Control System, Vehicle and Method

• US 20160059721A1
• Filed: 04/24/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Original Assignee: Jaguar Land Rover Limited (TATA Motors Limited)
• Inventors: Suffield, Iain, Holloway, Katy
• Granted Patent: US 10,071,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/34 Plug-like or socket-like devices specially adapted for contactless inductive charging of electric vehicles positioning means for charging devices using inductive energy transfer B60L53/38
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/01 operating on vehicle systems or fittings, e.g. on doors, seats or windscreens
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0049 Detection of fully charged condition
• 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: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and energy storage means for powering the motor, the apparatus being operable to generate an audible sonic signature in dependence on a result of a determination whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the energy storage means.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the apparatus being operable to generate an audible sonic signature in dependence on a result of a determination whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery, the apparatus being operable to generate the audible sonic signature upon detecting a presence of a portable user identification device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging facility in dependence at least in part on whether a charging cable is connected to the vehicle.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging facility in dependence at least in part on whether a vehicle charging cable is required to be stowed before the vehicle may be driven.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging facility in dependence at least in part on whether a cable access port is in an open or closed condition.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to generate the audible sonic signature in response to a determination that a user attempts to unlock the vehicle.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to generate the audible sonic signature in response to a signal received from the portable user identification device.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to generate one of a plurality of respective audible sonic signatures when it is determined that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, an identity of the audible sonic signature generated being selected in dependence on a state of charge of the at least one battery.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 operable to generate a first connected state audible sonic signature when it is determined that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility and the at least one battery has reached a prescribed state of charge.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the prescribed state of charge corresponds to a substantially full state of charge or to a user-prescribed amount of charge.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 operable to generate a second connected state audible sonic signature when it is determined that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility if the at least one battery has a state of charge that is less than the user prescribed state of charge.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 operable to generate a prescribed audible sonic signature if it is determined that the vehicle is not connected to the charging facility, the prescribed audible sonic signature being different from an audible sonic signature generated when it is determined that the vehicle is connected to the charging facility.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 operable to generate one of a plurality of respective audible sonic signatures if it is determined that the vehicle is not connected to the charging facility in dependence on a state of charge of the at least one battery.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 operable to generate a first disconnected state audible sonic signature if the state of charge of the at least one battery is greater than or substantially equal to a prescribed state of charge.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the prescribed state of charge corresponds to a substantially full state of charge or to a user-prescribed amount of charge.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 operable to generate a second disconnected state audible sonic signature if a state of charge of the at least one battery is less than the prescribed state of charge.

23. A motor vehicle system comprising the apparatus of claim 1.

24. A motor vehicle comprising the apparatus according to claim 1.

25. The vehicle according to claim 24 wherein the vehicle is an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

5. (canceled)

8-11. -11. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. A method of providing feedback to a user of a motor vehicle having an electric propulsion motor and at least one battery configured to power the electric propulsion motor, the method comprising:

generating an audible sonic signature in dependence on whether the vehicle is connected to a charging facility for charging the at least one battery; and

generating the audible sonic signature upon detecting the presence of a portable user identification device.

28. The method according to claim 27 further comprising generating one of a plurality of respective audible sonic signatures when the vehicle is connected to the charging facility, an identity of the audible sonic signature generated being selected in dependence on a state of charge of the at least one battery.

29. (canceled)