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US 10,328,940 B2Granted
Secure idle for a vehicle generator
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJames Theodore Cikalo, Daniel M. King, Thomas Lee Miller, Kevin Thomas Hille, Micheal Nikiforuk, Scott Alan Watkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus are disclosed for secure idle for a vehicle generator. An example vehicle includes an outlet external to the vehicle, a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet, and a powertrain control module. The powertrain control module controls the power inverter to supply first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position. Additionally, the powertrain control module, after entering a secure mode, controls an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off.
Claims20
A vehicle comprising:
- an outlet external to the vehicle;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position;
- after entering a secure mode, control an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off;
- and
- provide, via an instrument panel cluster, a warning when a plug-in detector detects a plug in the outlet and a gear selector is shifted out of park.
5 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an outlet external to the vehicle;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position;
- after entering a secure mode, control an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off;
- maintain an idle timer when the power inverter is supplying the second power level;
- and
- when the idle timer expires, control the power inverter to supply the first power level.
6 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an outlet external to the vehicle;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position, wherein the first power level is between 100 Watts and 400 Watts;
- and
- after entering a secure mode, control an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an external outlet;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the external outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level of at least 2000 Watts when the switch is in a second position;
- and
- after entering a secure mode, idle an engine when an ignition switch is off.
4 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an outlet external to the vehicle;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position;
- and
- after entering a secure mode, control an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off;
- a second switch;
- a body control module, wherein, to enter the secure mode, the body control module is to detect the ignition switch is off, a key is removed from the ignition switch, and a position of the second switch is indicative of the secure mode;
- and
- an instrument panel cluster to prompt a user to remove the key from the ignition switch when the second switch is toggled to the secure position.
8 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- an outlet external to the vehicle;
- a power inverter dedicated to supplying AC power to the outlet;
- and
- a powertrain control module to:
- control the power inverter to supply a first power level when a switch is in a first position and a second power level when the switch is in a second position;
- and
- after entering a secure mode, control an engine to remain idling when an ignition switch is off
- a second switch;
- a body control module, and wherein to enter the secure mode, the body control module is to detect the ignition switch is off, a key is removed from the ignition switch, and a position of the second switch is indicative of the secure mode;
- and
- an instrument panel cluster to prompt a user to insert the key into the ignition switch when the second switch is toggled to an unsecure position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.