Method for auxiliary load control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11110800-B2
Application number	US-201916375291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Apr 4, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling power generation in a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes a controller coupled to an auxiliary device through a communication link, the auxiliary device drawing power from a generator at a power interface. Power supplied to the auxiliary device is regulated by the controller through signals transmitted over the communication link.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a vehicle system with an internal combustion engine, comprising:
at a controller, establishing a communication link between the controller and an auxiliary device electrically coupled to a power interface of a vehicle;
receiving a signal from the auxiliary device indicative of a present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; and
regulating power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption,
wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising implementing an overload mitigation mode responsive to determining a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes:
triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system; and
sending an overload alert to a mobile device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes shutting down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of a plurality of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a plurality of power outlets in the power interface.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes reducing a generator field current in an electric machine of a powertrain of the vehicle, the electric machine supplying power to the power interface and tripping a circuit breaker in the power interface.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, subsequent to the implementation of the overload mitigation mode, resetting the circuit breaker in the power interface.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein resetting the circuit breaker includes increasing a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein resetting the circuit breaker includes waiting a predetermined time and resuming a current flow to the auxiliary device.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the circuit breaker is reset responsive to receiving a breaker reset request from the auxiliary device.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a power interface state message to a mobile device based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, prior to sending the power interface state message to the mobile device, predicting an engine temperature increase based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device and wherein the power interface state message includes an overheat alert message.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the power interface state message includes one or more of a current power consumption of the auxiliary device, an expected runtime of the auxiliary device, engine cooling system data, and a predicted temperature rise of the internal combustion engine.

13. A vehicle system, comprising:
an external power interface including a power outlet receiving electrical energy from an electric machine coupled to an internal combustion engine when a vehicle is stationary;
a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to:
establish a wireless communication link with an auxiliary device electrically coupled to the power outlet;
receive a wireless signal from the auxiliary device indicative of a present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; and
regulate an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device,
wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine.

14. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to:
implement an overload mitigation mode responsive to predicting a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device;
wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes one or more of:
triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system; and
sending an overload alert to an operator mobile device.

15. The vehicle system of claim 14 , wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to: subsequent to implementation of the overload mitigation mode, increase a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount and reset a circuit breaker in the power interface.

16. The vehicle system of claim 13 , wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to:
in response to predicting a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, shut down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of a plurality of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a plurality of power outlets in the power interface.

17. A method for operating a vehicle system with an internal combustion engine coupled to an electric machine, comprising:
at a controller, establishing a wireless communication link between a controller and an auxiliary device electrically coupled to a power interface of a vehicle;
receiving a signal from the auxiliary device indicative of an anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device;
regulating an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface by adjusting the internal combustion engine and/or the electric machine based on the signal indicative of the anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine;
determining a power interface overload condition; and
tripping a circuit breaker in the power interface.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, subsequent to tripping the circuit breaker, increasing a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount and resetting the circuit breaker in the power interface.

19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, responsive to determining the power interface overload condition, shutting down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a corresponding power outlet.

20. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, in response to determining the power interface overload condition, triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system and sending an overload alert to a mobile device.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart
• Pursifull Ross Dykstra
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Glickman David Brian
• Taylor William

Classifications

• B60W10/08

  including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators · CPC title

• B60L1/006 Primary

  to power outlets · CPC title

• B60K6/26

  characterised by the motors or the generators · CPC title

• B60K2006/4825

  Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft · CPC title

• B60W2710/06

  Combustion engines, Gas turbines · CPC title