entire journey, expressed in kWh. According to another example, this amount of electrical energy consumed corresponds to the average electrical energy consumed per 100 km travelled and is thus expressed in kWh / 100km.

[0051] The first signal corresponds, for example, to a signal allowing evaluation of the electrical energy supplied by the traction battery to power the electric motor, this signal being called in English "High Voltage Battery State of Energy", or in French "high voltage battery energy level".

[0052] The second data points represent the amount of electrical energy consumed by the other electrical systems of the electric vehicle 10, i.e., the electrical systems excluding the electric motor, during the first journey undertaken with the first electric vehicle. The second data points are also received from the BMS system, which emits a second electrical signal carrying these second data points. This second signal is transmitted over the on-board network of the first electric vehicle and thus received by the computer implementing the process via one or more data buses. The first and second signals are distinct and different.

[0053] The amount of electrical energy consumed by other electrical systems corresponds, for example, to the total amount of electrical energy consumed on The total energy consumption of the journey, expressed in kWh. In another example, this amount of electrical energy consumed corresponds to the average electrical energy consumed per 100 km travelled and is thus expressed in kWh / 100km.

[0054] The second signal corresponds, for example, to a signal allowing evaluation of the electrical energy supplied by the traction battery to power the other electrical systems, this signal being called in English "Auxiliary Power", or in French "puissance auxiliaire".

[0055] According to a particular embodiment, the second signal comprises a set of attributes enabling the decomposition of electrical energy consumption of specifically determined and identified electrical systems, namely the amount of electrical energy supplied by the traction battery to the traction battery preconditioning heat pump (used to heat or cool the traction battery for or during the charging of the traction battery), the amount of electrical energy supplied by the traction battery to the reversible heat pump of a heating and air conditioning system of the first electric vehicle 10 and the amount of electrical energy supplied by the traction battery to the other electrical systems of the first electric vehicle 10 requiring electrical energy to operate, these other electrical systems being called auxiliary electrical systems of the first electric vehicle 10.

[0056] The second set of data thus comprises: - representative data of the amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery pre-conditioning heat pump (in kWh or kWh / 100km); - representative data on the amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump (in kWh or kWh / 100km); and - representative data of the amount of electrical energy consumed by all auxiliary electrical systems (in kWh or in kWh / lOOkm).

[0057] In a second operation of the process, the display of graphic content is controlled to display this determined graphic content on the screen according to the first and second data received in the first operation.

[0058] The graphic content advantageously includes a first graphic information representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and a set of at least one other graphic information representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems.

[0059] The first graphic information and at least one other graphic information correspond to one or more graphic elements or objects such as text, pictograms, icons.

[0060] A display control, of graphic content, of graphic information or of any graphic object (text, pictogram, icon, etc.) includes a rendering of the graphic content, of the graphic information or of the graphic object, such rendering corresponding to a set of operations carried out by one or more processors on the pixels of one or more images of the graphic content to be displayed on the screen 13. For example, the rendering consists of associating to a set of pixels of an image pixel data (for example color data expressed in an RGB (Red, Green, Blue) type space) associated with each graphic object.

[0061] The display control of graphic information or a graphic object thus includes the transmission of control signals to the screen 13 to modify the values ​​associated with the pixels of the screen 13 at the location intended to display the graphic information or the graphic object.

[0062] The display of the graphic content is triggered for example by an action of the driver, that is to say by the reception of a signal or control data emitted by the interface receiving the driver's command (for example a press on a physical control button or a touch press on a control button displayed on the screen 13).

[0063] According to one variant, the display is triggered automatically at the end of the journey, for example for a determined period following the shutdown of the electric motor of the first electric vehicle 10.

[0064] According to a particular embodiment, the set of at least one other graphic information comprises: - a second graphical information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery pre-conditioning heat pump; - a third piece of graphical information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump; and - a fourth piece of graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by all the auxiliary electrical systems.

[0065] The graphic content displayed on screen 13 and each piece of graphic information displayed with this graphic content take on any possible representation.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the graphic content and each associated graphic information are displayed on a screen other than screen 13, for example on the dashboard 12.

[0067] Fig. 2 illustrates a graphical representation of such graphical content 210 displayed on the screen 13, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0068] This graphical representation 210 takes, for example, the form of a table with 3 columns 211, 212, and 213. The left-hand column 211 of the table contains, for example, the headings of the electrical systems for which the quantity of electrical energy consumed is supplied, the middle column 212 includes the percentage of the quantity of electrical energy consumed by each electrical system relative to the total quantity consumed, and the right-hand column 213 includes the value of the quantity of electrical energy consumed by each electrical system (in kWh or kWh / 100 km). The top row of the table includes, for example, the headings of columns 211, 212, and 213, and the bottom row of the table includes the total for each column.

