Auxiliary device power testing for vehicle power delivery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012089-B2
Application number	US-202117483463-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2021
Priority date	Sep 23, 2021
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle power testing system is described. The power testing system may provide power testing that displays maximum simultaneous power usage for multiple auxiliary devices drawing power from the vehicle power generation system over a span of time. The power testing system may initialize a power test using a simple user interface, determine a number of auxiliary devices predicted to be connected to the power generation system at a future time, and generate a power simulation profile for the multiple connected auxiliary devices. The power testing system may generate an indication of maximum aggregate power usage and an alert message indicating that multiple auxiliary devices may be simultaneously used while connected to the vehicle power generation system based on an aggregate power rating associated with the vehicle power generation system.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a vehicle power generation system, comprising:
receiving, by a vehicle, an indication to perform an auxiliary power test;
measuring, via a processor and at a first time, a first auxiliary device power usage of a first auxiliary device;
measuring, via the processor and at a second time, a second auxiliary device power usage of a second auxiliary device;
predicting that the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device are to be connected to the vehicle simultaneously for a future period of time;
predicting an aggregate auxiliary power usage to be used by the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device during the future period of time;
predicting that the aggregate auxiliary power usage comprising the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage exceeds a maximum power rating value for the vehicle power generation system; and
generating, via the processor, an alert indicative that the aggregate auxiliary power usage will exceed the maximum power rating value for the vehicle power generation system for the future period of time.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, via the processor, a power trace record associated with the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage, wherein the power trace record comprises a power usage profile during a duration of time while the first auxiliary device is in use and connected to the vehicle power generation system.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
projecting, via the processor, an aggregate power usage prediction based on a trip profile.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising determining a first time estimate for the first auxiliary device power usage and a second time estimate for the second auxiliary device power usage during the future period of time.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the trip profile comprises information indicative of a total power usage of the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device.

6. A vehicle power generation testing system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory for storing executable instructions, the processor programmed to execute the instructions to:
receive, by a vehicle, an indication to perform an auxiliary power test;
measure, at a first time, a first auxiliary device power usage of a first auxiliary device;
measure, at a second time, a second auxiliary device power usage of a second auxiliary device;
predict that the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device are to be connected to the vehicle simultaneously for a future period of time;
predict an aggregate auxiliary power usage to be used by the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device during the future period of time;
predict that the aggregate auxiliary power usage comprising the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage exceeds a maximum power rating value for a vehicle power generation system; and
generate an alert indicative that the aggregate auxiliary power usage will exceed the maximum power rating value for the vehicle power generation system for the future period of time.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the instructions to:
generate a power trace record associated with the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the power trace record comprises a power usage profile during a duration of time while the first auxiliary device is in use and connected to the vehicle power generation system.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the instructions to:
project aggregate power usage prediction based on the power usage profile.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the instructions to:
predict an aggregate power usage prediction based on a trip scheduled for a duration in time, and a power usage prediction associated with the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the instructions to:
generate a first time estimate for the first auxiliary device power usage and a second time estimate for the second auxiliary device power usage.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the processor is further programmed to execute the instructions to:
determine a first time estimate for the first auxiliary device power usage and a second time estimate for the second auxiliary device power usage during the trip.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in an electric vehicle power distribution controller of a vehicle, the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
receive, by the vehicle, an indication to perform an auxiliary power test;
measure, at a first time, a first auxiliary device power usage of a first auxiliary device;
measure, at a second time, a second auxiliary device power usage of a second auxiliary device;
predict that the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device are to be connected to the vehicle simultaneously for a future period of time;
predict an aggregate auxiliary power usage to be used by the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device during the future period of time;
predict that the aggregate auxiliary power usage comprising the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage exceeds a maximum power rating value for a vehicle power generation system; and
generate an alert indicative that the aggregate auxiliary power usage will exceed the maximum power rating value for the vehicle power generation system for the future period of time.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 13 , having further instructions stored thereupon to:
generate a power trace record associated with the first auxiliary device power usage and the second auxiliary device power usage.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 14 , wherein the power trace record comprises a power usage profile during a duration of time while the first auxiliary device is in use and connected to the vehicle power generation system.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 15 , having further instructions stored thereupon to:
predict an amount of power to be used on a trip, aggregate power usage prediction based on a trip duration in time, and a power usage prediction associated with the first auxiliary device and the second auxiliary device.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 16 , having further instructions stored thereupon to:
generate a first time estimate for the first auxiliary device power usage and a second time estimate for the second auxiliary device power usage.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 17 , having further instructions stored thereupon to:
determine a first time estimate for the first auxiliary device power usage and a second time estimate for the second auxiliary device power usage during the trip.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Powell Stephen Thomas
• Johnson Samuel
• Kostrzewski Thomas
• Gong Ling

Classifications

• G01R31/367

  Software therefor, e.g. for battery testing using modelling or look-up tables · CPC title

• B60W20/10 Primary

  Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand · CPC title

• B60R16/03 Primary

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