Method and apparatus for hybrid vehicle auxiliary battery state of charge control

• US 8,125,181 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Gregg, Christopher B., Kamijo, Yusuke, Nakamura, Yoshikatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US12/212,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20100066302A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for hybrid vehicle auxiliary battery state of charge control. In one embodiment, the present invention is an automobile including an electronic accessory, a first battery connected to the electronic accessory, and a control unit connected to the first battery, the control unit monitoring the first battery and disconnecting the first battery from the electronic accessory when the first battery is in a first operational condition.

Claims

1. An automobile comprising:

an electronic accessory;

a first battery connected to the electronic accessory; and

a control unit connected to the first battery, the control unit monitoring the first battery and disconnecting configured to enable a disconnection of the first battery from the electronic accessory when the first battery is in a first operational condition a first predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the electronic accessory being turned on, the control unit further configured to provide a warning to a user before enabling the disconnection of the first battery from the electronic accessory; and

an engine, configured to be in an active state or an inactive state connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to enable the disconnection of the first battery from the electronic accessory when the engine is in the inactive state and when the first predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the electronic accessory being turned on.

2. The automobile of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch configured to be engaged or disengaged, the switch connected to the engine and being controlled by the first battery; and

a second battery connected to the switch, the second battery supplying power to the engine through the switch when the switch is engaged.

3. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the first battery is in the second operational condition the control unit is configured to provide the warning to the user when the engine is in the inactive state and when a second predetermined amount of time has elapsed from the electronic accessory being turned on, the second predetermined amount of time being less than the first predetermined amount of time.

4. The automobile of claim 2 further comprising a key reception unit connected to the control unit and configured to engage a key, the second battery recharging the first battery when the key is engaged with the key reception unit.

5. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the warning is selected from the group consisting of an audio warning, a visual warning, and an audiovisual warning.

6. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the warning notifies the user when the first battery will be disconnected from the electronic accessory.

7. The automobile of claim 1 wherein the warning notifies the user to activate the engine.

8. An automobile comprising:

an electronic accessory;

a first battery connected to the electronic accessory through a first switch, the first switch configured to be engaged or disengaged;

a second battery connected to the first battery through a second switch, the second switch configured to be engaged or disengaged;

an engine configured to be in an active state or an inactive state;

a key reception unit for engaging with a key; and

a control unit connected to the first battery and the key reception unit, the control unit configured to monitoring the first battery and the key reception unit, disengage the first switch for disconnecting the first battery from the electronic accessory when the first battery is in a first operational condition, engage the second switch for connecting the first battery to the second battery when the key is engaged with the key reception unit and provide a warning to a user when the first battery is in a second operational condition;

wherein the first battery is in the first operational condition when an electric level of the first battery is below a first predetermined electric amount and the engine is in an inactive state, and the first battery is in the second operational condition when the electric level of the first battery is below a second predetermined electric amount greater than the first predetermined electric amount and the engine is in an inactive state.

9. The automobile of claim 8 wherein the electric level of the first battery is an amount of voltage remaining in the first battery, the first predetermined electric amount is a first predetermined amount of voltage and the second predetermined electric amount is a second predetermined amount of voltage.

10. The automobile of claim 8 wherein the electric level of the first battery is an amount of power remaining in the first battery, the first predetermined electric amount is a first predetermined amount of power and the second predetermined electric amount is a second predetermined amount of power.

11. The automobile of claim 8 wherein the electric level of the first battery is an amount of current remaining in the first battery, the first predetermined electric amount is a first predetermined amount of current and the second predetermined electric amount is a second predetermined amount of current.

12. The automobile of claim 8 wherein the first battery is in the first operational condition when the engine is in an inactive state and when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed from when the electronic accessory is turned on.

13. The automobile of claim 8 further comprising a third switch configured to be engaged or disengaged, the third switch being engaged or disengaged by the first battery and wherein the second battery is connected to the engine through the third switch.

14. A method for controlling a state of charge in an auxiliary battery connected to an electronic accessory in an automobile comprising the steps of:

monitoring an elapsed time of operation of the electronic accessory;

providing a warning to a user when the elapsed time of operation of the electronic accessory exceeds a first predetermined amount of time; and

disconnecting the auxiliary battery from the electronic accessory when the elapsed time of operation of the electronic accessory exceeds a second predetermined amount of time, the second predetermined amount of time being greater than the first predetermined amount of time; and

providing the warning to the user occurs when an engine of the automobile is in an inactive state, and disconnecting the auxiliary battery occurs when the engine of the automobile is in active state.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of recharging the auxiliary battery through a main battery when a key is engaged with a key reception unit.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the warning notifies the user when the auxiliary battery will be disconnected from the electronic accessory.