Electrified vehicle operating mode prompt

• US 9,586,597 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2014
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bolger, Bryan Michael, Porras, Angel Fernando, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam, Treharne, William David
• Primary Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US14/476,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20160068168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701/24, 701/99, 701/102, 701/101, 701/112, 701/113, 701/117, 340/905, 340/438, 340/459, 340/461, 116/28.1, 180/197
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/242 for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• 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: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

An exemplary method includes prompting a user to change an operating mode of an electrified vehicle from a first mode to a second mode that is different than the first mode. The first mode is a default mode. The second mode is a non-default mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

controlling a device with a controller to prompt a user to change an operating mode of a vehicle from a default first mode where the vehicle is driven using electric power, to a non-default second mode that is different than the first mode, the prompting during a start of a new drive cycle where the vehicle is in a non-drive gear and powered up from a shut-down condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is driven while enabling power from an internal combustion engine when operated in the second mode.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is operated in the second mode when ending a prior drive cycle, the prior drive cycle immediately preceding the new drive cycle.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the operating mode changes how the vehicle prioritizes using electric power from a battery to drive the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the prompting comprises displaying a message to the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the message comprises text on a display within the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, including receiving an input from the user to change the operating mode to the second mode, the input in response to the prompting.

13. The method of claim 3, wherein the vehicle is shut down at a conclusion of the prior drive cycle.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising prompting prior to putting the vehicle in a drive gear.

8. A system, comprising:

a battery to selectively provide electrical power for powering an electrified vehicle; and

a controller that controls a device to initiate a prompt to a user to change an operating mode of the electrified vehicle from a first mode to a second mode that is different than the first mode, the first mode a default mode, the second mode a non-default mode, wherein the controller initiates the prompt when the electrified vehicle is in a non-drive gear and is powered on from a shut-down condition at the start of a new drive cycle, and a change in the operating mode changes how the electrified vehicle prioritizes usage of electrical power from the battery.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first mode causes the electrified vehicle to be driven using electrical power from an electric drive system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second mode causes the electrified vehicle to be driven while enabling power from an internal combustion engine.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller initiates the prompt if the electrified vehicle is operated in the second mode when ending a prior drive cycle, the prior drive cycle immediately preceding the new drive cycle.

12. The system of claim 8, including a display that visually displays the prompt.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the electrified vehicle is shut down when ending the prior drive cycle.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller initiates the prompt prior to the electrified vehicle shifting to a drive gear.

16. A method, comprising:

controlling a device with a controller to prompt a user to change an operating mode of an vehicle from a default, first mode where the vehicle is driven using electric power, to a different, non-default second mode, the prompting during a start of a new drive cycle where the vehicle is

powered up from a shut-down condition, wherein changing the vehicle from a non-drive gear to a drive gear stops the prompting.

18. A system, comprising:

a controller that controls a device to initiate a prompt to a user to change an operating mode of an electrified vehicle from a default, first mode that causes the electrified vehicle to be driven using electrical power from an electric drive system to a non-default, second mode, the controller initiating the prompt when the electrified vehicle is powered on from a shut-down condition at the start of a new drive cycle, wherein the controller stops the prompt in response to a user placing the electrified vehicle in a drive gear rather than a non-drive gear.