History-based and location-based control of vehicle key-off loads
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.
1. An electrical system in a vehicle comprising:
a driver control responsive to a driver for entering a Key-On state or a Key-Off state;
a battery configured to supply electrical current during the Key-Off state;
a plurality of electrical loads 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 determining a geographic location of the vehicle; and
an electronic controller configured to include:
a sleep-time database recording daily Key-On events 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 identifying Key-Off events sharing a repetitive time span and a common geographic location; and
a scheduler for activating a timed KOL sequence according to the identified Key-Off events.
2. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the analyzer identifies one or more clusters of Key-On events at a consistent time portion of a common day of the week over a plurality of weeks.
3. The electrical system of claim 2 wherein the timed KOL sequence adopts a first KOL Mode for times during the common day of the week not containing one of the clusters of Key-On events, wherein the timed KOL sequence adopts a second KOL Mode for times during the common day of the week containing one of the clusters of Key-On events, and wherein the first KOL Mode has a lower current flow limit than the second KOL Mode.
4. The electrical system of claim 3 wherein scheduler adds a buffer period to extend a section of the timed KOL sequence having the second KOL Mode.
5. The electrical system of claim 4 wherein the buffer period has a length proportional to a spreading of the Key-On events corresponding to the repetitive time span.
6. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the vehicle locator is comprised of a GPS navigation system.
7. The electrical system of claim 1 wherein the common geographic location is comprised of a region having a predetermined size and within which a plurality of the Key-Off events coincide.
8. A method of limiting drain of a battery in a vehicle electrical system, wherein the battery is configured to supply electrical current to a plurality of electrical loads during a Key-Off state depending upon predetermined Key-Off-Load (KOL) Modes, the method comprising the steps of:
monitoring a driver control as being in the Key-On state or the Key-Off state;
determining a geographic location of the vehicle;
recording daily Key-On events 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;
identifying Key-Off events which share 1) a repetitive time span on a common day of the week during different weeks, and 2) a common geographic location;
activating a timed KOL sequence according to the identified Key-Off events when the Key-Off state is detected.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the identifying step identifies one or more clusters of Key-On events at a consistent time portion of a common day of the week over a plurality of weeks.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the timed KOL sequence adopts a first KOL Mode for times during the common day of the week not containing one of the clusters of Key-On events, wherein the timed KOL sequence adopts a second KOL Mode for times during the common day of the week containing one of the clusters of Key-On events, and wherein the first KOL Mode has a lower current flow limit than the second KOL Mode.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of adding a buffer period to extend a section of the timed KOL sequence having the second KOL Mode.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the buffer period has a length proportional to a spreading of the Key-On events corresponding to the repetitive time span.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the geographic location is determined using a GPS navigation system.
14. The method of claim 8 wherein the common geographic location is comprised of a region having a predetermined size and within which a plurality of the Key-Off events coincide.