[0069] The table according to the graphical representation 210 is for example such as the table below.

[0070] [Tables 1] Electrical System Energy Consumption (%) Energy Consumption (Absolute Value) Electric Motor 76.5 13 Heating / Air Conditioning 11.7 2 Battery Preconditioning 5.9 1 Other Auxiliary Systems 5.9 1 Total 100 17

[0071] According to a particular embodiment, the graphic content further comprises a set of graphic objects representing the amount of electrical energy of an electrical system or set of electrical systems of the first vehicle 10 compared to the amount of electrical energy consumed by that electrical system or set of electrical systems of a plurality of second electric vehicles. Such graphic objects allow the driver of the first vehicle 10 to compare the electrical consumption of their electric vehicle, i.e., the first electric vehicle, to that of second electric vehicles.

[0072] To this end, the process further comprises the following operations: - reception, via a wireless connection, of third data representative of an average of quantities of electrical energy consumed by electric motors of a set of second electric vehicles during a plurality of second journeys made with the set of second electric cars; - reception, via said wireless connection, of fourth data points representing an average of the quantities of electrical energy consumed by a set of systems electric vehicles of the entire set of second electric vehicles during the plurality of second journeys; - comparison of the first data to the third data and comparison of the second data to the fourth data; - control of display of a first graphic object and a set of at least one other graphic object in the graphic content on screen 13, the first graphic object being representative of a result of the comparison of the first data to the third data and the set of at least one other graphic object being representative of a result of the comparison of the second data to the fourth data.

[0073] The third and fourth data are for example received from a server in the "cloud" (or "cloud" in French) via a wireless connection linking the first vehicle 10 to the "cloud".

[0074] The third and fourth data are for example stored on this server, this server having obtained them from a set of second vehicles having made a set of second trips.

[0075] A set of characteristics is associated, for example, with each second journey. These characteristics include, for example, one or more of the following: - distance of the journey; and / or - journey time; and / or - weather conditions along the route; and / or - outside temperature during the journey; and / or - average speed during the journey; and / or - path topology, etc.

[0076] The third and fourth data received are for example related to a plurality of second journeys having characteristics identical or similar to those of the first journey made with the first vehicle 10. For this purpose, the characteristics of the first journey are for example transmitted by the first vehicle 10 to the server via the wireless connection which selects a sample of second journeys corresponding to the first journey and transmits back the associated third and fourth data.

[0077] Similarly, the type of each second vehicle is recorded on the server, which selects from the vehicle database the second vehicles having the same or a similar type to the first vehicle 10. The type of an electric vehicle is, for example, defined from characteristics of the electric vehicle such as: - the electric vehicle model; and / or - the dimensions of the electric vehicle; and / or - the power of the electric motor; and / or - the systems embedded in the electric vehicle, etc.

[0078] The first electric vehicle 10 transmits, for example, to the server information relating to its type or an identifier allowing the type to be determined (for example, the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)). The server then selects a set of second vehicles corresponding to the first vehicle 10 to return the associated third and fourth data.

[0079] The third and fourth data received are thus, for example, representative of the amount of electrical energy consumed by one or more electrical systems of second vehicles of the same type as the first vehicle 10 during second journeys having characteristics identical or close to those of the first vehicle 10, for the same electrical systems as those of the first vehicle 10.

[0080] The first data are thus comparable to the third data and the second data are comparable to the fourth data because they relate to identical or similar conditions and / or environments.

[0081] Each graphic object included in the graphic content and associated with one or more electrical systems of the first electric vehicle 10 is representative of a level of the quantity of electrical energy consumed in the first electric vehicle 10 (by the electrical system(s) concerned) relative to the average of quantities of electrical energy consumed in the set of second electric vehicles.

[0082] Fig. 3 illustrates a graphical representation of such graphical content 310 displayed on the screen 13 comprising graphical objects illustrating the consumption of the first electric vehicle 10 in comparison with the second electric vehicles, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] The graphic content of [Fig.3] takes for example the form of a table with 4 columns 211, 212, 213 and 314, the 3 left columns 211, 212 and 213 being identical to that of the table represented in [Fig.2] and described previously.

[0084] The fourth column on the right 314 includes for each electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 a graphic object illustrating the amount of electrical energy consumed by this electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 in comparison with the amount of electrical energy consumed by the same electrical system during second journeys made by second electric vehicles.

[0085] The graphic object corresponds, for example, to a gauge chart and includes, for example: - a set of sections or areas arranged to form a semi-ring, each section having, for example, a particular and different color and representing a result of the comparison between the quantities of electrical energy consumed; - a pointer or cursor pointing to one of the sections to indicate which section the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 refers to.

