Patent Application
20100283432
The invention relates to a timing apparatus and methods of its use in quantifying a time parameter denoting expected time away from a vehicle.
The automotive industry continually invests money and time in making cars more energy efficient.
Electrical vehicles (EV) and Plug-In Electrical Vehicles (PHEV), unlike vehicles with an internal combustion engine (ICE), have become ever increasingly popular, in that these vehicles provide lower emitted pollutants and greenhouse gases, as well as lower energy costs in the midst of higher gas prices.
Indirectly, gasoline is either substituted or completely replaced by whatever is being used to generate domestic electricity. In fact, renewable, nuclear, natural gas, coal and domestic petroleum can be used to generate the electricity needed to power these vehicles. Additionally, carbon based energy may also be avoided.
However, these electrical vehicles are considered energy inefficient unless the batteries that they use are charged efficiently and the charge is well maintained. Optimizing the charging process and charging rate of these batteries is much needed.
Algorithms used to charge vehicles are well known. For instance, the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) has encouraged the utilization of a proposed algorithm for communication between plug-in electric vehicles and the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), for energy transfer and other applications (see
U.S. Pat. No. 7,358,701 discloses a system and method for calculating an energy transfer profile based upon a particular application environment and a particular charging model. The disclosed method requires a first step 102 of setting a threshold current level required to trigger the beginning of a data acquisition cycle. Then, in step 104, the duration of the time interval is established (see
However, the required step for a time interval disclosed in '701 is only to reduce the amount of measuring time for data acquisition. The reference teaches, in 104
Preparing an expected time parameter, that references how long a vehicle is idle/parked at a specific moment in time, would better optimize many algorithms employed in the vehicle, including the charging of a vehicle battery. More specifically, a time parameter that is determined by a user in real-time rather than a time parameter prepared using past data history would be beneficial.
U.S. Patent Publication 2008/0007202 discloses a vehicular charging system, configured to be charged from an external power source, comprising a battery assembly and a timer coupled to the battery assembly. The timer is configured to electrically couple the external power source to the battery assembly to commence charging the battery assembly at a predetermined charge initialization time. Although the disclosed timer is used to optimize charge capabilities, the timer is used to determine a preferred charge termination time. Fundamentally, the user specifies a “charge start time” and “preferred charge termination time”. The charging is delayed until the preferred “charge start time”. It would be desirable to provide an expected time parameter, for how long a vehicle is idle/parked at that specific moment, which would better optimize the charging of a vehicle battery.
In addition to the aforementioned progression, car manufacturers have been making efforts to create more efficient climate control systems. As is well known, a vehicle climate control system will include a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator (see
Accordingly, the present invention was devised in light of the problems described above, the invention relates to a timing apparatus and methods of its use in quantifying the time parameter in which an operator will be away from a vehicle.
The timing apparatus for a vehicle has a menu, control knob, sensor and a microprocessor. The menu includes a set of numbers corresponding to user selectable time parameters. The control knob is adjustable to designate a selected time parameter from the set of numbers, wherein the selected time parameter represents the time until the vehicle will be turned back on. The sensor is connected to the control knob and the microprocessor, such that the sensor provides a proximate selected position of the control knob in reference to the set of numbers, the selected position representing the selected time parameter.
The invention further relates to a method to optimize an electrical charging procedure of a vehicle, comprising the steps of: (a) determining an amount of time until the vehicle will be turned on, (b) selecting the amount of time from a menu having a set of numbers corresponding to user selectable time parameters, (c) positioning a control knob having a marker to a selected time parameter representing the amount of time until the vehicle, and (d) inputting the selected time parameter into a charging algorithm.
Additionally, the invention relates to a method of optimizing use of a climate control system in a vehicle; comprising the steps of: (a) determining an amount of time until the vehicle will be turned on, (b) selecting the amount of time from a menu having a set of numbers corresponding to user selectable time parameters, (c) positioning a control knob to a selected time parameter representing the amount of time until the vehicle, and (d) inputting the selected time parameter into a climate control module, the climate control module activated before the vehicle is turned on.
The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to embodiments, referring to the appended drawings, in which:
The invention will now be described in greater detail first with reference to
The present invention relates to a timing apparatus 1, as shown in
The menu 100, in
In one embodiment, the menu 100 is a physical housing having a circular shape, wherein the user selectable time parameters are displayed around the housing (see
The control knob 102, defined as a module in
As discussed above,
Each of the subset of numbers 200, 204, and 206, displayed in
Furthermore, the timing apparatus 1 in the embodiment shown, includes a control knob 102 that is rotatable about an axis extending through the control knob 102. The control knob 102, having an indicator 102a (i.e. an arrow), which turns about the subset of numbers menus 200, 204, and 208, as well as the “greater than” selection 208 with the arrow reflecting the user selected time parameter of choice. The sensor 104, used with the timing apparatus 1 shown, is a rotational sensor that detects a rotary position of the control knob as it is positioned to the user selected time parameter.
The single subset of numbers 210, as displayed in
Additionally, the selectable time parameter is not held to only by the time periods being displayed, but rather the timing apparatus 1 realizes time parameters selectable between the viewable numbers. For instance, if the user has selected a time parameter between 1 and 2 hours, in the embodiment shown, then the timing apparatus 1 would prepare a time parameter corresponding to a fractional time between the two viewable time parameters.
The timing apparatus 1, in the embodiment shown, again includes a control knob 102 that is rotatable about an axis extending through the control knob 102. The control knob 102, having an indicator 102a (i.e. an arrow), which turns about the single subset of numbers 210, as well as the “greater than” selection 208 with the arrow reflecting the user selected time parameter of choice. The sensor 104, used with the timing apparatus 1 shown, is a rotational sensor that detects a rotary position of the control knob as it is positioned to the user selected time parameter.
