Charge port locating assembly and method

An example locating assembly includes, among other things, a display within an electrified vehicle, a vehicle symbol presented on the display, and a charge port symbol presented on the display. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port. An example locating method includes displaying a vehicle symbol and a charge port symbol on a display of an electrified vehicle. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to a display of an electrified vehicle. In particular, the disclosure relates to a display that indicates a location of a charge port on the electrified vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Electrified vehicles differ from conventional motor vehicles because electrified vehicles are selectively driven using one or more electric machines powered by a traction battery. The electric machines can drive the electrified vehicles instead of, or in addition to, an internal combustion engine. Example electrified vehicles include hybrid electrified vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electrified vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and battery electrified vehicles (BEVs). Some electrified vehicles, like PHEVs and BEVs, can charge the traction battery from an external power source. A user can plug a charger into a charge port of the electrified vehicle so that power can move from an external charging system to the electrified vehicle.

There is no universal standard for where the charge port is located on electrified vehicles. Some electrified vehicles can include a charge port within, for example, a front fender. Other electrified vehicles can include a charge port within a rear fender, a rear tail light, or in some other area. Some electrified vehicles have more than one charge port located in different areas. One charge port could be at the front of the electrified vehicle and used, for example, for AC charges. Another charge port could be located at the rear of the vehicle and used for DC fast charges.

An operator of the electrified vehicle may not know, or may forget, where the charge port is located on an electrified vehicle. This could lead to the operator positioning the electrified vehicle in an inconvenient location relative to an external charging system.

SUMMARY

An exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a locating assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a display within an electrified vehicle, a vehicle symbol presented on the display, and a charge port symbol presented on the display. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing assembly, the vehicle symbol is a battery state of charge icon.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the vehicle symbol is battery shaped.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, a vertically upper end of the vehicle symbol represents a front portion of the electrified vehicle, and a vertically lower end of the vehicle symbol represents a rear portion of the electrified vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the vehicle symbol includes a visual indicator representing a state of charge of a traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the vehicle symbol represents an overhead view of the electrified vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the charge port symbol represents a position of the charge port along a longitudinal axis of the electrified vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the charge port symbol is a first charge port symbol and the charge port is a first charge port. The assembly further includes a second charge port symbol presented on the display. The second charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate the position of a second charge port.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the first charge port is an AC charge port, and the second charge port is a DC charge port.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, a color of the first charge port symbol is different than a color of the second charge port symbol.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, a shape of the first charge port symbol is different than a shape of the second charge port symbol.

A locating method according to another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes displaying a vehicle symbol and a charge port symbol on a display of an electrified vehicle. The charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate a position of a charge port.

A further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing method includes altering the vehicle symbol in response to a state of charge of a traction battery of the electrified vehicle.

A further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods includes representing a front portion of the vehicle with a vertically upper end of the vehicle symbol and a rear portion of the vehicle with a vertically lower end of the vehicle symbol.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods the vehicle symbol represents an overhead view of the electrified vehicle.

A further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods includes displaying the charge port symbol relative to the vehicle symbol such that the charge port symbol represents a position of the charge port along a longitudinal axis of the electrified vehicle.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the charge port symbol is a first charge port symbol and the charge port is a first charge port. The method further includes displaying a second charge port symbol presented on the display. The second charge port symbol is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol to indicate the position of a second charge port.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the first charge port is an AC charge port and the second charge port is a DC charge port.

A further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods includes displaying the first charge port symbol in a first color and displaying the second charge port symbol in a different, second color.

In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, a shape of the first charge port symbol is different than a shape of the second charge port symbol.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure relates to a display within an electrified vehicle. The display indicates a location of a charge port of the electrified vehicle. A user can refer to the display to learn the location of the charge port, which can, among other things, assist the user when positioning the electrified vehicle for a charge from an external power source.

Referring toFIG. 1, an exemplary electrified vehicle10is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that includes a traction battery12. A power-split powertrain of the vehicle10employs a first drive system and a second drive system. The first and second drive systems generate torque to drive one or more sets of vehicle wheels14. The first drive system can include, in combination, an internal combustion engine and a generator. The second drive system can include at least a motor, the generator, and the traction battery12.

Although described as a PHEV, the electrified vehicle10, in other examples, could be another type of electrified vehicle, such as an all electric vehicle. An all-electric vehicle can also include a traction battery that powers an electric machine, which converts electric power from the traction battery into torque to drive the wheels of the vehicle.

