System and method for closing a contactor on early wake to improve vehicle start time

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9914416-B2
Application number	US-201414230016-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, controlling an electrified vehicle by closing a contactor prior to a key on condition of the electrified vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
controlling an electrified vehicle during a key off condition by closing a contactor prior to a vehicle start request of the electrified vehicle, and opening the contactor if the vehicle start request is not received after a threshold amount of time has passed which indicates that a driver has not attempted to start the electrified vehicle.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controlling step includes closing the contactor in response to an early wake trigger.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the early wake trigger includes applying a brake of the electrified vehicle.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the early wake trigger includes positioning a key in an ignition of the electrified vehicle.

5. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the early wake trigger includes at least one of unlocking a door of the electrified vehicle, sitting in a seat of the electrified vehicle, detecting a key in proximity to the electrified vehicle, or opening a door of the electrified vehicle.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the threshold amount of time is one minute.

7. A method, comprising:
closing a contactor in response to an early wake trigger to reduce a vehicle start time associated with an electrified vehicle, the early wake trigger including applying a brake or positioning a key in an ignition of the electrified vehicle prior to a vehicle start request of the electrified vehicle; and
opening the contactor if the vehicle start request is not received after a threshold amount of time has passed.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the early wake trigger occurs prior to a key on condition of the electrified vehicle.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , comprising awakening various systems of the electrified vehicle prior to the closing step.

10. The method as recited in claim 7 , comprising:
communicating a wake-up signal from a first control unit to a second control unit;
communicating a command signal from the second control unit to a third control unit; and
commanding the closing step with the third control unit in response to receiving the command signal.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the first control unit is a body control module, the second control unit is a hybrid powertrain control module, and the third control unit is a battery electronic control module.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the wake-up signal is communicated in response to sensing the early wake trigger.

13. A vehicle system, comprising:
a contactor; and
a control unit configured to close said contactor in response to an early wake trigger that occurs prior to a vehicle start request and configured to open said contactor if the vehicle start request is not received after a threshold amount of time has passed, wherein the early wake trigger includes applying a brake or positioning a key in an ignition of an electrified vehicle.

14. The vehicle system as recited in claim 13 , wherein said contactor is commanded closed to connect a battery to an electric machine over a high voltage bus.

15. The vehicle system as recited in claim 13 , comprising at least one sensor configured to detect said early wake trigger.

16. The vehicle system as recited in claim 13 , comprising a second control unit and a third control unit, said second control unit configured to communicate a wake-up signal to said third control unit in response to said early wake trigger.

17. The vehicle system as recited in claim 16 , wherein said third control unit is configured to communicate a command signal for closing said contactor to said control unit in response to receiving said wake-up signal.

18. The vehicle system as recited in claim 17 , wherein said first control module is a body control module, said second control module is a powertrain control module, and said third control module is a battery electronic control module.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Bolger Bryan
• Skaff Ryan J

Classifications

• B60L2260/26

  Transition between different drive modes · CPC title

• B60R16/033 Primary

  characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries (for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36) · CPC title

• B60L50/16

  with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion · CPC title

• B60L3/0092 Primary

  with use of redundant elements for safety purposes · CPC title

• B60L50/61

  by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles · CPC title