[0086] The half-ring comprises, for example, the following 3 sections: - a first section on the left, for example in green: when the pointer points to this first section, it indicates that the electrical consumption of the electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 is in the average of the electrical consumption of the same electrical system of the second electric vehicles, for example with a difference less than a first threshold (for example 10%) between the different consumptions; - a second central section, for example in orange: when the pointer points to this first section, it indicates that the electrical consumption of the first electric vehicle's electrical system 10 is above the average electrical consumption of the same electrical system of the second electric vehicles, for example, that the electrical consumption of the first electric vehicle's electrical system 10 is between a first threshold (for example, equal to 10%) and a second threshold (for example, equal to 30%) above the average obtained from the second vehicles; and - a third section on the right, for example in red: when the pointer points to this first section, it indicates that the electrical consumption of the electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 is much above the average electrical consumption of the same electrical system of the second electric vehicles, for example that the electrical consumption of the electrical system of the first electric vehicle 10 exceeds the average obtained from the second vehicles by at least a value equal to the second threshold (for example 30%).

[0087] For example, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], a first graphic object 31 is associated with the electric motor of the first electric vehicle 10 and represents the result of comparing the amount of electrical energy consumed by this electric motor during the first trip with the average amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motors of a set of second electric vehicles during second trips made with this set of second electric vehicles. According to this example, the pointer of the first graphic object points to the third section on the left, indicating that the amount of energy consumed by the electric motor of the first electric vehicle 10 exceeds the average of the second electric vehicles by at least the second threshold, for example, by at least 30%.

[0088] A second graphic object 32 associated with the heating and air conditioning system of the first electric vehicle 10 indicates that the amount of energy consumed by this system is within the average range of the heating and air conditioning systems of the second electric vehicles. A third graphic object 33 associated with the traction battery preconditioning heat pump of the first electric vehicle 10 indicates that the amount of energy consumed by this heat pump exceeds the average energy consumption of the heat pumps of the second electric vehicles by a value between the first threshold and the second threshold. A fourth graphic object 34 associated with the other auxiliary electrical systems of the first electric vehicle 10 indicates that the amount of energy consumed by these other auxiliary systems is within the average range of the energy consumption of the other auxiliary systems of the second electric vehicles.Finally, a fifth graphic object 35 associated with the total amount of electrical energy consumed by the first electric vehicle 10 indicates that the total amount of energy consumed by this system exceeds the average of the total amount of electrical energy consumed by the second electric vehicles by a value between the first threshold and the second threshold.

[0089] Of course, the graphical representation of graphical object 31 to 35 is not limited to the example above. For example, the graphical object corresponds to the same pictogram whose color varies to represent the result of the comparison (with the colors green, orange, and red, for example). According to another example, the graphical representation of graphical object 31 to 35 corresponds to a bar that fills up as the electrical consumption of the first electric vehicle 10 exceeds that of the second vehicles, with a color code according to the level of filling.

[0090] According to a particular embodiment, the process further comprises an operation to control one or more systems or components of the first electric vehicle 10 based on graphic information and / or graphic objects displayed on the screen 13. For example, if the amount of electrical energy consumed by the heating and air conditioning system is high or exceeds the average of the heating and air conditioning systems of the second vehicles, the heating and air conditioning system is controlled, either automatically or by the driver of the first electric vehicle 10, to reduce the amount of electrical energy consumed by this system. Such control includes, for example, adjusting one or more control parameters, such as adjusting the setpoint temperature to reduce the heating or air conditioning requirements.

[0091] Figure 4 schematically illustrates a device 4 configured for controlling a display system of an electric vehicle, for example the first vehicle electric vehicle 10, and / or for controlling embedded systems of the first electric vehicle 10, according to specific and non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. Device 4 corresponds, for example, to a device embedded in the electric vehicle 10, for example, a computer.

[0092] Device 4 is, for example, configured to carry out the operations described opposite Figures 1 to 3 and / or the steps of the process described opposite [Fig. 5]. Examples of such a device 4 include, but are not limited to, embedded electronic equipment such as an on-board computer in an electric vehicle, an electronic control unit such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit), a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop computer. The elements of device 4, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and / or into discrete components. Device 4 can be implemented in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules, or a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

[0093] The device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the process and / or for executing instructions from the software 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 volatile and / or non-volatile memory, and / or includes a memory storage device that may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0094] The computer code of the embedded software(s), including the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor, is for example stored on memory 4L

[0095] 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 (Telematic Control Unit), for example via a communication bus or through dedicated input / output ports.

[0096] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 4 includes a block 42 of interface elements for communicating with external devices. The interface elements of the block 42 include one or more of the following interfaces: - radio frequency (RF) interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the 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", or in French "Réseau interconnecté local").

