Method and system for activating in-vehicle power source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10895235-B2
Application number	US-201715793534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2017
Priority date	Oct 25, 2017
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A system for a vehicle includes an input device configured to send an activation signal responsive to an input to start the vehicle. The system further includes a vehicle body controller, programmed to, responsive to the input and a lack of presence of a phone operating as a key, send an activation signal to activate a power source within a cabin of the vehicle for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for a vehicle comprising:
a storage configured to maintain mobile device pairing information;
an input device configured to send a vehicle activation signal responsive to an input to transition the vehicle to an on or accessory mode; and
a vehicle body controller, programmed to, responsive to the input and a lack of presence of a valid key,
query the storage to identify whether pairing information is being maintained for at least one mobile device that is not detected as being within a cabin of the vehicle, the at least one mobile device storing a key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode,
if so, activate a power source, within a cabin of the vehicle and configured to charge the at least one mobile device storing the key, for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start, thereby allowing the mobile device storing the key to gain charge to send the key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode, and
otherwise, refrain from activating the power source.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is connected to an in-vehicle network, and the vehicle body controller is further programmed to send a power source activation signal over the in-vehicle network.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a battery level detector connected to the in-vehicle network, configured to determine a state of charge (SOC) of a battery installed in the vehicle and configured to power the power source, wherein the vehicle body controller is configured to activate the power source responsive to the SOC of the battery being greater than a first threshold.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the battery level detector is configured to monitor the SOC of the battery responsive to activation of the power source, and the body controller is configured to deactivate the power source responsive to the SOC of the battery being lower than a second threshold.

5. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a wireless accessory controller connected to the in-vehicle network configured to activate a wireless charger responsive to receipt of the activation signal over the in-vehicle network.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further configured to activate the power source for a second predefined time period responsive to a subsequent activation signal sent from the input device.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further configured to deactivate the power source responsive the sum of the first predefined time period and the second predefined time period reaching a power budget maximum allowable time for the power source to be activated during a key off cycle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the presence of the valid key includes the presence of a valid key code.

9. A method comprising:
maintaining mobile device pairing information in a storage of a vehicle;
receiving an input to transition the vehicle to an on or accessory mode, the vehicle configured to start with presence of a mobile device operating as a key;
responsive to the input and a lack of presence of a valid key, querying the storage to identify whether pairing information is being maintained for at least one mobile device that is not detected as being within a cabin of the vehicle, the at least one mobile device storing a key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode;
activating a power source, located within a cabin of the vehicle and configured to charge the at least one mobile device storing the key, for up to a predefined period responsive to a lack of detection of presence of the mobile device or any valid key, thereby allowing the mobile device storing the key to gain charge to send the key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode; and
otherwise, refraining from activating the power source.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating a power source further comprises sending a power source activation signal via an in-vehicle network.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising deactivating the power source responsive to expiration of the predefined period.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining a state of charge (SOC) of a battery of the vehicle, wherein the power source is activated responsive to the SOC being above a first threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising deactivating the power source responsive to the SOC being below a second threshold.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising activating the power source for a second predefined time period responsive to a subsequent activation signal.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the power source includes at least one of a universal serial bus (USB) port, a cigarette lighter socket, or a wireless charger.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
wirelessly connecting to a mobile device having a key stored therein by a wireless transceiver;
validating the key stored in the mobile device by a processer; and
responsive to a successful validation of the key, starting the vehicle.

17. A system comprising:
a processor of a vehicle programmed to, responsive to receiving an input to transition a vehicle to an accessory or on mode without detecting presence of a mobile device operating as a key or another valid key, the vehicle identified according to a storage of the vehicle as being configured to start with presence of the mobile device due to the storage maintaining pairing information for the mobile device, send an activation signal to activate a power source, within a cabin of the vehicle and configured to charge the mobile device operating as a key, for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start thereby allowing the mobile device operating as a key to gain charge to send the key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode, and otherwise, refrain from activating the power source.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the activation signal is sent over an in-vehicle network, and further comprising a charger connected to the in-vehicle network configured to activate the power source responsive to receipt of the activation signal over the in-vehicle network.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to send a deactivation signal over an in-vehicle network to deactivate the power source responsive to detection of the presence of the mobile device operating as the key or another valid key.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• King Daniel M
• Hrecznyj Michael
• Van Wiemeersch John Robert
• Thivierge Jr Timothy
• Deljevic Zeljko
• Myslinski Jason

Classifications

• H04W4/02 Primary

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• F02N11/0807 Primary

  Remote means · CPC title

• F02N11/0818

  Conditions for starting or stopping the engine or for deactivating the idle-start-stop mode · CPC title

• F02N11/101

  for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement · CPC title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title