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 comprising: 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 two 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, the control interface (13) also being configured to, on the one hand,placing the vehicle at a determined activity state level as a function of the actuation of at least one control and / or the measured value of at least one parameter and, on the other hand, removing the vehicle from this determined activity state level for a hierarchically lower level, as a function of at least one control and / or a control fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter, characterized in that the system (1) also comprises a blocking mechanism (7) for the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level. 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, the operation of some of these elements or devices on board 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.

[0003] To address this concern for optimizing the energy consumption provided by the electric battery on board the vehicle, management systems on board the vehicle have been developed so as to integrate a mechanism for assigning different operating authorizations assigned to one or more pieces of equipment as a function of one or more hierarchical levels of activity state of the vehicle. Thus, for each level of activity state of the vehicle, the assignment of operating authorizations involves at least one actuation equation which determines the opening or closing of one or more switches to enable the power supply of one or more pieces of equipment of the vehicle via dedicated circuits.However, the implementation of such a mechanism strictly conditions the operation of each of the equipment to one or more activity state levels of the vehicle so that a change in the activity state level of the vehicle risks causing the closing of one or more switches and therefore a break in the power supply to one or more equipment. However, in certain cases, for example for safety or even comfort reasons, the continuation of the . operation of equipment is likely to be necessary if not preferable despite the change in the vehicle's activity status level.

[0004] The present invention aims to overcome this drawback by proposing a solution which allows one or more pieces of equipment on board a vehicle, the actuation of which is conditioned by the activity state of the vehicle positioned at a particular level, to ensure the continued operation of one or more pieces of equipment on board independently of a possible command to modify the activity state level of the vehicle, while maintaining an optimization of the energy consumption provided by an electric battery on board a vehicle.

[0005] The present invention relates to an on-board system for managing a vehicle battery comprising: - 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 two 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 control interface also being configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at a determined activity state level as a function of the actuation of at least one command and / or the measured value of at least one parameter and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this determined activity state level for a hierarchically lower level, as a function of at least one command and / or a command fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter,

[0007] characterized in that the system also comprises a mechanism for blocking the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level.

[0008] The invention also relates to a method for implementing an on-board system according to the invention, characterized in that, on the one hand, the activity state level of the vehicle being identified and, on the other hand, the control interface having identified at least one command and / or a control fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter to move the activity state of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level, the method comprises: - a step of determining and solving the blocking equation by maintaining at least one switch of the assembly in the open position, - a step, by the blocking mechanism, of generating a value and transmitting it to the control interface.

[0009] 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:

[0010] [Fig-1] corresponds to a schematic representation of an example of different elements of an embedded system according to the invention.

[0011] The invention relates to an on-board system 1 for managing a battery 2 of a vehicle comprising: - 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 two 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,

[0012] the control interface 13 also being configured to, on the one hand, place the vehicle at a determined activity state level as a function of the actuation of at least one command and / or the measured value of at least one parameter and, on the other hand, remove the vehicle from this determined activity state level for a hierarchically lower level, as a function of at least one command and / or a command fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter,

[0013] characterized in that the system 1 also comprises a mechanism 7 for blocking the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level.

[0014] The system 1 is based in particular on a mechanism for allocating different operating authorizations assigned to one or more pieces of equipment 5 as a function of a vehicle activity state level. The allocation of operating authorizations involves, for each vehicle activity state level, 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. The system 1 according to the invention thus also involves a mechanism 7 configured to block the closing of one or more switches 3 allowing the power supply of one or more pieces of equipment 5 during operation. This blocking mechanism 7 is thus able to avoid the inappropriate stopping of the operation of one or more pieces of equipment 5, in particular pieces of equipment likely to be of safety or comfort interest, despite a request or a signal to modify the activity state of the vehicle to a level whose associated actuation equation is resolved by the closing of a switch 3 for the electrical power supply of one or other of these pieces of equipment 5. Preferably, the blocking mechanism 7 is integrated into the on-board system 1 by being associated with the control interface 13 or with the computer of this control interface, or even integrated into this control interface 13.This integration thus allows the blocking mechanism 7 to influence the operation of the control interface 13 and more particularly the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle and / or the transmission or emission of one or more of the level change control signals. The operation and in particular the action of the blocking mechanism 7 on the other components of the control interface 13 is in particular conditioned, on the one hand, by the presence of one or more equipment 5 in operation and, on the other hand, by the reception of a vehicle activity state level change control signal by the control interface 13.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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 also be noted 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 vehicle activity state level 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.

