On-board system for managing a vehicle battery and method of implementation.

Abstract

On-board system for managing a battery of a vehicle and method of implementation. The invention relates to an on-board system (1) for managing a battery (2) of a vehicle, characterized in that the system (1) comprises: a plurality of switches (3) respectively associated with power supply circuits (4) of one or more pieces of equipment (5) of the vehicle powered by the battery (2), a control interface (13) connected to each of the switches (3) of the plurality, the control interface (13) being associated with at least one memory means (131) integrating at least one hierarchy of activity states of the vehicle comprising at least three levels, each level of activity state of the vehicle being associated with an actuation equation of a set of at least one switch (3), the control interface (13) being configured to identify the level of activity state of the vehicle and implement the associated actuation equation. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: On-board system for managing a vehicle battery and method of implementation.

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of mechanisms for managing the charge level of a vehicle battery and more particularly to the field of systems and methods for regulating the use of the energy of such a vehicle battery.

[0002] In the context of the use of a current vehicle, it is likely to present three different states of activity. The first state corresponds to a state in which the vehicle is not operating and no device or on-board element of the vehicle is able to operate. The second state corresponds to a state in which the vehicle is operating and the various on-board elements and devices are able to operate. The third state corresponds to an intermediate level between the two previous states, in which the various on-board devices are able to operate despite the absence of operation of the vehicle. This third state characterizes in particular a situation in which a user of the vehicle has inserted the key into the ignition without the vehicle's engine being started but various on-board accessory devices such as the radio or a ceiling light are able to operate.

[0003] The operation of some of these on-board elements or devices of the vehicle relies at least in part on an energy supply emanating directly from an electric battery also on board the vehicle. Usually, the operation of each of these on-board elements takes place via respective specifically dedicated switches which provide interfaces between the power source and the device in operation. In the majority of vehicles currently in circulation, nearly 200 to 300 elements or devices are likely to be powered by an electric battery, whether temporarily or for the entire duration of use of the vehicle.Also, in the absence of recharging, the vehicle's battery is forced to withstand a significant drop in its charge level to ensure the operation of the vehicle's on-board equipment, so that in the absence of actuation of the vehicle's motor, the multiplication of the charges of these on-board elements leads to a limitation of their operating autonomy, or even to a reduction in the vehicle's autonomy level.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a solution which makes it possible to optimize the energy consumption provided by an electric battery on board a vehicle without modifying the capacity of the battery or of the various on-board elements or devices.

[0005] The present invention relates to an on-board system for managing a vehicle battery, characterized in that the system comprises: - a plurality of switches respectively associated with power supply circuits of one or more vehicle equipment powered by the battery, - a control interface connected to each of the switches of the plurality, the control interface being associated with at least one memory means integrating at least one hierarchy of activity states of the vehicle comprising at least three levels, each level of activity state of the vehicle being associated with an actuation equation of a set of at least one switch, the control interface being configured to identify the activity state level of the vehicle and implement the associated actuation equation.

[0006] The invention also relates to a method for implementing an on-board system according to the invention, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of identifying the activity state of the vehicle, - a step of determining the actuation equation of a set of at least one switch, - a step of solving the actuation equation by opening or closing at least one switch in the assembly.

[0007] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to the preferred embodiments, given as non-limiting examples, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawing, in which:

[0008] [Fig-1] corresponds to a schematic representation of an example of different elements of an embedded system according to the invention.

[0009] The invention relates to an on-board system 1 for managing a battery 2 of a vehicle, characterized in that the system 1 comprises: - a plurality of switches 3 respectively associated with power supply circuits 4 of one or more pieces of equipment 5 of the vehicle powered by the battery 2, - a control interface 13 connected to each of the switches 3 of the plurality, the control interface 13 being associated with at least one memory means 131 integrating at least one hierarchy of activity states of the vehicle comprising at least three levels, each level of activity state of the vehicle being associated with an actuation equation of a set of at least one switch 3, the control interface 13 being configured to identify the activity state level of the vehicle and implement the associated actuation equation.

[0010] The system 1 according to the invention is thus based in particular on a mechanism for allocating different operating authorizations allocated to one or more pieces of equipment 5 as a function of a level of activity state of the vehicle. The allocation of operating authorizations thus involves, for each level of activity state of the vehicle, at least one actuation equation which determines the opening or closing of one or more switches 3 allowing the power supply of one or more pieces of equipment 5 of the vehicle via dedicated circuits 4.

[0011] It should be noted that the battery 2 of the vehicle managed by the on-board system is likely to correspond to the electric accumulator which accompanies a thermal engine and participates in the operation of the starter and various on-board devices or accessories of the vehicle. The battery 2 of the vehicle managed by the on-board system is also likely to correspond to one or more on-board electric accumulators which also participate in the power supply of the vehicle's motorization such as in the context of electric or hybrid vehicles.

