Method and device for operating a vehicle, computer program, and computer program product

• US 9,278,620 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2012
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Nordbruch, Stefan, Galbas, Roland
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/131,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288738A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,398 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 701/70, 180/65.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0076 relating to braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• 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 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method, a computer program and a computer program product for operating a vehicle, which includes as a drive device a least one electric motor, that is associated with at least one electric store, wherein the electric store is charged by an external energy source when the vehicle is at rest. During the charging process, at least initially at least one testing device of the vehicle is activated for monitoring the charging process as well as the rest state of the vehicle, and only when an error state is detected by the testing device at least one safety device of the vehicle is activated.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, which has at least one electric motor, as a drive device, that is associated with at least one electric store, the method comprising:

charging the electric store by an external energy source when the vehicle is at rest;

during the charging process, at least initially, activating only one testing device, located in the vehicle, to monitor the charging process and the stationary state of the vehicle; and

only once an error state is detected by a testing device, activating at least one safety unit of the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one braking device of the vehicle is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the stationary state of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one charging process interruption device for interrupting the charging process is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein an information unit is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process to indicate the detected error state to at least one of the driver of the vehicle, the operator of the external energy source, and the surroundings of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a documentation device is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process to store/document the error state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one restriction device for restricting driving functions of the vehicle is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring the charging process, including as a function of the detected error state.

7. A device for operating a vehicle, comprising:

at least one electric motor, as a drive device, which is assigned an electric store, wherein the electric store is chargeable by an external energy source; and

a control unit for performing the following;

charging the electric store by an external energy source when the vehicle is at rest;

during the charging process, at least initially, activating only one testing device, located in the vehicle, to monitor the charging process and the stationary state of the vehicle; and

only once an error state is detected by a testing device, activating at least one safety unit of the vehicle.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein at least one of a braking device, a charging process interruption device, an information device, a documentation device, and a restriction device is provided as a safety device.

9. A computer readable medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, comprising:

a program code arrangement having program code for operating a vehicle, which has at least one electric motor, as a drive device, that is associated with at least one electric store, by performing the following;

charging the electric store by an external energy source when the vehicle is at rest;

during the charging process, at least initially, activating only one testing device, located in the vehicle, to monitor the charging process and the stationary state of the vehicle; and

only once an error state is detected by a testing device, activating at least one safety unit of the vehicle.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least one braking device of the vehicle is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the stationary state of the vehicle.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least one charging process interruption device for interrupting the charging process is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein an information unit is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process to indicate the detected error state to at least one of the driver of the vehicle, the operator of the external energy source, and the surroundings of the vehicle.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein a documentation device is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring of the charging process to store/document the error state.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least one restriction device for restricting driving functions of the vehicle is activated as a safety device when an error state is detected during monitoring the charging process, including as a function of the detected error state.