Vehicle control device and method

• US 8,005,579 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Pouradier, Jean-Baptiste
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/903,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/31, 701/32, 701/29, 701/36, 361/93.2, 361/93.9, 361/98, 361/104, 307/9.1, 307/10.6, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00

Abstract

A vehicle control device and method. To reduce consumption, the device and method test the state of each member used to input a command or interpret the wishes of the driver with the aid of a computer that is dedicated to each electricity-consuming resource. According to the device and method, when the engine is stopped, the accessories are no longer started up by pressing the start button.

Claims

1. A vehicle control method, in which vehicle access to the vehicle is controlled by a keyless access system, comprising:

checking starting-up of each electricity-consuming resource of the vehicle by checking a status of a unit for controlling and/or interpreting wishes of the driver, such that each resource associated with a control is independent of the other resources; and

then

connecting a battery to an onboard network at a request of each controlled consuming resource, such that resources that are not to be used are not powered up.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting up of at least one electricity-consuming resource is preceded by testing an authorization to access the vehicle.

3. A vehicle control device for a vehicle including a keyless vehicle access controller, comprising, for each electricity-consuming function of the vehicle:

a control unit for entering controls or interpreting wishes of the driver;

a status transition computer for the control unit to call for electrical power from an onboard network, to connect a battery to the onboard network at a request of each controlled consuming resource; and

a control actuator or effector responding to the corresponding status transition computer.