Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Hanyang B Chen

Michael Irby

Stuart C Salter

Hafiz Shafeek Khafagy

Anthony Thomas Spoto

Gabriel Jim

Zeljko Deljevic

Daniel J Martin

William Taylor

Jeff Raymond Mohr

Phillip Marine

Matthew Loiselle

Karen Price

Jason Baker

Mohannad Hakeem

William David Treharne

David Celinske

Ronald Patrick Brombach

Ahmed Awadi

Josephine S Lee

Todd Ansbacher

James Weinfurther

Mark Edward Shields

Alan Francis Judge

Ravi Atluru

David W Linden

Douglas George Rosner

Gjergji Shaska

David J Dainelis

Rashad Jamal Allen

John T Bremmer, Sr

Alasdair Collins

Yukiyasu Nagata

Malcolm Fry

Kelvin Howard

Anthony Hartman

A vehicle electrical system includes a battery, a customer connection point, a switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the customer connection point, a computer communicatively coupled to the switch, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the computer. The computer is programmed to instruct the switch to open in response to a state of charge of the battery decreasing below a charge threshold, receive an input selecting a time limit, and instruct the transceiver to transmit a message to a remote server upon determining that the state of charge of the battery will decrease below the charge threshold in less than the time limit from a current time.

Vehicle electrical system

A vehicle electrical system includes a battery, a customer connection point, a switch electrically connected in series between the battery and the customer connection point, a solar panel electrically connected to a node between the battery and the switch, and a computer communicatively coupled to the switch. The computer is programmed to instruct the switch to close upon determining that a voltage of the solar panel is greater than a voltage of the battery.

A vehicle determines a first resistance of a starter motor and a starter cable connected thereto based at least in part on the first voltage of a power source. The vehicle determines a predicted minimum battery voltage based at least in part on the first resistance of the starter motor and the starter cable. The vehicle, in response to the predicted minimum battery voltage satisfying a threshold, enables a vehicle stop-start function, and, in response to the predicted minimum battery voltage failing to satisfy the threshold, disables the vehicle stop-start function.

System and method for controlling vehicle stop-start function based on measured and predicted cranking voltages and adaptive adjustment of circuit resistance

An electrical system in a vehicle has a battery is configured to supply electrical current when a driver ignition key is in a Key-Off state. A. A plurality of electrical loads are each configurable to receive the electrical current flowing from the battery during the Key-Off state depending upon predetermined Key-Off-Load (KOL) Modes. A vehicle locator determines a geographic location of the vehicle. A sleep-time database records daily Key-On and Key-Off events according to changes between the Key-On state and the Key-Off state, wherein each Key-Off event is associated with a respective geographic location from the vehicle locator. An analyzer identifies Key-Off events sharing a repetitive time span and a common geographic location. A scheduler activates a timed KOL sequence according to the identified Key-Off events so that repetitive time slots of vehicle usage can be used to reduce battery drain during times when vehicle usage is less likely.

History-based and location-based control of vehicle key-off loads

A monitoring method includes, among other things, within a vehicle, providing a first electrical system with an auxiliary battery, and a second electrical system with a primary battery. The method further includes electrically coupling the first electrical system to the second electrical system, electrically loading the auxiliary battery and the primary battery, and comparing an electrical parameter of the auxiliary battery to a threshold value to assess a state of the auxiliary battery.

Vehicle battery monitoring method and assembly

Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a vehicle battery are described, in which an example vehicle includes a vehicle battery, one or more vehicle battery sensors, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a battery health metric of the vehicle battery, wherein the battery health metric is based on a battery service time, a battery state of charge, and a battery temperature. The processor is also configured to perform a battery refresh operation on the vehicle battery responsive to determining that the battery health metric is above a refresh threshold. And the processor is further configured to activate a vehicle alert responsive to determining that the battery health metric is above an end-of-life threshold.

Vehicle battery health measurement and control systems and methods

An AC inverter in a vehicle operates using a 24 V input when a vehicle powertrain is in a parked/idling state. A first 12 V battery is connected with a first bus segment. A second 12 V battery is connected with a second bus segment. A switch module selectably interconnects the first and second bus segments. In a nominal 12 V state, the batteries are connected in parallel from the bus segments to ground. In a dual voltage state, the batteries are connected in series so the first bus segment is at 12 V and the second bus segment is at 24 V. A first alternator driven by the powertrain provides a regulated voltage to the second bus segment, wherein the regulated voltage corresponds to 12 V when the switch module is in the nominal state and corresponds to 24 V when the switch module is in the dual voltage state.

