High voltage system for accelerating motorized powertrain vehicle propulsion preparation

Abstract

An electrically powered vehicle (100) includes a door, an electronic door latch system (132) configured to selectively open the door, and an electrically powered powertrain (104) configured to generate a drive torque. A high voltage battery system (114) for powering the motorized powertrain (104) includes one or more battery contactors for selectively activating the high voltage battery system (114). The controller (124) is configured to control operation of the vehicle (100) and is in communication with the electronic door latch system (132). Upon receiving a door opening request from the electronic door latch system (132), the controller (124) activates the one or more battery contactors to enable the high voltage battery system (114) only upon initiation of the door opening request from outside the vehicle (100).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates generally to high voltage electrified powertrain vehicles, and more particularly to systems and methods for preventing accidental wake-up or high voltage activation due to an unlocked door during a shutdown operation. Background Art

[0002] In some electric vehicles, following a vehicle key-off event, the supervisory controller enters a pre-power-off and shutdown state after a predetermined period of time. However, if a passenger remains in the vehicle after the predetermined period of time and opens the door to leave, the supervisory controller may perform an unexpected wake-up sequence and enable the high voltage, thinking that the passenger is entering the vehicle instead of leaving. This may result in shortened high-voltage battery contactor life and reduced high-voltage state of charge due to unnecessary high-voltage enablement. Traditional solutions to this problem include adding additional hardware, such as a weight sensor embedded in the driver's seat or smart key / smartphone / facial recognition authentication, but this can significantly increase cost and complexity and delay high-voltage enablement. Therefore, while traditional systems perform well for their intended purpose, there is still a need for improvement in related technical areas. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, an electrified vehicle is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the electrified vehicle includes a door, an electronic door latch system configured to selectively open the 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 the operation of the vehicle and communicate with the electronic door latch system. When a door opening request is received from the electronic door latch system, the controller activates one or more battery contactors to enable the high-voltage battery system only when the door opening request is initiated from outside the vehicle.

[0004] In addition to the foregoing, the vehicle may include one or more of the following features: wherein the controller is programmed not to activate one or more battery contactors to enable the high-voltage battery system when a door opening request is initiated from within the vehicle; wherein the vehicle also includes an external latch release switch disposed outside the vehicle and configured to generate an external door opening request, wherein the controller is configured to receive the external door opening request; and wherein the vehicle also includes an internal latch release switch disposed inside the vehicle, the internal latch release switch being configured to generate an internal door opening request, wherein the controller is configured to receive the internal door opening request.

[0005] In addition to the foregoing, the vehicle may include one or more of the following features: wherein the controller is configured to activate one or more high-voltage battery contactors during power-on or power-off operations; wherein the controller is an electric vehicle control unit (EVCU) configured to control the operation of the electric vehicle, wherein the electronic door latch system includes a latch smart driver module (LSDM) in signal communication with the EVCU, 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 opening request signal, and an internal release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an internal door opening request signal; and a body controller module (BCM) in signal communication with the LSDM and the EVCU, wherein the BCM is configured to receive an internal door opening request signal and an external door opening request signal, and determine whether the door is opened from outside the vehicle or from inside the vehicle based on the request signal.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating an electric vehicle to prevent accidental controller wakeup and high-voltage system activation caused by opening a door of the vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes an electronic door latch system and a high-voltage battery system for powering an electrified powertrain. In an exemplary embodiment, the method includes providing a controller that communicates signals with the electronic door latch system and is configured to control vehicle operation, the controller receiving a door open request signal from the electronic door latch system indicating that a door has been opened, and determining whether the door is opened from outside or inside the vehicle based on the door open request signal. The method also includes activating one or more battery contactors of the high-voltage battery system by the controller to enable the high-voltage battery system only when the door open request signal indicates that the door has been opened from outside the vehicle.

[0007] In addition to the foregoing, the method may include one or more of the following features: when a door opening request is initiated from inside the vehicle, one or more battery contactors are blocked from being activated by a controller to prevent the high-voltage battery system from being enabled, wherein the controller is configured to receive an external door opening request from an external latch release switch disposed outside the vehicle; wherein the controller is configured to receive an internal door opening request from an internal latch release switch disposed inside the vehicle; and during power-on or power-off operations, one or more high-voltage battery contactors are activated by the controller.

