# US 2025/0164337 A1 · Device and method for controlling vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0164337 A1 - Document ID: US20250164337A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/776,777 - Filed: 2024-07-18 - Published: 2025-05-22 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-20 - Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Applicants: Hyundai Motor Company; Kia Corporation - Inventors: Se Hoon PARK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250164337A1 ## CPC - B60R 16/03: for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} - G01M 3/02: by using fluid or vacuum - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - H02J 7/667: {disconnection of loads if battery is not under charge, e.g. in vehicle if engine is not running} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY ## Abstract A device for controlling a vehicle includes a sensor that obtains state information of the vehicle, and a power controller which is configured to determine whether an activation condition of a dark current blocking control function is satisfied based on the state information of the vehicle, determines whether a power control mode is selected when the activation condition of the dark current blocking control function is not satisfied, and controls to cut off power supply to a dark current load based on the selected power control mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a sensor configured to obtain state information of the vehicle; and a power controller operatively connected to the sensor and configured to: receive the state information of the vehicle from the sensor; determine whether an activation condition of a dark current blocking control function is satisfied based on the state information of the vehicle; determine whether a power control mode is selected in response that the power controller concludes that the activation condition of the dark current blocking control function is not satisfied; and control to cut off power supply to a dark current load based on the selected power control mode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power controller is further configured to determine whether the power control mode including a first plant mode and a second plant mode is selected in response that the activation condition of the dark current blocking control function is not satisfied. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the power controller is further configured to determine whether a test process is performed in a vehicle production process in response that the power control mode is selected. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the test process includes a watertight test process of spraying water under a pressure for a predetermined time period while the vehicle is sealed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor includes a rain sensor, and wherein the power controller is further configured to increase a detection count value whenever the power controller concludes via the rain sensor that a time period in which the water is sprayed under the pressure during the watertightness test process is greater than or equal to a reference time period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the power controller is further configured to determine whether a dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed in response that the first plant mode is selected and the detection count value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power controller is further configured to cut off the power supply to the dark current load in response that the first plant mode is selected, the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, and the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the power controller is further configured to change a gear stage from an N-stage to a P-stage and determine whether the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed in response that the second plant mode is selected and the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the power controller is further configured to cut off the power supply to the dark current load in response that the second plant mode is selected, the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the gear stage is changed from the N-stage to the P-stage, and the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed. ### Claim 10 A method for controlling a vehicle, the method comprising: determining, by a processor, whether an activation condition of a dark current blocking control function is satisfied based on state information of the vehicle; determining, by the processor, whether a power control mode is selected in response that the activation condition of the dark current blocking control function is not satisfied; and controlling, by the processor, to cut off power supply to a dark current load based on the selected power control mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including: determining, by the processor, whether the power control mode including a first plant mode and a second plant mode is selected in response that the activation condition of the dark current blocking control function is not satisfied. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further including: determining, by the processor, whether a test process is performed in a vehicle production process in response that the power control mode is selected. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the test process includes a watertight test process of spraying water under a pressure for a predetermined time period while the vehicle is sealed. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further including: increasing, by the processor, a detection count value whenever the power controller concludes via a rain sensor that a time period in which the water is sprayed under the pressure during the watertightness test process is greater than or equal to a reference time period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further including: determining, by the processor, whether a dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed in response that the first plant mode is selected and the detection count value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including: cutting off, by the processor, the power supply to the dark current load in response that the power controller concludes that the first plant mode is selected, the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, and the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further including: changing, by the processor, a gear stage from an N-stage to a P-stage and determining, by the processor, whether the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed in response that the second plant mode is selected and the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further including: cutting off, by the processor, the power supply to the dark current load in response that the second plant mode is selected, the detection count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the gear stage is changed from the N-stage to the P-stage, and the dark current load power supply maintenance time has passed.