Vehicle Run Efficiency Tracking Across Drivers and Toll Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack effective communication between the vehicle and the driver, and there is a need to improve the measurement and analysis of run efficiency, especially in shared driving scenarios where multiple drivers use the same vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A run efficiency measuring system for vehicles that includes a first measuring unit to measure investment and actual performance, a distinguishing unit to identify different driving conditions and drivers, and a processing unit to process this data, allowing for individual analysis of each driver's efficiency based on their driving skills and tendencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a fuel cost meter provides flash or instantaneous fuel cost information based on current fuel flow and measured travel distance, then the driver receives real-time fuel efficiency information, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates when rest of fuel flow injection is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process by introducing multiple measuring units (first measuring unit for investment, second measuring unit for actual performance) and a distinguishing unit that divides running conditions into multiple categories. This segmentation allows accurate measurement under each specific condition while maintaining overall reliability across varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters by separately measuring investment parameters (fuel flow, distance, time, toll) and actual performance parameters (run efficiency, driver behavior metrics), then processing these parameters according to distinguished running conditions. This parameter transformation enables accurate fuel cost measurement across different operating conditions.
2Loss of information
If the system separately processes measured investment and actual performance by different drivers, then each driver can individually know their run efficiency, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a certificate as an intermediary element that stores driver identification information. The communicating unit interacts with this certificate to identify the driver, enabling separate processing of each driver's data without requiring complex direct identification systems. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture while preserving driver-specific information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies driver identification information from the certificate to the vehicle's processing system, creating a temporary local copy for data association. This copying mechanism enables efficient driver-specific data processing without maintaining permanent complex storage structures in the vehicle system.
3Measurement precision
If the system distinguishes between toll run and free run conditions, then the analysis of investment-performance efficiency is improved, but the measurement and processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments running conditions into distinct categories (toll run, free run, and other conditions) using a distinguishing unit. This segmentation allows precise measurement and separate processing of investment and performance parameters for each condition type, improving efficiency analysis accuracy without requiring overly complex detection systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A run efficiency measuring system measures both investment into a vehicle for run and actual run performance by the vehicle. The investment means cost of energy, toll, and budgeted time, while the actual run performance means travel distance and saved time. Run efficiency is calculated on the measurements separately by difference in driver, between toll run and free run, and in unit price of energy. The measurement is summarized every time when one of the differences occurs, or day changes, or predetermined travel distance has been run. Vehicle is in wireless communication with IC card type certificate integrated with credit card which is inserted into card slot of the vehicle to identify driver for the individual run efficiency calculation, authentication as qualified driver, and ETC payment. Run efficiency data gotten in a vehicle can be taken over to next different vehicle for accumulation by way of memory of the certificate.