GB2448601A - Indicating actual fuel economy of a vehicle compared to claimed fuel economy - Google Patents
Indicating actual fuel economy of a vehicle compared to claimed fuel economy Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2448601A GB2448601A GB0806967A GB0806967A GB2448601A GB 2448601 A GB2448601 A GB 2448601A GB 0806967 A GB0806967 A GB 0806967A GB 0806967 A GB0806967 A GB 0806967A GB 2448601 A GB2448601 A GB 2448601A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- vehicle
- signal
- fuel
- fuel economy
- operative
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01F—MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01F9/00—Measuring volume flow relative to another variable, e.g. of liquid fuel for an engine
- G01F9/001—Measuring volume flow relative to another variable, e.g. of liquid fuel for an engine with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/023—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems
- B60R16/0231—Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle
- B60R16/0236—Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle for economical driving
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
- Y02T10/84—Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Combined Controls Of Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
Abstract
A device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle comprises fuel flow measuring means operative to generate a fuel signal indicative of the volume of fuel used in a predetermined time interval, GPS tracker means operative to generate a vehicle position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval, and control means comprising storage means operative to generate a claimed fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed fuel economy. The control means further comprises processing means operative to process the fuel signal and the vehicle position signal to generate a vehicle fuel economy signal and to subsequently generate an output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal.
Description
A DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE FUEL CONSUMPTION OF A
VEHICLE
The present invention relates to a device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle.
It is desirable to be able to account for how a vehicle is used when calculating a vehicle insurance premium. One of the ways that a vehicle's use can be determined is by reference to the vehicle fuel consumption and, more specifically, by reference to the vehicle fuel consumption as compared to the fuel consumption of other vehicle(s) and/or to the vehicle fuel economy as stated by the vehicle manufacturer.
However, it has proven difficult to accurately and reliably calculate the fuel consumption.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle, the device comprising fuel flow measuring means operative to generate a fuel signal indicative of the volume of fuel used in a predetermined time interval, GPS tracker means operative to generate a vehicle position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval, and control means comprising storage means operative to generate a claimed fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed fuel economy, the control means further comprising processing means operative to process the fuel signal and the vehicle position signal to generate a vehicle fuel economy signal and to subsequently generate an output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal.
The controi means may comprise storage means operative to generate an average fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the fuel economy achieved by other vehicle drivers.
Preferably the control means comprises microprocessor means.
Preferably the control means is operative after a predetermined number of time intervals, to write a unit of multiple output signals generated to the storage means.
Preferably the device further comprises data transmission means operative to transfer the output signal from the device to an external receiver.
Preferably the data transmission means is operative to simultaneously transfer a unit of output signals.
Preferably the data transmission means is operative to transfer the unit of output signals with an identifier identifying the unit.
Preferably the data transmission means comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit the output signal(s) via a mobile telecommunications network.
Preferably the device comprises a power source, and charging means operative to charge the power source from a vehicle power supply.
Preferably the device comprise input means operative to enable a user to input data indicative of the claimed vehicle fuel economy onto the storage means.
Preferably the device comprises probe means operative to probe the vehicle ignition system to generate an ignition signal indicative of whether or not the vehicle is being used, the control means being activated when the ignition signal is indicative that the vehicle is being used.
Preferably the control means is operative to control the storage means to store multiple units of output signals should the transmission means be unable to transmit a given unit or units to the external receiver.
Preferably the control means is operative to generate a secondary output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal, and a signal generated from data stored on the storage means indicative of a claimed fuel economy of another vehicle.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a system for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle, the system comprising fuel flow measuring means operative to generate a fuel signal indicative of the volume of fuel used in a predetermined time interval, GPS tracker means operative to generate a vehicle position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval, and data transfer means operative to transmit the fuel signal and the vehicle fuel position signal to control means remote from the vehicle, the control means comprising storage means operative to generate a claimed fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed fuel economy, the control means further comprising processing means operative to process the fuel signal and the vehicle position signal to generate a vehicle fuel economy signal and to subsequently generate an output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal.
Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.
The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which comprises a flow diagram of the operation of a device in accordance with the present invention.