[0008] In addition to the foregoing, the method may include one or more of the following features: wherein the controller is an electric vehicle control unit (EVCU) configured to control the operation of the electric vehicle; wherein the electronic door latch system includes a latch smart driver module (LSDM) in signal communication with the EVCU, 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 opening request signal, and an internal release switch in signal communication with the LSDM and configured to generate an internal door opening request signal; receiving the internal door opening request signal and the external door opening request signal at a body control module (BCM), and distinguishing between the internal door opening request signal and the external door opening request signal to determine whether the door is opened from outside or inside the vehicle.

[0009] Further application aspects of the teachings of this application will become clearer through the detailed description, claims and drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description, including the disclosed embodiments and drawings referenced therein, are merely exemplary and are used for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of this application, its application or use. Therefore, changes that do not deviate from the subject matter of this application are within the scope of this application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of an electrified vehicle having an accidental wake-up and high voltage activation prevention system drawn according to the principles of this article; and

[0011] FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C Demonstrates the operation of drawing according to the principles of this article Figure 1 A flow chart of an example method for electrifying a vehicle in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] In accordance with the principles of the present application, a system and method are provided for distinguishing whether a user opens a door from inside or outside the vehicle to prevent an unexpected wake-up sequence and high voltage activation when the user opens the door from the inside. This prevents the supervisory controller from restarting the high voltage activation process when the door is opened from the inside. To achieve this, the system uses separate signals indicating an exterior door opening or an interior door opening, respectively. The high voltage system is only enabled when the user opens the door from the outside at any time during power-up or power-down operation to ensure that an unexpected wake-up does not occur. This prevents unexpected high voltage (HV) battery contactor closure and high voltage system activation, thereby improving the life of the battery contactor and promoting efficient utilization of the charge state of the high voltage system.

[0013] refer to Figure 1, shows a functional block diagram of an electric vehicle (EV) 100 with an accidental wake-up and high voltage activation prevention system 102 drawn according to the principles of the present application. The EV 100 generally includes an electrified powertrain (EPT) 104, which is configured to generate drive torque to a drive system 108 (through an electric drive module or EDM 106) for propulsion. It is understood that the electrified powertrain 104 can have other suitable configurations. The electrified powertrain generally includes one or more electric motors 112, a high voltage battery system 114 for powering the electric motors 112, and a DC-DC converter 116.

[0014] In some examples, the motor 112 includes one or more motor controller processors (MCPx) 118. The high voltage battery system 114 may include a battery pack control module (BPCM) 120 configured to close one or more battery contactors (not shown) to selectively enable high voltage on the EPT 104. The DC-DC converter 116 may be an integrated dual charging module (IDCM), an auxiliary power module (APM), etc. Although the DC-DC converter 116 is generally shown as part of the electrified powertrain (EPT) 104, it should be understood that the DC-DC converter 116 can be located separately from the electrified powertrain 104.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrified powertrain supervisory controller 124 communicates with the EPT 104 and other components via a controller area network (CAN) and is configured to control the operation of the vehicle, including the high voltage system of the EV 100. The supervisory controller 124 may be one or more different types of controllers depending on the type of vehicle. For example, the supervisory controller 124 may be a hybrid control processor (HCP), an electric vehicle control unit (EVCU), a vehicle dynamics control module (VDCM), etc. In an exemplary embodiment, the EPT controller will be referred to as the EVCU 124. One of the main control aspects of the EVCU 124 is to control the electrified powertrain 104 to produce the required amount of drive torque to meet the driver's demand (e.g., input via an accelerator pedal). The EVCU 124 and other controllers are typically powered by a low voltage battery (not shown), which may also be used to power one or more accessory loads (not shown) of the EV 100. The body controller module (BCM) 130 communicates signals with the EVCU 124 and is configured to transmit data information from the electronic latch door system 132 to the EVCU 124. Most of these components are also commonly referred to as the "electrical system" of the EV 100.

[0016] like Figure 1As shown, in an example embodiment, the electronic latch door system 132 generally includes a controller or latch smart driver module (LSDM) 134, which communicates signals with an interior door release button or switch 136, an exterior door release button or switch 140, and a door latch 142. In one example, the LSDM 134 may include a motor or motor driver (not shown) configured to release the door latch 142. As such, the LSDM 134 is configured to sense a door opening request from a user and mechanically release the door latch 142 if the user presses or actuates one of the switches 136, 140. The interior door release switch 136 is located inside the EV 100, and the exterior door release switch 140 is located outside the EV 100. Therefore, the LSDM 134 sends a signal indicating the actuation of the interior or exterior door release switch 136, 140 to the BCM 130 and the EVCU 124. The signal is then evaluated to determine and confirm whether the door opening request is from the exterior or interior of the EV 100.

