Hybrid vehicle battery maintenance system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorCurtis John Caldwell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A battery maintenance system for a vehicle, including a battery mounted to the vehicle, the battery having a charge level, an electric motor connected to a ground engaging member of the vehicle, a hybrid power source mounted to the vehicle, and configured, at least in part, to provide electric power with the battery to power the electric motor, and a control module mounted to the vehicle, the control module configured to probe the battery when the vehicle is in a sleep state, determine whether the charge level of the battery is above a minimum level, and if not, activate the hybrid power source to deliver electrical power to the battery at least until the charge level of the battery is above the minimum level.
Claims20
A vehicle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a power source supported by the frame;
- a control module configured to control operation of the vehicle;
- a battery to provide electrical power to the vehicle, the battery having a charge level;
- and
- a battery maintenance system configured to:
- identify that the vehicle is in a sleep state, probe the battery, via the control module, based on identifying that the vehicle is in the sleep state,
- determine, based on probing of the battery, whether the charge level of the battery is above a minimum level or not, and
- activate the power source, based on determining that the charge level of the battery is not above the minimum level and based on a fuel level of the power source being above a fuel target, to deliver the electrical power to the battery at least until the charge level of the battery is above the minimum level.
A battery maintenance system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a battery mounted to the vehicle, the battery having a charge level;
- an electric motor connected to a ground engaging member of the vehicle;
- a hybrid power source mounted to the vehicle, and configured, at least in part, to provide electric power with the battery to power the electric motor;
- a control module mounted to the vehicle, the control module configured to
- probe the battery under a condition where the vehicle is in a sleep state,
- determine whether the charge level of the battery is above a minimum level or not, and
- if not, and under a condition where a fuel level of the hybrid power source is above a hybrid fuel target, activate the hybrid power source to deliver electrical power to the battery at least until the charge level of the battery is above the minimum level.
A method for charging a battery in a vehicle, the method comprising:
- monitoring a state of charge of the battery under a condition where the vehicle is in a dormant state, the vehicle including a hybrid power system including one or more electric motors and a power source, both connected to the battery;
- determining that the state of charge of the battery is above a minimum level while the vehicle is in the dormant state, the vehicle subsequently remaining in the dormant state;
- after said determining that the state of charge of the battery is above the minimum level and with the vehicle remaining in the dormant state, determining that the state of charge of the battery is below the minimum level;
- after determining that the state of charge of the battery is below the minimum level, determining a fuel level of the vehicle;
- and
- activating the power source to generate electrical power and charging the battery, via the power source, at least until the state of charge of the battery is above the minimum level, only under a condition where the fuel level of the vehicle is above a fuel target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.