Initialization sequence for a vehicle grille shutter
First Claim
1. A method of initializing operation of a shutter arranged relative to a grille opening in a vehicle having a power-plant, the method comprising:
- detecting via a controller a start-up of the power-plant;
sensing via the controller a temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant;
commanding the shutter, via the controller, to achieve a fully-opened position when the sensed temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted;
sensing via the controller a temperature of the power-plant;
commanding the shutter, via the controller, to achieve a fully-closed position when the temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked; and
identifying via the controller that the shutter has achieved full travel following the shutter having achieved each of the fully-opened position and the fully-closed position in sequence;
wherein said identifying that the shutter has achieved full travel is indicative of the operation of the shutter having been initialized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of initializing operation of a shutter arranged relative to a grille opening in a vehicle having a power-plant includes detecting a start-up of the power-plant. The method also includes sensing a temperature of ambient air. The method also includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-opened position when the temperature of ambient air is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted. The method additionally includes commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-closed position when a temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked. A vehicle using a controller configured to perform the above method is also provided.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of initializing operation of a shutter arranged relative to a grille opening in a vehicle having a power-plant, the method comprising:
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detecting via a controller a start-up of the power-plant; sensing via the controller a temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant; commanding the shutter, via the controller, to achieve a fully-opened position when the sensed temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted; sensing via the controller a temperature of the power-plant; commanding the shutter, via the controller, to achieve a fully-closed position when the temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked; and identifying via the controller that the shutter has achieved full travel following the shutter having achieved each of the fully-opened position and the fully-closed position in sequence; wherein said identifying that the shutter has achieved full travel is indicative of the operation of the shutter having been initialized. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vehicle comprising:
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a power-plant; a grille opening; an adjustable shutter arranged relative to the grille opening and configured to selectively open and close the grille opening; and a controller configured to initialize operation of the shutter via; detecting a start-up of the power-plant; sensing a temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant; commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-opened position when the sensed temperature of ambient air upon the start-up of the power-plant is above a predetermined value such that a flow of ambient air to the power-plant through the grille opening is substantially unrestricted; sensing the temperature of the power-plant; commanding the shutter to achieve a fully-closed position when the temperature of the power-plant is maintained below a threshold value such that the flow of ambient air through the grille opening to the power-plant is substantially blocked; and identifying that the shutter has achieved full travel following the shutter having achieved each of the fully-opened position and the fully-closed position in sequence; wherein the identification that the shutter has achieved full travel is indicative of the operation of the shutter having been initialized. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification