Temperature controlled goods vehicles

1. A method for operating a temperature control system for a temperature controlled goods vehicle, wherein the temperature control system comprises:

a solar panel and

a temperature control unit comprising:

one or more temperature control components;

a battery coupled to the solar cell for receiving a first charging current i 1 from the solar cell;

an engine operative to supply a second charging current i 2 to the battery; and

a controller,

the method comprising:

at the controller:

monitoring a voltage of the battery;

determining that the voltage of the battery exceeds a first battery voltage threshold for a first predetermined amount of time;

responsive to the determination that the voltage of the battery exceeds a first battery voltage threshold for a first predetermined amount of time:

determining a first energy count value representing an amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in a predetermined time period;

upon determining that the first energy count value exceeds a first energy count value threshold:

determining an average current value representing an average amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in the predetermined time period; and

increasing a cycle threshold value that determines when the engine is deactivated so as to stop supplying the second charging current i 2 to the battery based on the average current value.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein increasing the cycle threshold value comprises:

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a first average current threshold value but less than a second average current threshold value and the cycle threshold value is less than a first cycle threshold value, increasing the cycle threshold value to the first cycle threshold value.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein:

the first average current threshold value is 1 amp;

the second average current threshold value is 1.5 amps; and

the first cycle threshold value is 5 amps.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein increasing the cycle threshold value comprises:

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a third average current threshold value but less than a fourth average current threshold value, increasing the cycle threshold value to a second cycle threshold value;

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a fifth average current threshold value but less than a sixth average current threshold value, increasing the cycle threshold value to a third cycle threshold value;

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a seventh average current threshold value but less than an eighth average current threshold value, increasing the cycle threshold value to a fourth cycle threshold value; and

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a ninth average current threshold value, increasing the cycle threshold value to a fifth cycle threshold value.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein:

the third average current threshold value is 1.5 amps;

the fourth average current threshold value is 2 amps;

the second cycle threshold value is 6 amps;

the fifth average current threshold value is 2 amps;

the sixth average current threshold value is 2.5 amps;

the third cycle threshold value is 7 amps;

the seventh average current threshold value is 2.5 amps;

the eighth average current threshold value is 3 amps;

the fourth cycle threshold value is 8 amps; and

the fifth cycle threshold value is 9 amps.

6. A method according to claim 1 , the method further comprising:

at the controller:

monitoring the voltage of the battery;

upon determining that the voltage of the battery is below a second battery voltage threshold for a second predetermined amount of time:

determining a second energy count value representing an amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in a predetermined time period;

upon determining that the second energy count value is below a second energy count value threshold:

determining an average power value representing an average amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in the predetermined time period; and

reducing a cycle threshold value that determines when the engine is deactivated so as to stop supplying the second charging current to the battery based on the determined average power value.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 1 .

8. A method for operating a temperature control system for a temperature controlled goods vehicle, wherein the temperature control system comprises:

a solar panel; and

a temperature control unit comprising:

one or more temperature control components;

a battery coupled to the solar cell for receiving a first charging current i 1 from the solar cell;

an engine operative to supply a second charging current i 2 to the battery; and

a controller,

the method comprising:

at the controller:

monitoring a voltage of the battery;

determining that the voltage of the battery is below a second battery voltage threshold for a second predetermined amount of time;

responsive to the determination that the voltage of the battery is below a second battery voltage threshold for a second predetermined amount of time:

determining a second energy count value representing an amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in a predetermined time period;

upon determining that the second energy count value is below a second energy count value threshold:

determining an average current value representing an average amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in the predetermined time period; and

reducing a cycle threshold value that determines when the engine is deactivated so as to stop supplying the second charging current i 2 to the battery based on the average current value.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein reducing the cycle threshold value comprises:

upon determining that the average current value is greater than a first average current threshold value and the cycle threshold value is greater than a first cycle threshold value, reducing the cycle threshold value to the first cycle threshold value.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the first average current threshold value is 2 amps and the first cycle threshold value is 5 amps.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein reducing the cycle threshold value comprises:

upon determining that the average current threshold value is greater than a second average current value but less than a third average current threshold value, reducing the cycle threshold value to a second cycle threshold value;

upon determining that the average current threshold value is greater than a fourth average current value but less than a fifth average current threshold value, reducing the cycle threshold value to a third cycle threshold value;

upon determining that the average current threshold value is greater than a sixth average current value but less than a seventh average current threshold value, reducing the cycle threshold value to a fourth cycle threshold value.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein:

the second average current threshold value is 1.5 amps;

the third average current threshold value is 2 amps;

the second cycle threshold value is 4 amps;

the fourth average current threshold value is 1 amp;

the fifth average current threshold value is 1.5 amps;

the third cycle threshold value is 3 amps;

the sixth average current threshold value is 0 amps;

the seventh average current threshold value is 1 amp; and

the fourth cycle threshold value is 2 amps.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method of claim 8 .

14. A system for a temperature-controlled goods vehicle, the system comprising:

a solar panel;

a temperature control unit comprising:

one or more temperature control components;

a battery coupled to the solar panel for receiving a first charging current i 1 from the solar panel;

an engine operative to supply a second charging current i 2 to the battery;

a controller; and

a memory,

wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to:

monitor a voltage of the battery;

if the voltage of the battery exceeds a first battery voltage threshold for a first predetermined amount of time:

determine a first energy count value representing an amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in a predetermined time period;

if the first energy count value exceeds a first energy count value threshold:

determine an average current value representing an average amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in the predetermined time period; and

increase a cycle threshold value that determines when the engine is deactivated so as to stop supplying the second charging current i 2 to the battery based on the average current value.

15. A temperature controlled goods vehicle comprising a system according to claim 14 .

16. A system for a temperature-controlled goods vehicle, the system comprising:

a solar panel;

a temperature control unit comprising:

one or more temperature control components;

a battery coupled to the solar panel for receiving a first charging current i 1 from the solar panel;

an engine operative to supply a second charging current i 2 to the battery;

a controller; and

a memory,

wherein the memory stores instructions which, when executed by the controller, cause the controller to:

monitor a voltage of the battery;

if the voltage of the battery is below a second battery voltage threshold for a second predetermined amount of time:

determine a second energy count value representing an amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in a predetermined time period;

if the second energy count value is below a second energy count value threshold:

determine an average current value representing an average amount of energy delivered by the solar panel in the predetermined time period; and

reduce a cycle threshold value that determines when the engine is deactivated so as to stop supplying the second charging current i 2 to the battery based on the average current value.

17. A temperature controlled goods vehicle comprising a system according to claim 16 .