Device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle

Abstract

Device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle consisting of at least the following: a first means of processing a signal; a second means of detecting the vehicle movement; a means for providing an HMI type of interactive display of information for the user, and a means configured for knowing the consumption characteristics of the vehicle and its technical characteristics as far as optimum theoretical behaviour; where the means for processing are configured for calculating the optimum consumption according to the characteristics of the vehicle, establishing the driving parameters required for equating the actual consumption to the optimum consumption, displaying this information to the user in the means available for display.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle arranged to the evaluation of the risks comprising:
 a global positioning system including road signs;   a first database wherein the technical characteristics of the vehicle are listed;   a display;   a second database containing the legal rules of driving; and   wherein the device comprises a processor arranged to calculate a level of risk as a function of:   the location and/or speed of the vehicle received from the global positioning system;   the technical specification of a vehicle selected from the first database;   the legal driving regulation from the second database.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the first database includes weights, number of cylinders, engine position, cubic centimeters, diameter stroke, valves per cylinder, type of engine fuel supply, HP/RPM, Torque (Nm)/RPM, type of traction, gearbox, miles per gallon in urban, off road and mixed driving, CO 2  emissions, suspensions and brakes. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the display comprises a HMI interface including a selector of a vehicle from the database in which the device is used. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the processor is arranged to show the level of risk in the display including: a recommendation to prevent that risk; and a warning of the legal consequences associated to that risk; said warning being stored in the second database. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the global positioning system is GPS type; said global positioning system further configured to lay out a route that are also configured to provide information of a route layout, the type of road, the position of the vehicle in the route and the orography of that route. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 16  which includes a communications emitter-receiver element that is configured for:
 (a) sending generated risky situations to another nearby device and/or an external server with the identification of the user; 
 (b) receive data from other devices and/or an external server in accordance with the location of the device, wherein said data includes the weather data and the forecast as well as the data relative to traffic; and 
 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a recommendation regarding the risk associated with driving according with the received data. 
 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 16  wherein said device is connected with a plurality of detectors for detecting the relative location of two vehicles and provides the user with an objective location in order to take advantage of inertia; and wherein said data is able to be shared with a vehicle automatic transmission in order to change the vehicle gear according to the distance and behavior of the vehicle that is located nearby. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 16  comprising an accelerometer. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the processor is further configured to determine a non-driving position; and
 if it is established a non-driving position, the device is configured to display external information of the type that requires the attention and/or reading on the part of the user, and 
 if it is not established a non-driving position, the device is configured to store incoming messages in a buffer. 
 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the information is provided by means of a code of colours and/or large numbers in a way that the user without directly looking, can clearly interpret the recommendations provided by the device. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the processing means are configured for calculating the estimated safety distance with respect to other devices, displaying this safety distance in the display. 
     
     
         27 . A device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle arranged to the evaluation of the risks comprising:
 a global positioning system including road signs;   a first database wherein the technical characteristics of the vehicle are listed;   a display;   a second database containing the legal rules of driving; and   wherein the device comprises a processor arranged to calculate a level of risk as a function of an excessive acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the first database includes weights, number of cylinders, engine position, cubic centimeters, diameter stroke, valves per cylinder, type of engine fuel supply, HP/RPM, Torque (Nm)/RPM, type of traction, gearbox, miles per gallon in urban, off road and mixed driving, CO 2  emissions, suspensions and brakes. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the display comprises a HMI interface including a selector of a vehicle from the database in which the device is used. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the processor is arranged to show the level of risk in the display including: a recommendation to prevent that risk; and a warning of the legal consequences associated to that risk; said warning being stored in the second database. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the global positioning system is GPS type; said global positioning system further configured to lay out a route that are also configured to provide information of a route layout, the type of road, the position of the vehicle in the route and the orography of that route. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 27  which includes a communications emitter-receiver element that is configured for:
 (a) sending generated risky situations to another nearby device and/or an external server with the identification of the user; 
 (b) receive data from other devices and/or an external server in accordance with the location of the device, wherein said data includes the weather data and the forecast as well as the data relative to traffic; and 
 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a recommendation regarding the risk associated with driving according with the received data. 
 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the processor is further configured to:
 calculate the average time in which a vehicle is in acceleration or deceleration taking into account the radius of each one of the vehicle's gears and an efficient speed; 
 check the speed at different moments of a route to calculate the acceleration; 
 establish if the vehicle has accelerated or decelerated abruptly; and 
 provide a graphic and/or aural warning when the vehicle has accelerated or decelerated abruptly. 
 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 27  wherein said device is connected with a plurality of detectors for detecting the relative location of two vehicles and provides the user with an objective location in order to take advantage of inertia; and wherein said data is able to be shared with a vehicle automatic transmission in order to change the vehicle gear according to the distance and behavior of the vehicle that is located nearby. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 27  comprising an accelerometer. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the processor is further configured to determine a non-driving position; and
 if it is established a non-driving position, the device is configured to display external information of the type that requires the attention and/or reading on the part of the user; and 
 if it is not established a non-driving position, the device is configured to store incoming messages in a buffer. 
 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the information is provided by means of a code of colours and/or large numbers in a way that the user without directly looking, can clearly interpret the recommendations provided by the device. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 27  wherein the processing means are configured for calculating the estimated safety distance with respect to other devices, displaying this safety distance in the display screen. 
     