[0012] It should be noted that, by way of example, the control interface 13 comprises in particular a computer in association with the memory means 131 and capable of implementing at least one actuation equation of the memory means 131. The control interface 13 also comprises a device for transmitting and transmitting actuation and / or neutralization signals for opening and / or closing the power switches 3 of the equipment 5. The transmission of these signals is thus carried out as a function of the results obtained by the computer when solving an actuation equation by the control interface 13.

[0013] As an example of a preferred implementation, the different levels of activity state of the vehicle are in particular: - a hierarchically lowest activity state level in which the reduction in battery 2 energy consumption is maximum, - a hierarchically highest activity state level in which the vehicle's traction drive is in operation, and, - at least one intermediate activity state level in which the battery 2 is subject to energy consumption for the power supply of one or more pieces of equipment 5 of the vehicle. In this implementation example, it should be noted that the hierarchically highest activity state level corresponds to a vehicle operating mode in which the battery 2 is able to be recharged by the vehicle alternator. The intermediate activity state level corresponds to a vehicle operating mode in which one or more pieces of equipment 5 are active without the vehicle's engine operating. It should be noted that the hierarchically highest activity state level corresponds to a vehicle operating mode in which the battery 2 is able to be recharged by the vehicle's alternator. The intermediate activity state level corresponds to a vehicle operating mode in which one or more pieces of equipment 5 are active without the vehicle's engine operating. also to note that the hierarchically lowest activity state level is that in which the reduction in the energy consumption of the battery 2 is maximum, that is to say that the processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate at most only the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of an on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle.

[0014] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed examples, the system 1 also comprising at least one sensor 6 associated with the control interface 13, the control interface 13 is configured to take into account at least one measurement value of the sensor 6. According to an exemplary implementation, this at least one sensor 6 is configured to operate the identification of the activity state level of the vehicle. This at least one sensor 6 is in particular configured to operate the transmission of a signal to the control interface 13 so as to allow the identification of at least one change in activity state level within the pre-established hierarchy, in particular a change of state to a higher or lower level. A computer of the control interface 13 is thus able to permanently identify the activity state level of the vehicle.For example, according to a first implementation variant, this identification is carried out from the last signal received from at least one sensor 6 since this signal is specific for the vehicle accessing a particular activity state level. According to a second implementation variant, this identification is carried out from the combination, on the one hand, of the last signal received from at least one sensor 6 and indicating a modification of the activity state level and, on the other hand, the last recorded activity state level. It should be noted that the sensor 6 is likely to take the form of a detector allowing the identification of a parameter or a value of a parameter.Likewise, the sensor 6 is likely to correspond to a trigger associated with or integrated into an actuation command triggered by a user, such as the opening of a vehicle door, or automated such as during an action triggered after the lapse of a predefined duration. According to another exemplary implementation, this at least one sensor 6 is configured to identify a parameter for triggering a change in the activity state level of the vehicle. Indeed, associated with the computer of the control interface 13, the detection of a parameter modification by a sensor 6 triggers the transmission of a signal for changing the activity state of the vehicle and for solving a new actuation equation for the activity state of the vehicle by the control interface 13.

[0015] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, the at least three levels of vehicle activity state correspond respectively, on the one hand, to: - an activity state level in which the reduction in the energy consumption of battery 2 is maximum, this level corresponding to the hierarchically lowest activity level, - an activity state level in which the vehicle's traction drive is in operation, this level corresponding to the hierarchically highest activity level, and, on the other hand, at least one intermediate activity state level among the following activity levels listed according to an increasing hierarchical value: - an activity state level in which at least one piece of equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle operates in the absence of a user on board and in the absence of operation of the vehicle's traction motor, - an activity state level in which the user has access to the vehicle's dashboard without the vehicle's traction motor being actuable, - an activity state level in which the user has access to the vehicle's dashboard and the vehicle's traction drive can be operated. In this example of implementation, it should be noted that the different levels of intermediate activity states correspond substantially to different activity states sought and likely to be adopted by the vehicle between a zero or almost zero operating state and an operating state allowing maximum activity of the different equipment 5 of the vehicle, that is to say different activity states hierarchized according to the discharge potential of the battery 2 supplying this equipment 5. Each of these desired activity states thus corresponds to a situation requiring the potential operation of an equipment 5 or at least one group of equipment 5 specifically defined, the number of which increases with the hierarchical level of the intermediate activity state concerned of the vehicle and therefore the importance of the potential discharge of the battery 2 for the supply of this equipment 5.Also, within the framework of the system of the invention, the optimization of the charge level of the battery 2 is carried out by a restriction of the power supply or the power supply potential of a piece of equipment 5 or groups of equipment 5 so that only the equipment 5 necessary and / or essential for the desired activity state are able to operate. It should be noted that, according to a preferred example of this variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention, the processing of the actuation equation of each activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate the opening of at least all of the switches 3 open within the framework of . solving the actuation equation of the lower activity state level. However, an alternative to this preferred example is conceivable, in particular when the actuation equations of two successive activity state levels are solved by opening at least one switch 3 at the lower level and by closing this at least one switch 3 at the upper level.It should also be noted that, in the present variant embodiment of the on-board system 1, if the hierarchically lowest activity state level in which the reduction in the energy consumption of the battery 2 is maximum, comprises a power supply to an on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle, the equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle at the activity state level in which at least one equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle operates in the absence of a user and of the operation of the traction motorization, must be considered as an additional or supplementary equipment 5 to the on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle. Also, the removal of the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, that is to say the hierarchically lowest activity state level, is carried out when only the on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle operates.