[0018] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the on-board system 1 according to the invention, the system 1 also comprises at least one sensor 61 associated with the control interface 13, the control interface 13 being configured to take into account at least one measurement value of the sensor 61. According to an exemplary implementation, this at least one sensor 61 is configured to operate the identification of the activity state level of the vehicle. This at least one sensor 61 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 61 since this signal is specific for the accession of the vehicle to 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 61 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 61 is likely to take the form of a detector allowing the identification of a parameter or a value of a parameter. Similarly, the sensor 61 is likely to correspond to a trigger associated with or integrated into an actuation command. triggered by a user, such as opening a vehicle door, or automated such as during an action triggered after a predefined duration has elapsed. According to another exemplary implementation, this at least one sensor 61 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 61 triggers the transmission of a signal for changing the activity state of the vehicle and solving a new equation for actuating the activity state of the vehicle by the control interface 13.

[0019] 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 comprises at least one sensor 62 associated with the blocking mechanism 7. This at least one sensor 62 is configured to operate the identification of the operation of at least one piece of equipment 5 on board the vehicle. The blocking mechanism 7 is also capable of being associated with at least one memory means 71 integrating at least one set of references identifying at least one piece of equipment 5 on board the vehicle for which, when it is in operation, the operation of this at least one piece of equipment 5 must be continued in the absence of identification of a control signal for stopping the operation of the equipment 5 emitted by the user of the vehicle.In this memory means 71, each of the references identifying at least one piece of equipment 5 is associated with a blocking equation configured so that its resolution prevents the change of the activity state level of the vehicle and / or the transmission or emission of one or more of the level change control signals when the level to be reached in the context of the level change is an activity state of the vehicle not allowing the operation of the at least one piece of on-board equipment 5 concerned. It should be noted that the at least one memory means 71 is also likely to correspond to a memory means associated or integrated into the control interface 13. This at least one sensor 62 is in particular configured to operate the transmission of a signal to the blocking mechanism 7 so as to allow the identification of the operation of at least one piece of on-board equipment 5 of the vehicle.A computer of the control interface 13 and / or of the blocking mechanism 7 is associated with the at least one sensor 62 and with the at least one memory means 71 so as to compare the origin of the signal of the operation of the at least one on-board equipment 5 of the vehicle with at least one set of references identifying at least one on-board equipment 5 of the associated memory means 71. Also, in the event of a correspondence identified by the computer and / or by the blocking mechanism 7, the blocking mechanism 7 is actuated to modify the operation of the control interface 13 and more particularly for in . intervene on the change of the activity state level of the vehicle and / or on the transmission or emission of one or more of the level change control signals. For example, upon receipt of a signal for changing the activity state of the vehicle and resolution of a new actuation equation for the activity state of the vehicle by the control interface 13 and / or by the computer of the control interface 13, the blocking mechanism 7 and / or its computer checks, on the one hand, the compatibility of the resolution of the actuation equation for the new activity state of the vehicle with the operation of at least one piece of equipment 5 of the at least one set of references recorded in the associated memory means 71 and identifying at least one piece of on-board equipment 5 and, on the other hand, by receiving a signal from a sensor 62, the presence of an activity of the at least one piece of on-board equipment 5 of the vehicle recorded in the memory means 71.It should be noted that the sensor 62 is capable of taking the form of a detector allowing the identification of a parameter or a value of a parameter capable of indicating the operation of the at least one piece of equipment 5 on board and recorded in the memory means 71.

