IP Library Granted Patent US 8,527,114
Granted Patent B2
US 8,527,114 · App. 13/034,984 · Granted Sep 3, 2013

Silent key start climate control demand

Inventors: Russell William Ferguson (Ypsilanti, MI); Dale Scott Crombez (Livonia, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,527,114
App. No.
13/034,984
Granted
Sep 3, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine, a high voltage traction battery, an electric motor powered by the traction battery, an electric air conditioning (AC) system, and a controller. The controller is programmed to start the vehicle. The vehicle is started by, if a climate control demand requires cooling: (a) if a vehicle start request is a remote start request, starting the engine; (b) if the vehicle start request is a local start request, avoiding starting the engine to provide a silent start.

Claims (54)

1. A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle including an internal combustion engine, a high voltage traction battery, an electric motor powered by the traction battery, and an electric air conditioning (AC) system, the method comprising:

starting the vehicle by, if a climate control demand requires cooling:

(a) if a vehicle start request is a remote start request, starting the engine;

(b) if the vehicle start request is a local start request, avoiding starting the engine to provide a silent start.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting the vehicle start request from the operator; and

determining the climate control demand from the operator.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

starting the vehicle by, if the climate control demand requires cooling and the vehicle start request is a remote start request, starting the engine to provide feedback to the operator and then stopping the engine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating, starting the engine.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating, cycling the engine on and off as needed to meet the climate control demand.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

upon detecting the vehicle start request from the operator, when the vehicle start request is a local start request, waiting a limited amount of time to allow the operator to adjust the climate control demand, and then determining the climate control demand from the operator.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

upon detecting the vehicle start request from the operator, when the vehicle start request is a remote start request, immediately determining the climate control demand from the operator.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehicle is a plugin hybrid electric vehicle, the method further comprising:

starting the vehicle by, if the climate control demand requires cooling and the vehicle start request is a remote start request and the vehicle is not plugged in, starting the engine to maintain a state of charge of the traction battery.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires cooling and the vehicle start request is a remote start request and the vehicle is not plugged in, cycling the engine on and off as needed to maintain a state of charge of the traction battery while meeting the climate control demand.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating, starting the engine.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating, cycling the engine on and off as needed to meet the climate control demand.

12. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

upon detecting the vehicle start request from the operator, when the vehicle start request is a local start request, waiting a limited amount of time to allow the operator to adjust the climate control demand, and then determining the climate control demand from the operator.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

upon detecting the vehicle start request from the operator, when the vehicle start request is a remote start request, immediately determining the climate control demand from the operator.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating and the vehicle is plugged in, starting the engine.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

preventing driving of the vehicle when the vehicle is plugged in and the engine has been started.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires heating and the vehicle is plugged in, cycling the engine on and off as needed to meet the climate control demand.

17. A hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a high voltage traction battery;

an electric motor powered by the traction battery;

an electric air conditioning (AC) system;

a controller programmed to:

start the vehicle by, if a climate control demand requires cooling:

(a) if a vehicle start request is a remote start request, starting the engine;

(b) if the vehicle start request is a local start request, avoiding starting the engine to provide a silent start.

18. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 17 wherein the controller is further programmed to:

detect the vehicle start request from the operator; and

determine the climate control demand from the operator.

19. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 17 wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires cooling:

(a) if the vehicle start request is a remote start request, starting the engine to provide feedback to the operator and then stopping the engine.

20. The hybrid electric vehicle of claim 17 wherein the vehicle is a plugin hybrid electric vehicle, wherein starting the vehicle further comprises:

if the climate control demand requires cooling:

(a) if the vehicle start request is a remote start request and the vehicle is not plugged in, starting the engine to maintain a state of charge of the traction battery;

(b) if the vehicle start request is a local start request and the vehicle is not plugged in, avoiding starting the engine to provide a silent start.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2011
From: FERGUSON, RUSSELL WILLIAM; CROMBEZ, DALE SCOTT
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 025864/0903 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110166734A1 · Jul 7, 2011