Remote climate control device including electrical heater for a hybrid vehicle and associated methods

• US 9,170,585 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Original Assignee: Omega Patents, L.L.C.
• Inventors: Flick, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan k
• Assistant Examiner(s): King, Rodney P
• Application Number:
  US12/180,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,647 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/004 for vehicles having a combustion engine and electric drive means, e.g. hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00657 Remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/02 the heat being derived from the propulsion plant B60H1/00492 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control

Abstract

A remote climate control system is for a hybrid vehicle having a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, and a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle. At least one of the electrical heater and the sensor is coupled to the data communications bus. The remote climate control system includes a remote transmitter and a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter. A vehicle remote climate controller cooperates with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter.

Claims

1. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, and at least one of the electrical heater and the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller disabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

2. The remote climate control system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is coupled to the data communications bus;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller receives signals from the sensor via the data communications bus.

3. The remote climate control system of claim 1 wherein the electrical heater is coupled to the data communications bus;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller sends signals to the electrical heater via the data communications bus.

4. The remote climate control system of claim 1 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

5. The remote climate control system of claim 1 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

6. The remote climate control system of claim 1 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle.

7. The remote temperature climate system according to claim 1 wherein said vehicle remote climate controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote climate controller.

8. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, the electrical heater coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter comprising a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller disabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

9. The remote climate control system of claim 8 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

10. The remote climate control system of claim 8 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

11. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter comprising a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller disabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

12. The remote climate control system of claim 11 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

13. The remote climate control system of claim 11 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

14. A method of installing a remote climate control system in a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, and at least one of the electrical heater and the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the method comprising:

coupling a vehicle remote climate controller to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover, the vehicle remote climate controller to cooperate with a receiver to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and the remote transmitter, the vehicle remote climate controller disabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein the vehicle remote climate controller is to start the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the vehicle remote climate controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote climate controller.

17. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, and at least one of the electrical heater and the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller enabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing the rechargeable electrical power source being coupled to an external power source.

18. The remote climate control system of claim 17 wherein the sensor is coupled to the data communications bus;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller receives signals from the sensor via the data communications bus.

19. The remote climate control system of claim 17 wherein the electrical heater is coupled to the data communications bus;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller sends signals to the electrical heater via the data communications bus.

20. The remote climate control system of claim 17 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

21. The remote climate control system of claim 17 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

22. The remote climate control system of claim 17 wherein said remote transmitter comprises a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle.

23. The remote temperature climate system according to claim 17 wherein said vehicle remote climate controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote climate controller.

24. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, the electrical heater coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter comprising a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller enabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing the rechargeable electrical power source being coupled to an external power source.

25. The remote climate control system of claim 24 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

26. The remote climate control system of claim 24 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

27. A remote climate control system for a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the remote climate control system comprising:

a remote transmitter comprising a remote wireless handheld transmitter to be carried by a user when away from the vehicle;

a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter; and

a vehicle remote climate controller cooperating with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter, said vehicle remote climate controller enabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing the rechargeable electrical power source being coupled to an external power source.

28. The remote climate control system of claim 27 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller starts the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

29. The remote climate control system of claim 27 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a security circuit coupled to the electrical heater for selectively enabling operation thereof;

and wherein said vehicle remote climate controller bypasses the security circuit to enable remote operation of the electrical heater.

30. A method of installing a remote climate control system in a hybrid vehicle comprising a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical heater selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle, and at least one of the electrical heater and the sensor coupled to the data communications bus, the method comprising:

coupling a vehicle remote climate controller to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover, the vehicle remote climate controller to cooperate with a receiver to selectively operate the electrical heater responsive to the sensor and the remote transmitter, the vehicle remote climate controller enabling the electrical heater based upon the sensor sensing the rechargeable electrical power source being coupled to an external power source.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the hybrid vehicle further comprises a combustion engine;

and wherein the vehicle remote climate controller is to start the combustion engine based upon the sensor sensing a voltage of the rechargeable electrical power source being below a threshold.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein the vehicle remote climate controller comprises a multi-vehicle compatible remote climate controller.