Motor vehicle power management system

• US 7,869,916 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Diedrich, Nathaniel W., Pilgrim, Michael, Goeppner, Andrew T., Vilkinofsky, John, Miller, Ross C., Dutter, Jason A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/841,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20100287138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 173 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 36, 701/50, 701/117, 701/118, 701/101, 342/357.1
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0032 disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running

Abstract

A power management system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The power management system can track one or more usage parameters to insure that electrical accessories or resources do not fully drain a battery and leave enough battery life to conduct at least one cold start. In some cases, the power management system can track one or more of the following usage parameters: the amount of time of one or more hands free telephone systems are used, the number of attempts to contact a computer, and/or the amount of time used to conduct wireless communications with a computer that is physically separate from the motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

an engine, a body, a passenger compartment configured to accommodate at least one occupant, and at least one wheel, and a communications system;

wherein

the motor vehicle receives a triggering event;

wherein the triggering event starts a countdown timer;

and wherein the motor vehicle attempts to establish wireless communications with a specific computer physically separate from the motor vehicle when the triggering event is received, by determining if the motor vehicle is capable of communicating with the specific computer; and

wherein

the motor vehicle commences communications with the specific computer if it has been determined that the motor vehicle can communicate with the specific computer.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle continues to attempt to contact the specific computer until the countdown timer elapses.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle ceases attempts to contact the specific computer after the countdown timer has elapsed.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event is related to a door associated with the motor vehicle being locked.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event is programmed to occur at a predetermined time.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event is a manual instruction received from a user.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle synchronizes a database associated with the motor vehicle with a database associated with the specific computer if the motor vehicle has been successful in establishing contact with the specific computer.

8. A method establishing a communications link between a motor vehicle and a specific computer when the motor vehicle is in an off condition, the off condition being a condition where the engine of the motor vehicle is turned off and where an ignition switch of the motor vehicle is in an off position, comprising the steps of:

receiving a triggering event;

wherein the triggering event starts a countdown timer;

and wherein the motor vehicle attempts to establish wireless communications with the specific computer, physically separate from the motor vehicle when the triggering event is received, by determining if the motor vehicle is capable of communicating with the specific computer; and

wherein

the motor vehicle commences communications with the specific computer if it has been determined that the motor vehicle can communicate with the specific computer.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the motor vehicle continues to attempt to contact the specific computer until the countdown timer elapses.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the motor vehicle ceases attempts to contact the specific computer after the countdown timer has elapsed.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the triggering event is related to a door associated with the motor vehicle being locked.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the triggering event is programmed to occur at a predetermined time.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the triggering event is a manual instruction received from a user.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the motor vehicle synchronizes a database associated with the motor vehicle with a database associated with the specific computer if the motor vehicle has been successful in establishing contact with the specific computer.

15. A method for establishing a synchronization process between a motor vehicle and a specific computer via a communications link comprising the steps of:

receiving a triggering event;

wherein the triggering event initiates an attempt to contact the specific computer;

wherein the motor vehicle attempts to establish wireless communications with the specific computer, physically separate from the motor vehicle when the triggering event is received, by determining if the motor vehicle is capable of communicating with the specific computer;

wherein the motor vehicle commences communications with the specific computer if it has been determined that the motor vehicle can communicate with the specific computer; and

wherein the motor vehicle synchronizes a database associated with the motor vehicle with a database associated with the specific computer if the motor vehicle has been successful in establishing contact with the specific computer.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the triggering event is a request from an automatic synchronizing timer.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the automatic synchronizing timer is programmed to request the attempt to contact the specific computer at a predetermined time.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the motor vehicle ceases attempts to contact the specific computer after a predetermined number of attempts to connect with the specific computer have been attempted.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the motor vehicle attempts to establish wireless communications with the specific computer when the motor vehicle is in an off condition, the off condition being a condition where the engine of the motor vehicle is turned off and where an ignition switch of the motor vehicle is in an off position.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the triggering event initiates a countdown timer;

and

wherein the motor vehicle ceases attempts to contact the specific computer after the countdown timer has elapsed.