Systems and methods for providing a heating cycle to an after-treatment system of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024011422-A1
Application number	US-202318221969-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 14, 2023
Priority date	Apr 28, 2021
Publication date	Jan 11, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of providing a heating cycle for an after-treatment system is described. The method comprises initiating a pre-charge cycle of a DCDC converter and determining a temperature of the after-treatment system. In response to determining the temperature of the after-treatment system is below a threshold temperature and the pre-charge is complete, the method further comprises operating a solid-state switch to electrically connect a high voltage power source to a heating element to of the after-treatment system, and heating the after-treatment system with the heating element until the after-treatment system reaches the threshold temperature.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A method of providing a heating cycle for an after-treatment system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving a start trigger; initiating a pre-charge cycle of a DC-DC converter; determining a temperature of the after-treatment system; and in response to determining that the temperature of the after-treatment system is below a threshold temperature, heating the after-treatment system using a heating element until the after-treatment system reaches the threshold temperature.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
starting an engine of the vehicle after reaching the threshold temperature

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
providing auxiliary power to one or more electrical devices from a high voltage power source prior to starting the engine.

21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
in response to receiving the start trigger, initializing at least one vehicle system selected from a group consisting of:
a battery energy control module;
an auxiliary device;
an e-machine; and
an engine control module.

22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the start trigger is at least one of:
a signal received from a key fob; a door of a vehicle opening; a signal received from a smart device application; an engine start request; and detecting a proximity of a user.

23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the after-treatment system includes an eCAT, and further comprising:
operating a pulse-width modulation (PWM) switch or a separate DC-DC converter to modulate power from the high voltage power source to the eCAT.

24 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining a plurality of contextual factors influencing the amount of thermal energy provided to the after-treatment system.

25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the contextual factors comprise at least one of:
an ambient temperature; a time since a last engine start-up; a delta temperature between the temperature of the after-treatment system and the ambient temperature; an engine temperature; a maximum power output from the auxiliary heat source; a maximum thermal energy output from the heat source; a target temperature for the after-treatment system; and a state of charge of the power source.

26 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
modifying a minimum state of charge of a high voltage power source to enable a subsequent heating cycle of the heating element.

27 . A system for an after-treatment system of a vehicle comprising control circuitry configured to:
receive a start trigger; initiate a pre-charge cycle of a DC-DC converter; determine a temperature of the after-treatment system; and in response to determining that the temperature of the after-treatment system is below a threshold temperature, heat the after-treatment system using a heating element until the after-treatment system reaches the threshold temperature.

28 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
start an engine of the vehicle after reaching the threshold temperature.

29 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
provide auxiliary power to one or more electrical devices from a high voltage power source prior to starting the engine.

30 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
initialize, in response to receiving the start trigger, at least one vehicle system selected from a group consisting of:
a battery energy control module;
an auxiliary device;
an e-machine; and
an engine control module.

31 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the start trigger comprises at least one of:
a signal received from a key fob; a door of a vehicle opening; a signal received from a smart device application; an engine start request; and detecting a proximity of a user.

32 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the after-treatment system includes an eCAT, and wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
operate a pulse-width modulation (PWM) switch or a separate DC-DC converter to modulate power from the high voltage power source to the eCAT.

33 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a plurality of contextual factors influencing the amount of thermal energy provided to the after-treatment system.

34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein the contextual factors comprise at least one of:
an ambient temperature; a time since a last engine start-up; a delta temperature between the temperature of the after-treatment system and the ambient temperature; an engine temperature; a maximum power output from the auxiliary heat source; a maximum thermal energy output from the heat source; a target temperature for the after-treatment system; and a state of charge of the power source.

35 . The system of claim 27 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
modify a minimum state of charge of a high voltage power source to enable a subsequent heating cycle of the heating element.

36 . A vehicle comprising the after-treatment system of claim 27 .

37 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon for carrying out a method, the method comprising:
receiving a start trigger; initiating a pre-charge cycle of a DC-DC converter; determining a temperature of the after-treatment system; and
in response to determining that the temperature of the after-treatment system is below a threshold temperature, heating the after-treatment system using a heating element until the after-treatment system reaches the threshold temperature.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Cox David
• Hesketh David
• Petridis Themi

Classifications

• F01N3/2013 Primary

  using electric or magnetic heating means · CPC title

• F01N2240/16

  an electric heater, i.e. a resistance heater · CPC title

• F01N2900/0422

  measuring the elapsed time · CPC title

• F01N2900/08

  said parameters being related to the engine · CPC title

• F01N2900/1602

  Temperature of exhaust gas apparatus · CPC title