Electronic system and method for calculating distance to empty for motorized vehicles

Claim 1

A method for calculating the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. calculating a first value equal to an average of the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed; b. calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of field remaining; c. comparing said intermediate distance to empty value to a stored distance to empty value and developing an error signal therefrom; d. generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation and responsive thereto; correcting said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow only decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a first state, and correcting said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow both incrementing and decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a second state; wherein the corrected value of said distance to empty value is allowed only to decrement when said first type signal is in said first state and is allowed to both increment and decrement in said second state.

Claim 2

A method for calculating the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. calculating a first value equal to an average of the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed; b. calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of field remaining; c. comparing said intermediate distance to empty value to a stored distance to empty value and developing an error signal therefrom; d. generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation and responsive thereto; correcting said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow only decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a first state, and correcting said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow both incrementing and decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a second state; wherein the corrected value of said distance to empty value is allowed only to decrement when said first type signal is in said first state and is allowed to both increment and decrement in said second state.

Claim 9

A method for calculating the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. calculating a first value equal to the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed by the motor vehicle; b. generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation and responsive thereto; updating the calculating of said first value as a function of the distance traveled by the vehicle and as a function of fuel consumed if said first type signal is in a first state, and updating the calculating of said first value as a function of time if said first type signal is in a second state, c. calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of fuel remaining; d. displaying the distance to empty value representative of said intermediate distance to empty value; wherein the displayed distance to empty value is updated responsive to distance traveled and fuel used when said type signal is in said first state and is updated responsive to time when said type signal is in said second state.

Claim 10

A method for calculating the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle, comprising the steps of: a. calculating a first value equal to the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed by the motor vehicle; b. generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation and responsive thereto; updating the calculating of said first value as a function of the distance traveled by the vehicle and as a function of fuel consumed if said first type signal is in a first state, and updating the calculating of said first value as a function of time if said first type signal is in a second state, c. calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of fuel remaining; d. displaying the distance to empty value representative of said intermediate distance to empty value; wherein the displayed distance to empty value is updated responsive to distance traveled and fuel used when said type signal is in said first state and is updated responsive to time when said type signal is in said second state.

Claim 16

A system for displaying the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle as a function of signals representing distance traveled, fuel consumed and fuel remaining, comprising in combination: first means or calculating a first value equal to an average of the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed; second means for calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of fuel remaining; third means for comparing said intermediate distance to empty value to a stored distance to empty value and developing an error signal therefrom; fourth means for generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation; with said second means being operatively coupled to said first, third and fourth means, and further including, means for updating said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow only decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a first state, and means for updating said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow both incrementing and decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a second state; and fifth means, operatively coupled to said second means, for displaying a distance to empty value representative of the updated value of said intermediate distance to empty value; wherein said updated value of said distance to empty value displayed is allowed only to decrement when said first type signal is in said first state and is allowed to both increment and decrement when said first type signal is in said second state.

Claim 17

A system for displaying the distance to empty available from the remaining fuel in a motor driven vehicle as a function of signals representing distance traveled, fuel consumed and fuel remaining, comprising in combination: first means or calculating a first value equal to an average of the distance traveled per unit of fuel consumed; second means for calculating an intermediate distance to empty value by multiplying said first value by the quantity of fuel remaining; third means for comparing said intermediate distance to empty value to a stored distance to empty value and developing an error signal therefrom; fourth means for generating a first type signal indicative of the intended mode of operation; with said second means being operatively coupled to said first, third and fourth means, and further including, means for updating said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow only decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a first state, and means for updating said intermediate distance to empty value with said error signal to allow both incrementing and decrementing of the value if said first type signal is in a second state; and fifth means, operatively coupled to said second means, for displaying a distance to empty value representative of the updated value of said intermediate distance to empty value; wherein said updated value of said distance to empty value displayed is allowed only to decrement when said first type signal is in said first state and is allowed to both increment and decrement when said first type signal is in said second state.