Method for controlling an electric load of a motor vehicle, associated device and vehicle.

Abstract

A method for controlling an electric charging element (120) of a power supply battery (130) of an electric propulsion motor (170) of a motor vehicle (100), the electric charging element (120) being contained within the motor vehicle (100), the control method being implemented by a telematics unit (110) of the motor vehicle (100), and being characterized in that it comprises the following initial steps: Determination that a charging end time has been reached; Upon determination that the charging end time has been reached, sending a first command to the electric charging element (120), the first command being a command to switch the electric charging element (120) to a delayed charging mode. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for controlling an electrical load of a motor vehicle, associated device and vehicle.

[0001] The invention relates to motor vehicles powered by an electric motor.

[0002] Some vehicles are currently marketed with the option of programming a start time for charging the battery powering the electric motor. Charging then continues until the battery is fully charged.

[0003] Charging can then continue beyond off-peak hours, making charging the motor vehicle expensive.

[0004] Also, the battery can then be charged beyond 80% of the maximum battery charge, a threshold at which it is recommended to stop charging the battery.

[0005] To remedy these drawbacks, the invention relates to a method for controlling an electrical charging element of a power supply battery for an electric propulsion motor of a motor vehicle, the electrical charging element and the power supply battery being included in the motor vehicle and being capable of switching (in other words; tilting): - In an immediate charging mode in which the electrical charging unit connects (in other words; commands a connection of) (immediately) (for example, by closing an (electrical) contact, for example by a relay command) the supply battery to an electrical outlet of the motor vehicle intended to be connected to an external electric charging station to charge the supply battery, until the supply battery is full (in other words: fully charged) (or, obviously, until a command is received to switch the electrical charging unit to the delayed charging mode described below), and - In a delayed charging mode in which the electrical charging unit disconnects (in other words; commands a disconnection of) (immediately) (for example, by opening an (electrical) contact, for example by a relay command) the supply battery from the vehicle's electrical socket, then switches to immediate charging mode at a predetermined time, until the supply battery is full (in other words: fully charged) (or, obviously, until a command is received to switch the electrical charging unit to immediate charging mode), the control process being implemented by a telematics unit of the motor vehicle (100), and being characterized by the following initial steps: - Determination that a charging end time has been reached, - Upon determination that the end time of charging has been reached, a first command is sent to the electrical charging device, the first command being a command to switch the electrical charging device into the delayed charging mode, the predetermined time being a first hour.

[0006] Thus, thanks to the invention, the telematics unit can control the interruption of the charging of the power supply battery at the end of charging time, without having to modify the current electrical charging element.

[0007] Of course, the method may include a step of determining the current time from data received from a clock, for example from the telematics unit.

[0008] For example, upon determination that a charging end time has been reached, the telematics unit can wake up, then implement the step of sending the first command to the electrical charging unit.

[0009] The telematics unit is for example capable of waking up periodically to communicate to a server a geographical location of the motor vehicle received from a satellite geolocation module of the motor vehicle.

[0010] For example, the process may include a repetition of the first steps.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the method comprises a step of receiving status information from the motor vehicle, and in which: - The implementation of the initial steps (and / or the repetition of the initial steps) is conditional upon the status information indicating that the (in other words: that a) contact of the motor vehicle is not on (by "on the ignition," we mean that electronic components of the motor vehicle are connected to a battery (in other words: powered by the battery) of the motor vehicle, typically a 12-volt battery of the motor vehicle), and / or - The implementation of the first steps (and / or the repetition of the first steps) is conditional upon the status information indicating that the electrical outlet is connected to a cable of the charging station.

[0012] Of course, the way in which such state information can be obtained is obvious to a person skilled in the art and will therefore not be detailed here.

[0013] Alternatively, the implementation of the first steps is not conditional on state information.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the process includes, prior to the first steps, a reception, for example from (for example from an application) from a mobile phone, the end-of-charge time, via a mobile phone network and possibly a server.

[0015] Alternatively, the charging end time is received in another way, for example from a touch screen of the motor vehicle.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the process comprises, prior to the first steps, the following steps: - Reception, for example from a mobile phone, of a second command, via a mobile telephone network and possibly a server, the second command being a command to switch the electrical charging unit into delayed charging mode, the predetermined time being a second time, different from the charging end time, - Transmission of the second command to the electric charging unit (the electric charging unit then switches to delayed charging mode).

[0017] Thus, the charging of the power supply battery takes place between the second hour and the end of charging time.

[0018] Alternatively, for example, the first steps are implemented while the electric charging device has been put into immediate charging mode, or into delayed charging mode from a screen in the vehicle's passenger compartment or from a button located in a hatch housing the plug.

[0019] For example, the first hour is the second hour.

[0020] Alternatively, the first hour may have another value (for example, later than the second hour).

[0021] According to one embodiment, the method includes receiving a computer program via a mobile telephone network from a server, prior to the first steps, and optionally installing the computer program in a memory of the telematics box, the first steps being implemented by the computer program when it is executed by a microprocessor of the telematics box.

[0022] The invention also relates to a computer program comprising instructions executable by a microprocessor or a microcontroller or a computer, to implement the steps of the process according to the invention, when executed by the microprocessor or the microcontroller or the computer.

[0023] The invention also relates to a telematics box (or a motor vehicle) configured to implement the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0024] The invention also relates to a control system comprising: - The telematics unit, - An electrical charging device capable of receiving the first command, then switching to delayed charging mode upon receipt of the first command.

[0025] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising the control system or telematics unit.

[0026] The second command can also be received by the electric charging unit from a screen in the vehicle's passenger compartment or from a button located in a hatch housing the plug.

