Driver initiated remote engine start for vehicle preconditioning having battery charge maintenance priority

• US 10,167,836 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Holub, Patrick Kevin, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US15/702,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003142A1
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 320109
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/306 with external senders or receivers, e.g. receiving signals from traffic lights, other vehicles or base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/382 Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1438 in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/002 in which a reserve is maintained in an energy source by disconnecting non-critical loads, e.g. maintaining a reserve of charge in a vehicle battery for starting an engine

Abstract

A method includes remotely starting an engine of a vehicle in response to a command, from a remote user of the vehicle, to start the engine for preconditioning the vehicle. The method assesses a charge level of a battery of the vehicle following engine start and adjusts engine-on time and vehicle settings to prioritize battery charge maintenance versus preconditioning based on the charge level. Another method for remotely starting the engine includes notifying, from the vehicle, the user that the battery has a charge level below a predetermined threshold. This method includes remotely starting the engine to charge the battery with energy from the engine upon receiving from the user a confirmation to start the engine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

remotely starting an engine of a vehicle;

adjusting apportionment of battery charging versus vehicle preconditioning based on a charge level of a battery of the vehicle; and

charging the battery with energy from the engine apportioned for battery charging and preconditioning the vehicle with energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

adjusting apportionment occurs over time such that the energy from the engine apportioned for battery charging decreases as the charge level of the battery rises and the energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning increases as the charge level of the battery rises.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

charging the battery with energy from the engine ceases upon the charge level of the battery rising to a predetermined threshold and preconditioning the vehicle with energy from the engine includes using all the energy from the engine upon the charge level of the battery rising to the predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

adjusting apportionment includes adjusting engine-on time and vehicle settings to prioritize battery charging versus vehicle preconditioning based on the charge level of the battery.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

remotely starting the engine occurs in response to a command, from a remote user of the vehicle, for preconditioning the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

assessing the charge level of the battery following engine start.

7. A method for remotely starting an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

remotely starting the engine in response to a command, from a remote user of the vehicle, for preconditioning the vehicle;

assessing a charge level of a battery of the vehicle following engine start;

adjusting apportionment of battery charge maintenance versus vehicle preconditioning based on the charge level of the battery; and

charging the battery with energy from the engine apportioned for battery charge maintenance, and preconditioning the vehicle with energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

adjusting apportionment occurs over time such that energy from the engine apportioned for charging the battery decreases as the charge level of the battery rises and the energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning increases as the charge level of the battery rises.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

charging the battery with energy from the engine ceases upon the charge level of the battery rising to a predetermined threshold and preconditioning the vehicle with energy from the engine includes using all the energy from the engine upon the charge level of the battery rising up to the predetermined threshold.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein:

adjusting apportionment includes adjusting engine-on time and vehicle settings to prioritize battery charge maintenance versus vehicle preconditioning based on the charge level of the battery.

11. A system comprising:

a controller configured to remotely start an engine of a vehicle, adjust an apportionment of battery charging versus vehicle preconditioning based on a charge level of a battery of the vehicle, and charge the battery with energy from the engine apportioned for battery charging and preconditioning the vehicle with energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to adjust apportionment over time such that the energy from the engine apportioned for battery charging decreases as the charge level of the battery rises and the energy from the engine apportioned for vehicle preconditioning increases as the charge level of the battery rises.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to cease charging the battery with energy from the engine upon the charge level of the battery rising to a predetermined threshold and to precondition the vehicle with energy from the engine using all the energy from the engine upon the charge level of the battery rising to the predetermined threshold.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to adjust apportionment by adjusting engine-on time and vehicle settings to prioritize battery charging versus vehicle preconditioning based on the charge level of the battery.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the controller is further configured to assess the charge level of the battery following engine start.