Hybrid Vehicle Fuel Gauge Color Coding for Engine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In plug-in hybrid vehicles, drivers are anxious due to the lack of visibility into fuel consumption during non-traveling and non-power generating modes, which are used to prevent fuel deterioration and maintain engine functionality, as the amount of fuel consumed in these modes is not conventionally displayed.
Innovation Solution
A display device with a fuel gauge that visually distinguishes the amount of fuel to be consumed in these modes by color, allowing drivers to see how fuel is being used, featuring a remaining amount portion that decreases as fuel is consumed, with different colors indicating the required consumption amount in the fuel consumption or engine maintenance mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is left unused for a long time in plug-in hybrid vehicles, then fuel consumption is reduced, but fuel deteriorates due to oxidation and dissolution of water
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically running the engine at predetermined intervals even when not needed for power generation or propulsion. This preventive engine operation consumes some fuel but prevents fuel deterioration through oxidation and water dissolution, thereby maintaining fuel quality and system reliability over time.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is left unused for a long time, then fuel consumption is reduced, but oil film falls off due to gravity and vibration, decreasing protection performance
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary maintenance actions by automatically operating the engine at predetermined intervals to redistribute oil film through gravity and vibration during operation. This prevents oil film degradation and maintains protective lubrication on cylinder surfaces, ensuring engine reliability even when the engine is otherwise idle.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is left unused for a long time, then fuel consumption is reduced, but sticking occurs inside the injector and air entrainment in fuel pipe, preventing smooth start
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary operational actions by automatically running the engine at predetermined intervals to maintain proper fuel flow and injector function. This prevents sticking inside the injector and air entrainment in the fuel pipe, ensuring smooth engine startability when needed while accepting increased fuel consumption during these maintenance operations.
4Device complexity
If the amount of fuel to be consumed in non-traveling mode is not displayed, then device complexity is reduced, but driver anxiety increases due to lack of visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel gauge uses color changes to provide visual information about fuel consumption in non-traveling modes. The display shows different colors to indicate whether fuel is being consumed for normal operation or for automatic engine running, giving drivers clear visibility into fuel usage without requiring complex additional display systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
In the present invention, a display device is provided with a fuel gauge (40) that displays the amount of fuel remaining in a fuel tank (24) (remaining amount) of a hybrid vehicle (10) that is provided with an engine (13) that consumes fuel supplied from the fuel tank (24) and generates power by driving wheels (15) or rotating a motor (11), the hybrid vehicle being provided with a non-traveling/non-power generating mode, or in other words, a fuel consumption mode or an engine maintenance mode in which the engine (13) is forced to run and consume fuel for purposes other than traveling or generating power. Of the fuel (41a) displayed in the fuel gauge (40), the region (41aa) corresponding to the amount of fuel consumed in the non-traveling/non-power generating mode is displayed so as to be distinguishable by color from another region (41ab), and thus, it is possible to display as a status and in a visually clear manner a state in which the engine (13) continues to run, and it is possible for the driver to confirm how much fuel is being consumed in the non-traveling/non-power generating mode, thereby providing the driver with peace of mind.