[0027] When the telematics unit, motor vehicle, electric charging device, or other element is "configured to" (or "suitable to" or "is designed to" or "is intended to") perform or implement a step or operation, this implies, for example, that the element includes means for performing the step or operation. These means preferably include electronic means, for example, a computer program, data in memory, specialized electronic circuits, wired or wireless connections, a microprocessor, and / or a microcontroller.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which includes embodiments of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a telematics unit, a motor vehicle and a control system according to one embodiment of the invention, • [Fig.2] represents an implementation of the method according to the invention, according to an example of an embodiment, by the telematics unit and the motor vehicle of [Fig.1],

[0029] Detailed description of an example embodiment of the invention, with reference to figures 1 and 2.

[0030] Fig. 1 represents a vehicle 100, which is a motor vehicle, comprising a telematics unit 110 connected to an electric charging unit 120. The telematics unit 110 and the electric charging unit 120 may both have the architecture of a microprocessor, or may include a microprocessor.

[0031] With reference to [Fig.2], at step S00, the telematics box 110 receives, via the mobile telephone network 300, for example from a server, the computer program 115 and installs it in its memory.

[0032] At step S10, a user enters, using application 210, a charging start time of 2 hours, and a charging end time of 7 hours.

[0033] At step S20, the application 210 sends to the telematics unit 110, which receives it via the mobile telephone network 300 and, for example, a server, a command to switch the 120 electric charging unit into a delayed charging mode with a switch to an immediate charging mode at 2 hours.

[0034] At step S30, the telematics unit 110 transmits this command to the electrical charging unit 120.

[0035] At step S40, upon receipt of this command, the electrical charging unit 120 switches to a delayed charging mode with a switch to an immediate charging mode at 2 hours.

[0036] At step S50, application 210 sends, via the mobile telephone network 300, the end time of charging equal to 7 hours, to the telematics box 120 which receives it.

[0037] At step S60, at 2 o'clock, the electrical charging unit 120 commands a closing of the contact 150 (shown open [Fig.1]) so as to connect the supply battery 130 of the electric motor 170 to an electrical outlet 165 of the motor vehicle 100 connected to an electrical charging station 400 outside the vehicle 100 to charge the supply battery 130.

[0038] At step S70, computer program 115 determines that it is 7 o'clock.

[0039] At step S80, consequently, the computer program 115 sends, to the electrical charging unit 120, a command to switch the electrical charging unit 120 into a delayed charging mode, with a switch into an immediate charging mode at 2 hours.

[0040] At step S90, the electric charging unit 120 controls an opening of the contact 150 (shown open [Fig.1]) so as to disconnect the supply battery 130 of the electric motor 170 from the electrical socket 165 of the motor vehicle 100. As shown [Fig.1], the electrical socket 165 is connected to an external electric charging station 400 to charge the supply battery 130.

[0041] For example, prior to step S70 (and after step S60), the telematics unit 110 sends a request to another electronic component to obtain vehicle status information 100.

[0042] The telematics unit 110 only implements steps S70 and S80, if: - If the status information indicates that the ignition of vehicle 100 is not on, and - If the status information indicates that the electrical outlet 165 is connected to the cable 410 of the charging station 400.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for controlling an electrical charging element (120) of a power supply battery (130) of an electric propulsion motor (170) of a motor vehicle (100), the electrical charging element (120) and the power supply battery (130) being contained within the motor vehicle (100) and being capable of switching: - In an immediate charging mode in which the electrical charging element (120) connects the power supply battery (130) to an electrical outlet (165) of the motor vehicle (100) intended to be connected to an external electrical charging station (400) to charge the power supply battery (130) until the power supply battery (130) is fully charged, and - In a delayed charging mode in which the electrical charging element (120) disconnects the power supply battery (130) from the electrical outlet (165) of the motor vehicle (130),then switches to immediate charging mode at a predetermined time, the control process being implemented by a telematics unit (110) of the motor vehicle (100), and being characterized as comprising the following first steps: - Determination (S70) that a charging end time has been reached, - Upon determination (S70) that the charging end time has been reached, sending (S80) to the electric charging unit (120) a first command, the first command being a command to switch the electric charging unit (120) to the delayed charging mode.

2. A control method according to the preceding claim comprising a step of receiving status information from the motor vehicle, and wherein: - The implementation of the first steps is conditional upon the status information indicating that a contact of the motor vehicle (100) is not on, or - The implementation of the first steps is conditional upon the status information indicating that the electrical outlet (165) is connected to a cable of the charging station (400).

3. A control method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising, prior to the first steps, a reception (S50) of the end-of-charge time, via a mobile telephone network (300).

4. A control method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising, prior to the first steps, the following steps: - Receiving (S20) a second command, via a mobile telephone network (300), the second command being a command to switch the electric charging element (120) into the delayed charging mode, the predetermined time being a second time, different from the charging end time, - Transmitting (S30) the second command to the electric charging element.

5. A control method according to any one of the preceding claims comprising receiving (S00) a computer program (115) via a mobile telephone network (300), prior to the first steps, the first steps being implemented by the computer program (115) when executed by a microprocessor of the telematics box (110).

6. Computer program comprising instructions, executable by a microprocessor or microcontroller, for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, when executed by the microprocessor or microcontroller.

7. Telematics box (110) configured to implement the steps of the process according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. Control system comprising: - The telematics unit (110) according to the preceding claim,

9. - An electrical charging unit (120) capable of receiving the first command, then switching to delayed charging mode upon receipt of the first command Motor vehicle (100) comprising the control system according to the preceding claim.

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