VEHICLE BATTERY PRE-CHARGE FEATURE

• US 20150120104A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Stefanon, Heraldo F., Ueoka, Kiyoshiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,428,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18036 Reversing
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A system and a method for a hybrid vehicle for pre-charging the battery. A hybrid vehicle includes a battery having a state of charge (SOC), an engine configured to charge the battery, an actuation device having an on state and an off state, and a processor configured to activate the engine to charge the battery when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the SOC reaches a required SOC. The required SOC may be input by a driver and may exceed a normal maximum SOC utilized by the hybrid vehicle. The pre-charge feature can override the normal hybrid vehicle battery management logic. The required SOC allows the driver to perform reverse maneuvers without running out of battery power.

Claims

1. A system for pre-charging a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a battery having a state of charge;

an engine connected to the battery and configured to charge the battery;

an actuation device having an on state and an off state; and

a processor connected to the battery and the engine and configured to activate the engine to charge the battery when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the state of charge reaches a required state of charge.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation device is switched to the off state when the state of charge reaches the required state of charge.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor disables charging the battery when the actuation device is switched from the on state to the off state before the state of charge reaches the required state of charge.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the required state of charge is greater than a maximum state of charge determined by the processor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a state of charge window is expanded based on requirements input by a user.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein a state of charge area is expanded automatically.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the actuation device comprises a button on an instrument panel of the vehicle.

8. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

a battery having a state of charge;

an engine configured to charge the battery;

an actuation device having an on state and an off state; and

a processor configured to activate the engine when the actuation device is switched to the on state until the state of charge reaches a required state of charge.

9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 8, wherein the required state of charge allows the vehicle to perform a reverse driving maneuver.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein the reverse driving maneuver comprises reverse parking on an incline.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 9, wherein the reverse driving maneuver comprises reversing with a trailer attached to the vehicle.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 8, wherein a required state of charge area is expanded based on requirements input by a user through an instrument panel.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 8, wherein a required state of charge window is expanded automatically.

14. A method for pre-charging a hybrid vehicle comprising:

receiving an on signal from an actuation device;

activating, using a processor coupled to an engine and a battery, the engine when the actuation device is in an on state; and

charging the battery, using the engine, until a state of charge of the battery reaches a required state of charge.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the actuation device comprises a button on an instrument panel of the hybrid vehicle.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the required state of charge is determined automatically.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the required state of charge is determined from user-defined requirements.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the actuation device switches to an off state when the state of charge reaches the required state of charge.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the required state of charge is higher than a maximum state of charge determined by the processor.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving the on signal further comprises receiving the on signal from the actuation device in response to a time or a location triggering the on signal.