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
Since the timing apparatus 1 includes a menu 100 that is linearly shaped, a control knob 102 is provided that is moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to an axis extending through the control knob. The control knob 102 includes an indicator 102a (i.e. an arrow) that reflects the user selected time parameter of choice. The sensor 104, used with the timing apparatus 1 shown, is a linear sensor operative to detect a position of the control knob in regard to the set of numbers.
As with all of the aforementioned embodiments, the timing apparatus 1 is further provided with a “greater than” selection 306, representing the user selected time parameter that is larger than the largest selectable time parameter value displayed and selectable by the user. However, it is also possible to exclude such a feature.
The single subset of numbers 308, as displayed in
Additionally, as discussed above, the selectable time parameter 1 is not held only to the time periods being displayed. Rather the timing apparatus 1 is capable of determining a time parameter selected between the viewable numbers.
The timing apparatus 1, in the embodiment shown, includes a control knob 102 that moves about an axis extending through the lengthwise direction L of the timing apparatus 1. The control knob 102, having an indicator 102a (i.e. an arrow), moves along this axis allowing the user to designate an expected time away from the vehicle using the single subset of numbers 308, as wells as a “greater than” selection 306. The sensor 104, used with the timing apparatus 1 shown, is a linear sensor that detects a linear position of the control knob as it is positioned to the user selected time parameter.
The menu 500 is displayable through an in-car display 504, which is an already existing in-car display or is added component to the vehicle. The virtual control knob 502 would be controlled by an already external control device 508 coupled to the in car display. It is possible that the external control device is an already existing control device or added as an aftermarket component. Either way, the external control device would be positioned near the user, and would control the virtual components of the menu 500 and the control knob 502.
When activated, the movement of the virtual control knob 502 matches movement of the existing control device 508. Therefore, the user may select a time parameter in the same way as described above, but through a virtual display. The timing apparatus would then be compatible with known vehicle display and select systems such as the BMW iDrive.
It is also possible to control the menu 500, using touch screen technology, whereby the external control device would not be required to control the virtual components.
The timing apparatus 1, described in any of the embodiments, would be include within reach of an operator, so that the user could conveniently adjust the expected time away from the vehicle. In addition, the timing apparatus 1, used with a plug-in electrical vehicle, would include a control knob that is positioned proximate to the electrical plug. The knob may be conveniently positioned next to the electrical plug in order to plug in the vehicle and set the selected time parameter for a charging algorithm.
It is also possible that the timing apparatus 1 is a mechanical timing apparatus Therefore, when the timing apparatus 1 is set by a user, then the timing apparatus 1 would clock down mechanically. Therefore, the timing apparatus would reset to zero automatically.
As discussed above, algorithms are commonly used to charge vehicles. For instance, the Society of Automotive Engineers International (SAE) has encouraged the utilization of a proposed algorithm for communication between plug-in electric vehicles and the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), for energy transfer and other applications (see also
The parameters (A), (B) and (C) are readily known and can be transmitted to the car through a electronic vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). However, the time parameter is proposed to be an estimated period of time. That time parameter has no reference to start and stop times, but rather relies on an inexact estimated time parameter that is not provided by an individual user.
The timing apparatus 1 advantageously provides an actual time parameter (D) that would be included in a robust charging algorithm to optimize charging. The user selected time parameter (D) is implemented in to the charging algorithm 122 through the timing apparatus 1 and the charging module 120, in order to optimize charging of the vehicle batteries.
As a result, a more robust charging algorithm 122 is realized. More specifically, a method to optimize an electrical charging procedure of a vehicle is developed. Included in the optimal charging method, inter alia, are steps that provide the charging algorithm 122 with more information needed to optimize the charge. First, and foremost, a user would determine the amount of time, as a time parameter (D), that reflects the time a vehicle will be idle, the time a user is away from the vehicle, or when the vehicle will be turned back on. This time parameter (D) would be used to more closely estimate the real time the car is parked.
Therefore, an electrical charge algorithm may be optimized because the algorithm operates with a time parameter (D) provided to quantify the amount of energy needed over that time period in order to optimally charge the vehicle battery. Furthermore, since the maximal energy of a connection to the vehicle needed and energy price, during that time period, are known, vehicle batteries can be efficiently charged, environmentally and monetarily.
If the user does not select the time parameter (D), then a vehicle algorithm will be provided with the last positioned time parameter (D) if the timing apparatus does not mechanically count down, or would use a default. That default time parameter would substitute the expected time parameter (D) with a time parameter constant that is previously programmed into the vehicle algorithms, such as the “greater than” selections.
When charging an electric vehicle (EV) or Plug-In Electric Vehicle (PHEV), the time parameter (D) can be used to estimate a more reliable time of how long the car will be parked and plugged in [in hrs]. Even if the user does not come back at the exact time, the time parameter (D) could still be used to make a more educated guess about the parking time and therefore improve any kind of energy management algorithms (such as charging or climate control).
Without the user selected time parameter (D), the charging would rely only on a broad estimate of when the user would come back, that would be based either on past data or some predefined constant. It is much better to use the time parameter (D) to base the estimate on, than to perform decisions without a reference of time. The decision making process can be performed more efficiently, while the realized outcomes of those decisions are more effective.
Vehicle climate control systems have been further developed to provide more energy efficient and clean vehicles. In advance of those efforts, a vehicle climate control system utilizing a time reference, time parameter (D), of when the operator expects to return to the vehicle would be most beneficial. The timing apparatus 1 can be used to prepare a reference time parameter (D), which can also be utilized by the climate control system. The vehicle advancing with operation of the climate control system at some time before the operator returns to the vehicle. As such, the amount work required by the condenser can be limited and cooling the vehicle during operation can be produced more efficiently.
With reference to
The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.
