Vehicle including remote terminals connected to battery so as to prevent electronic tampering

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including remote terminals connected to battery so as to prevent electronic tampering, and a corresponding method. An example vehicle includes a battery with battery terminals. The vehicle further includes remote terminals electronically connected to the battery terminals so as to prevent electronic tampering with the battery via the remote terminals.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including remote terminals connected to battery so as to prevent electronic tampering, and a corresponding method.

BACKGROUND

Batteries of both internal combustion-powered and electric-powered vehicles may become depleted of electrical charge. In these circumstances, vehicles can be jump started using jumper cables. Specifically, the battery of a first vehicle which supplies the electrical charge is electronically connected to the depleted battery of a second vehicle. The first vehicle is turned on to deliver current to the battery of the second vehicle, during which time the second vehicle can be turned on.

SUMMARY

A motor vehicle according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery including battery terminals, and remote terminals electronically connected to the battery terminals so as to prevent electronic tampering with the battery via the remote terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing motor vehicle, the vehicle includes a sensor configured to generate an output indicative of a direction of current flowing between the battery terminals and the remote terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the vehicle includes a controller electronically connected to the sensor. Further, the controller is configured to perform at least one step when the output from the sensor indicates current is flowing out of the battery via the remote terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the at least one step includes issuing a prompt informing a user that current is flowing out of the battery, and receiving an input from the user regarding whether discharging of the battery is authorized.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, when the controller receives an input indicating that discharging of the battery is authorized, the controller monitors a state of charge of the battery relative to a low state of charge threshold.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, when the state of charge of the battery meets or falls below the threshold, the controller is configured to perform at least one (1) issuing a prompt to a user indicating a low battery state of charge and (2) electronically disconnecting the remote terminals from the battery terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, when the controller receives an input indicating that discharging of the battery is not authorized, the at least one step includes one or more of (1) activating an alarm of the motor vehicle, (2) recording images of an area around the vehicle, (3) sending an alert to a user, and (4) sending an alert to authorities.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the vehicle includes a switch between the remote terminals and the battery terminals, and the at least one step includes opening the switch to electronically disconnect the remote terminals and the battery terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the at least one step includes determining whether a user of the vehicle is within a predetermined range of the vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the controller determines whether the user is within the predetermined range of the vehicle by locating a mobile device of the user or a keyfob.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the vehicle includes an electronic circuit between the remote terminals and the battery terminals, wherein the electronic circuit is configured to prevent backfeeding of current from the battery to the remote terminals and protect the battery from a voltage spike.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the electronic circuit includes a diode configured to prevent backfeeding of current from the battery to the remote terminals, and the electronic circuit includes at least one electronic component configured to protect the battery from a voltage spike.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the at least one electronic component configured to protect the battery from a voltage spike includes at least one of a circuit breaker and a Zener diode.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the battery terminals includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal, the remote terminals includes a remote positive terminal and a remote negative terminal, the remote positive terminal is electronically connected to a first node of the electronic circuit via a first branch, a first circuit breaker is arranged in the first branch, the diode configured to prevent backfeeding of current from the battery is arranged in a second branch between the first node and the positive terminal of the battery, the negative terminal of the battery is electronically connected to a second node via a third branch, a second circuit breaker is arranged in the third branch, the first and second nodes are connected by a fourth branch including a Zener diode configured to direct current to ground without flowing to the battery when a Zener voltage is exceeded, the Zener voltage exceeds the battery voltage.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the vehicle is configured to be jump started via the remote terminals.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the vehicle includes a cover configured to move between an open position and a closed position, and the remote terminals are arranged in a recess beneath the cover.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing motor vehicles, the cover is arranged adjacent a rear edge of a hood of the motor vehicle.

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, preventing electronic tampering with a battery via remote terminals electronically connected to terminals of the battery.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing method, the preventing step includes one or both of: (1) preventing backfeeding of current from the battery to the remote terminals and (2) protecting the battery from a voltage spike.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to a motor vehicle including remote terminals connected to battery so as to prevent electronic tampering, and a corresponding method. This disclosure provides convenient access to the battery terminals via the remote terminals while preventing tampering with the battery. These and other benefits will be appreciated from the below description.

FIG. 1illustrates a motor vehicle10(“vehicle10”) including a battery12, which in this example is a 12 Volt battery. The vehicle10may have an internal combustion engine or be an electrified vehicle, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), powered at least in part by one or more electric machines. Further, while the vehicle10is depicted as a pickup truck, this disclosure is not limited to any particular vehicle type and extends to sedans, vans, SUVs, etc.

