Method and system for activating in-vehicle power source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11530673-B2
Application number	US-202117144875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 8, 2021
Priority date	Oct 25, 2017
Publication date	Dec 20, 2022
Grant date	Dec 20, 2022

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:
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:
identify whether the vehicle is paired with at least one mobile device that is not detected as being present, the at least one mobile device storing a key for transitioning the vehicle to the on or accessory mode, and
if so, activate a power source within a cabin of the vehicle for up to a predefined time period since a last vehicle start, the power source configured to charge the at least one mobile device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to receive the predefined time period from the at least one mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to receive the predefined time period from a mobile device different from the at least one mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to receive the predefined time period via Wi-Fi.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to receive the predefined time period via a connection to a remote server.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising an embedded modem of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to perform the connection to the remote server using the embedded modem.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to disable activating the power source within the cabin while the vehicle is in a plant or factory mode.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle body controller is further programmed to:
activate the power source for a second predefined time period responsive to a subsequent activation signal; and
receive the second predefined time period from one or more of the at least one mobile device, a Wi-Fi connection, or a connection to a remote server.

9. A method comprising:
receiving, to a controller of a vehicle from a remote source, a predefined time period for activation of a power source within a cabin of the vehicle, the power source for use in charging of devices during keyoff of the vehicle;
receiving, to the controller, 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; and
activating, by the controller, the power source for up to the predefined time period responsive to the input and a lack of detection of presence of the mobile device or any valid key.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the remote source is the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the remote source is a second mobile device different from the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the remote source is via a Wi-Fi connection.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the remote source is via a connection to a remote server.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using an embedded modem of the vehicle to perform the connection to the remote server.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disabling activating the power source while the vehicle is in a plant or factory mode.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
activating the power source for a second predefined time period responsive to a subsequent activation signal; and
receiving the second predefined time period from one or more of the mobile device, a different mobile device, a Wi-Fi connection, or a connection to a remote server.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of a controller of a vehicle, cause the vehicle to perform operations including to:
receive to a controller of the vehicle, from a remote source, a predefined time period for activation of a power source within a cabin of the vehicle, the power source for use in charging of devices during keyoff of the vehicle;
receive 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; and
activate the power source for up to the predefined time period responsive to the input and a lack of detection of presence of the mobile device or any valid key.

18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the remote source is the mobile device.

19. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the remote source is a second mobile device different from the mobile device.

20. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the remote source is via a Wi-Fi connection.

21. The medium of claim 17 , wherein the remote source is via a connection to a remote server.

22. The medium of claim 21 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the controller of the vehicle, cause the vehicle to perform operations including to use an embedded modem of the vehicle to perform the connection to the remote server.

23. The medium of claim 17 further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the controller of the vehicle, cause the vehicle to perform operations including to disable activating the power while the vehicle is in a plant or factory mode.

24. The medium of claim 17 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor of the controller of the vehicle, cause the vehicle to perform operations including to:
activate the power source for a second predefined time period responsive to a subsequent activation signal; and
receive the second predefined time period from one or more of the mobile device, a different mobile device, a Wi-Fi connection, or a connection to a remote server.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F02N11/0807 Primary

  Remote means · CPC title

• B60R25/24

  using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user · CPC title

• H04W4/02 Primary

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• F02N11/0818

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

• F02N11/0803

  characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop (F02N11/0814 takes precedence) · CPC title