[0020] 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 blocking mechanism 7 is configured to prevent a modification of the activity state level of the vehicle below a determined activity state level. The blocking mechanism 7 is thus associated with the control interface 13 or with the computer of this control interface, or even integrated into this control interface 13 so as to influence its operation and more particularly the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle and / or one or more of the level change control signals.According to this embodiment variant, the blocking mechanism 7 is configured, on the one hand, to operate the verification that the level to which the modification signal requires the change of activity state of the vehicle is compatible with the continued operation of at least one specific equipment 5 and, on the other hand, to prevent the resolution of the actuation equation associated with this new activity state level and / or to prevent the emission and / or transmission of a signal modifying the operation of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of this specific equipment 5. Also, the blocking mechanism 7 is configured to prevent the change of the activity state level of the vehicle to a level no longer allowing the power supply of this specific equipment 5 and its operation.However, the blocking mechanism 7 is also configured so as not to obstruct a possible change in the activity state level of the vehicle to a level which would allow the power supply of this specific equipment 5 to continue. Also, the blocking mechanism 7 is. configured to act on the control interface 13 so as to maintain the vehicle in an activity state corresponding to a level equal to or greater than a floor level, i.e. equal to or greater than the lowest activity state level in which the energy consumption provided by the electric battery is optimized and the resolution of the associated actuation equation of which makes it possible to maintain the power supply to this specific equipment 5.

[0021] 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 activity hierarchy comprising a hierarchically lowest activity state level in which the reduction in the energy consumption of the battery is maximum, the blocking mechanism 7 is configured to prevent a modification of the activity state level of the vehicle to the hierarchically lowest level. Indeed, it is conventional for this hierarchically lowest activity state level to correspond to a level for which the actuation equation solved by the control interface 13 only operates at most the opening of the switch 3 associated with the power supply of an on-board clock mechanism of the vehicle so that the number of equipment 5 of the vehicle capable of functioning is extremely reduced.Also, the blocking mechanism 7 is configured to prevent the control interface 13 from allowing a switch of the activity state of the vehicle to a level not allowing the continued operation of at least one specific piece of equipment 5.

[0022] 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 blocking mechanism 7 is associated with at least one memory means 72 integrating at least one control equation associated with a level of activity state of the vehicle, the control equation defining the verification of at least one parameter for actuating a blocking operation by the blocking mechanism 7. This memory means 72 is capable of being different or identical to the memory means 71 associated with the blocking mechanism 7 and previously mentioned, that is to say to the memory means 71 integrating at least one set of references identifying at least one piece of equipment 5 on board the vehicle for which, when it is in operation, the operation of this at least one piece of equipment 5 must be continued in the absence of identification of a signal controlling the stopping of its operation.For example, upon receipt of a signal for changing the activity state of the vehicle and solving a new actuation equation for the activity state of the vehicle by the control interface 13 and / or by the computer of the control interface 13, the blocking mechanism 7 and / or its computer associated with the memory means 72 triggers the solving of a control equation. This solving of the control equation is . then translated, on the one hand, by the verification of a compatibility of the resolution of the actuation equation of the new activity state of the vehicle with the operation of at least one equipment 5 of the at least one set of references recorded in an associated memory means 71 and identifying at least one on-board equipment 5 and, on the other hand, by the verification of the existence of an operation of the at least one on-board equipment 5 of the vehicle recorded in the memory means 71, this control of the presence of an activity of the at least one on-board equipment 5 being capable of being carried out thanks to a signal coming from a sensor 62 associated or integrated with the on-board equipment 5 whose operation is monitored.

[0023] 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 blocking mechanism 7 is configured to provide a value associated with the activity state level to be reached by the vehicle and / or with the actuation equation. According to a first example relating to this alternative embodiment, the blocking mechanism 7 is configured so that the resolution of a control equation generates a value and this value is transmitted by the blocking mechanism 7 to the control interface 13. Thus, upon receipt of this value, the control interface 13 and / or the associated computer take this value into consideration in the resolution of the actuation equation and authorize the resolution of the actuation equation or suspend and / or block its resolution so as to prevent the change in the activity state level of the vehicle.According to another example relating to this variant embodiment, the blocking mechanism 7 integrates, in at least one memory means 71, 72, a value respectively associated with each of the activity state levels of the vehicle and / or each of the actuation equations capable of being resolved by the control interface 13. Also, depending on the activity state level to be reached identified by the control interface 13 and / or the associated actuation equation, the blocking mechanism 7 transmits to the control interface 13 the value associated with the activity state level to be reached of the vehicle and / or the corresponding actuation equation so that, upon receipt of this value, the control interface 13 and / or the associated computer take this value into consideration in solving the actuation equation.Also, depending on this value transmitted by the blocking mechanism 7, the control interface 13 authorizes the resolution of the actuation equation or suspends and / or blocks the resolution of the actuation equation within the framework of the change of activity state level of the vehicle.