The battery12is rechargeable and is configured to deliver current to various loads, which include components of the vehicle10such as a starter14. The vehicle10further includes remote terminals16electronically connected to terminals of the battery12. The vehicle10may be jump started via the remote terminals16or by the terminals of the battery12. Unlike the terminals of the battery12, however, the remote terminals16are accessible without lifting a hood18of the vehicle10. Thus, the vehicle10can be jump started even when the hood cannot be unlatched, which is particularly beneficial in the context of vehicles that unlatch the hood electronically.

The battery12includes a positive terminal20and a negative terminal22, and the remote terminals16include a remote positive terminal24and a remote negative terminal26. Again, the terminals20,22of the battery12are not accessible without lifting the hood18. The remote terminals16on the other hand are spaced-apart from the terminals20,22of the battery12and are accessible without lifting the hood18. In this example, the remote terminals16are arranged adjacent a rear edge of the hood18, but the remote terminals16may be arranged elsewhere on the vehicle10.

The terminals20,22of the battery12are electronically connected to the remote terminals16via one or more of cables, wires, busbars, and/or an electronic circuit. The remote terminals16are metallic posts or lugs, in this example, and are configured to attach to the clamps of jumper cables.

The battery12is connected to the remote terminals16in a way that prevents electronic tampering with the battery12via the remote terminals16. In this disclosure, electronic tampering means any electronic interference with the remote terminals16that may cause damage to the battery12and/or the vehicle10. Examples of electronic tampering including shorting the remote terminals16by connecting them directly to one another, unauthorized discharging of the battery12via the remote terminals, and introducing a voltage spike to the remote terminals16. Electronic tampering may be intentional or unintentional. Accordingly, in this disclosure, the battery12may be connected to the remote terminals16in a manner that prevents backfeeding of current from the battery12to the remote terminals16and/or protects the battery12from a voltage spike.

In one aspect of this disclosure, the vehicle10includes a sensor28configured to generate an output indicative of a direction of current flowing between the terminals20,22and the remote terminals16. The sensor28may be Hall effect sensor in one example. The sensor28is arranged between the positive terminal20of the battery12and the remote positive terminal24, in this example. The sensor28could be arranged elsewhere, such as between the negative terminal22of the battery12and the remote negative terminal26.

The sensor28is electronically connected to a controller30, in this example, which is configured to perform at least one step when the output from the sensor indicates current is flowing out of the battery12via the remote terminals16. In other words, the controller30is configured to take one or more actions when the output of the sensor28indicates that the battery12is discharging.

In a particular aspect of this disclosure, the controller30is in electronic communication with a transceiver32, such as a Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) transceiver, and a camera34, such as a video camera. Further, the remote terminals16are arranged in a recess36which is selectively covered by a cover38, in this example. The controller30is also configured to determine when the cover38is opened. An example arrangement of the remote terminals16relative to the recess36and cover38will be discussed in detail below.

The controller30is configured to receive information from the various components of the vehicle10and is configured to interpret that information and issue commands to the components of the vehicle10based on that information. The controller30is shown schematically inFIG. 1. It should be understood that the controller30may include hardware and software, and could be part of an overall vehicle control module, such as a body control module (BCM) or vehicle system controller (VSC), or could alternatively be a stand-alone controller separate from the BCM or VSC. Further, the controller30may be programmed with executable instructions for interfacing with and operating the various components of the vehicle10. The controller30additionally includes a processing unit and non-transitory memory for executing the various control strategies and modes of the vehicle system.

FIG. 2is representative of an aspect of a method100according to this disclosure. In the method100, the controller30determines, at102, based on the output of the sensor28, that current is flowing between the battery12and the remote terminals16. The controller30next determines, at104, whether the battery12is charging or discharging via the remote terminals16. If the battery12is charging, then at106the controller30permits the battery12to charge until the battery12is fully charged. When fully charged, the controller30will issue a prompt to a user, at108, and electronically disconnect the remote terminals16from the battery12, at110. The controller30may issue commands to one or more switches arranged between the battery12and remote terminals16to electronically disconnect the battery and the remote terminals. An example switch40is illustrated between the positive terminal20of the battery12and the remote positive terminal24inFIG. 1. The switch40is any type of electronic switch. The switch40may be a semiconductor device such as a MOSFET, in another example.