     
         39 . A device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle arranged to the evaluation of the risks comprising:
 a global positioning system including road signs;   a first database wherein the technical characteristics of the vehicle are listed;   a display;   a second database containing the legal rules of driving; and
 wherein the device comprises a processor arranged to calculate an anticipation distance as a function of the speed of the own vehicle; the variations in inertia of the own vehicle; and the engine resistance that represents the deceleration of the own vehicle without stepping on the brake extracted from the technical specification of a vehicle selected from the first database. 
   
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the first database includes weights, number of cylinders, engine position, cubic centimeters, diameter stroke, valves per cylinder, type of engine fuel supply, HP/RPM, Torque (Nm)/RPM, type of traction, gearbox, miles per gallon in urban, off road and mixed driving, CO 2  emissions, suspensions and brakes. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the display comprises a HMI interface including a selector of a vehicle from the database in which the device is used. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the processor is arranged to show the anticipation distance. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the global positioning system is GPS type; said global positioning system further configured to lay out a route that are also configured to provide information of a route layout, the type of road, the position of the vehicle in the route and the orography of that route. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 39  which includes a communications emitter-receiver element that is configured for
 (a) sending data to another nearby device and/or an external server with the identification of the user; 
 (b) receive data from other devices and/or an external server in accordance with the location of the device, wherein said data includes the weather data and the forecast as well as the data relative to traffic; and 
 wherein the processor is further configured to generate a recommendation regarding the risk associated with driving according with the received data. 
 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 39  wherein said device is connected with a plurality of detectors for detecting the relative location of two vehicles and provides the user with an objective location in order to take advantage of inertia; and wherein said data is able to be shared with a vehicle automatic transmission in order to change the vehicle gear according to the distance and behavior of the vehicle that is located nearby. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 39  comprising an accelerometer. 
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the processor is further configured to determine a non-driving position; and
 if it is established a non-driving position, the device is configured to display external information of the type that requires the attention and/or reading on the part of the user; and 
 if it is not established a non-driving position, the device is configured to store incoming messages in a buffer. 
 
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the information is provided by means of a code of colours and/or large numbers in a way that the user without directly looking, can clearly interpret the recommendations provided by the device. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 39  wherein the processing means are configured for calculating the estimated safety distance with respect to other devices, displaying this safety distance in the display. 
     
     
         50 . A device for monitoring the process of driving a vehicle comprising:
 a global positioning system;   a first database wherein the technical characteristics of the vehicle are listed;   a display;
 wherein the device comprises a processor arranged to calculate the economic expenditure associated with a route; said economic expenditure comprising an estimated expenditure at the beginning of the route and an accumulated expenditure of the route at the end of that route; and wherein the expenditure is calculated in accordance with the route, the theoretical optimum consumption for that route for a vehicle; and instantaneously as accumulated in real time. 
   
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50  further including: (a) a form that automatically appears in the display when the global positioning system detects a cost location that was previously stored in a data storage device; (b) a camera or scanner; and (c) a combination of the above. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the first database includes weights, number of cylinders, engine position, cubic centimeters, diameter stroke, valves per cylinder, type of engine fuel supply, HP/RPM, Torque (Nm)/RPM, type of traction, gearbox, miles per gallon in urban, off road and mixed driving, CO 2  emissions, suspensions and brakes. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the display comprises a HMI interface including a selector of a vehicle from the database in which the device is used. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 50  wherein the global positioning system is GPS type; said global positioning system further configured to lay out a route that are also configured to provide information of a route layout, the type of road, the position of the vehicle in the route and the orography of that route. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 50  wherein includes a communications emitter-receiver element that is configured for
 (a) sending data to another nearby device and/or an external server with the identification of the user; 
 (b) receive data from other devices and/or an external server in accordance with the location of the device.