Method for operating a vehicle having an electrical outlet

Abstract

A method for operating a vehicle that includes an electrical power output is described. In one example, the method includes preventing shifting of transmission gears in response to an external electric power consumer being coupled to an electrical power output receptacle of the vehicle. The method may reduce a possibility of interrupting electrical power that may be supplied to the external electric power consumer.

Description

FIELD[0001]The present description relates to methods and a system for operating a vehicle that may supply electrical power to an external device. The methods and systems may reduce the possibility of an unexpected power disconnect to the external device.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY[0002]A vehicle may include an electrical power outlet to provide electrical power to electrically operated devices that are external to the vehicle or that are not integrated into the vehicle. The power may be provided via an integrated starter / generator, a belt integrated starter generator, or another electric machine that is incorporated into the vehicle. The electrical power outlet may have sufficient capacity to operate entertainment devices, hand tools, lights, pumps, and other electrically operated devices. The electric power outlet may supply electric power to external devices when the vehicle is moving or when the vehicle is stationary. If the vehicle is supplying power to an external device when the v...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0002]A vehicle may include an electrical power outlet to provide electrical power to electrically operated devices that are external to the vehicle or that are not integrated into the vehicle. The power may be provided via an integrated starter / generator, a belt integrated starter generator, or another electric machine that is incorporated into the vehicle. The electrical power outlet may have sufficient capacity to operate entertainment devices, hand tools, lights, pumps, and other electrically operated devices. The electric power outlet may supply electric power to external devices when the vehicle is moving or when the vehicle is stationary. If the vehicle is supplying power to an external device when the vehicle is stationary, electrical power delivered to the external device may be interrupted if vehicle driver (e.g., human or autonomous) drives away while the external device is connected to the vehicle electrical power outlet. Consequently, operation of the external device may be interrupted, which may cause users of the external electrically operated device to become frustrated. Therefore, it may be desirable to reduce the possibility of interrupting power delivery to an external electrical power consumer.

[0003]The inventors herein have recognized the above-mentioned issues and have developed a vehicle operating method, comprising: preventing forward or reverse motion of vehicle wheels in response to an external electrical power consumer being coupled to a vehicle via an electric receptacle of the vehicle.

[0004]By preventing movement of a vehicle in response to an external electrical power consumer being coupled to a vehicle, it may be possible to provide the technical result of avoiding interruption of electric power flow to external electric power consumers. Consequently, the external electric power consumer may enjoy uninterrupted operation. However, for cases where it may be desirable for the external power consumer to move with the vehicle, the inhibiting of forward and reverse wheel rotation may be overridden via a dedicated input so that the external electric power consumer may remain operational when the vehicle is traveling on a road.

[0005]The present description may provide several advantages. Specifically, the approach may reduce a possibility of unintended electric power flow disruptions to external electric power consumers. The approach may also be overridden to provide system flexibility when it may be desired to operate the external electric power consumer while the vehicle to which it is electrically coupled is traveling. In addition, the approach is flexible and may be applied to a variety of driveline configurations.

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, operation of the external device may be interrupted, which may cause users of the external electrically operated device to become frustrated.

Consequently, the external electric power consumer may enjoy uninterrupted operation.

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