VEHICLE POWER GENERATION MODE CONTROL METHOD

• US 20150274151A1
• Filed: 03/25/2014
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wright, Robert, Ortmann, Walter Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,221,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/045 by limiting or cutting the electrical supply to the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/06 operating on the vehicle transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/50 Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A vehicle power generation mode control method includes initiating a vehicle power generation mode request; determining whether at least one of the following conditions exists: high engine revolutions per minute is allowed; high voltage or amperage draw is allowed; current fuel level supports power generation mode; and carbon monoxide readings are within acceptable limits; denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission if at least one of the conditions exists; and allowing or commanding the vehicle power generation mode.

Claims

1. A vehicle power generation mode control method, comprising:

initiating a vehicle power generation mode request;

denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission if at least one of a set of predetermined denial conditions exists; and

allowing or commanding the vehicle power generation mode.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of predetermined denial conditions includes

high engine revolution per minute is allowed;

high voltage of amperage draw is allowed;

current fuel level supports power generation mode; and

carbon monoxide readings are within acceptable limits.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying a message indicating that at least one of the conditions does not exist if at least one of the conditions does not exist.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising starting a generation mode timer before denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising zeroing a power usage counter before denying requests for engagement of the vehicle transmission.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising zeroing a fuel cost counter before denying requests for engagement of the vehicle transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising soliciting operator limits on power usage and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on power usage are exceeded.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising soliciting operator limits on fuel cost and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on fuel cost are exceeded.

9. A vehicle power generation mode control method, comprising:

initiating a vehicle power generation mode request;

determining whether each of the following conditions exists;

high engine revolutions per minute is allowed;

high voltage or amperage draw is allowed;

current fuel level supports power generation mode; and

carbon monoxide readings are within acceptable limits;

denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission if each of the conditions exists; and

allowing or commanding the vehicle power generation mode.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising determining whether any Failure Mode Effect Management actions preventing the power generation mode exists, and allowing or commanding the power generation mode if Failure Mode Effect Management actions preventing the power generation mode do not exist.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising displaying a message indicating that at least one of the conditions does not exist if at least one of the conditions does not exist.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising starting a generation mode timer before denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising zeroing a power usage counter before denying requests for engagement of the vehicle transmission.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising zeroing a fuel cost counter before denying requests for engagement of the vehicle transmission.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising soliciting operator limits on power usage and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on power usage are exceeded.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising soliciting operator limits on fuel cost and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on fuel cost are exceeded.

17. A vehicle power generation mode control method, comprising:

initiating a vehicle power generation mode request;

performing each of the following;

determining whether high engine revolutions per minute is allowed;

determining whether high voltage or amperage draw is allowed if the high engine revolutions per minute is allowed;

determining whether current fuel level supports power generation mode if the high voltage or amperage draw is allowed; and

determining whether carbon monoxide readings are within acceptable limits if the current fuel level supports the power generation mode;

denying requests for engagement of a vehicle transmission if the carbon monoxide readings are within acceptable limits; and

allowing or commanding the vehicle power generation mode.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising determining whether any Failure Mode Effect Management actions preventing the power generation mode exists, and determining whether the high engine revolutions per minute is allowed if Failure Mode Effect Management actions preventing the power generation mode do not exist.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising soliciting operator limits on power usage and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on power usage are exceeded.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising soliciting operator limits on fuel cost and exiting the vehicle power generation mode if the operator limits on fuel cost are exceeded.