[0097] According to another particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 4 includes a communication interface 43 which allows communication to be established with other devices (such as other computers in the embedded 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), CAN FD (Controller Area Network Flexible Data-Rate), FlexRay (standardized by ISO 17458) or Ethernet (standardized by ISO / IEC 802-3) type.

[0098] According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the device 4 can provide output signals to one or more external devices, such as a display screen 440, touch 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 more of the external devices is integrated into the device 4.

[0099] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart of the different steps in a method for controlling a display system embedded in an electric vehicle, for example the first electric vehicle 10, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method is implemented, for example, by a device embedded in the first electric vehicle 10 or by the device 4 of Figure 4.

[0100] In a first step 51, first representative data of a quantity of electrical energy consumed by an electric motor of the first electric vehicle during a first journey traveled with the first electric vehicle are received from the BMS system of the first electric vehicle.

[0101] In a second step 52, second data representing a quantity of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of the first electric vehicle during the first journey are received from the BMS system, the set of electrical systems being different from the electric motor.

[0102] In a third step 53, the display of a determined graphic content is controlled according to the first and second data so that the graphic content is displayed on a screen of the first electric vehicle, the graphic content comprising a first graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and a set of at least one other graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems.

[0103] According to one variant, the variants and examples of the operations described in relation to one of Figures 1 to 3 apply to the steps of the process in [Fig. 5].

[0104] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but extends to a method for displaying information and / or graphic objects representing the electrical consumption of systems or components of an electric vehicle, which would include secondary steps without departing from the scope of the present invention. The same would apply to a device configured for implementing such a method.

[0105] The present invention also relates to an electric 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

Demands

1. Method of controlling a display system of a first electric vehicle (10), said first electric vehicle (10) carrying a control system for a traction battery of said first electric vehicle (10), said BMS system, said display system comprising a screen (13), said method being implemented by a processor and comprising the following steps: - receiving (51) first data representing a quantity of electrical energy consumed by an electric motor of said first electric vehicle (10) during a first journey with said first electric vehicle (10), said first data being received from said BMS system;- receiving (52) second data representing a quantity of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of said first electric vehicle (10) during said first journey, said second data being received from said BMS system, the set of electrical systems being different from said electric motor; - controlling (53) the display of graphic content (210; 310) on said screen (13) as a function of said first and second data, said graphic content (210; 310) comprising a first graphic information representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the electric motor and a set of at least one other graphic information representing the quantity of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said electrical system assembly comprises a traction battery preconditioning heat pump for said first electric vehicle (10), a reversible heat pump for a heating and air conditioning system for said first electric vehicle (10), and a set of other auxiliary electrical systems for said first electric vehicle (10), said second data comprising data representing an amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery preconditioning heat pump, data representing an amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump and data representing an amount of electrical energy consumed by said set of auxiliary electrical systems, said set of at least one other graphic information includes a second graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the traction battery preconditioning heat pump, a third graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the reversible heat pump and a fourth graphic information representing the amount of electrical energy consumed by the set of auxiliary electrical systems.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising control of the electric motor and / or at least one electrical system as a function of the first graphic information and at least one other graphic information.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said quantity of electrical energy consumed by an electric motor and said quantity of electrical energy consumed by the set of electrical systems each correspond to a quantity of electrical energy consumed on average per 100 km.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the following steps: - receiving, via a wireless connection, third data representing an average of the quantities of electrical energy consumed by electric motors of a set of second electric vehicles during a plurality of second trips taken with said set of second electric vehicles; - receiving, via said wireless connection, fourth data representing an average of the quantities of electrical energy consumed by a set of electrical systems of the set of second electric vehicles during the plurality of second trips; - comparing said first data with said third data and comparing said second data with said fourth data; - display control of a first graphic object (31) and a set of at least one other graphic object (32 to 35) in said graphic content (310) on said screen (13), said first graphic object (31) being representative of a result of the comparison of the first data to the third data and said set of at least one other graphic object (32 to 35) being representative of a result of the comparison of the second data to the fourth data.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said first graphic object (31) and said at least one other graphic object (32 to 35) are each representative of a level of the quantity of electrical energy consumed in said first electric vehicle (10) relative to the average of quantities of electrical energy consumed in said set of second electric vehicles.

7. A method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a type of the first electric vehicle (10) corresponds to a type of each second electric vehicle of said set of second electric vehicles and wherein said plurality of second journeys is selected from a set of journeys taken with said set of second vehicles according to a set of characteristics of said first journey.

8. Computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, when such instructions are executed by at least one processor.

9. Device (4) for controlling a display system of an electric vehicle (10), said device (4) comprising a memory (41) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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

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