If, at104, the controller30determines that the battery12is discharging, then the controller30determines, at112, whether the discharging is authorized. Discharging may be authorized, for example, when a user wishes to jump start another vehicle by connecting jumper cables to the remote terminals16. The controller30may determine that discharging is authorized by issuing a prompt to a mobile device42of the user, such as a cell phone, via SMS text or an application such as FordPass, as examples. The prompt may also be issued within the vehicle to the user via a human-machine interface of a vehicle infotainment system such as the Ford Sync system. The prompt may ask the user whether discharging is authorized. The prompt may permit the user to respond with an input indicating whether discharging is authorized, namely a “yes” or “no.” The controller30is configured to receive the user's response to determine whether discharging is authorized.

In another example, the controller30determines whether the user is within a predetermined range of the vehicle10, such as 15 feet, by locating a token44such as a keyfob or the mobile device42using the transceiver32. The token44may be another type of locating device, such as an RFID chip or a BLE beacon. If the user is within the predetermined range, the controller30assumes that discharging is authorized. If not, the controller30may either assume that discharging is not authorized or may issue prompts, as discussed above, to determine whether discharging is authorized.

If discharging is authorized, then at114discharging continues until the battery12reaches a low state of charge (SOC) threshold. At that point, the controller30may issue a prompt to the user indicating that that battery12SOC is relatively low, and permit the user to respond to the prompt with an input indicating whether discharging should be stopped. Alternatively, the controller30may simply stop discharging by electronically disconnecting the battery12from the remote terminals16by opening the switch40, for example.

If discharging is not authorized, then at116the controller30may take one or more steps, including (1) activating an alarm of the vehicle10, (2) recording an area around the vehicle using the camera34and saving images and/or video both before and after the unauthorized discharging, (3) sending an alert/prompt to a user via their mobile device42or a vehicle infotainment system, (4) sending an alert to authorities such as the local police, including providing the police with the GPS coordinates of the vehicle10and the images from the camera34, as examples, and/or (5) electronically disconnecting the battery12from the remote terminals16.

FIG. 3schematically illustrates a further embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 3, the vehicle10includes an electronic circuit46between the remote terminals16and the terminals20,22. The electronic circuit46is configured to prevent backfeeding of current from the battery12to the remote terminals16and to protect the battery12from a voltage spike. The electronic circuit46may be used in addition to or in place of the sensor28.

InFIG. 3, the remote positive terminal24is electronically connected to a first node48of the electronic circuit46via a first branch50, and a first circuit breaker52is arranged in the first branch50. Further, a diode54configured to prevent backfeeding of current from the battery12is arranged in a second branch56between the first node48and the positive terminal20of the battery12. The negative terminal22of the battery12is electronically connected to a second node58via a third branch60, and a second circuit breaker62is arranged in the third branch60. The first and second nodes48,58are connected by a fourth branch64including a Zener diode66configured to direct current to ground68without flowing to the battery12when a Zener voltage is exceeded. The Zener voltage exceeds the voltage of the battery12, and in one example is 40 Volts. The circuit breakers52,62and Zener diode66protect the battery12from voltage spikes. The remote negative terminal26is electronically connected to the second node58via a fifth branch70to complete the circuit.

While a particular diode54is shown inFIG. 1, there could alternatively or additionally be a diode arranged in the third branch60which is also configured to prevent backfeeding, for example. Further, the circuit breakers52,62are not necessary in all examples. When present, the circuit breakers52,62may be arranged in different locations. For instance, the circuit breaker52could be in the second branch56, and the circuit breaker62could be in the fifth branch70. While a particular electronic circuit has been shown and described relative toFIG. 3, this disclosure extends to other electronic circuits that perform one or both of the functions of preventing backfeeding and protecting the battery12from voltage spikes.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate detail of an example arrangement of the location of the remote terminals16. As shown, the remote terminals16are arranged in a recess36which is selectively covered by a cover38. The recess36is arranged rearward of a rear edge72of the hood18and forward of a front edge74of a windshield76. The recess36is beneath a leaf screen78, in this example. The cover38is configured to pivot along an axis defined by a side edge80of the recess via a hinge82. A water guard84projects from a bottom of the cover38and is configured to seal over the remote positive and negative terminals24,26to protect them from moisture. The water guard84may be made of an elastomeric material such as rubber, whereas the remainder of the cover38may be made of a relatively harder plastic. The cover38, when closed, may be flush with the hood18and the leaf screen78so as to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The cover38may be manually opened by a user pulling or pressing on the cover38.

It should be understood that terms such as “about,” “substantially,” and “generally” are not intended to be boundaryless terms, and should be interpreted consistent with the way one skilled in the art would interpret those terms. It should also be understood that directional terms such as “forward,” “rear,” “side,” etc., are used herein relative to the normal operational attitude of a vehicle for purposes of explanation only, and should not be deemed limiting.