Smart grille shutter in connected vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11648835-B2
Application number	US-202016824087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2020
Priority date	Mar 19, 2020
Publication date	May 16, 2023
Grant date	May 16, 2023

Abstract

Methods, systems, devices and apparatuses for a engine compartment ventilation system. The engine compartment ventilation system includes a grille cover. The grille cover is configured to cover an engine compartment of the vehicle. The grille cover has one or more grille shutters. The engine compartment ventilation system includes a sensor. The sensor is configured to measure an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the vehicle. The engine compartment ventilation system includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is coupled to the one or more grille shutters and the sensor. The electronic control unit is configured to control the one or more grille shutters based on the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine compartment ventilation system for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
a grille cover configured to cover an engine compartment of the vehicle and having one or more grille shutters;
a first sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the vehicle;
a second sensor configured to detect a state of the engine; and
an electronic control unit coupled to the one or more grille shutters, the first sensor, and the second sensor, the electronic control unit configured to:
control the one or more grille shutters based on the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle being above or below a first threshold and the state of the engine; and
adjust the first threshold based on at least one of navigational map information, weather information, image data, or an engine temperature, such that some of the weather information is disregarded when determining the first threshold when a current location of the vehicle based on the navigational map information or the image data indicates that the vehicle is covered by a structure or an object is blocking the weather.

2. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more grille shutters are configured to open and close to control airflow into the engine compartment of the vehicle and the electronic control unit is configured to control the one or more grille shutters based on the state of the engine when the state of the engine is off.

3. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 2 , wherein the electronic control unit is configured to:
determine the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle.

4. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 2 , wherein to control the one or more grille shutters the electronic control unit is configured to:
open the one or more grille shutters when the ambient temperature is greater than a threshold temperature.

5. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sensor configured to obtain weather information including a likelihood or an amount of precipitation or a direction or a speed of wind;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the one or more grille shutters further based on the weather information.

6. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sensor configured to detect an orientation of the vehicle;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the one or more grille shutters further based on the orientation of the vehicle.

7. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a navigation unit configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to control the one or more grille shutters further based on the current location of the vehicle.

8. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 1 , wherein to control the one or more grille shutters based on the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle, the electronic control unit is configured to:
partially open the one or more grille shutters a first amount when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature;
close the one or more grille shutters when the ambient temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature but less than a second threshold temperature; and
open the one or more grille shutters a second amount when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second threshold temperature.

9. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 8 , wherein the first amount is less than the second amount and the first threshold temperature is less than the second threshold temperature.

10. An engine compartment ventilation system for a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
a grille cover configured to cover an engine compartment of the vehicle and having one or more grille shutters;
a first sensor configured to measure an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the vehicle;
a second sensor configured to detect a state of the engine; and
an electronic control unit coupled to the one or more grille shutters, the first sensor, and the second sensor, and configured to open or close the one or more grille shutters based on the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle being above or below a first threshold and the state of the engine, and adjust the first threshold based on at least one of navigational map information, weather information, image data, or an engine temperature, such that some of the weather information is disregarded when determining the first threshold when a current location of the vehicle based on the navigational map information or the image data indicates that the vehicle is covered by a structure or an object is blocking the weather.

11. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 10 , wherein to open or close the one or more grille shutters based on the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding the vehicle the electronic control unit is configured to:
partially open the one or more grille shutters a first amount when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature;
close the one or more grille shutters when the ambient temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature but less than a second threshold temperature; and
open the one or more grille shutters a second amount when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second threshold temperature.

12. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 11 , wherein the first amount is less than the second amount and the first threshold temperature is less than the second threshold temperature.

13. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 11 , wherein to partially open the one or more grille shutters the first amount when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first threshold temperature prevents the one or more grille shutters from freezing in a closed position due to the ambient temperature being less than or equal to the first threshold temperature.

14. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a third sensor configured to obtain weather information including a likelihood or an amount of precipitation or a direction or a speed of wind; and
a fourth sensor configured to detect an orientation of the vehicle;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to open or close the one or more grille shutters further based on the orientation of the vehicle and the weather information.

15. The engine compartment ventilation system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a navigation unit configured to obtain a current location of the vehicle;
wherein the electronic control unit is configured to open or close the one or more grille shutters further based on the current location of the vehicle.

16. A method for controlling a temperature within an engine compartment of a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
measuring an ambient temperature of an environment surrounding the vehicle;
detecting a state of the engine;
partially opening two or more grille shutters of a grille cover of the vehicle a first amount when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature to prevent the two or more grille shutters from freezing to each other;
closing the two or more grille shutters when the ambient temperature is greater than the first threshold temperature but less than a second threshold tempera

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Srivastava Abhishek
• Cosgrove David W

Classifications

• B60K11/085 Primary

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• G07C5/0816

  Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction · CPC title

• Y02T10/88

  Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses · CPC title