[0017] As discussed above, some conventional vehicles start controller wake-up and high voltage activation when the driver's door is opened. However, the driver leaving the vehicle may cause such wake-up, thereby activating the high voltage system when it is not needed. Therefore, an improved system and method are proposed herein, and the EV 100 includes an accidental wake-up and high voltage activation prevention system 102 to prevent wake-up and high voltage activation when a door (e.g., a driver's door) is opened from inside the vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the accidental wake-up and high voltage activation prevention system 102 generally includes an LSDM 134, a BCM 130, and an EVCU 124. As shown, the EVCU 124 communicates signals with the BPCM 120 to selectively close one or more battery contactors, thereby enabling high voltage on the electrified powertrain 104. Advantageously, the system 102 uses the EVCU 124 to command the BPCM 120 to close the battery contactors and establish a high voltage circuit only when the door opening request comes from the external door release button 140. In this way, the system is configured to prevent accidental wake-up and high voltage activation that may shorten the life of components.

[0018] Reference now FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, shows an example method 200 of operating the EV 100 to prevent accidental controller wakeup and high voltage system activation when the driver's door is opened. In an example embodiment, the method starts at step 202, when the EVCU 124 is not awake. The CAN is inactive and powered off. In step 204, once the driver's door is opened, the EVCU 124 activates CAN-C and EPT-CAN communications and activates all wake-up outputs to wake up other EPT controllers (e.g., MCPx 118, IDCM, APM, and BPCM 120). In step 206, via CAN, the EVCU 124 receives a door not closed signal and an exterior / interior door open request from the LSDM 130. In step 208, the EVCU 124 determines whether the driver's door was opened from the outside or the inside.

[0019] If any fault is detected, the LSDM 134 is commanded to open the door latch 142 in step 210, and control then returns to step 202. If the driver's door was opened from the inside, control passes to step 212. For example, this may occur if the user is still in the vehicle after the key is turned off and the EVCU 124 enters a sleep state, and then the user opens the door from the inside. If the driver's door was opened from the outside without a fault, control passes to step 214.

[0020] In step 212, the EVCU 124 receives the door unlock signal via the CAN. In step 214, the EVCU 124 evaluates or arbitrates logic based on the CAN signal value and commands the electronic door latch 142 to open. In step 216 ( Figure 2B ), since the door is opened from the inside, the EVCU 124 loses power without waking up other EPT modules or closing the battery contactors.

[0021] Return to step 214 ( Figure 2A ), when the door is opened from the outside without fault, the EVCU 124 performs logic arbitration according to the CAN signal value. In step 216 ( Figure 2B ), the EVCU 124 powers up, initializes all input / output and drivers, initializes the CAN hardware, wakes up the EVCU application layer, wakes up the EPT module, performs an EPT supervisory controller shutdown path test, and enables EPTCAN communications. The EPT module may include, for example, the motor controller processor MCPx118, IDCM, APM, and BPCM 120. If a fault is detected, control proceeds to step 218, and the EVCU 124 opens the battery contactor and enters the power-off state.

[0022] If no fault has occurred, control proceeds to step 220 and the EVCU 124 verifies that the driver door is open from the outside and requests the BPCM 120 to close the battery contactors. If a fault is detected, control proceeds to step 218. If no fault has occurred, control proceeds to step 222 and the EVCU 124 application layer checks the HV bus status, the voltage available at the inverter, and waits for the ignition to run or run / start. If a fault has occurred, control proceeds to step 218. If a predetermined amount of time (e.g., 2 minutes) has passed since the driver door was opened, indicating that the door ajar timer has expired, then in step 226 ( Figure 2C ), the EVCU 124 detects the reason for the shutdown. If no fault has occurred and the vehicle is started before the predetermined amount of time expires, the EVCU 124 in step 224 ( Figure 2C ) sets the EV 100 to a ready-to-drive state, and proceeds to step 226. If the vehicle ignition is turned off during step 224, control proceeds to step 224 similarly.

[0023] Reference now Figure 2C , the method 200 continues at step 228, where the EVCU 124 disables the EPT 104 if an ignition shutdown occurs. At step 230, the EVCU 124 commands all high voltage (HV) components to stop consuming or generating high voltage. At step 232, the EVCU 124 commands the BPCM 120 via the CAN to open the battery contactors. At step 234, the EVCU 124 ensures that all high voltage operations are completed. At step 236, the EVCU 124 is in a pre-power-off state and commands all controllers on the EPT CAN to power down before the EVCU 124 itself powers down.

