Notification system for electrically charged vehicle

• US 8,768,561 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Daniel Todd, Sitarski, Nicholas Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, DANIEL LAWSON
• Application Number:
  US13/302,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20130131911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 952 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29.1
• US Class Current: 701/29.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00392 for electric vehicles having only electric drive means
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00985 Control systems or circuits characterised by display or indicating devices, e.g. voice simulators characterised by the input of sound using a voice synthesizer B60H1/00757; B60H1/00978 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/14 by input of vehicle departure time
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/56 Temperature prediction, e.g. for pre-cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A notification system for an electrically charged vehicle having a charging system and a climate control system comprising a vehicle charging system, a display screen in communication with the vehicle charging system wherein the display screen is operable to provide a status update of the vehicle charging system wherein the status update provides information to the user regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions. The status update is operable to provide a predetermined message to the user on the display screen regarding charging and/or pre-climate conditions within the electrically charged vehicle.

Claims

1. A notification system for an electrically charged vehicle having a charging system and a climate control system, the electrically charged vehicle providing for pre-climate adjustment before user operation, the notification system comprising:

a vehicle charging system;

a controller to determine a predetermined condition within the vehicle, the predetermined condition being opening of the vehicle door prior to ignition of the vehicle while the vehicle is charging;

a display screen within the vehicle in communication with the vehicle charging system and the controller, the controller displaying on the display screen within the vehicle a status update regarding charging or pre-climate conditions automatically upon the predetermined condition including opening of a vehicle door.

2. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 1 wherein the notification system further includes a trigger operator activated upon recognition of the predetermined condition.

3. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 1 wherein a predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays information regarding the status charging of the electrically charged vehicle.

4. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 3 wherein the predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays reason for interruption in charging (unplugged, black out, emergency stop, low battery temperature . . . etc.).

5. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 1 wherein a predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays information regarding the status of pre-climate conditions.

6. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 5 wherein the predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle provides specific temperature information to the vehicle user.

7. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 5 wherein a predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle provides information regarding estimated time of completion of pre-climate settings.

8. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 7 wherein a predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle provides information regarding stopping of pre-climate adjustment.

9. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 8 wherein a predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays reason for interruption in pre-climate adjustment such as open door.

10. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 8 wherein the predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays estimated time before completion of charging.

11. The notification system for the electrically charged vehicle of claim 8 wherein the predetermined message displayed on the display screen of the electrically charged vehicle displays any interruption in charging.

12. A method in accordance with the present invention for displaying information to the user of an automotive vehicle regarding pre-climate adjustment, the method performed by a controller, settings and current status, the method comprising the steps of:

determining by the controller prior to ignition of the automotive vehicle and during charging of the automotive vehicle a predetermined condition within the automotive vehicle of the climate within the automotive vehicle, the predetermined condition being opening of an automotive vehicle door;

determining the setting of the pre-climate adjustment;

recognition of the predetermined condition operable to trigger a status update display;

recognition of the setting of the pre-climate adjustment;

determining an appropriate status update to be provided to the user of the automotive vehicle; and

displaying the appropriate status update prior to ignition of the automotive vehicle on the display screen within the automotive vehicle, the appropriate status update displayed automatically to the user upon opening of the automotive vehicle door.

13. A method in accordance with the present invention for displaying information to the user of an automotive vehicle regarding pre-climate adjustment, the method performed by the controller, settings and current status, the method comprising the steps of:

determining by the controller prior to ignition of the automotive vehicle and during charging of the vehicle a predetermined condition within the automotive vehicle of the climate within the vehicle, the predetermined condition being recognition of the key within close proximity to the automotive vehicle;

determining the setting of the pre-climate adjustment;

recognition of the predetermined condition operable to trigger a status update display;

recognition of the setting of the pre-climate adjustment;

determining an appropriate status update to be provided to a user of the automotive vehicle; and

displaying the appropriate status update on a display screen prior to ignition within the automotive vehicle, the appropriate status update displayed automatically to the user upon opening of the automotive vehicle door or recognition of the key within close proximity to the automotive vehicle.

14. A notification system for an electrically charged vehicle having a charging system and a climate control system, the electrically charged vehicle providing for pre-climate adjustment before vehicle user operation, the notification system comprising:

a vehicle charging system;

a controller to determine a predetermined condition within the vehicle prior to ignition of the vehicle while the vehicle is charging;

a display screen within the vehicle in communication with the vehicle charging system and the controller, the controller displaying on the display screen within the vehicle a status update regarding charging or pre-climate conditions automatically upon the predetermined condition recognition of a key in close proximity to but not within the vehicle.