[0016] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, the control interface 13 is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which the traction motorization of the vehicle is in operation, as soon as a vehicle movement command is engaged and / or the vehicle brake is released and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, as soon as a user is no longer identified in the driver's seat and / or no vehicle movement command is engaged and / or at least one brake, or even a particular brake, of the vehicle is actuated.As an example of construction of the system according to the invention, in this level of activity state of the vehicle, the processing of the actuation equation of this level of activity state of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate at least the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of at least one safety mechanism such as an airbag and / or an obstacle proximity detector and / or at least one driving assistance mechanism and / or at least one lighting mechanism. Preferably, according to a specific example of this variant embodiment, access to this level of activity state is only possible once the user has been identified. This identification of the user is in particular likely to be carried out by an element of the vehicle key or a particular badge and the presence of this element inside a specifically defined environment or volume of the vehicle.

[0017] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the system 1 on-board according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, the control interface 13 is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which the user has access to the dashboard of the vehicle and the traction motor of the vehicle is actuable, as soon as a user is identified on the driver's seat and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level for a hierarchically lower level, as soon as a user is no longer identified on the driver's seat for a determined duration and / or as soon as the driver's door is open and / or as soon as the driver's seat belt is unfastened. This activity state level hierarchically precedes the level in which the traction motor of the vehicle is in operation by being lower than the latter.In this activity state level of the vehicle, the processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate at least the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of the vehicle starter so that a user is able to actuate or trigger the traction motorization of the vehicle. Preferably, according to a specific example of this variant embodiment, the processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate at least the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of at least one comfort element of the vehicle such as a multimedia interface and / or a heating device and / or a charging interface of an accessory device such as an electrical outlet or a serial computer bus standard (USB) port.Preferably, according to another specific example of this variant embodiment combinable with the other examples stated, access to this activity state level is also only possible once the user has been identified. This identification of the user is in particular likely to be carried out by an element of the vehicle key or a particular badge and the presence of this element within a specifically defined environment or volume of the vehicle.

[0018] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, the control interface 13 is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which the user has access to the dashboard of the vehicle without the traction motor of the vehicle being operable, as soon as a door of the vehicle is unlocked and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, as soon as the doors of the vehicle have been locked for a determined duration and / or as soon as no user is identified in a space near the vehicle for a determined duration. Preferably, according to another example specific to this variant embodiment, the identification of the user is in particular likely to be carried out by an element of the vehicle key or a particular badge and its presence in an environment forming a specifically defined volume around the vehicle.

[0019] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, the control interface 13 is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which at least one piece of equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle operates in the absence of a user on board and in the absence of operation of the traction motorization of the vehicle, since in the absence of an identified user on board the vehicle the operation of a piece of equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle is required and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, since no piece of equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle operates.It should however be noted that, in the present embodiment variant of the on-board system 1, if the hierarchically lowest activity state level in which the reduction in the energy consumption of the battery 2 is maximum comprises a power supply to an on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle, the equipment 5 powered by a battery 2 of the vehicle must be considered as an additional or supplementary equipment 5 to the on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle. Also, the removal of the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, that is to say the hierarchically lowest activity state level, is carried out when only the on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle is operating.The processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is in particular configured to operate at least the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of the hazard lights of the vehicle. Similarly, preferably, the processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 makes it possible to maintain the power supply and operation of the hazard lights of the vehicle while having an optimization of the electrical consumption and therefore a reduction of the discharge of the battery 2 of the vehicle.Also preferably, according to a specific example of this variant embodiment, the processing of the actuation equation of this activity state level of the vehicle by the control interface 13 is configured to operate at least the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of at least one remote connection interface of an on-board computer device of the vehicle with an external central unit and / or with a vehicle control interface integrated into a portable terminal of the user. By way of example, this remote connection with an external central unit is. in particular capable of allowing an update of one or more memory means and / or the updating of at least one computer program supported by a computer device of the vehicle. Similarly, this remote connection with a vehicle control interface integrated into a portable terminal of the user is capable of allowing the reception of control signals by the user to activate certain equipment 5 for preparation of the vehicle for its use such as preheating of an engine and / or verification or control of certain equipment.

