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US 8,413,423 B2Granted
Catalyst temperature control systems and methods for hybrid vehicles
AssigneeGM Global Technologies Operations LLC
InventorsBryan Nathaniel Roos, Brian Spohn, Halim G. Santoso, Eugene V. Gonze
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Abstract
A catalyst temperature control system of the present disclosure includes a vehicle start anticipation module and an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module. The vehicle start anticipation module determines whether a vehicle start is anticipated based on at least one of a plurality of vehicle conditions before an ignition switch is turned on. The EHC control module activates an EHC based on the determination.
Claims11
A catalyst temperature control system comprising:
- a battery state of charge determination module that determines a state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
- an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) control module that activates an EHC based on the SOC and based on a determination of whether a vehicle start is anticipated;
- and
- a vehicle start anticipation module that determines whether the vehicle start is anticipated by sensing at least one of a plurality of conditions before an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on,
- wherein the plurality of conditions include a status of doors of the vehicle, a status of door locks, a status of a trunk of the vehicle, presence of a person in the vehicle, detection of a key fob for the vehicle, and insertion of a key in the ignition switch,
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of conditions includes the status of the door locks and presence of the person,
- wherein when one of the doors of the vehicle is unlocked and presence of the person in the vehicle are not detected, the EHC control module selects a first preheating output for the EHC, and
- wherein when presence of the person in the vehicle is detected, the EHC control module selects a second preheating output for the EHC that is higher than the first preheating output.
5 more elements
A method of controlling catalyst temperature comprising:
- determining a state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
- activating an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on the SOC and based on a determination of whether a vehicle start is anticipate;
- determining whether the vehicle start is anticipated based on at least one of a plurality of conditions before an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on, wherein the plurality of conditions include a status of doors of the vehicle, a status of door locks, a status of a trunk of the vehicle, presence of a person in the vehicle, detection of a key fob for the vehicle, and insertion of a key in the ignition switch, and wherein the at least one the plurality of conditions includes the status of the door locks and presence of the person;
- selecting a first heat output for the EHC when the door lock is unlocked and presence of the person in the vehicle is not detected;
- and
- selecting a second heat output for the EHC when presence of the person in the vehicle is detected, wherein the second heat output is higher than the first heat output.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- an electronic control module including logic to execute instructions that:
- determine a state of charge (SOC) of a battery;
- activate an EHC based on the SOC and based on a determination of whether a vehicle start is anticipated;
- and
- determine whether the vehicle start is anticipated by sensing at least one of a plurality of conditions before an ignition switch of a vehicle is turned on,
- wherein the plurality of conditions include a status of doors of the vehicle, a status of door locks, a status of a trunk of the vehicle, presence of a person in the vehicle, detection of a key fob for the vehicle, and insertion of a key in the ignition switch,
- wherein the at least one of the plurality of conditions includes the status of the door locks and presence of the person,
- wherein when one of the doors of the vehicle is unlocked and presence of the person in the vehicle are not detected, the electronic control module selects a first preheating output for the EHC, and
- wherein when presence of the person in the vehicle is detected, the electronic control module selects a second preheating output for the EHC that is higher than the first preheating output.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.