Motor vehicle state control system and method

• US 9,815,423 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Flaster, Adam Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Poos, John
• Application Number:
  US14/777,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20160039369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,698 Days
• Field of Search: 307 91, 307 101, 307 107
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/10 actuating a signalling device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/45 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

A vehicle power system includes a plurality of power distribution divisions, a rechargeable energy storage system, switching devices for connection of the power distribution divisions to the rechargeable energy storage system, a plurality of loads energized from the power distribution divisions, a control network including nodes for control over the loads and the switching devices, a mobile transponder and a transceiver which is connected to the controller area network and which provides for communicating with the transponder. Sensors monitored by the controller area network and proximity of the mobile transponder determine a state for vehicle power distribution system.

Claims

1. An electrical power system for a vehicle, the electrical power system comprising:

a plurality of high voltage power distribution sub-systems;

a rechargeable energy storage system;

contactors for electrically connecting at least one of the high voltage power distribution sub-systems to the rechargeable energy storage system;

a plurality of electrical loads for energization from the high voltage power distribution sub-systems;

a control network including nodes for controlling the plurality of electrical loads and the contactors;

a portable transponder having a unique identification code;

means for determining location of the portable transponder relative to a defined area; and

means for establishing modes for the vehicle electrical power system being responsive to determined location of the portable transponder.

2. The electrical power system of claim 1, further comprising:

the means for establishing modes for the vehicle electrical power system being further responsive to location of the vehicle.

3. The electrical power system of claim 2, wherein the modes include modes wherein (1) a high voltage power distribution sub-system for a vehicle drive train is energized, a drive train is enabled and the contactors for all high voltage ancillary systems are allowed to be closed, (2) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the vehicle drive train is energized, the vehicle drive train is disabled and the contactors for the high voltage electrical loads are allowed to close, (3) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the vehicle drive train is energized, the drive train is disabled and high voltage electrical loads are placed on standby, and (4) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the drive train is cut off by opening of the contactors, the drive train and high voltage electrical loads are disabled.

4. The electrical power system of claim 3, wherein the determined location of the portable transponder includes locations relative to the vehicle.

5. The electrical power system of claim 4, further comprising:

a wireless interrogator being mounted on the vehicle for communicating with the portable transponder.

6. The electrical power system of claim 4, further comprising:

the portable transponder being a radio frequency identification tag; and

the means for establishing including a transceiver/radio frequency identification tag interrogator.

7. The electrical power system of claim 4, wherein there are at least four zones in the defined area corresponding to transponder location relative to the vehicle including an in-vehicle zone, a vehicle proximate zone, an inside delivery boundary zone and an outside delivery boundary zone with the zones corresponding to modes of the electrical power system.

8. An electrical power system for a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of high voltage power distribution sub-systems;

a rechargeable energy storage system;

contactors for electrically connecting at least one of the high voltage power distribution sub-systems to the rechargeable energy storage system;

a plurality of electrical loads for energization from the high voltage power distribution sub-systems;

a control network including nodes for controlling the plurality of electrical loads and the contactors;

means for establishing modes for the vehicle electrical power system including modes wherein (1) a high voltage power distribution sub-system for a vehicle drive train is energized, a drive train is enabled and the contactors for all high voltage ancillary systems are allowed to be closed, (2) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the vehicle drive train is energized, the vehicle drive train is disabled and the contactors for the high voltage electrical loads are allowed to close, (3) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the vehicle drive train is energized, the drive train is disabled and high voltage electrical loads are placed on standby, and (4) the high voltage power distribution sub-system for the drive train is cut off by opening of the contactors, the drive train and high voltage electrical loads are disabled.

9. The electrical power system of claim 8, further comprising:

a portable transponder having a unique identification code;

means for determining location of the portable transponder relative to a defined area; and

means for determining vehicle location.

10. The electrical power system of claim 8, the means for establishing modes being responsive to determinations of location of the portable transponder and determination of vehicle location for selecting a mode.