Method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system (1) of a vehicle (2). According to the invention, when the vehicle (2) is parked, when low temperature conditions exist or occur with a predetermined probability within a predetermined period of time, which require heating of a battery of the battery system (1) before the start of driving the vehicle (2), a request to select a heating mode (HM1, HM2) of the battery heater is issued to a vehicle user on a display unit (4) in the vehicle (2) and / or on a mobile terminal (5) of the vehicle user, wherein a first heating mode (HM1) for immediate availability of driving the vehicle (2) and a second heating mode (HM2) for low energy consumption of the battery heater are displayed for alternative selection in the request,and wherein, when the vehicle user selects the first heating mode (HM1), a battery temperature of the battery is maintained within a predetermined temperature range by means of the battery heater, and when the vehicle user selects the second heating mode (HM2), the battery is heated to a predetermined minimum battery temperature by means of the battery heater after the vehicle user has activated the vehicle (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle.

[0002] From the prior art, as described in DE 10 2019 125 825 A1, a method for controlling a temperature control device of an accumulator of a motor vehicle is known.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0004] The object is achieved according to the invention by a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle having the features of claim 1.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0006] In a method according to the invention for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle, in a parking state of the vehicle, ie when the vehicle is parked, and in the case of low temperature conditions that also exist or occur with a predetermined probability within a predetermined period of time, which require heating of a battery of the battery system before starting to drive the vehicle, a request to select a heating mode of the battery heater is issued to a vehicle user on a display unit in the vehicle, in particular in a dashboard of the vehicle, and / or on a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, of the vehicle user. The mobile device has, in particular, a corresponding program, iea corresponding app, and there is at least temporarily a wireless communication connection with the vehicle, in particular with its battery system, for example a mobile phone connection, for example directly or via a central server external to the vehicle, for example of a manufacturer of the vehicle.

[0007] Heating the battery is particularly necessary to ensure a battery condition in which the battery ensures sufficient electrical energy supply to safety-critical functions of the vehicle to carry out the driving operation of the vehicle.

[0008] The heating mode selection prompt presents a first heating mode for immediate availability of the vehicle's driving mode and a second heating mode for low energy consumption of the battery heater as alternatives. The vehicle user can thus advantageously select one of the two heating modes with a single action, for example, by tapping the respective heating mode on the mobile device or on the display unit in the vehicle if it is configured as a touchscreen, or by selecting it using a control element in the vehicle, or by a voice command.

[0009] When the vehicle user selects the first heating mode, the battery temperature is maintained within a predefined temperature range by the battery heater. This means that the vehicle is ready for operation at any time, meaning that the vehicle can be driven immediately at any time. However, this continuous heating of the battery, for example, even over a long period of time while the vehicle is parked, results in a corresponding energy consumption. This means that the battery and / or any additional battery in the vehicle that is used to supply energy to the battery heater will be discharged accordingly, at least if the vehicle is not connected to an external electrical power supply.

[0010] If the vehicle user selects the second heating mode, the battery is heated to a specified minimum battery temperature by the battery heater only after the vehicle user has activated, in particular started, the vehicle.

[0011] This avoids high energy consumption due to continuous heating of the battery. However, particularly for safety reasons, it is expedient to ensure that the vehicle can only be driven once the specified minimum battery temperature has been reached. This means that when selecting this second heating mode, the vehicle user is required to wait a period of time between activating the vehicle and starting to drive, during which the battery is heated to the specified minimum battery temperature by the battery heater.

[0012] In one embodiment, the heating mode selection made by the vehicle user remains in effect until the next driving cycle of the vehicle, i.e., until the next start of driving the vehicle, and is canceled again at the next start of driving the vehicle. The method is thus restarted when the vehicle is parked again.

[0013] In one embodiment, it is provided that the vehicle user can deactivate the output of the request to select the heating mode of the battery heater on the display unit in the vehicle and / or on the mobile device of the vehicle user, in particular by a corresponding deactivation setting in the vehicle by the vehicle user.

[0014] The battery is in particular a 12V battery, in particular a 12V lithium-ion on-board network battery of the vehicle.

[0015] The described method provides, in particular, a vehicle user query system for the battery heating modes, which enables a balance, in particular a selection, between speed until the start of driving operation and energy efficiency of the battery heating.