Method of onboard AC power generation for vehicles with combustion engine

A power system for a vehicle comprises a first power supply network configured to operate at a first voltage. The first power supply network comprises a first alternator, a starter motor, and a battery conductively connected to the first alternator and the starter motor. The system further comprises a second power supply network configured to operate at a second voltage. The second power supply network comprises a second alternator, a power supply receptacle configured to output power to an external accessory, and a capacitive energy storage device conductively connected to the second alternator and the power supply receptacle. A directional conduction device interconnects the first power supply network and the second power supply network.

Vehicle auxiliary power supply system

A monitoring method includes, among other things, within an electrified vehicle, providing an accessory battery that is configured to power an electrical bus, and a traction battery that is configured to power the electrical bus. The method further includes loading the electrical bus with electrical loads of the electrified vehicle when an amount of power provided to the electrical bus by the traction battery is reduced. After the loading, the method compares an electrical parameter of the accessory battery to a threshold value to assess a condition of the accessory battery.

Vehicle battery monitoring assembly and monitoring method

Systems and methods for improving operation of a vehicle are presented. In one example, a minimum battery state of charge (SOC) threshold for automatic engine stopping is adjusted responsive to a temperature of a battery. An engine of the vehicle may be automatically started responsive to a battery SOC discharge amount that is greater than a threshold. The approach may allow a battery to discharge a greater number of times so that battery life may be extended.

Methods and systems for controlling a stop/start engine

Systems and methods for monitoring the health of a vehicle battery. A method includes determining an initial amp-hour value for a vehicle battery of a vehicle. The method also includes measuring a net integrated amp-hour value added into the vehicle battery during a first time period. The method further includes determining that the initial amp-hour value plus the net integrated amp-hour value is greater than a threshold percentage of a rated capacity of the vehicle battery. And the method still further includes responsively providing an alert to a driver.

Methods and systems for vehicle battery cell failure detection and overcharge protection

A vehicle includes an engine having a throttle body, a battery, e.g., a 12-volt battery, and a battery-charging system electrically connected to the battery and configured to convert mechanical motion of the engine into electricity to charge the battery. A controller of the vehicle is programmed to, in response to an opening of the throttle body being less than an opening threshold and a state of charge of the battery (battery SOC) being less than a first charge threshold, set the battery-charging system to output a first power, wherein the charge threshold is based on a measured capacity of the battery and a measured key-off load. The controller is further programmed to, in response to the opening being less than the opening threshold and the battery SOC exceeding the first charge threshold but being less than a second charge threshold, set the battery-charging system to output a second power that is less than the first power.

Battery-charging system and control strategy

An AC inverter in a vehicle operates using a 24V input when a vehicle powertrain is in a parked/idling state. A first 12V battery is connected with a first bus segment. A second 12V battery is connected with a second bus segment. A switch module selectably interconnects the first and second bus segments. In a nominal 12V state, the batteries are connected in parallel from the bus segments to ground. In a dual voltage state, the batteries are connected in series so the first bus segment is at 12V and the second bus segment is at 24V. A first alternator driven by the powertrain provides a regulated voltage to the second bus segment, wherein the regulated voltage corresponds to 12V when the switch module is in the nominal state and corresponds to 24V when the switch module is in the dual voltage state.

Onboard AC generator for power-to-the-box in vehicles with combustion engine

A powertrain control system may include an engine and a controller. The controller may be configured to, responsive to a maximum difference in battery voltage values remaining less than a threshold value during a period in which a number of engine stop-start cycles exceeds a limit, enable an automatic stop-start system of the engine.

Powertrain control based on auxiliary battery characteristics

A vehicle operates an internal combustion engine according to an automatic start-stop function to reduce fuel consumption. A first DC bus is adapted to connect to a plurality of DC loads. A primary battery is coupled between the first DC bus and a ground. A first alternator is driven by the internal combustion engine to supply electrical power to the first DC bus. A second DC bus is connected to a positive terminal of an auxiliary battery. A negative terminal of the auxiliary battery is connected to the first DC bus. A second alternator is driven by the internal combustion engine to supply electrical power to the second bus at a voltage corresponding to a sum of voltages of the primary and auxiliary batteries. An inverter receives electrical power from the second DC bus to generate an AC output adapted to connect to accessory AC loads.

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Canton, MI, United States of America

Hanyang B Chen