PRECONDITIONING A VEHICLE

• US 20130079978A1
• Filed: 09/22/2011
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Uyeki, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/240,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079978A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00771 the input being a vehicle position or surrounding, e.g. GPS-based position or tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/2234 when vehicle is parked, preheating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A prediction is made as to a start time of a next time trip by a vehicle. The start time is predicted based on previous trips by the vehicle. Forecast weather information is obtained for a time period that includes or is proximate to the start time. Based on the forecast weather information, conditions in the cabin are predicted at the start time and a preconditioning time is determined for initiating the preconditioning of the cabin. At the preconditioning time, if the conditions in the cabin are within a set range of the predicted conditions, the cabin is preconditioned.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for preconditioning a cabin environment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying a predicted start time of a next trip by a vehicle, the predicted start time determined based on a plurality of previous trips by the vehicle;

obtaining forecast weather information that describes predicted weather conditions at or approximate to the predicted start time of the next trip;

determining a preconditioning strategy for preconditioning a cabin of the vehicle, the preconditioning strategy including a preconditioning time for initiating preconditioning of the cabin, the preconditioning time prior to the predicted start time of the next trip and determined based on the forecast weather information; and

executing the preconditioning strategy.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the predicted start time of the next trip comprises:

searching for previous trips similar to the current trip;

identifying start times of trips that followed the similar trips; and

determining the predicted start time of the next trip based on the identified start times.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predicted start time of the next trip is the average of the identified start times.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predicted start time of the next trip is the average of the identified start times plus or minus the standard deviation of the identified start times.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting conditions in the cabin at the predicted start time of the next trip based on the forecast weather information;

determining an amount of time needed to precondition the cabin from the predicted conditions to set conditions; and

determining the preconditioning time based on the predicted start time and the amount of time needed to precondition the cabin.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

predicting a temperature in the cabin at the predicted start time of the next trip based on the forecast weather information;

determining an amount of time needed to precondition the cabin from the predicted temperature to a set temperature; and

determining the preconditioning time based on the predicted start time and the amount of time needed to precondition the cabin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature, preconditioning the cabin.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time not being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature and a difference between the temperature at the preconditioning time and a set temperature being more than expected, preconditioning the cabin at a rate faster than planned.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time not being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature and a difference between the temperature at the preconditioning time and a set temperature being less than expected, determining a new preconditioning time.

10. A computer-implemented method for preconditioning a cabin environment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying a predicted start time of a next trip by a vehicle, the predicted start time determined based on a plurality of previous trips by the vehicle;

determining a preconditioning strategy for preconditioning a cabin environment of the vehicle, the preconditioning strategy including a preconditioning time for initiating preconditioning of the cabin, the preconditioning time prior to the predicted start time of the next trip; and

executing the preconditioning strategy.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the predicted start time of the next trip comprises:

searching for previous trips similar to the current trip;

identifying start times of trips that followed the similar trips; and

determining the predicted start time of the next trip based on the identified start times.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predicted start time of the next trip is the average of the identified start times.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the predicted start time of the next trip is the average of the identified start times plus or minus the standard deviation of the identified start times.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature, preconditioning the cabin.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time not being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature and a difference between the temperature at the preconditioning time and a set temperature being more than expected, preconditioning the cabin at a rate faster than planned.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time not being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature and a difference between the temperature at the preconditioning time and a set temperature being less than expected, determining a new preconditioning time.

17. A computer-implemented method for preconditioning a cabin environment of a vehicle, the method comprising:

identifying a start time of a next trip by a vehicle;

retrieving forecast weather information that describes predicted weather conditions at or approximate to the start time of the next trip;

determining a preconditioning strategy for preconditioning a cabin environment of the vehicle, the preconditioning strategy including a preconditioning time for initiating preconditioning of the cabin, the preconditioning time prior to the start time of the next trip and determined based on the retrieved forecast weather information; and

executing the preconditioning strategy.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

predicting conditions in the cabin at the predicted start time of the next trip based on the forecast weather information;

determining an amount of time needed to precondition the cabin from the predicted conditions to set conditions; and

determining the preconditioning time based on the predicted start time and the amount of time needed to precondition the cabin.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

predicting a temperature in the cabin at the predicted start time of the next trip based on the forecast weather information;

determining an amount of time needed to precondition the cabin from the predicted temperature to a set temperature; and

determining the preconditioning time based on the predicted start time and the amount of time needed to precondition the cabin.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein executing the strategy comprises:

responsive to a temperature of the cabin at the preconditioning time being within a set range of a predicted cabin temperature, preconditioning the cabin.