Vehicle Fuel Mileage Controller Using Baseline Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle fuel mileage determining systems face challenges in providing accurate Average Fuel Economy data when the system is initialized or reset, as they lack initial data on fuel consumption and distance traveled, leading to incomplete calculations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller is configured to use baseline data, defining it as initial factory settings during a reset condition or previously determined data when not reset, and calculates fuel mileage data using a fuel consumption measuring device and distance measuring device, displaying it on a display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the system uses volatile memory that loses data upon power loss, then the system can be simplified and initialized easily, but the system cannot provide accurate fuel mileage data during initial operation or after reset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing baseline fuel consumption and distance data in non-volatile memory before the vehicle is operated or before a reset occurs. This baseline data is prepared in advance so that when the system initializes or recovers from a reset, it immediately has reference values to display accurate fuel mileage information without requiring extensive data accumulation first.
2Measurement precision
If the system waits to accumulate sufficient data before displaying fuel mileage, then calculation accuracy improves, but the system cannot provide useful information during initial operation or after reset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses baseline data stored in non-volatile memory as an intermediary to bridge the gap during initial system operation or after reset. This baseline data acts as a temporary reference that allows the display to show accurate fuel mileage information immediately, while the system simultaneously accumulates actual operational data. Once sufficient actual data is collected, the baseline is replaced with real measured values.
3Ease of operation
If the system displays fuel mileage data immediately without sufficient data accumulation, then information is available from the start, but the displayed data is inaccurate or incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-loading baseline fuel consumption and distance values into non-volatile memory during manufacturing or before first use. This allows the display to immediately show accurate fuel mileage data when the vehicle is new or after a reset, eliminating the need to wait for data accumulation while maintaining accuracy through the use of pre-determined baseline values.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle fuel mileage determining system includes a fuel consumption measuring device, a distance measuring device, a display configured to display fuel mileage data and a controller. The controller is coupled to the fuel consumption measuring device, the distance measuring device and the display. The controller is configured to calculate fuel mileage data using baseline data, data from the fuel consumption measuring device and data from the distance measuring device. The controller further shows the fuel mileage data calculated on the display. The controller is further configured to determine the baseline data as follows: in response to a reset condition being detected, the controller defines the baseline data as being equal to initial factory settings; and in response to the reset condition not being detected, the controller defines the baseline data as being equal to previously determined fuel and distance data.