A device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle comprises fuel flow measuring means comprising, in this example, a fuel flow meter, GPS tracker means and a housing containing control means operative to control the fuel flow meter and the GPS tracker means.
The fuel flow meter comprises, in this example, a digital flow meter operative to generate square wave pulses for a given volume of fuel flowing through the filter. The fuel flow meter is operative to generate a fuel signal to be received by the control means indicative of the fuel used in a predetermined time interval which may be, for example, two seconds.
The GPS tracker means comprises GPS circuitry contained within the housing connected to a GPS antenna via coaxial cable for example. The antenna is preferably mounted away from the line of vision of the vehicle driver such as in the rear window of the vehicle for example. The GPS tracker means is operative to generate a position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval.
The housing is as flat and compact as possible and comprises mounting means such as screw holes or brackets to enable the housing to be mounted in a suitable, secure, dry region of a vehicle, such as the luggage space of the vehicle for example. The housing is assembled so as to be tamper resistant and in particular to minimise the possibility of the internal components in the housing being accessed by an unauthorised person.
The housing contains a power source comprising a rechargeable battery and a charger connected to the electrical system of the vehicle in order to charge the rechargeable battery when the vehicle is running. The rechargeable battery provides power to the device in the event the vehicle battery runs flat. The control means located in the housing comprises a microprocessor, hard storage memory device and a data transmitter.
The microprocessor controls a vehicle ignition probe operative to probe the vehicle ignition system, preferably one of the vehicle ignition electrical lines, to generate an ignition signal indicative that the vehicle ignition is on. On receipt of such a signal, the control means activates the fuel flow meter and the GPS tracker.
The microprocessor also comprises a system clock from which the microprocessor can record the desired predetermined time interval.
The control means further comprises data input means which enable the installer of the device to input data onto the hard storage memory device to enable the hard storage memory device to generate a claimed fuel economy signal indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed vehicle fuel consumption. The data input may be indicative of the vehicle's urban, extra urban or combined fuel cycles. Programming logic on the device's hard storage memory enables the real time selection of one of these cycles.
The data input means may comprise a manual input device such as a keypad or dial, but preferably comprises means to connect the microprocessor to an electronic input device, said means comprising, for example, an internal USB port, or wireless receiver/transmitter.
The data input means enables the installer of the device to input data onto the hard storage memory device. The data input may include data indicative of the average fuel economy achieved by other drivers of similar vehicles. The data may be input on a regular basis such as quarterly for example.
In use of the device, the control means monitors the fuel usage of the vehicle at all times by receiving fuel signals from the fuel flow meter.
When the control means also receives an ignition on' signal from the ignition probe, the control means is then operative to measure the fuel used over a predetermined time interval and to store data indicative of the fuel used per interval on to its RAM. Simultaneously the control means also activates and receives a distance signal from the GPS device indicative of the distance the vehicle has travelled in the predetermined time interval. The microprocessor then processes the fuel signal and the distance according to an algorithm which generates a vehicle fuel economy signal indicative of the vehicle fuel consumption for that time interval.
If the control means continues to receive an ignition on' signal from the ignition probe then further vehicle fuel economy signals are generated for each predetermined time interval.
The microprocessor is operative to generate an output signal for each predetermined time interval, the output signal being calculated from the difference between the vehicle fuel consumption signal, and a claimed fuel economy signal from the hard storage device indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed fuel consumption. The output signal is thus indicative of whether or not the vehicle is being driven in a fuel economical manner.
The microprocessor is operative to store successive output signals in its RAM until a unit of a predetermined number of output signals has been stored. The microprocessor is then operative to transfer the unit of output signals to the hard memory storage device. Each unit is transferred with data indicative of the time of transfer.
At a prescribed time, which may be during the night in order to take advantage of reduced mobile telephone network charges, the microprocessor, hard memory storage device, and data transfer means are operative to transmit the units of output signals stored on the storage device for that day to an external receiver. If no data has been stored that day, then a signal is transmitted indicative of this, for example, a single line of zeros.
