Control system, vehicle and method
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the apparatus configured to:
- detect a signal from a portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle;
after detecting the signal, determine whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery; and
in response to detecting the signal from the portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle;
generate an audible sonic signature in response to determining that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, andgenerate a second connected state audible sonic signature when the result of the determination is that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility if the at least one battery has a state of charge that is less than a prescribed state of charge.
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Abstract
An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and energy storage means for powering the motor, the apparatus being operable to generate an audible sonic signature in dependence on a result of a determination whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the energy storage means.
8 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the apparatus configured to:
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detect a signal from a portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle; after detecting the signal, determine whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery; and in response to detecting the signal from the portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle; generate an audible sonic signature in response to determining that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, and generate a second connected state audible sonic signature when the result of the determination is that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility if the at least one battery has a state of charge that is less than a prescribed state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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13. A method of providing feedback to a user of a motor vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the method comprising:
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detecting a signal from a portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle; after detecting the signal, determining whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery; and in response to detecting the signal from the portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle, generating an audible sonic signature in response to determining that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, and generating a second connected state audible sonic signature when the result of the determination is that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility if the at least one battery has a state of charge that is less than a prescribed state of charge. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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16. An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the apparatus configured to:
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at a first time, perform a first determination of whether a request has been received to unlock the vehicle, the request comprising a signal from a portable user identification device to unlock the vehicle; at a second time after the first time, perform a second determination to determine whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery; at a third time after the second time, generate an audible sonic signature if both a request to unlock the vehicle has been received and the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, while the vehicle continues to be at least one of connected to the charging facility or connected to the charging facility and charging, at least between the first time and the third time; and at the third time, generate a second connected state audible sonic signature if both a request to unlock the vehicle has been received and the vehicle is connected to the charging facility and if the at least one battery has a state of charge that is less than a prescribed state of charge, wherein the audible sonic signature is not generated if a request to unlock the vehicle has not been received regardless of whether the vehicle is connected or disconnected from the charging facility, and wherein the audible sonic signature is not generated if the vehicle is not connected to the charging facility even if a request to unlock the vehicle has been received. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification