System and method for improved battery pre-charge and deactivation timing in traffic
First Claim
1. A system for managing energy efficiency of a vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, and a battery, the system comprising:
- a GPS unit configured to detect a current location of the vehicle;
a network access device configured to receive traffic data from a remote data server, the traffic data including locations and vehicle speeds at the locations;
a navigation unit connected to the GPS unit and configured to determine a route to a destination and determine whether a slowdown in vehicle speed is upcoming along the route based on the traffic data;
a speed sensor configured to detect a current speed of the vehicle;
a battery sensor configured to detect a current state of charge of the battery; and
an electronic control unit connected to the navigation unit, the speed sensor, and the battery sensor, the electronic control unit configured to;
activate a pre-charge mode when the navigation unit detects an upcoming slowdown in vehicle speed based on the traffic data, the pre-charge mode causing the engine to charge the battery via the motor/generator, anddeactivate the pre-charge mode to prevent charging of the battery by the engine when the detected current speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold for a set period of time or distance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, systems, and apparatus for managing energy efficiency of a vehicle. The system includes a GPS unit configured to detect a current location of the vehicle. The system includes a network access device configured to receive traffic data. The system includes a navigation unit configured to determine whether traffic is upcoming along a route based on the traffic data. The system includes a speed sensor configured to detect a current speed of the vehicle. The system includes an electronic control unit configured to activate a pre-charge mode when the upcoming slowdown in vehicle speed is determined, the pre-charge mode causing the engine to charge the battery via the motor/generator. The electronic control unit is configured to deactivate the pre-charge mode to prevent charging of the battery by the engine when the detected current speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold for a set period of time or distance.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing energy efficiency of a vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, and a battery, the system comprising:
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a GPS unit configured to detect a current location of the vehicle; a network access device configured to receive traffic data from a remote data server, the traffic data including locations and vehicle speeds at the locations; a navigation unit connected to the GPS unit and configured to determine a route to a destination and determine whether a slowdown in vehicle speed is upcoming along the route based on the traffic data; a speed sensor configured to detect a current speed of the vehicle; a battery sensor configured to detect a current state of charge of the battery; and an electronic control unit connected to the navigation unit, the speed sensor, and the battery sensor, the electronic control unit configured to; activate a pre-charge mode when the navigation unit detects an upcoming slowdown in vehicle speed based on the traffic data, the pre-charge mode causing the engine to charge the battery via the motor/generator, and deactivate the pre-charge mode to prevent charging of the battery by the engine when the detected current speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold for a set period of time or distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, and a battery, the hybrid vehicle comprising:
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a GPS unit configured to detect a current location; a network access device configured to receive traffic data from a remote data server, the traffic data including locations and vehicle speeds at the locations; a navigation unit connected to the GPS unit and configured to determine a route to a destination and determine whether a slowdown in vehicle speed is upcoming along the route based on the traffic data; a speed sensor configured to detect a current speed; a battery sensor configured to detect a current state of charge of the battery; and an electronic control unit connected to the navigation unit, the speed sensor, and the battery sensor, the electronic control unit configured to; activate a pre-charge mode when the navigation unit detects an upcoming slowdown in vehicle speed, the pre-charge mode causing the engine to charge the battery via the motor/generator, and deactivate the pre-charge mode to prevent charging of the battery by the engine when the detected current speed is below a speed threshold for a set period of time or distance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for managing energy efficiency of a vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, and a battery, the method comprising:
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detecting, by a GPS unit, a current location of the vehicle; receiving, by a network access device, traffic data from a remote data server, the traffic data including locations and vehicle speeds at the locations; determining, by a navigation unit connected to the GPS unit, a route to a destination and determine whether a slowdown in vehicle speed is upcoming along the route based on the traffic data; detecting, by a speed sensor, a current speed of the vehicle; detecting, by a battery sensor, a current state of charge of the battery; activating, by an electronic control unit, a pre-charge mode when the upcoming slowdown in vehicle speed is determined by the navigation unit, the pre-charge mode causing the engine to charge the battery via the motor/generator; and deactivating, by the electronic control unit, the pre-charge mode to prevent charging of the battery by the engine when the detected current speed of the vehicle is below a speed threshold for a set period of time or distance. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification