Vehicle charge control for protection against cold crank failure

• US 10,746,151 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2018
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Chen, Hanyang B., Irby, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kirkland, III, Freddie
• Application Number:
  US15/925,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20190285041A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0825 related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0859 specially adapted to the type of the starter motor or integrated into it
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/045 Starter temperature or parameters related to it
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/046 Energy or power necessary for starting
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/062 Battery current
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/064 Battery temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/122 Atmospheric temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00712 the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1446 in response to parameters of a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle charge control for protection against cold crank failure. An example vehicle includes a battery and a body control module. The body control module is to obtain state of charge information of the battery, obtain temperature information, and estimate a next crank time based on the state of charge information and the temperature information.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a battery; and

an electronic control unit (ECU) configured to;

obtain state of charge information of the battery;

obtain temperature information; and

estimate a next crank time of an engine of the vehicle based on the state of charge information and the temperature information, the next crank time including a duration of time required to crank the engine successfully.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to estimate the next crank time by comparing the state of charge information and the temperature information to a data table.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the data table relates state of charge information and temperature information to an estimated next crank time.

4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to update the data table based on at least one of:

a measured crank time of the vehicle, a measured battery SOC, or a measured battery temperature with cold engine condition.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to

adjust the state of charge information based on an average key-off load measured in a prior parking event and an estimated vehicle park time.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to obtain the temperature information by:

Storing a plurality of vehicle ambient air temperatures measured by a vehicle ambient air temperature sensor over a threshold period; and

selecting one of the lowest stored ambient air temperatures of the plurality of vehicle ambient air temperatures.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to obtain the temperature information by:

obtaining weather forecasts for a threshold period;

identifying the lowest ambient air temperature included in the weather forecasts; and

selecting the lowest identified ambient air temperature included in the weather forecasts.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to compare the estimated next crank time to a fast threshold crank time and a failure threshold crank time, wherein the failure crank time threshold is longer than the fast crank time threshold.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to:

compare the estimated next crank time to a failure threshold crank time; and

responsive to a determination that the estimated next crank time is greater than the failure threshold crank time, qualify the estimated next crank time as a failed cold crank.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to

compare the estimated next crank time to a failure threshold;

determine that the estimated next crank time is equal to or less than the failure threshold;

compare the estimated next crank time to a fast crank threshold;

determine that the estimated next crank time is equal to or less than the fast crank threshold; and

qualify, based on the determination that the estimated next crank time is equal to or less than the fast crank threshold, the estimated next crank time as a fast cold crank.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to increase, based on the determination that the estimated next crank time is greater than the failure threshold, an alternator charging voltage to an increasing charging voltage for a threshold period of time.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to provide a message based on the determination that the estimated next crank time is greater than the failure threshold, the message indicating that there is a potential failure of engine cold crank at a next cold crank of the vehicle.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to provide the message via a display device of the vehicle, and wherein the ECU is further configured to send battery state of charge, temperature, cranking time, and battery internal resistance data recorded during a previous vehicle cranking event to a server.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the message further provides an indication to a user to keep the engine running for a threshold period of time to prevent a failed engine start at a next crank attempt.

15. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the message further provides an indication to a user to remote start an engine to charge a battery of the vehicle and prevent a failed engine start at a next crank attempt.

16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to:

disable a vehicle Smart-Regen-Charging function and a vehicle engine automatic Start-Stop function and set a vehicle alternator voltage to be greater than one or more threshold values associated with the vehicle Smart-Regen-Charging function and a vehicle engine automatic Start-Stop function.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is further configured to:

receive an instruction to remotely start the engine of the vehicle; and

increase an ambient temperature of the vehicle by enabling an electric load of the vehicle including at least;

a steering wheel, a heated seat, a heated mirror, or a window defroster, wherein increasing the ambient temperature of the vehicle increases a temperature of the battery for increased battery charging acceptance.

18. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electronic control unit (ECU) is at least one of:

a body control module (BCM) in vehicle or a remote device.

19. A method for qualifying a next cold crank of a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining, from a battery sensor, state of charge information from a battery of the vehicle;

obtaining, by a processor, temperature information associated with the vehicle; and

estimating, by the processor, a next crank time of an engine of the vehicle based on the state of charge information and the temperature information, the next crank time including a duration of time required to crank the engine.