Method and device for controlling a vehicle movement capability and/or a closure device

• US 8,538,638 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Vujasinovic, Mirko, Zawade, Torsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US13/203,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20120041647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 701/1, 701/49, 191/2, 340 53- 531
• US Class Current: 701/49
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/10 responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method and a device (1) for controlling a vehicle movement capability and/or a closure device (2), which closes at least one vehicle interface for receiving external feed equipment. It is possible for external feed equipment to be received only when a closure device is open. The vehicle movement capability knows at least the states ‘admissible’ and ‘inadmissible’, and the closure device (2) knows at least the states ‘locked without unlocking enabled (VOF)’ and ‘locked with unlocking enabled (VMF)’. The state of the closure device can be changed depending on at least one state of the vehicle movement capability and/or the state of the vehicle movement capability depending on at least one state of the closure device (2).

Claims

1. A method for controlling a vehicle movement capability and a closure device which closes at least one vehicle interface for receiving external feed devices, wherein external feed devices can be received only when a closure device is open, wherein the vehicle movement capability has at least the states of permitted and prohibited, in which the closure device has at least the states of locked without unlocking enabled (VOF) and locked with unlocking enabled (VMF), wherein the state of the closure device is changed as a function of at least one state of the vehicle movement capability, and the state of the vehicle movement capability is changed as a function of at least one state of the closure device,

wherein, if the vehicle movement capability is adjusted to the permitted state, the closure device is adjusted to the state of locked without unlocking enabled (VOF).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the permitted state of the vehicle movement capability is implemented by deactivation of an immobilizer and/or by activation of a drive train, and the prohibited state of the vehicle movement capability is implemented by activation of an immobilizer and/or by deactivation of the drive train.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the immobilizer is activated by activation of a parking brake and/or by adjustment of a selector lever position, which has at least the states of parked and not parked, to the state of parked, and the immobilizer is deactivated by deactivation of a parking brake and/or by adjustment of the selector lever position to the state of not parked.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the vehicle movement capability is adjusted to the prohibited state, the closure device is adjusted to the state of locked with unlocking enabled (VMF).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the closure device also has the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF), wherein the closure device is adjusted from the state of locked with unlocking enabled (VMF) to the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the closure device assumes the state of locked with unlocking enabled (VMF), the adjustment of the closure device to the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF) is carried out using a signal for unlocking the closure device,

wherein the signal for unlocking the closure device is generated by operating an unlocking signal generator or by an unlocking signal from a central locking unit of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the closure device assumes the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF) and the vehicle movement capability is adjusted to the admissible state, the closure device is adjusted to the state of locked without unlocking enabled (VOF).

8. The method of claim 5, wherein, if the closure device assumes the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF), the closure device is adjusted to the state of locked with unlocking enabled (VMF) using a signal for locking the closure device, wherein the signal for locking the closure device is generated by the operation of a locking signal generator or by a locking signal from a central locking unit of the vehicle, wherein the signal for locking the closure device can also be generated by the central locking unit after a delay of a defined time interval.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the closure device also has the state of unlocked without locking enabled (EOF), wherein the closure device is adjusted from the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF) to the state of unlocked without locking enabled (EOF), and in that, if the closure device assumes the state of unlocked without locking enabled (EOF), the adjustment of the vehicle movement capability to the permitted state is not possible.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein, if the closure device assumes the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF), adjustment of the closure device to the state of unlocked without locking enabled (EOF) is carried out by opening the closure device, wherein the opening of the closure device is sensed and communicated using a closure device sensor which detects at least the open state.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein, if the closure device assumes the state of unlocked without locking enabled (EOF), adjustment of the closure device to the state of unlocked with locking enabled (EMF) is carried out by closing the closure device, wherein the closing of the closure device is sensed and communicated using a closure device sensor which detects at least the open state.

12. A device for controlling a vehicle movement capability and a closure device which closes at least one vehicle interface for receiving external feed devices, wherein external feed devices are received only when a closure device is open, wherein the vehicle movement capability has at least the states of permitted and prohibited, in which the closure device has at least the states of locked without unlocking enabled (VOF) and locked with unlocking enabled (VMF),

wherein the state of the closure device is changed as a function of at least one state of the vehicle movement capability, and the state of the vehicle movement capability is changed as a function of at least one state of the closure device,

wherein the at least one closure device operates at least one lock mechanism of a closure, and at least one unit for controlling the vehicle movement capability, and

wherein the at least one unit for controlling the vehicle movement capability and the closure device are coupled together to exchange data.