[0016] The described solution is based in particular on the technical problem of controlling the battery temperature in order to ensure the availability of safety-critical functions at low temperatures. The described solution enables the vehicle user to choose between two battery heating strategies: heating the battery when the vehicle is activated, in particular when it is started, thus avoiding high energy consumption during long parking periods but requiring a waiting time while the battery heats up; and maintaining the battery temperature in the specified higher temperature range, whereby electrical energy is continuously consumed during this time but the vehicle can be driven immediately. The vehicle-user-oriented approach of the described solution offers the vehicle user flexibility depending on individual preferences and needs.

[0017] The battery system or a device comprising the battery system and, in particular, also the display unit in the vehicle and / or the vehicle user's mobile device and, for example, also the vehicle-external central server is designed and configured to carry out the method. For example, the device comprises the entire vehicle or the vehicle is the device, in particular for possible embodiments of the method without using the mobile device.

[0018] To carry out the described method, the battery system is designed and configured such that it can both heat the battery by means of the battery heater in such a way that the battery temperature is maintained in the predetermined temperature range, i.e., carry out a corresponding, in particular constant, heating strategy, in particular via a hysteresis, and can also carry out the heating strategy of heating the battery by means of the battery heater after the vehicle has been activated by the vehicle user to the predetermined minimum battery temperature.

[0019] In summary, when the vehicle is parked and low-temperature conditions exist or are likely to occur, i.e. when a corresponding likely critical low-temperature scenario is detected, the vehicle user receives the prompt on the display unit in the vehicle, in particular on the dashboard, or on the mobile device, in particular via the corresponding app. The vehicle user is prompted to choose between the first heating mode for immediate availability of vehicle driving and the second heating mode for low energy consumption of the battery heater. With a single action by the vehicle user, e.g. a single click, the vehicle user can indicate their preference, which then advantageously applies until the next driving cycle. This flexible approach ensures that the vehicle user can choose a battery preconditioning strategy that best suits their needs.

[0020] The described solution requires only minimal time expenditure for the vehicle user, as only minimal input from the vehicle user is required, in particular only a single selection action by the vehicle user.

[0021] The vehicle user retains control over the battery heating strategy, as he can flexibly decide whether he prefers immediate availability of the vehicle's driving operation or low energy consumption, depending on his needs.

[0022] The described solution provides a context-dependent prompt, as the prompt to select the heating mode is only issued in likely critical low-temperature scenarios, i.e., in particular, only when the low-temperature conditions requiring the battery system's battery to be heated before the vehicle starts driving already exist or are expected to occur with the specified probability within the specified time period. This occurrence with the specified probability within the specified time period can be estimated, for example, based on current weather conditions and / or weather conditions predicted based on the vehicle's position and the time of year and / or weather forecasts.

[0023] This context-dependent prompt output ensures that the prompt is relevant and not intrusive or disruptive to the vehicle user. Advantageously, the vehicle user has the option of completely deactivating the prompt output, particularly via appropriate vehicle settings, as described above. This allows the vehicle user further customization and increases convenience.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

[0025] It shows: Fig. 1 schematically shows a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system of a vehicle.

[0026] Based on Fig. 1, a method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system 1 of a vehicle 2 is described below. Fig. 1 in particular also a device 3 which is designed and arranged to carry out this method.

[0027] The battery system 1 comprises a battery and the battery heater for heating the battery. The battery is, in particular, a 12V battery, in particular a 12V lithium-ion on-board power supply battery of the vehicle 2.

[0028] In the method, when the vehicle 2 is parked and low temperature conditions that require heating of the battery before starting to drive the vehicle 2 exist or are likely to occur within a given period of time, a request to select a heating mode HM1, HM2 of the battery heating is issued to a vehicle user on a display unit 4 in the vehicle 2, in particular in a dashboard of the vehicle 2, and / or on a mobile terminal 5, in particular a smartphone, of the vehicle user. The mobile terminal 5 has, in particular, a corresponding program, i.e., a corresponding app, for this purpose, and there is at least temporarily a wireless communication connection KV with the vehicle 2, in particular with its battery system 1, for example directly, as in Fig.1, or via a central server external to the vehicle (not shown), for example via a corresponding server of a manufacturer of the vehicle 2.