If the data cannot be transferred, for example, if there is no signal available from the mobile network, then the units for that day are stored and identified in a file on the hard storage memory device for attempted transfer to the mobile network the next day.
The external receiver may comprise a remote server that itself comprises a processor. The processor may be operative to recalculate, adjust or recalibrate the output signal(s) received from the device as required.
For example, it is envisaged that the output signal from the device may be indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and a standardised claimed fuel economy signal that is indicative of, but not necessarily exactly the same as, the claimed fuel economy of the specific vehicle concerned. The processor on the remote server may then process the output signal(s) to account for any difference between the manufacturer's claimed fuel economy signal for the specific vehicle concerned and the standardised claimed fuel economy signal stored on the device on the vehicle. In this way it is possible to produce a generic device for mounting on any vehicle on which is stored a standardised claimed fuel economy signal not specific to the particular vehicle concerned. Data relating to the specific fuel economy of the particular vehicle in question can then be stored and updated as necessary on the remote server rather than on the vehicle device.
To prevent fraud the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the vehicle's ABI code can be hard coded into the device. The VIN is a number unique to the vehicle concerned whilst the ABI code is only unique to the make, model and type of vehicle.
The device is also operative in a vehicle immobilization mode wherein a device owner can send an SMS from their phone to the device. The microprocessor is then operative to stop fuel flowing though the flow meter if the device is stationary for longer than a specified time period such as five minutes for example. The device is programmed so it can only receive an immobilisation message from pre-registered mobile numbers stored inside the device's hard storage memory.
The above-described device may be used in any vehicle including, for example, a car, van, truck, motorcycle, motor home, boat or bus.
It is envisaged that the device need not require a fuel flow meter to be mounted in the vehicle fuel line. Instead the fuel signal could be generated from fuel flow measuring means comprising the electronic vehicle management system (sometimes referred to as the vehicle closed area network or vehicle CAN). For example, the fuel signal could be generated from data relating to the fuel injector pulse widths, this data being generated as part of the normal operation of the vehicle in any event.
It is also envisaged that the control means could be remote from the vehicle, the output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal thus being calculated remote from the vehicle once the fuel signal and vehicle position signal have been transmitted from the device to the remote control means. I0
Claims (15)
1. A device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle, the device comprising fuel flow measuring means operative to generate a fuel signal indicative of the volume of fuel used in a predetermined time interval, GPS tracker means operative to generate a vehicle position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval, and control means comprising storage means operative to generate a claimed fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the vehicle manufacturers claimed fuel economy, the control means further comprising processing means operative to process the fuel signal and the vehicle position signal to generate a vehicle fuel economy signal and to subsequently generate an output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the control means comprises storage means operative to generate an average fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the fuel economy achieved by other vehicle drivers.
3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the control means comprises microprocessor means.
4. The device of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the control means is operative, after a predetermined number of time intervals, to write a unit of multiple output signals generated to the storage means.
5. The device of any one of the previous claims further comprising data transmission means operative to transfer the output signal from the device to an external receiver.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the data transmission means is operative to simultaneously transfer a unit of output signals.
7. The device of claim 6 wherein the data transmission means is operative to transfer the unit of output signals with an identifier identifying the unit.
8. The device of any one of claims 5 to 7 wherein the data transmission means comprises a transmitter adapted to transmit the output signal(s) via a mobile telecommunications network.
9. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the device comprises a power source, and charging means operative to charge the power source from a vehicle power supply.
10. The device of any one of the preceding claims further comprising input means operative to enable a user to input data indicative of the claimed vehicle fuel economy onto the storage means.
11. The device of any one of the preceding claims further comprising probe means operative to probe the vehicle ignition system to generate an ignition signal indicative of whether or not the vehicle is being used, the control means being activated when the ignition signal is indicative that the vehicle is being used.
12. The device of any one of claims 5 to 11 wherein the control means is operative to control the storage means to store multiple units of output signals should the data transmission means be unable to transmit a given unit or units to the external receiver.
13. The device of any one of the preceding claims wherein the control means is operative to generate a secondary output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal, and a signal generated from data stored on the storage means indicative of a claimed fuel economy of another vehicle.
