Vehicle Feed System Remote Mode Selection via Wireless Link

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users cannot conveniently select the HV feed mode for electric power feeding from a remote location, as they need to confirm the vicinity of the vehicle before starting the engine, and existing systems lack remote operation capabilities for power feed mode selection.

Innovation Solution

A feed system with a vehicle equipped with an engine, electric power generating device, electric storage device, outlet, and wireless communication device, allowing selection of feed modes (HV and EV) using a portable terminal via direct or relayed communication systems, enabling remote operation and ensuring safe engine activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user selects HV feed mode using a portable terminal from a remote location, then the convenience of operation is improved, but the safety of engine activation is compromised because the user cannot confirm the vicinity of the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote operation capabilityVSAvoidsafety of engine activation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a relay device as an intermediary between the portable terminal and the vehicle. This relay device receives selection information from the portable terminal and transmits it to the vehicle, enabling remote operation while maintaining safety controls. The relay device acts as a trusted mediator that facilitates communication without requiring the user to be physically present near the vehicle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification of communication establishment before allowing HV feed mode selection. The vehicle controller checks whether communication with the portable terminal is properly established and validates the selection request before enabling the HV feed mode. This preliminary action ensures that only authenticated and verified operations can activate the engine, maintaining safety while enabling remote operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system allows HV feed mode selection without communication verification, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of mode selection is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidmode selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle controller provides feedback by checking whether communication with the portable terminal is established before allowing HV feed mode selection. The system monitors the communication state and only permits mode selection when proper communication is confirmed. This feedback mechanism ensures reliable mode selection while maintaining operational simplicity for authenticated users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system uses only direct communication (first communication system), then the reliability of communication is improved, but the adaptability to remote operations is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidremote operation support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dual communication system that supports both direct communication (first communication system) and relayed communication (second communication system via relay device). This multi-functional communication architecture allows the system to adapt to different operational scenarios: direct communication for nearby operations and relayed communication for remote operations, thereby achieving both reliability and versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3321121B1Feed system and vehicle
Publication Date: 2021.07.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP3321121B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3321121B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3321121B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A feed system (2) includes a vehicle (1) and a feed mode controller (302). The feed system feeds electric power to an electric load (202) outside the vehicle in a first feed mode or a second feed mode. A wireless communication device (130) of the vehicle (1) communicates in a first communication system in which communication with a portable terminal (300) is established without passing through a relay point (404, 406, 402, 204). The feed mode controller enables the first feed mode to be selected when the communication in the first communication system is established, and disables the first feed mode from being selected when the communication in the first communication system is not established.