[0029] Heating the battery is particularly necessary to ensure a battery state in which the battery ensures a sufficient electrical energy supply to safety-critical functions of the vehicle 2 for carrying out the driving operation of the vehicle 2.

[0030] In the request to select the heating mode HM1, HM2, a first heating mode HM1 for immediate availability of driving operation of the vehicle 2 and a second heating mode HM2 for low energy consumption of the battery heater are presented for alternative selection. The vehicle user can thus advantageously select one of the two heating modes HM1, HM2 with a single action, for example, by tapping the respective heating mode HM1, HM2 on the mobile device 5 or on the display unit 4 in the vehicle 2 if it is designed as a touchscreen, or by selecting it using a control element of the vehicle 2, or by a voice command.

[0031] When the vehicle user selects the first heating mode (HM1), the battery temperature is maintained within a specified temperature range by the battery heater. This ensures that vehicle 2 is ready for operation at all times, meaning that vehicle 2 can be driven immediately at any time. However, this continuous heating of the battery, for example, even over a long period of time when vehicle 2 is parked, results in a corresponding energy consumption.

[0032] If the vehicle user selects the second heating mode HM2, the battery is only heated to a predefined minimum battery temperature by the battery heater after the vehicle user has activated vehicle 2. This avoids high energy consumption due to continuous heating of the battery. However, particularly for safety reasons, it is provided that driving of vehicle 2 is only enabled once the predefined minimum battery temperature has been reached, i.e., if this second heating mode HM2 is selected, the vehicle user must wait a period from the time vehicle 2 is activated until driving begins, during which time the battery is heated to the predefined minimum battery temperature by the battery heater.

[0033] In particular, the selection of the heating mode HM1, HM2 made by the vehicle user remains in effect only until the next start of driving of vehicle 2, i.e., it is canceled the next time vehicle 2 is started. The process is thus restarted when vehicle 2 is parked again.

[0034] It is provided in particular that the output of the request to select the heating mode HM1, HM2 of the battery heater on the display unit 4 in the vehicle 2 and / or on the mobile terminal 5 of the vehicle user can be deactivated by the vehicle user, ie the vehicle user can deactivate it, in particular by a corresponding deactivation setting in the vehicle 2 by the vehicle user.

[0035] The described solution is based, in particular, on the technical problem of controlling the battery temperature to ensure the availability of safety-critical functions at low temperatures. The described solution enables the vehicle user to choose between two battery heating strategies: heating the battery when the vehicle 2 is activated, thus avoiding high energy consumption during long parking periods but requiring a waiting time while the battery heats up, and maintaining the battery temperature within the specified temperature range, thereby continuously consuming electrical energy but enabling immediate driving of the vehicle 2. List of reference symbols 1 battery system 2 vehicles 3 Device 4 Display unit 5 mobile device HM1 first heating mode HM2 second heating mode KV wireless communication link QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2019 125 825 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for controlling a battery heater of a battery system (1) of a vehicle (2), characterized bythat, in a parked state of the vehicle (2), when low-temperature conditions exist or occur with a predetermined probability within a predetermined period of time, which require heating of a battery of the battery system (1) before starting to drive the vehicle (2), a request to select a heating mode (HM1, HM2) of the battery heater is issued to a vehicle user on a display unit (4) in the vehicle (2) and / or on a mobile terminal (5) of the vehicle user, wherein in the request a first heating mode (HM1) for immediate availability of driving the vehicle (2) and a second heating mode (HM2) for low energy consumption of the battery heater are displayed for alternative selection,and wherein, when the vehicle user selects the first heating mode (HM1), a battery temperature of the battery is maintained within a predetermined temperature range by means of the battery heater, and when the vehicle user selects the second heating mode (HM2), the battery is heated to a predetermined minimum battery temperature by means of the battery heater after the vehicle user has activated the vehicle (2). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the driving operation of the vehicle (2) is only released when the specified minimum battery temperature is reached. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the selection of the heating mode (HM1, HM2) made by the vehicle user remains in effect until the next start of driving the vehicle (2) and is canceled at the next start of driving the vehicle (2). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the output of the request to select the heating mode (HM1, HM2) of the battery heater on the display unit (4) in the vehicle (2) and / or on the mobile terminal (5) of the vehicle user can be deactivated by the vehicle user.

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