Regenerative Braking Feedback Display for Energy Capture Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of electrified vehicles face challenges in maximizing regenerative braking energy capture due to limited understanding of how their brake pedal input affects energy recapture, leading to unintentional minimization of energy recaptured.

Innovation Solution

A display system that includes a braking efficiency indicator and controller, which calculates and outputs a braking efficiency score based on the comparison of regenerative braking energy captured and total braking energy, providing feedback to drivers to improve their braking behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If regenerative braking systems are implemented in electrified vehicles, then energy recapture capability is improved, but driver understanding and control of energy recapture is worsened due to system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy recaptureVSAvoiddriver understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides real-time feedback to the driver through a display interface that shows the braking efficiency score and energy recapture information. The controller continuously monitors braking events and presents the results to the driver, creating a feedback loop that improves driver understanding and enables better control of energy recapture behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The display system acts as an intermediary between the complex regenerative braking system and the driver. It translates complex system data into comprehensible visual representations (gauges, scores, and indicators) that bridge the information gap, allowing drivers to understand and control energy recapture without needing to understand the underlying system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If drivers attempt to maximize energy recapture through regenerative braking, then energy efficiency is improved, but braking behavior may unintentionally minimize energy recaptured due to lack of information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidbraking behavior control
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback after each braking event through the display, showing the braking efficiency score and energy recaptured. This feedback mechanism guides drivers in adjusting their braking behavior to maximize energy recapture, transforming an difficult-to-control operation into an optimized process through continuous information provision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables drivers to self-optimize their braking behavior by providing them with the necessary information (braking efficiency scores and energy recapture data). Drivers can independently adjust their driving habits based on the displayed feedback without requiring external instruction or complex system intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If detailed information on braking system operation is provided to drivers, then driver control and optimization capability is improved, but interface complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver control capabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface presents information in segmented, hierarchical form: overall braking efficiency score, individual braking event results, and cumulative energy recaptured. This segmentation allows drivers to access detailed information when needed while maintaining a simple overall display, balancing comprehensiveness with usability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The display provides different levels of information detail in different interface areas or contexts. The braking efficiency gauge provides immediate visual feedback, while detailed numerical data and historical information are available upon driver request or in specific display modes, allowing the interface to adapt its complexity to user needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2661387B1Regenerative braking feedback display system and method
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC
  • EP2661387B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2661387B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2661387B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Driver braking performance feedback may be conveyed to a vehicle operator as a braking efficiency score using a vehicle display system. The display system may include a vehicle display for displaying a braking efficiency indicator or gauge corresponding to the braking efficiency score. The braking efficiency score may be based on a comparison of the total regenerative braking energy recaptured during at least one braking event to a either a maximum amount of braking energy that may be recaptured during the at least one braking event or an actual total braking energy expended during the at least one braking event. The braking efficiency score may be displayed upon the completion of a braking event or upon a completion of a trip including a plurality of braking events. The display may also convey a distance corresponding to a portion of a trip distance achieved through regenerative braking.