14. A system for measuring the fuel Consumption of a vehicle, the system Comprising fuel flow measuring means operative to generate a fuel signal indicative of the volume of fuel used in a predetermined time interval, GPS tracker means operative to generate a vehicle position signal indicative of the distance travelled by the vehicle in the predetermined time interval, and data transfer means operative to transmit the fuel signal and the vehicle fuel position signal to control means remote from the vehicle, the control means comprising storage means operative to generate a claimed fuel economy signal from data stored on the storage means indicative of the vehicle manufacturer's claimed fuel economy, the control means further comprising processing means operative to process the fuel signal and the vehicle position signal to generate a vehicle fuel economy signal and to subsequently generate an output signal indicative of the difference between the vehicle fuel economy signal and the claimed fuel economy signal.
15. A device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle, substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0707566.6A GB0707566D0 (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2007-04-19 | A Device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0806967D0 GB0806967D0 (en) | 2008-05-21 |
| GB2448601A true GB2448601A (en) | 2008-10-22 |
| GB2448601B GB2448601B (en) | 2012-10-10 |
Family
ID=38135068
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0707566.6A Ceased GB0707566D0 (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2007-04-19 | A Device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle |
| GB0806967.6A Active GB2448601B (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2008-04-17 | A device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB0707566.6A Ceased GB0707566D0 (en) | 2007-04-19 | 2007-04-19 | A Device for measuring the fuel consumption of a vehicle |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2008201733A1 (en) |
| GB (2) | GB0707566D0 (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009077159A1 (en) * | 2007-12-14 | 2009-06-25 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Vehicle interfaces |
| WO2010073111A1 (en) * | 2008-12-25 | 2010-07-01 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Diagnostic system and diagnostic method for vehicle |
| US20130158898A1 (en) * | 2010-08-31 | 2013-06-20 | Pioneer Corporation | Mobile-object information acquiring apparatus, mobile-object information acquiring method, mobile-object information acquiring program, and recording medium |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5913917A (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-06-22 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Fuel consumption estimation |
| US20030163249A1 (en) * | 2002-02-26 | 2003-08-28 | Michael Kapolka | System for remote monitoring of a vehicle and method of determining vehicle mileage, jurisdiction crossing and fuel consumption |
| EP1760666A1 (en) * | 2005-08-24 | 2007-03-07 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC. | Fuel use categorization for fuel tax reporting on commercial vehicles |
-
2007
- 2007-04-19 GB GBGB0707566.6A patent/GB0707566D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2008
- 2008-04-17 GB GB0806967.6A patent/GB2448601B/en active Active
- 2008-04-18 AU AU2008201733A patent/AU2008201733A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5913917A (en) * | 1997-08-04 | 1999-06-22 | Trimble Navigation Limited | Fuel consumption estimation |
| US20030163249A1 (en) * | 2002-02-26 | 2003-08-28 | Michael Kapolka | System for remote monitoring of a vehicle and method of determining vehicle mileage, jurisdiction crossing and fuel consumption |
| EP1760666A1 (en) * | 2005-08-24 | 2007-03-07 | International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC. | Fuel use categorization for fuel tax reporting on commercial vehicles |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009077159A1 (en) * | 2007-12-14 | 2009-06-25 | Johnson Controls Technology Company | Vehicle interfaces |
| WO2010073111A1 (en) * | 2008-12-25 | 2010-07-01 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Diagnostic system and diagnostic method for vehicle |
| US8489272B2 (en) | 2008-12-25 | 2013-07-16 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Diagnostic system and diagnostic method for vehicle |
| US20130158898A1 (en) * | 2010-08-31 | 2013-06-20 | Pioneer Corporation | Mobile-object information acquiring apparatus, mobile-object information acquiring method, mobile-object information acquiring program, and recording medium |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2008201733A1 (en) | 2008-11-06 |
| GB0707566D0 (en) | 2007-05-30 |
| GB0806967D0 (en) | 2008-05-21 |
| GB2448601B (en) | 2012-10-10 |
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| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) |
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