# US 12,016,085 B2 · Power control device and power control method

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- Number: US 12,016,085 B2
- Document ID: US12016085B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/633,070
- Filed: 2021-03-30
- Published: 2023-11-23
- Granted: 2024-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2021-03-30
- Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroaki Enomoto; Yaojun Hu; Chihiro Hirose; Tetsuya Kitakatsu; Shishou Gen; Toru Yasunaga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016085B2

## CPC

- H05B 1/0236: {for vehicles}
- B60H 1/00764: {the input being a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed (B60H1/00828, B60H1/00864 take precedence)}
- B60H 1/2218: {controlling the operation of electric heaters}
- B60J 1/20: Accessories, e.g. wind deflectors, blinds (antiglare provisions B60J3/00; wind deflectors associated with roof openings B60J7/22; removable external protective coverings for windows or windscreens B60J11/08 {; aerodynamical spoiler for vehicles B62D35/00;} heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84)
- B60N 2/5685: {Resistance}
- B60S 1/026: {using electrical means}
- B60H 1/00285: {for vehicle seats}
- B60H 2001/2253: {related to an operational state of the vehicle or a vehicle component}
- B60H 2001/2265: {related to the quantity of heat produced by the heater}
- H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
- H05B 2203/005: using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A power control device of the present invention controls the electric power of a vehicle which includes hot-wire heaters provided respectively in a plurality of areas which are obtained by dividing a front window. In particular, the power control device of the present invention switches between alternating control and entire surface control based on an external air temperature of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, the alternating control being for sequentially energizing each hot-wire heater provided in each of the plurality of areas, and the entire surface control being for simultaneously energizing all the hot-wire heaters provided in the plurality of areas.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power control device comprising:
a processor configured to control electric power of a vehicle which includes hot-wire heaters provided respectively in a plurality of areas which are obtained by dividing a front window,
wherein the processor is configured to switch between alternating control and entire surface control based on an external air temperature of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, the alternating control being for sequentially energizing each hot-wire heater provided in each of the plurality of areas, and the entire surface control being for simultaneously energizing all the hot-wire heaters provided in the plurality of areas.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The power control device according to claim 1, wherein
the processor is configured to perform the entire surface control when the external air temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than a predetermined first temperature and the speed of the vehicle is equal to or slower than a predetermined value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The power control device according to claim 1, wherein
the processor is configured to perform the alternating control when the external air temperature of the vehicle is equal to or lower than the predetermined first temperature and the speed of the vehicle is faster than the predetermined value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The power control device according to claim 2, wherein
the processor is configured to determine whether a heater provided in an interior of the vehicle is in use in a case where power consumption of the vehicle is equal to or larger than a predetermined power value, and reduce an energization amount to the heater provided in the interior of the vehicle when the heater is in use.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The power control device according to claim 1, wherein
when the external air temperature of the vehicle is higher than a predetermined second temperature, the processor is configured not to energize the hot-wire heaters even when a switch for energizing the hot-wire heaters is turned on.

### Claim 6

A power control method performed by a controller for controlling electric power of a vehicle which includes hot-wire heaters provided respectively in a plurality of areas which are obtained by dividing a front window, the power control method comprising:
switching between alternating control and entire surface control based on an external air temperature of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, the alternating control being for sequentially energizing each hot-wire heater provided in each of a plurality of areas, and the entire surface control being for simultaneously energizing all the hot-wire heaters provided in the plurality of areas.