Grill shutter operation

• US 10,011,165 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/367,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20180154763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 11/085 with adjustable shutters or blinds
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

A first vehicle instructs a second vehicle to move a grill shutter to a specified position. An image of the grill shutter is captured. Whether the grill shutter is in the specified position is determined based at least in part on the image. The second vehicle is messaged indicating a malfunction when the grill shutter is not in the specified position.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer programmed to:

from a first vehicle, instruct a second vehicle to move a grill shutter to a specified position;

capture an image of the grill shutter;

determine whether the grill shutter is in the specified position based at least in part on the image; and

message the second vehicle indicating a malfunction when the grill shutter is not in the specified position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the specified position is an open ion.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a temperature of the grill shutter based at least in part on the image, and to message the second vehicle indicating the malfunction when the temperature of the grill shutter is within a predetermined threshold of an ambient air temperature.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the computer is further programmed to instruct the second vehicle to determine whether occupants are present in the second vehicle and to actuate a climate control subsystem when no occupants are present in the second vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the specified position is a closed position.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine a temperature of the grill shutter based at least in part on the image, and to message the second vehicle indicating the malfunction when the temperature of the grill shutter is above a predetermined threshold of an ambient air temperature.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to compare the image of the grill shutter to a stored image of another grill shutter in the specified position and to determine whether the grill shutter is in the specified position.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to capture the image with a rearview camera.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to instruct a grill shutter sensor of the second vehicle to determine whether the grill shutter is in the specified position, and to message the second vehicle indicating a malfunction in the grill shutter sensor when the determination by the grill shutter sensor differs from the determination based on the image.

10. A method, comprising:

from a first vehicle, instructing a second vehicle to move a grill shutter to a specified position;

capturing an image of the grill shutter;

determining whether the grill shutter is in the specified position based at least in part on the image; and

messaging the second vehicle indicating a malfunction when the grill shutter is not in the specified position.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the specified position is an open position.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a temperature of the grill shutter based at least in part on the image, and messaging the second vehicle indicating the malfunction when the temperature of the grill shutter is within a predetermined threshold of an ambient air temperature.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising instructing the second vehicle to determine whether occupants are present in the second vehicle and actuating a climate control subsystem when no occupants are present in the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the specified position is a closed position.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising determining a temperature of the grill shutter based at least in part on the image, and messaging the second vehicle indicating the malfunction when the temperature of the grill shutter is above a predetermined threshold of an ambient air temperature.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the image of the grill shutter to a stored image of another grill shutter in the specified position and determining whether the grill shutter is in the specified position.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising instructing a grill shutter sensor to determine whether the grill shutter is in the specified position, and messaging the second vehicle indicating a malfunction in the grill shutter sensor when the determination by the grill shutter sensor differs from the determination based on the image.

18. A system, comprising a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:

receive instructions from a first vehicle to move an active grill shutter of a second vehicle to a specified position;

move the active grill shutter to the specified position; and

receive a message indicating whether the active grill shutter is malfunctioning;

identify a repair location; and

actuate one or more vehicle subsystems to move the second vehicle to the repair location.