IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,338,665
Granted Patent B2
US 12,338,665 · App. 17/859,080 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

High voltage system to expedite propulsion readiness for electrified powertrain vehicles

Inventors: Abhilash Gudapati (Troy, MI); Daniele S Zaharia (Modena, IT)
Assignee: FCA US LLC
E05B81/56B60L1/003B60L58/10E05B81/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,338,665
App. No.
17/859,080
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrified vehicle includes a vehicle door, an electronic door latch system configured to selectively open the vehicle door, and an electrified powertrain configured to generate drive torque. A high voltage battery system for powering the electrified powertrain includes one or more battery contactors to selectively enable the high voltage battery system. A controller is configured to control operation of the vehicle and is in communication with the electronic door latch system. Upon receiving a door open request from the electronic door latch system, the controller activates the one or more battery contactors to enable the high voltage battery system only when the door open request is initiated from an outside of the vehicle.

Claims (36)

1. An electrified vehicle comprising:

a vehicle door;

an electronic door latch system configured to selectively open the vehicle door;

an electrified powertrain configured to generate drive torque;

a high voltage battery system for powering the electrified powertrain and including one or more battery contactors to selectively enable the high voltage battery system; and

a controller configured to control operation of the vehicle and in communication with the electronic door latch system, wherein upon receiving a door open request from the electronic door latch system, the controller activates the one or more battery contactors to enable the high voltage battery system only when the door open request is initiated from an outside of the vehicle, and wherein the controller is configured to prevent activation of the one or more battery contactors when the door open request is initiated from an inside of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further includes an external latch release switch disposed on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to generate an external door open request,

wherein the controller is configured to receive the external door open request.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the vehicle further includes an internal latch release switch disposed in an interior of the vehicle, the internal latch release switch configured to generate an internal door open request,

wherein the controller is configured to receive the internal door open request.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the one or more high voltage battery contactors during power-up or power-down activities.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is a supervisory controller configured to control operation of the electric vehicle.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the electronic door latch system comprises:

a latch smart driver module (LSDM) in signal communication with the supervisory controller;

a motor driven latch in signal communication with the LSDM;

an external release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an external door open request signal; and

an internal release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an internal door open request signal.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising a body controller module (BCM) in signal communication with the LSDM and the supervisory controller, wherein the BCM is configured to gate information between the LSDM and the supervisory controller, wherein the supervisory controller is configured to receive the internal and/or external door open request signals and, based on said request signals, determine whether the vehicle door is opened from the exterior of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle.

8. A method of operating an electric vehicle to prevent unintentional controller wakeup and high voltage system enablement as a result of opening a door of the vehicle, the vehicle having an electronic door latch system and a high voltage battery system for powering an electrified powertrain, the method comprising:

providing a controller in signal communication with the electronic door latch system and configured to control operation of the vehicle;

receiving, by the controller, a door open request signal from the electronic door latch system indicating the vehicle door has been opened;

determining, based on the door open request signal, if the vehicle door was opened from an exterior of the vehicle or an interior of the vehicle;

activating, by the controller, one or more battery contactors of the high voltage battery system to enable the high voltage battery system only when the door open request signal indicates the vehicle door was opened from the exterior of the vehicle; and

preventing, via the controller, activation of the one or more battery contactors to prevent enablement of the high voltage battery system when the door open request is initiated from an inside of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an external door open request from an external latch release switch disposed on an exterior of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an internal door open request from an internal latch release switch disposed in an interior of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising activating, by the controller, the one or more high voltage battery contactors during power-up or power-down activities.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controller is a supervisory controller configured to control operation of the electric vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic door latch system comprises:

a latch smart driver module (LSDM) in signal communication with the supervisory controller;

a motor driven latch in signal communication with the LSDM;

an external release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an external door open request signal; and

an internal release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an internal door open request signal.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving, at the supervisory controller, the internal and/or external door open request signals via a body controller module (BCM); and

differentiating between the internal door open request signal and the external door request signal to determine if the vehicle door is opened from the exterior of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GUDAPATI, ABHILASH; ZAHARIA, DANIELE S.
To: FCA US LLC
Reel/Frame 071141/0302 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240011336A1 · Jan 11, 2024
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