Vehicle Remote Start Control System Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle remote start operations consume propulsion energy when pre-conditioning the cabin, potentially depleting battery or fuel levels, leading to unexpected range limitations.

Innovation Solution

A control system that limits or prevents remote start operations when predefined limits such as state of charge, range, or fuel levels are violated, communicating notifications to personal devices and allowing users to override these limits through a mobile application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If remote start operations are allowed to pre-condition the cabin, then user convenience is improved, but vehicle energy reserves are depleted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidvehicle energy reserves

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors energy reserves (battery state of charge, fuel level, estimated range) and uses this feedback to dynamically control remote start functionality. When energy thresholds are violated, the system automatically limits or prevents remote start operations, creating a closed-loop control system that balances user convenience with energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The remote start system transitions from a static on/off state to a dynamic state based on energy conditions. The system can be enabled, disabled, or have notifications sent to the user's device, allowing flexible adaptation to varying energy reserves while maintaining user convenience when energy is sufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Temperature

If remote start operations are permitted, then cabin pre-conditioning is achieved, but vehicle range is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecabin pre-conditioningVSAvoidvehicle range

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of energy reserves and estimated range before allowing remote start operations to initiate cabin pre-conditioning. By evaluating energy availability in advance, the system ensures that range limitations will not occur during or after the remote start operation, maintaining both cabin comfort and expected vehicle range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If remote start functionality is unrestricted, then operational flexibility is maintained, but energy management reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidenergy management reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operational parameters (remote start enablement status, notification behavior) based on energy management requirements. By adjusting these parameters dynamically according to energy thresholds, the system maintains reliability of energy management while preserving operational flexibility within safe boundaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11548351B2Systems and methods for limiting remote start functionality on vehicles

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

This disclosure describes systems and methods for limiting the functionality of remote start systems within vehicles. Remote start operations may be limited, for example, in response to exceeding one or more remote start limits. Limiting the remote start operations may include either preventing the initiation of a remote start request or ending an already in-progress remote start operation.