Method for auxiliary load control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11390169-B2
Application number	US-202117444234-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 2, 2021
Priority date	Apr 4, 2019
Publication date	Jul 19, 2022
Grant date	Jul 19, 2022

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 that is electrically coupled to a power interface of the vehicle system;
receiving data from the auxiliary device indicative of a present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; and
adjusting an output of an electric machine based on the data indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption, where the auxiliary device is electrically coupled to the power interface and the electric machine is mechanically coupled to the internal combustion engine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the output of the electric machine includes, responsive to initiation of an auxiliary device stall, reducing a field current of the electric machine.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising triggering a vehicle light and/or a vehicle horn responsive to a determination of a power interface overload condition based on the data indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication link is a power line communication (PLC) link.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power interface includes a power outlet that is electrically coupled to the auxiliary device via an electrical plug.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
in response to determining a power interface overload condition based on the data indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, sending an overcurrent alert to a mobile device;
where the overcurrent alert notifies a user of the mobile device that a current is stalled at the auxiliary device.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the overcurrent alert is sent from the controller to the mobile device over a short range low energy network.

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

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the power interface state message includes a current power consumption of the auxiliary device and an expected runtime of the auxiliary device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the power interface state message includes engine cooling system data and a predicted temperature rise of the internal combustion engine.

11. A vehicle system comprising:
an external power interface including a power outlet that receives electrical energy from an electric machine when a vehicle is stationary, where the electric machine is coupled to an internal combustion engine; and
a controller including computer readable instructions that when executed cause the controller to:
establish a wireless communication link with an auxiliary device that is electrically coupled to the power outlet;
wirelessly receive data from the auxiliary device that is indicative of a current and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device;
in response to the auxiliary device stalling, disconnect the auxiliary device from the external power interface; and
responsive to an overload condition of the external power interface, regulate an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the external power interface by adjusting the electric machine based on the data indicative of the current and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device,
wherein adjusting the electric machine includes reducing a field current of the electric machine.

12. The vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication link is a short range low energy network.

13. The vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein the controller includes computer readable instructions that when executed cause the controller to:
prior to disconnection of the auxiliary device, adjust an output of the electric machine.

14. The vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein the electric machine is an integrated starter generator (IS G).

15. The vehicle system of claim 11 , wherein the external power interface is included in a vehicle bed and the power outlet is electrically coupled to the auxiliary device via an electrical plug.

16. A method for operating a vehicle system with an internal combustion engine coupled to an electric machine, comprising:
at a powertrain control module (PCM), automatically pairing the PCM and an auxiliary device that is electrically coupled to a power interface of the vehicle system;
receiving data from the auxiliary device indicative of a current and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device;
responsive an overload condition at the power interface, generating an overload indicator that includes visual, audio, and/or haptic notifications; and
responsive to the overload condition of the power interface, regulating an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface by adjusting the electric machine based on the data indicative of the current and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device,
wherein adjusting the electric machine includes reducing a field current of the electric machine.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, subsequent to reducing the field current of the electric machine, tripping a breaker in the power interface.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising, subsequent to tripping the breaker, increasing a power output of the electric machine and resetting the breaker in the power interface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B60L1/006 Primary

  to power outlets · CPC title

• B60W2710/08

  Electric propulsion units · CPC title

• B60W50/00

  Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit {, e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces} · CPC title

• B60W10/08

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

• B60W10/06 Primary

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title