Vehicle control unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle control unit arranged to: Obtain at least one data point from at least one vehicle sensor, the sensor being selected from among a tire pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a vehicle lift weight sensor, and an air conditioning system sensor; Evaluate whether additional fuel consumption is expected compared to the vehicle's current fuel consumption based on one or more data points from the vehicle sensors; and, if so, provide the user with information representative of said additional fuel consumption. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle control unit technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle that assesses the risk of overconsumption of fuel due to several factors and alerts the user to this additional fuel consumption. Technological background

[0002] During the operation of a vehicle, certain factors can impact its energy consumption, leading in particular to an increase in it. Examples of factors, such as wind force and air conditioning, contributing to overconsumption of energy are described in documents EP2028060B1, US11203271 B2, and DE102010019761 A1.

[0003] Generally speaking, when driving the vehicle, most users are not aware of the impact of the aforementioned factors on fuel consumption.

[0004] There is therefore a need to allow users to intervene on certain factors in order to avoid excessive energy consumption. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention aims to meet this need, and relates to a vehicle control unit arranged for • Obtain at least one data point from at least one sensor of the vehicle, the sensor being chosen from a wheel pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a vehicle lifted weight sensor, an air conditioning system sensor; • Evaluate whether additional fuel consumption is expected compared to the vehicle's current fuel consumption based on one or more data points from the vehicle's sensors, and • Where applicable, provide the user with information representative of said additional energy consumption.

[0006] Thanks to the invention, the user is informed of the increase in instantaneous fuel consumption. Therefore, they can act accordingly to maintain nominal fuel consumption.

[0007] The sensor can also be chosen from a wind speed and direction sensor.

[0008] The control unit can be arranged to deliver information representative of said additional consumption in the form of a message displayed on a display device, in particular on a vehicle dashboard screen.

[0009] The control unit can be arranged to deliver said information in the form of an alert, in particular an audible and / or visual alert.

[0010] Preferably, the representative information should also include an indication of the cause of the additional fuel consumption. This allows the user to understand the origin of the additional consumption and to act accordingly.

[0011] In embodiments, the data relates to a wheel pressure and the control unit is arranged, in the event of a drop in wheel pressure, to calculate the associated additional fuel consumption.

[0012] In embodiments, the data relates to a weight lifted from the vehicle, and the control unit is arranged to calculate the additional fuel consumption associated with said weight lifted.

[0013] In embodiments, the data relates to an open / closed state of the windows, and the control unit is arranged, in the event of the opening of at least one window, to calculate the associated additional energy consumption.

[0014] In embodiments, the data relates to the use of the air conditioning system, and the unit is arranged, in the event of the air conditioning system being switched on, to calculate the associated additional energy consumption.

[0015] In embodiments, the data relates to a wind force, and the control unit is arranged to calculate the additional energy consumption associated with said force.

[0016] The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising: - At least one sensor chosen from among a tire pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a wind speed and direction sensor, an air conditioning system sensor, and a vehicle lift weight sensor - A control unit according to the invention.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for alerting a vehicle to additional fuel consumption, the method comprising: - Obtain at least one data point from at least one sensor on the vehicle, the sensor being chosen from among a tire pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a wind speed and direction sensor, an air conditioning system sensor, a vehicle lift weight sensor, - Evaluate whether additional energy consumption is expected compared to the vehicle's current energy consumption, based on one or more data points from the vehicle's sensors, and - Where applicable, provide the user with information representative of said additional energy consumption. Brief description of the figures

[0018] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will clearly explain what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. In the accompanying figures:

[0019] [fig.1] Fig.1 is a schematic and partial representation of the architecture of a vehicle according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a first example of displaying information according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a second example of displaying information; and

[0022] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a third example of displaying information; Description of method(s) of implementation

[0023] In the figures, and unless otherwise specified, identical elements shall bear the same reference symbols.

[0024] Figure 1 shows an example of a vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] The vehicle 1 comprises a plurality of sensors 20 arranged to transmit parameters useful for the operation of said vehicle.

[0026] The sensors 20 may correspond to a wheel pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a vehicle lifted weight sensor, a wind speed and direction sensor, an air conditioning system sensor, this list not being exhaustive.

[0027] The vehicle 1 further comprises a control unit 10 arranged to receive the various data transmitted by the sensors 20.

[0028] The transmitted data may correspond to data relating to tire pressure, the open and / or closed state of the windows, wind force and / or direction, the use of the air conditioning system, or the weight lifted by the vehicle.

[0029] The control unit 10 is configured to evaluate from the data from the sensors 20 whether additional fuel consumption is to be expected compared to the current fuel consumption of the vehicle 1.

[0030] When additional fuel consumption is expected based on the data collected, the control unit 10 provides the user with information representative of said additional energy consumption.

[0031] In the illustrated examples, the control unit 10 delivers the information representative of said additional consumption in the form of a message 40 displayed on a display device 30.

[0032] The display device 30 can correspond to a dashboard 32 of the vehicle, as illustrated in figures 2 and 3.

[0033] In the example of [Fig. 2], the instrument panel displays to the user information 40 representing the fuel consumption caused by low tire pressure. As can be seen in the figure, the aforementioned information comprises a first indication 42 indicating the additional instantaneous fuel consumption compared to the current instantaneous consumption 45 and a second indication 44 indicating the origin of said additional consumption, in this case, low tire pressure.

[0034] In the example of [Fig. 3], the dashboard 32 displays to the user information 40 representing the fuel consumption due to the opening of one or more windows. Similar to the example in [Fig. 2], the aforementioned information includes a first indication 42 providing information on the instantaneous additional fuel consumption to be expected compared to the current consumption 45 and a second indication 44 providing information on the origin of said additional consumption.

[0035] The display device 30 can correspond to an infotainment device 34.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the examples just described.

[0037] For example, the information can be delivered in the form of an alert, audible or visual.

Claims

Demands

1. Control unit (10) for vehicle (1) arranged to • Obtain at least one data point from at least one sensor (20) of the vehicle, the sensor (20) being selected from a tire pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a vehicle lifted weight sensor, an air conditioning system sensor; • Evaluate whether additional fuel consumption is to be expected compared to the current fuel consumption of the vehicle (1) from one or more data points from the vehicle sensors, and • If so, provide the user with information (40) representative of said additional fuel consumption.

2. Control unit according to the preceding claim, the sensor (20) being further selected from a wind speed and direction sensor.

3. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged to deliver the information (40) representative of said additional consumption in the form of a message displayed on a display device, in particular on a vehicle dashboard screen.

4. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged to deliver said information (40) in the form of an alert, in particular an audible and / or visual alert.

5. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the representative information further comprising an indication (44) giving information on the origin of the additional fuel consumption.

6. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the input being a wheel pressure and the control unit being arranged, in the event of a drop in wheel pressure, to calculate the associated additional fuel consumption.

7. A control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the data being related to a weight lifted from the vehicle, and the control unit being arranged to calculate the additional fuel consumption associated with said weight lifted.

8. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the data being related to an open / closed state of the windows, and the control unit being arranged, in the event of the opening of at least one window, to calculate the associated additional energy consumption.

9. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the data being related to the use of the air conditioning system, and the control unit being arranged, in the event of the air conditioning system being switched on, to calculate the associated additional energy consumption.

10. Control unit according to any one of the preceding claims, the data being related to a wind force, and the unit being arranged to calculate the additional energy consumption associated with said force.

11. Vehicle (1) comprising - At least one sensor (20) selected from a tire pressure sensor, a window monitoring system sensor, a wind speed and direction sensor, an air conditioning system sensor, a vehicle lifted weight sensor; - A control unit (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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