Solar Powered Ventilation System For Vehicle And Method Of Operating The Same
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a solar powered ventilation system for a motorized vehicle having a battery pack in electrical communication with at least one motor assembly selectively operable to propel the vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining if a predetermined minimum solar load is available;
determining if a current power mode of the vehicle is in one of off and accessories on mode if said predetermined minimum solar load is available;
determining if a current temperature of the battery pack is greater than a threshold battery pack temperature if said current vehicle power mode is in off or accessories on mode; and
commanding the solar powered ventilation system to modify an interior temperature of the vehicle to thereby decrease the temperature of said battery pack if said current battery pack temperature is greater than said threshold battery pack temperature.
12 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar powered ventilation system for regulating the interior temperature of a motorized vehicle and a method of controlling the same is provided. The vehicle includes a battery pack in electrical communication with at least one motor assembly that is selectively operable to propel the vehicle. The solar powered ventilation system includes a solar panel in electrical communication with a fan and the battery pack. The method includes: determining if sufficient solar load is available; if so, determining the current vehicle power mode; determining if the current battery pack temperature is greater than a threshold battery pack temperature if the vehicle is in “off” or “accessories on” mode; and commanding the solar powered ventilation system to modify the interior temperature of the vehicle to thereby decrease the temperature of the battery pack if the current battery pack temperature is greater than the threshold battery pack temperature.
26 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a solar powered ventilation system for a motorized vehicle having a battery pack in electrical communication with at least one motor assembly selectively operable to propel the vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining if a predetermined minimum solar load is available; determining if a current power mode of the vehicle is in one of off and accessories on mode if said predetermined minimum solar load is available; determining if a current temperature of the battery pack is greater than a threshold battery pack temperature if said current vehicle power mode is in off or accessories on mode; and commanding the solar powered ventilation system to modify an interior temperature of the vehicle to thereby decrease the temperature of said battery pack if said current battery pack temperature is greater than said threshold battery pack temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a solar powered ventilation system for regulating an interior temperature of a motorized vehicle, the vehicle including an SLI battery, an HVAC system, and a battery pack in electrical communication with at least one motor assembly selectively operable to propel the vehicle, the solar powered ventilation system including a solar panel in electrical communication with a fan, the battery pack, and the SLI battery, and operable to supply electrical power thereto, the method comprising:
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determining if a predetermined minimum solar load is available; determining if a current vehicle power mode is in one of off, run, and accessories on mode if said predetermined minimum solar load is available; determining if an outside ambient air temperature is less than the vehicle interior temperature and if a current temperature of the battery pack is greater than a threshold battery pack temperature if said current vehicle power mode is in off or accessories on mode; disabling solar powered battery pack charging, setting the vehicle HVAC system to allow ambient air into the vehicle interior, and enabling the solar powered fan if said current battery pack temperature is greater than said threshold battery pack temperature and the outside ambient air temperature is less than said vehicle interior temperature; and disabling solar powered battery pack charging and disabling said solar powered fan if said current battery pack temperature is greater than said threshold battery pack temperature and the outside ambient air temperature is greater than said vehicle interior temperature. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrically-propelled motorized vehicle having a vehicle body defining an interior compartment therein, the vehicle comprising:
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at least one electric motor assembly mounted to the vehicle body and selectively operable to propel the vehicle; a battery pack including at least one battery module mounted inside the vehicle interior compartment and in electrical communication with said at least one electric motor assembly to distribute electric current thereto whereby said at least one electric motor assembly propels the vehicle; a ventilation system including an air vent selectively fluidly communicating the interior compartment with outside ambient air, and at least one fan mounted to the vehicle body and operable to pull ambient air into the vehicle interior compartment; a solar panel integrated with the vehicle body and operatively connected to said battery pack and ventilation system to supply electric power thereto, said solar panel including at least one solar cell configured to convert absorbed sunlight into electricity; and a controller in operative communication with said ventilation system and said solar panel and configured to regulate operation of the same; wherein said controller is programmed and configured to determine if a predetermined minimum solar load is available and responsively determine if a current vehicle power mode is in one of off, run, and accessories on mode if said predetermined minimum solar load is available; wherein said controller is programmed and configured to determine if a current temperature of said battery pack is greater than a threshold battery pack temperature and if an outside ambient air temperature is greater than a vehicle interior temperature if said current vehicle power mode is in off or accessories on mode; wherein said controller is programmed and configured to disable solar powered battery pack charging, set said air vent to allow ambient air into the vehicle interior, and command said solar panel to power said fan if said current battery pack temperature is greater than said threshold battery pack temperature and the outside ambient air temperature is less than said vehicle interior temperature. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification