Vehicle

• US 6,794,848 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinada, Akira, Nunokawa, Katsuhiko, Okajima, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Bao Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/103, 320/138, 307/9.1, 307/10.3, 307/10.7, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00428 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00778 the input being a stationary vehicle position, e.g. parking or stopping
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/88 Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Abstract

When a vehicle, for example, a passenger vehicle stops, electric power is supplied to a passenger compartment mechanism and/or an entertainment device from a power supply isolated from the device relating to a vehicle travel system. Electric power consumption is managed to secure the electric power necessary to create a travel start possible state. Further, a key position is provided to supply electric power only to the passenger compartment mechanism and/or the entertainment device. With this arrangement, music and the like can be comfortably enjoyed by stopping the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment mechanism configured to at least one of heat and cool a passenger compartment;

a power supply isolated from devices relating to a vehicle propulsion system, said power supply configured to supply electric power to the passenger compartment mechanism when the vehicle propulsion system is stopped; and

a multi-position switch configured to connect said power supply and another power supply to said vehicle propulsion system when in a first position, and disconnect said power supply from said vehicle propulsion system when in a second position, but not disconnect said power supply to said passenger compartment mechanism when in said second position.

3. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when electric power is insufficiently supplied from another power source to the devices relating to the vehicle propulsion system, electric power from the power supply is supplied to the devices relating to the vehicle propulsion system.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is a fuel battery.

2. A vehicle comprising:

an entertainment device for providing at least one of audio and video entertainment in a passenger compartment; and

a power supply isolated from the devices relating to a vehicle propulsion system, said power supply configured to supply electric power to the entertainment device when the vehicle propulsion system is stopped; and

a multi-position switch configured to connect said power supply and another power supply to said vehicle propulsion system when in a first position, and disconnect said power supply from said vehicle propulsion system when in a second position, but not disconnect said power supply to said passenger compartment mechanism when in said second position.

4. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein when electric power is insufficiently supplied from another power source to the devices relating to the vehicle propulsion system, the electric power from the power supply is supplied to the devices relating to the vehicle propulsion system.

6. A vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the power supply is a fuel battery.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a battery for providing electricity to a vehicle propulsion system creating a travel start possible state by the electric power charged therein;

an alternator for charging the battery by generating electricity while the vehicle travels; and

electric power management means for managing electric power consumed in the battery such that the electric power stored in the battery does not become equal to or less than an amount of electric power necessary to create the travel start possible state when the vehicle propulsion system is stopped; and

a multi-position switch configured to connect said power supply and another power supply to said vehicle propulsion system when in a first position, and disconnect said power supply from said vehicle propulsion system when in a second position, but not disconnect said power supply to said passenger compartment mechanism.

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the electric power management means displays a time estimated for remaining electric power stored in the battery to become approximately the electric power necessary to create the travel start possible state through predetermined display means.

9. A vehicle according to claim 7, wherein when the electric power stored in the battery approaches approximately the electric power necessary to create the travel start possible state, the battery is charged by starting the operation of charge means for charging the battery.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a passenger compartment mechanism configured to at least one of cool and heat a passenger compartment;

an entertainment device for providing at least one of audio and video entertainment in the passenger compartment; and

an engine switch for switching between different combinations of electrical circuits including a vehicle propulsion system to which electric power is supplied according to a position of a key manipulated by being turned,

wherein the engine switch has a first key position at which electric power is supplied only to at least one of the passenger compartment mechanism and the entertainment device.