[0020] According to an example relating to another variant embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention and capable of being combined with one or other of the previously detailed variants, each switch 3 is produced by an integrated switching circuit. Preferably, at least one switch 3 is produced by an integrated circuit of the SMARTMOS™ type. However, any means which has identical or similar properties and capable of performing a similar switching function in the context of supplying equipment 5 of a vehicle is conceivable as a switch 3 in the context of an on-board system according to the invention.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for implementing an on-board system according to the invention, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of identifying the activity state of the vehicle, - a step of determining the actuation equation of a set of at least one switch 3, - a step of solving the actuation equation by opening or closing at least one switch 3 of the assembly.

[0022] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the identification step comprises: - a step of measuring a value by a sensor and transmitting it to the control interface 13, - a step of evaluating the value received in identifying the vehicle's activity status.

[0023] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. On-board system (1) for managing a battery (2) of a vehicle, characterized in that the system (1) comprises: - a plurality of switches (3) respectively associated with power supply circuits (4) of one or more pieces of equipment (5) of the vehicle powered by the battery (2), - a control interface (13) connected to each of the switches (3) of the plurality, the control interface (13) being associated with at least one memory means (131) integrating at least one hierarchy of activity states of the vehicle comprising at least three levels, each level of activity state of the vehicle being associated with an actuation equation of a set of at least one switch (3), the control interface (13) being configured to identify the activity state level of the vehicle and implement the associated actuation equation.

2. On-board system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least three levels of activity state of the vehicle correspond respectively, on the one hand, to: - an activity state level in which the reduction in the energy consumption of the battery (2) is maximum, this level corresponding to the hierarchically lowest activity level, - an activity state level in which the vehicle's traction drive is in operation, this level corresponding to the hierarchically highest activity level, and, on the other hand, at least one intermediate activity state level among the following activity levels listed according to an increasing hierarchical value: an activity state level in which at least one piece of equipment (5) powered by a battery (2) of the vehicle operates in the absence of a user on board and in the absence of operation of the vehicle's traction drive, - an activity state level in which the user has access to the vehicle's dashboard without the vehicle's traction drive being operable, - an activity state level in which the user has access to the vehicle's dashboard and the vehicle's traction drive is operable.

3. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the system (1) also comprising at least one sensor (6) associated with the control interface (13), the control interface (13) is configured to take into account at least one measurement value of the sensor (6).

4. On-board system (1) comprising at least the features of claim 2, characterized in that the control interface (13) is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which the traction motorization of the vehicle is in operation, as soon as a vehicle movement command is engaged and / or a vehicle brake is released and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, as soon as a user is no longer identified on the driver's seat and / or no vehicle movement command is engaged and / or at least one brake, or even a particular brake, of the vehicle is actuated.

5. On-board system (1) comprising at least the features of claim 2, characterized in that the control interface (13) is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which the user has access to the dashboard of the vehicle and the traction motorization of the vehicle is operable, as soon as a user is identified on the driver's seat and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, as soon as a user is no longer identified on the driver's seat for a determined period and / or the driver's door is open and / or the driver's seat belt is unfastened.

6. On-board system (1) comprising at least the features of claim 2, characterized in that the control interface (13) is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the state level activity level in which the user has access to the vehicle's dashboard without the vehicle's traction motor being operable, as soon as a vehicle door is unlocked and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, as soon as the vehicle doors have been locked for a determined period of time and / or as soon as no user is identified in a space near the vehicle for a determined period of time.

7. On-board system (1) comprising at least the characteristics of claim 2, characterized in that the control interface (13) is configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at the activity state level in which at least one piece of equipment (5) powered by a battery (2) of the vehicle operates in the absence of a user on board and in the absence of operation of the traction motor of the vehicle, since in the absence of an identified user on board the vehicle the operation of a piece of equipment (5) powered by a battery (2) of the vehicle is required and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this activity state level to a hierarchically lower level, since no piece of equipment (5) powered by a battery (2) of the vehicle operates.

8. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each switch (3) is produced by an integrated switching circuit.

9. Method for implementing an on-board system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of identifying the activity state of the vehicle, - a step of determining the actuation equation of a set of at least one switch (3), - a step of solving the actuation equation by opening or closing the at least one switch (3) of the set.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the identification step comprises: - a step of measuring a value by a sensor and transmitting it to the control interface (13), - a step of evaluating the value received in the identification of the activity state of the vehicle. 13

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