# US 11,110,800 B2 · Method for auxiliary load control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,110,800 B2 - Document ID: US11110800B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/375,291 - Filed: 2019-04-04 - Published: 2020-10-08 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Stuart Salter; Ross Dykstra Pursifull; Paul Kenneth Dellock; David Brian Glickman; William Taylor - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11110800B2 ## CPC - B60L 1/006: {to power outlets} - B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators - B60K 6/387: Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means - B60K 2006/4825: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft} - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for controlling power generation in a vehicle. In one example, the vehicle includes a controller coupled to an auxiliary device through a communication link, the auxiliary device drawing power from a generator at a power interface. Power supplied to the auxiliary device is regulated by the controller through signals transmitted over the communication link. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a vehicle system with an internal combustion engine, comprising: at a controller, establishing a communication link between the controller and an auxiliary device electrically coupled to a power interface of a vehicle; receiving a signal from the auxiliary device indicative of a present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; and regulating power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption, wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising implementing an overload mitigation mode responsive to determining a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes: triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system; and sending an overload alert to a mobile device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes shutting down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of a plurality of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a plurality of power outlets in the power interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes reducing a generator field current in an electric machine of a powertrain of the vehicle, the electric machine supplying power to the power interface and tripping a circuit breaker in the power interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising, subsequent to the implementation of the overload mitigation mode, resetting the circuit breaker in the power interface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein resetting the circuit breaker includes increasing a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein resetting the circuit breaker includes waiting a predetermined time and resuming a current flow to the auxiliary device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the circuit breaker is reset responsive to receiving a breaker reset request from the auxiliary device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a power interface state message to a mobile device based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising, prior to sending the power interface state message to the mobile device, predicting an engine temperature increase based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device and wherein the power interface state message includes an overheat alert message. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the power interface state message includes one or more of a current power consumption of the auxiliary device, an expected runtime of the auxiliary device, engine cooling system data, and a predicted temperature rise of the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 13 A vehicle system, comprising: an external power interface including a power outlet receiving electrical energy from an electric machine coupled to an internal combustion engine when a vehicle is stationary; a controller with computer readable instructions stored on non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to: establish a wireless communication link with an auxiliary device electrically coupled to the power outlet; receive a wireless signal from the auxiliary device indicative of a present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; and regulate an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle system of claim 13, wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to: implement an overload mitigation mode responsive to predicting a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; wherein implementing the overload mitigation mode includes one or more of: triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system; and sending an overload alert to an operator mobile device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle system of claim 14, wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to: subsequent to implementation of the overload mitigation mode, increase a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount and reset a circuit breaker in the power interface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The vehicle system of claim 13, wherein the controller further includes computer readable instructions stored on the non-transitory memory that when executed cause the controller to: in response to predicting a power interface overload condition based on the signal indicative of the present and/or anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, shut down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of a plurality of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a plurality of power outlets in the power interface. ### Claim 17 A method for operating a vehicle system with an internal combustion engine coupled to an electric machine, comprising: at a controller, establishing a wireless communication link between a controller and an auxiliary device electrically coupled to a power interface of a vehicle; receiving a signal from the auxiliary device indicative of an anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device; regulating an amount of power supplied to the auxiliary device through the power interface by adjusting the internal combustion engine and/or the electric machine based on the signal indicative of the anticipated power consumption of the auxiliary device, wherein power is regulated by increasing a fuel injection quantity in the internal combustion engine; determining a power interface overload condition; and tripping a circuit breaker in the power interface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising, subsequent to tripping the circuit breaker, increasing a voltage at the power interface by a predetermined amount and resetting the circuit breaker in the power interface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising, responsive to determining the power interface overload condition, shutting down one or more outlets in the power interface based on predetermined priorities of auxiliary devices electrically coupled to a corresponding power outlet. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising, in response to determining the power interface overload condition, triggering an overload indicator in the vehicle system and sending an overload alert to a mobile device.