Method and apparatus for monitoring the state of the battery of a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 6,630,813 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Theodore James, Berels, David Jeffeory
• Primary Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/683,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20030169018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/152, 320/104, 340/636, 324/427, 324/431, 324/426
• US Class Current: 320/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/14 for charging batteries from dynamo-electric generators driven at varying speed, e.g. on vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A system (40) for an automotive vehicle has a temperature sensor (90) generating a temperature signal indicative of the temperature outside the vehicle and a battery. A battery controller (54) is coupled to the temperature sensor (90) and the battery (64). The controller monitors a state of charge of the battery (64), monitors a temperature outside of the vehicle and compares the state of charge to a predetermined state of charge. The predetermined state of charge is a function of the temperature. The controller (54) generates an indicator when the state of charge reaches the predetermined state of charge.

Claims

1. A method of indicating for a battery of an automotive vehicle comprising:

monitoring a state of charge of the battery;

monitoring a temperature outside of the vehicle;

comparing the state of charge to a predetermined state of charge, said predetermined state of charge being a function of said temperature; and

generating an indicator when the state of charge reaches the predetermined state of charge.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein when monitoring a state of charge comprises measuring a battery voltage and measuring a battery current.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising performing an evasive action to modify a change in the state of charge.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein performing an evasive action comprises decoupling a load.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined state of charge corresponds to a starting state of charge to enable starting of the engine with a starter/generator.

6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an indicator comprises generating a visual indicator.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an indicator comprises generating an audible indicator.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein generating an indicator comprises generating a page through a cellular phone system.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring a weather forecast, wherein said predetermined state of charge being a function of said weather forecast.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein monitoring a weather forecast comprises monitoring a weather forecast using a vehicle telematic system and a global positioning system.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising monitoring a battery state of health;

comparing the battery state of health to a predetermined state of health; and

generating an indicator when the battery state of health reaches the predetermined state of health.

12. A method of indicating for a battery of an automotive vehicle comprising:

monitoring a state of charge of the battery;

monitoring a battery state of health;

monitoring a temperature outside of the vehicle;

comparing the state of charge to a predetermined state of charge, said predetermined state of charge being a function of said temperature;

comparing the battery state of health to a predetermined state of health; and

generating an indicator when the battery state of health reaches the predetermined state of health or when the state of charge reached the predetermined state of charge.

13. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising performing an evasive action to modify a change in the state of charge.

14. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein said predetermined state of charge corresponds to a starting state of charge to enable starting of the engine.

15. A method as recited in claim 12 wherein generating an indicator comprises generating a page through a cellular phone system.

16. A method as recited in claim 12 further comprising monitoring a weather forecast, wherein said predetermined state of charge being a function of said weather forecast.

17. A method as recited in claim 16 wherein monitoring a weather forecast comprises monitoring a weather forecast using a vehicle telematics system and a global positioning system.

18. A system for an automotive vehicle comprising:

a temperature sensor generating a temperature signal indicative of the temperature outside the vehicle;

a battery; and

a battery controller coupled to the temperature sensor and the battery, said controller monitoring a state of charge of the battery, comparing the state of charge to a predetermined state of charge, said predetermined state of charge being a function of said temperature signal, said controller generating an indicator when the state of charge reaches the predetermined state of charge.

19. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a telematics system obtaining a weather forecast, said predetermined state of charge being a function of the weather forecast.

20. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a voltage sensor coupled to the battery for generating a voltage signal indicative of the battery voltage and a current sensor coupled to the battery for generating a current voltage signal indicative of the battery current.

21. A system as recited in claim 18 further comprising a starter/generator and a starting load, wherein said predetermined state of charge being a function of said temperature and said starting load.