[0024] 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 variants detailed previously, each switch 3 is produced by a circuit integrated switching circuit. Preferably, at least one switch 3 is produced by a SMARTMOS™ type integrated circuit. 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 can be envisaged as a switch 3 in the context of an on-board system according to the invention.

[0025] The invention also relates to a method for implementing an on-board system according to the invention, characterized in that, on the one hand, the activity state level of the vehicle being identified and, on the other hand, the control interface 13 having identified at least one command and / or a control fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter to move the activity state of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level, the method comprises: - a step of identifying and / or generating a value by the blocking mechanism 7 and transmitting it to the control interface 13, - a step of reception by the control interface 13 of a value transmitted by the blocking mechanism 7, - a step of suspending the resolution of the actuation equation of the hierarchically lower level, - a step of maintaining at least one switch 3 of the assembly in the open state and blocking the activity state of the vehicle at its current level.

[0026] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises beforehand: - a step of identifying the operation of at least one piece of equipment 5 on board the vehicle by receiving a signal emitted by a sensor 62, - a step of solving a blocking equation of the blocking mechanism 7 configured to generate the value intended to be transmitted to the control interface 13.

[0027] According to an example relating to an alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises: - a step of identification by the blocking mechanism 7 of the value intended to be transmitted to the control interface 13 by correlation with the hierarchically lower level.

[0028] 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 comprising: - 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 two 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, the control interface (13) also being configured to, on the one hand,placing the vehicle at a determined activity state level as a function of the actuation of at least one control and / or the measured value of at least one parameter and, on the other hand, removing the vehicle from this determined activity state level for a hierarchically lower level, as a function of at least one control and / or a control fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter, characterized in that the system (1) also comprises a blocking mechanism (7) for the modification of the activity state level of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level.,

2. On-board system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blocking mechanism (7) is configured to prevent a modification of the activity state level of the vehicle below a determined activity state level.

3. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the activity hierarchy comprising a hierarchically lowest activity state level in which the reduction of battery power consumption is maximum, the mechanism of blocking (7) is configured to prevent a change in the vehicle activity state level to the hierarchically lowest level.

4. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1) also comprises at least one sensor (62) associated with the locking mechanism (7)

5. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking mechanism (7) is associated with at least one memory means (72) integrating at least one control equation associated with a level of activity state of the vehicle, the control equation defining the verification of at least one parameter for actuating a blocking operation by the blocking mechanism (7).

6. On-board system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking mechanism (7) is configured to provide a value associated with the activity state level to be reached by the vehicle and / or with the actuation equation.

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

8. Method for implementing an on-board system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, on the one hand, the activity state level of the vehicle being identified and, on the other hand, the control interface (13) having identified at least one command and / or a control fault and / or the measured value of at least one parameter to move the activity state of the vehicle to a hierarchically lower level, the method comprises: - a step of identifying and / or generating a value by the blocking mechanism (7) and transmitting it to the control interface (13), - a step of receiving by the control interface (13) a value transmitted by the blocking mechanism (7), - a step of suspending the resolution of the actuation equation of the hierarchically lower level,- a step of maintaining at least one switch (3) of the assembly in the open state and blocking the activity state of the vehicle at its current level.,

9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of identifying the operation of at least one piece of equipment (5) on board the vehicle by receiving a signal emitted by a sensor (62), - a step of solving a blocking equation of the blocking mechanism (7) configured to generate the value intended to be transmitted to the control interface (13).

10. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the method comprises: - a step of identification by the blocking mechanism (7) of the value intended to be transmitted to the control interface (13) by correlation with the hierarchically lower level.

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