System and method for control module alarm wake

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10871749-B2
Application number	US-201715807305-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2017
Priority date	Nov 8, 2017
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for scheduling an alarm wake up to self-wake a control module of a vehicle while the vehicle is off to perform requesting features, including diagnostic and non-diagnostic afterrun tasks. In one example, a method may include, during a shutdown event of the control module, querying a plurality of requesting features for alarm wake up times, receiving a plurality of alarm wake up times from the plurality of requesting features, selecting one alarm wake up time from the plurality of alarm wake up times received, and setting a timer for the selected alarm wake up time. When the timer elapses at the selected alarm wake up time, the control module is woken and a request to run is sent to each of the plurality of requesting features.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
querying a first requesting feature and a second requesting feature for alarm wake up times responsive to a key-off event of a vehicle and prior to a control module of the vehicle being shut down;
selecting a first alarm wake up time from the first requesting feature and not selecting a second alarm wake up time from the second requesting feature;
setting a timer for the first alarm wake up time prior to the control module being shut down; and
waking the control module and sending a request to run to both of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature upon the timer elapsing at the first alarm wake up time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature are included in the control module, and the control module wakes up while the vehicle is off in response to the timer elapsing.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the control module is shut down after setting the timer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the first requesting feature determines the first alarm wake up time based on current vehicle conditions and entry conditions for the first requesting feature, and the second requesting feature determines the second alarm wake up time based on the current vehicle conditions and entry conditions for the second requesting feature.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
upon receiving the request to run, running the first requesting feature responsive to the current vehicle conditions meeting the entry conditions for the first requesting feature and running the second requesting feature responsive to the current vehicle conditions meeting the entry conditions for the second requesting feature.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein each of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature indicates completion based on a determination of finishing its run.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
initiating a shutdown of the control module after each of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature indicates completion.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
upon the timer elapsing at the first alarm wake up time,
clearing the timer;
incrementing an alarm wake up counter; and
setting the timer for a new wake up time based on a count of the alarm wake up counter after initiating the shutdown of the control module.

9. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
operating with the current vehicle conditions meeting the entry conditions for at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature; and
in response to the current vehicle conditions meeting the entry conditions for the at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature, running the at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature.

10. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
operating with the current vehicle conditions not meeting the entry conditions for at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature; and
in response to the current vehicle conditions not meeting the entry conditions for the at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature, not running the at least one of the first requesting feature and the second requesting feature.

11. A method, comprising:
operating a control module of a vehicle in an alarm clock mode in response to an alarm wake up, the alarm wake up occurring during a key-off period and triggered by a set timer elapsing, the set timer scheduled by a wake manager of the control module responsive to a number of alarm wake ups during the key-off period being less than a threshold; and
operating the control module in a nominal mode in response to a non-alarm wake up.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the key-off period occurs while an ignition of the vehicle is in a key-off position, and the non-alarm wake up is triggered by at least one of a vehicle door ajar signal, a vehicle key-on event, a vehicle remote start request, and a brake pedal of the vehicle being depressed.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the control module performs a nominal startup procedure while operating in the nominal mode, the nominal startup procedure including priming a fuel rail of the vehicle and actuating one or more valves to determine end-stop positions of the one or more valves.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the control module performs an alarm clock mode startup procedure while operating in the alarm clock mode, the alarm clock mode startup procedure including priming the fuel rail of the vehicle and not actuating the one or more valves.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein operating in the alarm clock mode further includes performing afterrun tasks, the afterrun tasks including diagnostic and non-diagnostic tasks performed by features enabled to schedule the alarm wake up.

16. A system for a vehicle, comprising:
an engine system, including an engine configured to propel the vehicle by combusting air and fuel;
a fuel system, including a fuel tank for storing the fuel;
an evaporative emissions system in fluidic communication with the fuel system and an intake of the engine;
a control system, including a plurality of control modules communicatively coupled over a controller area network; and
a first control module of the plurality of control modules, the first control module including an alarm wake system and storing instructions in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the first control module to:
during a shutdown event,
schedule an alarm wake up via the alarm wake system prior to transitioning to a sleep mode when an alarm wake up count is less than a threshold count; and
transition to the sleep mode without scheduling the alarm wake up when the alarm wake up count is equal to the threshold count.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the alarm wake system comprises a wake manager, a timer, a startup/shutdown controller, a plurality of requesting features, and a plurality of non-requesting features.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the wake manager receives alarm wake up times from the plurality of requesting features and not from the plurality of non-requesting features, the wake manager selects one alarm wake up time from the received alarm wake up times, and the wake manager sets the timer for the selected one alarm wake up time.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the startup/shutdown controller maintains a power relay of the first control module in an “on” position while the alarm wake up is being scheduled and switches the power relay of the first control module to an “off” position after the timer is set.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of requesting features includes an engine-off evaporative emissions system diagnostic test, and the first control module stores further instructions in non-transitory memory that, when executed, cause the first control module to:
transition from the sleep mode to an alarm wake mode responsive to the timer elapsing;
transmit a request to run to each of the plurality of requesting features and none of the non-requesting features via the startup/shutdown controller;
perform the engine-off evaporative emissions system diagnostic test responsive to entry conditions for the engine-off evaporative emissions system diagnostic test being met; and
request a new alarm wake up time for the engine-off evaporative emissions system diagnostic t

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jentz Robert Roy
• Sharma Sanyam
• Jefferson Eric David
• Hamilton Hugh

Classifications

• G07C5/0808 Primary

  Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005) · CPC title

• G07C5/085

  using electronic data carriers · CPC title

• B60W2050/041

  Built in Test Equipment [BITE] · CPC title

• G04F3/08 Primary

  Additional arrangements in connection with ordinary electric clocks for this purpose · CPC title

• G04G13/026

  acting at a number of different times · CPC title