Power boost system and method

• US 7,801,661 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schondorf, Steven, Perkins, William Paul, Masterson, Brandon, Connolly, Francis T., Gaboury, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen; Lin B
• Application Number:
  US11/760,181
• Publication Number:
  US 20080306670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/49, 701/99, 180/65.21, 903/902, 903904-908
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell

Abstract

A power boost system and method. An illustrative embodiment of the power boost system includes an operator interface having a system activation button; a vehicle system controller connected to the operator interface; and at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller connected to the vehicle system controller.

Claims

1. A power boost system, said power boost system configured to alter vehicle performance thereby increasing power available for use by a vehicle drive system, comprising:

an operator interface having a system activation function;

a vehicle system controller connected to said operator interface; and

at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller connected to said vehicle system controller;

wherein said power boost system is configured to alter said vehicle performance to increase power available for use by said drive system upon operation of said system activation function according to one or more of the following configurations;

wherein said engine system controller is adapted to at least suppress operation of said vehicle engine accessories;

wherein said battery system controller is adapted to adjust battery protection limits of at least one said vehicle battery;

wherein said accessory system controller is adapted to terminate operation of said vehicle accessories; and

wherein said engine system controller is adapted to change a combustion cycle of said vehicle engine.

2. The power boost system of claim 1 further comprising a “

system on”

indication light provided on said operator interface.

3. The power boost system of claim 1 further comprising a “

system off”

indication light provided on said operator interface.

4. The power boost system of claim 1 further comprising a text message center connected to said vehicle system controller.

5. The power boost system of claim 1 wherein said vehicle system controller comprises a hybrid vehicle system controller.

6. The power boost system of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller comprises an engine system controller and a battery system controller connected to said vehicle system controller.

7. The power boost system of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller comprises an engine system controller and an accessory system controller connected to said vehicle system controller.

8. The power boost system of claim 1 wherein said at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller comprises a battery system controller and an accessory system controller.

9. A power boost system, said power boost system configured to alter vehicle performance thereby increasing power available for use by a vehicle drive system, comprising:

an operator interface having a system activation function;

a vehicle system controller connected to said operator interface;

an engine system controller connected to said vehicle system controller and a vehicle engine connected to said engine system controller;

a battery system controller connected to said vehicle system controller and at least one battery and traction motors connected to said battery system controller; and

an accessory system controller connected to said vehicle system controller and vehicle accessories connected to said accessory system controller;

wherein said power boost system is configured to alter said vehicle performance to increase power available for use by said drive system upon operation of said system activation function according to one or more of the following configurations;

wherein said engine system controller is adapted to at least suppress operation of said vehicle engine accessories;

wherein said battery system controller is adapted to adjust battery protection limits of said at least one battery;

wherein said accessory system controller is adapted to terminate operation of said vehicle accessories; and

,

wherein said engine system controller is adapted to change a combustion cycle of said vehicle engine.

10. The power boost system of claim 9 further comprising a “

system on”

indication light provided on said operator interface.

11. The power boost system of claim 9 further comprising a “

system off”

indication light provided on said operator interface.

12. The power boost system of claim 9 further comprising a text message center connected to said vehicle system controller.

13. The power boost system of claim 9 wherein said vehicle system controller comprises a hybrid vehicle system controller.

14. The power boost system of claim 9 wherein said engine system controller is adapted to change a combustion cycle of said vehicle engine.

15. A method of temporarily boosting power available to a vehicle having a vehicle engine and accessories, comprising:

providing an operator interface having a system activation function;

connecting a vehicle system controller to said operator interface;

connecting said vehicle system controller to at least one of an engine system controller, a battery system controller and an accessory system controller connected to said vehicle system controller; and

,

temporarily altering vehicle performance by operating said system activation function to thereby increase power available to said vehicle drive system, said altering of said vehicle performance comprising one or more of the following;

at least suppressing operation of said vehicle engine accessories by said engine system controller;

adjusting battery protection limits of at least one said vehicle battery by said battery system controller;

terminating operation of said vehicle accessories by said accessory system controller; and

changing a combustion cycle of said vehicle engine by said engine system controller.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said at least suppressing operation of said vehicle engine accessories by operation of said operator interface comprises altering said vehicle performance for a predetermined period of time.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a “

system on”

indication light on said operator interface and illuminating said “

system on”

indication light during said at least suppressing operation of said accessories by operation of said operator interface.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein said altering said vehicle performance comprises reducing thermal and SOC battery protection limits of said at least one said vehicle battery.