Fuel Cell Vehicle Power Threshold Display for Energy Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of vehicles equipped with fuel cells and batteries find it difficult to intuitively recognize when the vehicle switches between using fuel cell energy and battery energy for power generation, as existing systems lack clear indicators for energy source utilization during power threshold changes.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle configuration that includes a fuel cell, a power storage device, and a display device presenting indicators for both fuel cell and battery energy output, with specific modes and visual cues (such as gauges and signs) to inform users when one or both energy sources are being used, and when the power threshold is met, allowing for intuitive recognition of energy switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle switches between using fuel cell energy and battery energy based on power threshold, then energy utilization efficiency is improved, but user recognition of energy switching becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The display device uses different colors to represent different energy sources and their usage states. The fuel cell is represented by a first color, the battery by a second color, and the threshold value by a third color. This color-coding system enables users to intuitively recognize which energy source is currently being used and when switching occurs between single-source and dual-source operation modes
Solution Approach 2:
The indicator is divided into multiple segments: a first indicator for fuel cell power output, a second indicator for battery power output, and a threshold indicator. Each segment provides specific information about the respective energy source, allowing users to clearly distinguish between different energy sources and their contribution levels to the total power output
2Loss of information
If the display device shows detailed power output from each energy source, then information completeness is improved, but indicator complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display device merges multiple information elements into a single integrated indicator that simultaneously shows fuel cell power output, battery power output, and threshold value. This unified indicator design provides complete energy source information without requiring separate displays for each parameter, thus maintaining information completeness while avoiding excessive complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables users to easily and intuitively understand when the vehicle switches from using one energy source to both energy sources, enhancing user awareness and understanding of energy utilization.
Implementation Method 1
a fuel cell; a power storage device chargeable with electric power supplied from outside; a driving device that generates traveling power by using at least one of energy output from the fuel cell and energy output from the power storage device
Data Source
AI summary
An FCV includes: a driving device that generates traveling power by using at least one of FC energy and battery energy; and a display device that presents an indicator indicating the traveling power that is being generated by the driving device. When the traveling power is less than a threshold value, the driving device generates the traveling power by using one energy of the FC energy and the battery energy without using the other energy of the FC energy and the battery energy. When the traveling power is more than or equal to the threshold value, the driving device generates the traveling power by using both the FC energy and the battery energy. At the indicator, the display device presents information indicating the threshold value.