Hybrid Vehicle Engine On Reason Display System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) drivers face challenges in achieving desired fuel economy due to inadequate information on engine operation, as existing gauges only indicate when the engine is on or off without providing timely or understandable reasons for its operation, leading to a learning curve and overwhelming information display.
Innovation Solution
An information display system that uses a prioritization strategy to categorize and display the reasons for the engine being on, allowing drivers to understand and control their driving habits by showing relevant engine on reasons and providing explanations, thereby encouraging efficient driving practices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing gauges indicate when the engine is on or off, then the driver receives basic engine status information, but the information is not timely or understandable enough to help the driver modify driving habits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the engine on reasons into multiple priority levels (first priority, second priority, third priority). The display shows only the highest priority reason first, and only additional reasons are displayed if the driver requests more information. This segmentation reduces information overload while maintaining completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of information detail to different user needs. The basic display shows only the most important reason, while optional additional display provides more comprehensive information. This allows the system to adapt to individual driver preferences and situations.
2Loss of information
If the display shows multiple engine on reasons simultaneously, then the driver receives comprehensive information, but the display becomes overwhelming and difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides engine on reasons into priority segments, displaying only the highest priority reason prominently. Additional reasons are hidden unless the driver explicitly requests them through a switch or button press. This segmentation makes the display manageable while preserving access to complete information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by showing only the necessary subset of information (top priority reason) by default, and providing access to the full set of reasons only when needed. This reduces cognitive load while maintaining information availability.
3Reliability
If the engine operates based on multiple factors, then the vehicle functions properly, but the driver cannot understand or control when the engine should be on or off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides feedback to the driver by displaying the specific reason the engine is running. This feedback loop helps drivers understand the relationship between their actions and engine operation, enabling them to modify driving habits to reduce engine runtime and improve fuel economy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the prioritized display system) between the complex engine control system and the driver. This intermediary translates multiple technical factors into simple, understandable reasons that drivers can comprehend and respond to, bridging the gap between system complexity and user understanding.
Data Source
AI summary
An information display system for a hybrid electric vehicle configured to display one or more reasons an engine is on is provided. The information display system determines which engine on reasons are true and applies a prioritization strategy to determine which engine on reasons are displayed to an operator via an information display.