[0024] Continue to refer Figure 2C , starting from step 240, describes the operation of opening the driver's door from the inside of the vehicle when the EVCU 124 and related components attempt to power off due to the end of their reasonable functions. For example, the user opens the door from the inside after the key is turned off and before the EVCU 124 enters sleep. In this case, the EVCU 124 continues to enter the sleep state and avoids unnecessary power-up. More specifically, in step 242, the EVCU 124 determines whether the door is opened from the inside of the vehicle. If a fault is detected, the LSDM 134 opens the door latch 142 in step 244 and proceeds to step 236. If no fault is detected, in step 246, the EVCU 124 arbitrates logic based on the CAN signal value and commands the electronic latch 142 to open. In step 248, the EVCU 124 performs a power off operation, including subsequently executing one or more of steps 228-234. Control then proceeds to step 236, and the EVCU 124 commands all controllers on the EPT-CAN to power off before powering off itself.

[0025] This article describes a system and method for preventing accidental power-up of an electric powertrain controller / component when a door is opened from the inside of a vehicle. The system includes a supervisory controller that receives an input signal from an electronic door latch. The controller distinguishes between door opening requests originating from inside or outside the vehicle. The controller closes a high-voltage battery contactor to enable the high-voltage system only when a user opens the door from outside the vehicle. This advantageously increases system life by avoiding accidental high-voltage battery contactor closure and thereby enabling the high-voltage system when the door is opened from the inside.

[0026] It is understood that the term "controller" or "module" as used herein refers to any suitable control device or a collection of multiple control devices configured to perform at least a portion of the technology of the present application. Non-limiting examples include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), one or more processors, and a non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to perform a set of operations corresponding to at least a portion of the technology of the present application. The one or more processors may be a single processor or two or more processors operating in a parallel or distributed architecture.

[0027] It should be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, methods, systems and / or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein, so that those skilled in the art will recognize from the present teachings that features, elements, systems and / or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example where appropriate, unless otherwise specified above. It should also be understood that the description, including the disclosed examples and drawings, is merely exemplary in nature and is used for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, its application or use. Therefore, changes that do not depart from the gist of the present disclosure are within the scope of this article.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle, comprising: Car doors, an electronic door latch system configured to selectively unlock 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; as well as a controller configured to control operation of the vehicle and to communicate 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 outside the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is programmed to deactivate the one or more battery contactors to enable the high-voltage battery system when the door opening request is initiated from an interior of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The vehicle further includes an exterior latch release switch disposed on an exterior of the vehicle and configured to generate an exterior door open request, The controller is configured to receive the external door opening request.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein: The vehicle further includes an interior latch release switch disposed inside the vehicle, the interior latch release switch configured to generate an interior door open request, The controller is configured to receive the internal door opening request.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The controller is configured to activate the one or more high-voltage battery contactors during a power-up or power-down operation.

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

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, 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 is in signal communication with the LSDM and is configured to generate an internal door open request signal.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7 further includes a body control module (BCM), which communicates signals with the LSDM and the supervisory controller, wherein the BCM is configured to control door information between the LSDM and the supervisory controller, wherein the supervisory controller is configured to receive the interior door opening request signal and / or the exterior door opening request signal, and determine whether the door is opened from the outside or the inside of the vehicle based on the request signal.

9. A method for operating an electric vehicle for preventing accidental controller wakeup and high voltage system activation caused by 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 opening request signal from the electronic door latch system, the door opening request signal indicating that a vehicle door has been opened; determining, based on the door opening request signal, whether the door is opened from the outside of the vehicle or from the inside of the vehicle; as well as Only when the door open request signal indicates that the door is opened from outside the vehicle, one or more battery contactors of the high-voltage battery system are activated by the controller to enable the high-voltage battery system.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: When the door opening request is initiated from the interior of the vehicle, activation of the one or more battery contactors is inhibited via the controller to prevent activation of the high-voltage battery system. 11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an exterior door opening request from an exterior latch release switch disposed outside the vehicle. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to receive an interior door opening request from an interior latch release switch disposed inside the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: One or more high voltage battery contactors are activated by the controller during a power up or power down operation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the controller is a supervisory controller configured to control operation of the electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, 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; as well as An internal release switch is in signal communication with the LSDM and is configured to generate an internal door open request signal.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: receiving the interior door open request signal and / or the exterior door open request signal at the supervisory controller via a body controller module (BCM); as well as The interior door opening request signal and the exterior door opening request signal are distinguished to determine whether the door is opened from the outside of the vehicle or the inside of the vehicle.

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