IP Library Granted Patent US 8,487,589
Granted Patent B2
US 8,487,589 · App. 12/913,663 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Method and device for determining the start of a charging process for an energy storage device in an electric vehicle

Inventors: Aiko Böhme (Ingelheim, DE); Heiko Bald (Modautal, DE)
Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,487,589
App. No.
12/913,663
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and a device are provided for determining the start of a charging process for an energy storage device in a vehicle, such as an electric vehicle. The method includes, but is not limited to determining at least one first parameter that indicates that a passenger is about to exit the electric vehicle. In addition, a first time t 1 at which the charging process concludes at the earliest is determined, and a second time t 2 at which the charging process is to have concluded at the latest is set, where t 2 ≧t 1 . Further, a determination is made as to whether a third time t 3 at which a lowered second energy rate relative to the first energy rate is present before the second time t 2 has been reached, and the start of the charging process is set in such a way that the at least one third time t 3 lies within the charging process, and the charging process concludes by the second time t 2 at the latest.

Claims (28)

1. A method for determining a start of a charging process to achieve a predetermined charging state of an energy storage device in a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

ascertaining a first parameter that indicates whether a passenger is about to exit the vehicle;

ascertaining a first time t 1 at which the charging process concludes at an earliest;

displaying the first time t 1 , a time a first energy rate is present and a time a second energy rate is present, the second energy rate lower than the first energy rate, on a display device of the vehicle;

receiving a user input that sets a second time t 2 at which the charging process is to have concluded at the latest and the second time t 2 ≧the first time t 1 ;

ascertaining whether a third time t 3 at which the lowered second energy rate is present before the second time t 2 has been reached; and

setting a start of the charging process in such a way that the third time t 3 lies within the charging process and the charging process concludes by the second time t 2 at the latest.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a plurality of third times t 3 , wherein the start of the charging process is set once a majority of the plurality of third times t 3 has been determined in such a way that a maximum possible number of the plurality of third times t 3 lies within the charging process.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first parameter is at least partially based upon turning off an ignition of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first parameter is at least partially based upon undoing a seatbelt.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second parameter is at least partially based upon the passenger exiting the vehicle, and further comprising the step of deactivating the display device after ascertaining the second parameter.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a second parameter is at least partially based upon locking the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of presetting and storing the times at which a second energy rate is present in an onboard computer of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of presetting and storing the times at which the first energy rate is present in an onboard computer of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of transmitting the times at which the first energy rate is present to the vehicle with a device located outside of the vehicle.

10. A device for determining a start of a charging process to achieve a predetermined charging state of an energy storage device in a vehicle, comprising:

a first ascertaining device that ascertains a first parameter that indicates whether a passenger is about to exit the vehicle;

a display device that displays a first time t 1 ;

an input device that receives a user input of a second time t 2 ;

a control and computing unit that:

ascertains the first time t 1 at which the charging process concludes at an earliest; and

ascertains whether a third time t 3 at which a lowered second energy rate relative to a first energy rate is present before the second time t 2 , has been reached,

wherein the second time t 2 is the time at which the charging process is to have concluded at the latest and the second time t 2 ≧the first time t 1 .

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the control and computing unit is further adapted to set the start of the charging process once a majority of a plurality of third times t 3 has been determined in such a way that a maximum possible number of the plurality of third times t 3 lies within the charging process.

12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first parameter is at least partially based upon turning off an ignition of the vehicle.

13. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first parameter is at least partially based upon undoing a seatbelt.

14. The device of claim 10 , wherein a second parameter is at least partially based upon the passenger exiting the vehicle, and the control and computing unit deactivates the display device after ascertaining the second parameter.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the second parameter is at least partially based upon locking the vehicle.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034287/0159 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 24, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026499/0267 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE SPELLING OF THE ASSIGNEE'S NAME BY REMOVING THE PERIODS FROM L.L.C. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 025673 FRAME 0393. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE SHOULD BE GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Recorded Mar 18, 2011
From: BOHME, AIKO; BALD, HEIKO
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025982/0688 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0482 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2011
From: BOHME, AIKO; BALD, HEIKO
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS L.L.C.
Reel/Frame 025673/0393 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2009 051 076 · Oct 28, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110109276A1 · May 12, 2011