Granted Patent B2

US 7,911,080 · App. 12/260,752 · Granted Mar 22, 2011

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A method for managing an automotive electrical system comprising a battery, the method comprising:

receiving a signal representative of a request to perform an electrical system function when the automotive electrical system is in a non-operational state;

determining a state of charge of the battery; and

preventing the electrical system function from being performed if the determined state of charge of the battery is below a first state of charge threshold,

wherein the preventing the electrical system function from being performed further comprises:

determining an allowed electrical function duration for the electrical function based on the determined state of charge of the battery and a second state of charge threshold; and

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to a minimum electrical function duration,

wherein the electrical function is prevented if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the minimum electrical function duration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preventing the electrical function from being performed further comprises:

determining an estimated electrical function duration for the electrical function; and

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to the estimated electrical function duration,

wherein the electrical function is prevented if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the estimated electrical function duration.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the allowed electrical function duration is further based on an expected current draw on the battery caused by the electrical function.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising allowing the electrical function to be performed if the allowed electrical function duration is greater than or equal to the estimated electrical function duration.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the electrical function comprises a wireless transfer of data to the automotive electrical system.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second state of charge threshold is a state of charge of the battery required to enable the starting of an engine in an automobile after the automobile remains in a non-operational state for a predetermined amount of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the electrical function to be performed if the allowed electrical function duration is greater than or equal to the minimum electrical function duration.

8. A method for managing an automotive electrical system comprising a battery, the method comprising:

receiving a signal representative of a request to perform an electrical system function when the automotive electrical system is in a non-operational state;

determining a state of charge of the battery;

determining an allowed electrical function duration for the electrical function based on the determined state of charge and a first state of charge threshold;

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to a minimum electrical function duration; and

preventing the electrical system function from being performed if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the minimum electrical function duration.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

determining an estimated electrical function duration for the electrical function;

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to the estimated electrical function duration; and

preventing the electrical system function from being performed if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the estimated electrical function duration.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising preventing the electrical system function from being performed if the determined state of charge of the battery is below a second state of charge threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first state of charge threshold is a state of charge of the battery required to enable the starting of an engine in an automobile after the automobile remains in a non-operational state for a predetermined amount of time.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising allowing the electrical function to be performed if the allowed electrical function duration is greater than or equal to the minimum electrical function duration and the allowed electrical function duration is greater than or equal to the estimated electrical function duration.

13. An automotive electrical system comprising:

a battery; and

a processing system coupled to the battery, the processing system being configured to:

receive a signal representative of a request to perform an electrical system function when the automotive electrical system is in a non-operational state;

determine a state of charge of the battery; and

prevent the electrical system function from being performed based on the determined state of charge of the battery, including preventing the electrical system function from being performed if the determined state of charge of the battery is below a first state of charge threshold,

wherein the preventing the electrical system function from being performed further comprises:

determining an allowed electrical function duration for the electrical function based on the determined state of charge and a second state of charge threshold; and

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to a minimum electrical function duration,

wherein the electrical function is prevented if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the minimum electrical function duration.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the preventing the electrical function from being performed further comprises:

determining an estimated electrical function duration for the electrical function; and

comparing the allowed electrical function duration to the estimated electrical function duration,

wherein the electrical function is prevented if the allowed electrical function duration is less than the estimated electrical function duration.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second state of charge threshold is a state of charge of the battery required to enable the starting of an engine in an automobile after the automobile remains in a non-operational state for a predetermined amount of time.

Assignments (12)

Continuity (1)