# US 2024/0199019 A1 · Ehc warmup notification > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0199019 A1 - Document ID: US20240199019A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/593,813 - Filed: 2024-03-01 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-05-14 - Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Applicants: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. - Inventors: Alessandro Concas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240199019A1 ## CPC - B60W 30/18: Propelling the vehicle - B60W 40/12: related to parameters of the vehicle itself {, e.g. tyre models} - B60W 50/10: Interpretation of driver requests or demands - B60W 50/12: Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation - B60W 50/14: Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention - B60W 2050/143: {Alarm means} - B60W 2050/146: {Display means} - B60W 2420/00: Indexing codes relating to the type of sensors based on the principle of their operation - B60W 2530/12: Catalyst or filter state - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract Systems and methods of electrically heating catalyst (EHC) driver notification are provided. With the goal of increasing driver cooperation in reducing emissions, EHC driver notification systems notify the driver when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. This notification is provided to the driver so that the driver may consciously operate the vehicle in a fashion that reduces emissions while the EHC is in the inefficient operation state. EHC driver notifications systems may also restrict operation of the vehicle when the EHC is in an inefficient operation state. However, for safety reasons, these systems provide the driver a function to bypass the restriction as needed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method comprising: comparing data associated with an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) in a vehicle with corresponding threshold value data; and based on the comparison, impeding travel range of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle to restrict acceleration of the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the EHC comprises data associated with a current operational state of the EHC. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein: the data associated with the EHC comprises a temperature of the EHC; and the comparison between the data associated with the EHC and the corresponding threshold value data comprises a comparison between the temperature of the EHC and a threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein: the data associated with the EHC comprises a total electric energy supplied to the EHC; and the comparison between the data associated with the EHC and the corresponding threshold value data comprises a comparison between the total electric energy supplied to the EHC and a threshold electric energy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising providing EHC-relevant display content based on the comparison. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the EHC-relevant display content comprises an audio-visual comparison between a threshold EHC temperature and a temperature of the EHC as it fluctuates based on a driving state of the vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The computer implemented method of claim 5, wherein the EHC-relevant display content comprises an indicator light which indicates whether temperature of the EHC exceeds a threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein in the EHC-relevant display content only further comprises an audio-visual comparison between the threshold EHC temperature and the temperature of the EHC as it fluctuates based on a driving state of the vehicle, when the temperature of the EHC is less than the threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 9 A computer implemented method comprising: determining an amount of time it will take an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) in a vehicle to heat to a corresponding threshold EHC temperature; and based on the amount of time it will take the EHC to heat to the corresponding threshold EHC temperature, restricting acceleration of the vehicle during operation of an internal combustion engine in the vehicle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer implemented method of claim 9, further comprising: providing EHC-relevant display content based on the amount of time it will take the EHC to heat to the corresponding threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the EHC-relevant display content is a countdown clock representing the time it will take the EHC to heat to the threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 12 A vehicle comprising: an accelerator pedal; an electrically heated catalyst (EHC); non-transitory memory configured to store instructions; and one or processors configured to execute the instructions to: compare data associated with a current operational state of the EHC with corresponding threshold value data; and impede travel range of the accelerator pedal to restrict acceleration of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the one or processors are further configured to execute the instructions to: provide a bypass function to bypass the acceleration restriction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the bypass function is a driver initiated control signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the one or processors are further configured to execute the instructions to: restrict operation of heaters in the vehicle based on the comparison. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the bypass function allows a driver of the vehicle to bypass the acceleration restriction by applying pressure on the accelerator pedal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein: the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC comprises a temperature of the EHC; the comparison between the data associated with the current operational state of an EHC and its corresponding threshold value data comprises a comparison between the temperature of the EHC and a threshold EHC temperature; and the acceleration restriction is implemented when the temperature of the EHC is below the threshold EHC temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein: the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC comprises a total electric energy supplied to the EHC; the comparison between the data associated with the current operational state of an EHC and its corresponding threshold value data comprises a comparison between the total electric energy supplied to the EHC and a threshold electric energy; and the acceleration restriction is implemented when the total electric energy supplied to the EHC is below the threshold electric energy. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein: the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC comprises a temperature of the EHC and a level of emissions detected downstream of the EHC; the comparison between the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC and its corresponding threshold value data comprises a first comparison between the temperature of the EHC and a threshold EHC temperature and a second comparison between the level of emissions detected downstream of the EHC and a threshold emissions level; and the acceleration restriction is implemented when: the temperature of the EHC is below the threshold EHC temperature, and the level of emissions detected downstream of the EHC is above the threshold emissions level. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, wherein: the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC comprises a temperature of the EHC and a total electric energy supplied to the EHC; the comparison between the data associated with the current operational state of the EHC and its corresponding threshold value data comprises a first comparison between the temperature of the EHC and a threshold EHC temperature and a second comparison between the total electric energy supplied to the EHC and a threshold electric energy; and the acceleration restriction is implemented when: the temperature of the EHC is less than the threshold EHC temperature, and the total electric energy supplied to the EHC is less than the threshold electric energy.