Vehicle charge control for protection against cold crank failure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10746151-B2
Application number	US-201815925269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2018
Priority date	Mar 19, 2018
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Chen Hanyang B
• Irby Michael J

Classifications

• H02J7/933

  the cycle being controlled or terminated in response to electric parameters · CPC title

• B60L1/00 Primary

  Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00) · CPC title

• F02N11/0862 Primary

  characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery · CPC title

• F02N11/0825 Primary

  related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state · CPC title

• F02N2200/061

  Battery state of charge [SOC] · CPC title