Vehicle system and method for activating hazard lights during battery disconnect events

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10620271-B2
Application number	US-201715668758-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2017
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Apr 14, 2020
Grant date	Apr 14, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a high voltage battery and at least one control module configured to monitor the high voltage battery and command a visual warning in response to a disconnect event of the high voltage battery. The visual warning may be produced by a hazard light.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle system, comprising:
a high voltage battery;
a hazard light configured to provide a visual warning; and
at least one control module configured to monitor the high voltage battery and command the hazard light to provide the visual warning in response to a disconnect event of the high voltage battery.

2. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one control module includes a first control module and a second control module in communication with the first control module.

3. The vehicle system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first control module is configured to monitor the high voltage battery and the second control module is configured to command the visual warning.

4. The vehicle system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the first control module and the second control module communicate over a communication link.

5. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , comprising a low voltage battery configured to power the hazard light during the disconnect event.

6. The vehicle system as recited in claim 5 , comprising a switch that is movable between an open position in which the low voltage battery is decoupled from the hazard light and a closed position in which the low voltage battery is coupled to the hazard light during the disconnect event.

7. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , comprising at least one contactor configured to selectively disconnect the high voltage battery from a high voltage load to create the disconnect event.

8. The vehicle system as recited in claim 7 , wherein the high voltage load is an electric motor, a generator, or a combined motor/generator.

9. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the visual warning is provided to alert vehicles nearby a vehicle equipped with the vehicle system of the disconnect event.

10. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disconnect event indicates a loss of motive power.

11. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , comprising an electric motor or generator powered by the high voltage battery.

12. The vehicle system as recited in claim 11 , comprising a contactor configured to selectively disconnect the high voltage battery from the electric motor or generator to create the disconnect event.

13. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one control module includes a first control module configured to monitor the high voltage battery and a second control module configured to control the hazard light.

14. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one control module is configured to command the hazard light to product a flashing light that provides the visual warning of the disconnect event to vehicles nearby a hybrid or battery electric vehicle equipped with the vehicle system.

15. The vehicle system as recited in claim 14 , wherein the flashing light is produced at an exterior location of the hybrid or battery electric vehicle.

16. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disconnect event occurs in response to a battery cell overcharge fault condition.

17. The vehicle system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the disconnect event occurs in response to a battery cell over-discharge fault condition.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bolduc Robert
• Kimoto Massahiro
• Cunningham Ken Jon

Classifications

• F16H61/66

  specially adapted for continuously variable gearings (control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38) · CPC title

• B60L2250/10

  by alarm · CPC title

• F16H9/04

  using belts, V-belts, or ropes (with toothed belts F16H9/24; pulleys of adjustable construction F16H55/52) · CPC title

• B60L7/10

  Dynamic electric regenerative braking (B60L7/22 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q1/46

  for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights {or hazard lights} · CPC title