Methods and vehicle systems for selectively using energy obtained from a solar subsystem
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for controlling a vehicle electrical system including (a) a solar subsystem and (b) a low-voltage advanced energy storage subsystem (AESS) having (i) a base portion for storing and providing base power to satisfy electrical loads of the vehicle and (ii) a solar buffer for storing and providing supplemental power to satisfy the electrical loads, the operations comprising:
- determining whether an amount of solar power, being output by the solar subsystem, is greater than a predetermined solar-power value;
operating, if the solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned on, the vehicle electrical system in a light-drive mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS to a full level of the base portion, maintain a charge of the AESS at the full level of the base portion, or satisfy electrical loads of the vehicle;
operating, if the solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned on, the vehicle electrical system in a dark-drive mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS to, or maintain the charge of the AESS at, the full level of the base portion;
operating, if the solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle electrical system in a light-rest mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS, or maintain the charge of the AESS above, the full level of the base portion and the solar buffer; and
operating, if the solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar power value and the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle electrical system in a dark-rest mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an automobile electrical system including a solar subsystem. Components collect and store solar energy in an advanced energy storage subsystem including a base portion and, in some embodiments, a solar-energy buffer. The components use the solar energy selectively to meet vehicle loads, including selectively using one or more of: energy obtained directly from the solar subsystem; energy from the advanced energy storage system; and energy from a high-voltage energy converter such as an alternator or accessory power module.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for controlling a vehicle electrical system including (a) a solar subsystem and (b) a low-voltage advanced energy storage subsystem (AESS) having (i) a base portion for storing and providing base power to satisfy electrical loads of the vehicle and (ii) a solar buffer for storing and providing supplemental power to satisfy the electrical loads, the operations comprising:
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determining whether an amount of solar power, being output by the solar subsystem, is greater than a predetermined solar-power value; operating, if the solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned on, the vehicle electrical system in a light-drive mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS to a full level of the base portion, maintain a charge of the AESS at the full level of the base portion, or satisfy electrical loads of the vehicle; operating, if the solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned on, the vehicle electrical system in a dark-drive mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS to, or maintain the charge of the AESS at, the full level of the base portion; operating, if the solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle electrical system in a light-rest mode, including using the solar power selectively to charge the AESS, or maintain the charge of the AESS above, the full level of the base portion and the solar buffer; and operating, if the solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar power value and the vehicle is turned off, the vehicle electrical system in a dark-rest mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle system comprising:
a low-voltage advanced energy storage subsystem (AESS) including; a base portion that, when fully charged, has electrical capacity sufficient to satisfy all low-voltage electrical loads of the vehicle; and a solar buffer as an additional portion of the AESS to provide additional capacity for storing power at the AESS as supplemental power in addition to power stored at the base portion of the AESS; wherein, in operation of the system; power is provided only to the base portion until the base portion is full, and then power is provided only to the solar buffer; and power is taken only from the solar buffer until the solar buffer is depleted, and then power is taken only from the base portion; a solar subsystem, connected electrically to the AESS and configured to generate the solar power using solar energy; and a high-voltage energy converter (HVEC), connected electrically to a high voltage energy source (HVES) and configured to generate high-voltage power which is subsequently converted to a converted low-voltage power for use in the system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory computer-readable storage device comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, for controlling a vehicle electrical system including (a) a solar subsystem and (b) a low-voltage advanced energy storage subsystem (AESS) including a base portion and a solar buffer for storing power and providing power to satisfy electrical loads of the vehicle and, the operations comprising:
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determining, in a first determination operation, whether an amount of solar power, being output by the solar subsystem, is greater than a predetermined solar-power value; setting, if the amount of solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar power value, a solar DC-to-DC converter (solar DDC) to a sleep mode and returning to the first determining operation; initiating, if the amount of solar power is not greater than the predetermined solar power value and the vehicle is in a drive mode, a dark-drive mode comprising; determining, in a second determination operation, an appropriate output voltage for the solar DDC; and setting the solar DDC to effect output from the solar DDC to the AESS of the appropriate output voltage determined in order to charge the AESS to, or maintain a charge of the AESS at, a full level of the base portion; affecting, if the amount of solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is not in the drive mode, the electrical system to maintain the AESS at full state-of-charge (SOC) by causing a maintenance charging current is provided to the AESS from the solar DDC; and initiating, if the amount of solar power is greater than the predetermined solar-power value and the vehicle is in the drive mode, a light-drive mode comprising; determining, in a third determination operation, an appropriate output voltage for the solar DDC of the electrical system to be greater than a present setting of a high-voltage energy converter (HVEC) of the electrical system; and setting the solar DDC to effect output from the solar DDC to the AESS of the appropriate output voltage determined in order to charge the AESS to, or maintain the charge of the AESS at, the full level of the base portion. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification