Vehicular Information-Processing Device for Plug-in Hybrid Fuel Efficiency Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular information-processing devices fail to accurately notify users of the expected fuel efficiency improvement from travel plans, leading to suboptimal energy management in plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular information-processing device that assesses the tendency of assigning charge depleting (CD) mode in travel plans and notifies users of the anticipated fuel efficiency improvement, allowing them to decide whether to follow the plan based on the magnitude of improvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the conventional device assigns modes to improve fuel efficiency, then energy consumption is reduced, but the user cannot recognize the actual magnitude of improvement
Solution Approach 1:
The notifying device provides feedback to the user about the magnitude of fuel efficiency improvement that will be achieved by following the travel plan. This feedback mechanism allows the user to understand the actual benefit of the mode assignment, transforming the system from purely automatic control to informed user decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The notifying device acts as an intermediary between the mode assignment system and the user. It translates the complex mode assignment calculations into comprehensible information about fuel efficiency improvement, enabling the user to make informed decisions without needing to understand the underlying technical details.
2Ease of operation
If the device automatically assigns modes without user notification, then operation is simplified, but user awareness of energy management is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains automatic mode assignment for operational simplicity while adding a feedback layer that notifies users of the expected fuel efficiency improvement. This allows the system to remain easy to operate while simultaneously increasing user awareness of energy management through informative notifications.
3Loss of information
If the device provides detailed information about fuel efficiency improvement, then user awareness is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notifying device extracts only the essential information about fuel efficiency improvement magnitude from the complex mode assignment calculations. Instead of presenting all technical details, it provides focused, relevant information that increases user awareness without requiring the entire complexity of the mode assignment system to be exposed to the user.
Data Source
AI summary
In the first mode, a controller circuitry restrains or prohibits operation of an internal combustion engine. In the second mode, the controller circuitry activates maintains the charge amount of the battery. A controller circuitry generates a travel plan assigns one of the first mode and the second mode to each of sections, which are included in the travel route. An assessing circuitry assesses a tendency of assignment of the first mode in the travel route. A notifying device notifies information corresponding to the tendency assessed by the assessing circuitry.