From time to time, charging the traction battery12is required or is otherwise desired. When the vehicle10is operating during a drive cycle, power from regenerative braking can sometimes be used to charge the traction battery12. When the vehicle10is stationary, an external power source, here a charging station20, can be used to charge the traction battery12.

In an example, during a charge of the traction battery12from the charging station20, a charger22is physically coupled to a charge port26on the vehicle10. Power from an external power source, such as grid power28, can then move through the charger22to the charge port26and then to the traction battery12.

To charge the traction battery12from the charging station20, the vehicle10needs to be positioned relative to the charging station20so that the charger22can reach the charge port26. A user in a passenger cabin of the vehicle10typically drives the vehicle10into such a position. To effectively position the vehicle10, the user driving the vehicle10benefits from knowing where the charge port26is located, especially in situations where the charger22cannot reach all areas of the vehicle10.

The charge port26, in the exemplary embodiment, is disposed within a front driver side fender30of the vehicle10. Thus, positioning the vehicle10such that the front driver side fender30is directed toward the charging station20would likely be more desirable than if, for example, the rear passenger side fender of the vehicle10were directed toward the charging station20.

After positioning the vehicle10relative to the charging station20, the user can exit the passenger cabin, open a door32associated with the charge port26, and engage the charger22with the charge port26. Grid power28can then charge the traction battery12. Any type of vehicle incorporating a charge port could potentially benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.

With reference now toFIGS. 2 and 3and continuing reference toFIG. 1, the example vehicle10includes a charge port locating assembly50within a passenger cabin of the electrified vehicle10. The locating assembly50helps a user identify a location of the charge port26on the electrified vehicle10.

In an exemplary non-limiting embodiment, the locating assembly50is part of a display54. Areas of the display54can be illuminated to reveal information to the user. The display54can be within a dash or instrument panel, within a center stack, a heads-up display, or in some other area of the passenger compartment the electrified vehicle10. The display54can be a type of liquid crystal display (LCD), can comprise organic light emitting diodes (OLED), or can be some other type of display. The display54can be touch sensitive.

In this example, the display54includes a vehicle symbol58, a charge port symbol62, a liquid fuel gauge66, and a liquid fuel inlet indicator70. The liquid fuel gauge66presents a visual representation to the user of an amount of liquid fuel (i.e., gasoline) within the vehicle10. The liquid fuel inlet indicator70is, in this example, an arrow pointing to a driver side of the vehicle10, which reveals to the user that a liquid fuel inlet74is on a driver side of the vehicle10. The engine of the vehicle10is powered by the liquid fuel. Other vehicles that do not include an engine may not include a fuel inlet.

The locating assembly50includes the vehicle symbol58and charge port symbol62portions of the display54. The vehicle symbol58, in the exemplary embodiment, is a battery state of charge icon having a battery shape. The vehicle symbol58provides a visual indication to the user of a state of charge of the traction battery12.

The exemplary vehicle symbol58includes a more illuminated region74and a less illuminated region78. Both are within an interior of the vehicle symbol58, which is bounded by an outer periphery having the battery shape. In other examples, the vehicle symbol58could have a shape other than the battery shape, such as a profile of a vehicle viewed from overhead.

As the state of charge of the traction battery12increases, the more illuminated region74is increased in size relative to the less illuminated region78. In some examples, a percent of the interior having the more illuminated region74represents a state of charge of the traction battery12. For example, if the more illuminated region74covers, say, seventy-five percent of the interior of the vehicle symbol58, the user can interpret the traction battery12as being seventy-five percent charged.

In the exemplary non-limiting embodiment, the vehicle symbol58corresponds to an overhead view of the electrified vehicle10. The vehicle symbol58is oriented such that a vertically upper end82represents a front portion84of the electrified vehicle10, and a vertically lower end86of the vehicle symbol58represents a rear portion88of the electrified vehicle10. Vertical, for purposes of this disclosure, is with reference to ground G and a general orientation of the electrified vehicle10during operation.

The charge port symbol62is an illuminated area of the display54positioned relative to the vehicle symbol58in a position corresponding generally to the position of the charge port26if the vehicle10were to be viewed from overhead. The charge port symbol62does not overlap with the vehicle symbol58in this example. In another example, at least some of the charge port symbol62overlaps with some of the vehicle symbol58.

InFIGS. 2 and 3, the charge port symbol62is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol58to indicate that the charge port26is within the front driver side fender30of the electrified vehicle10. This is because the charge port symbol62is near the upper, left hand side of the vehicle symbol58.

The user, from within the passenger cabin, can view the locating assembly50to understand a positioning of the charge port26. The user can, for example, view the locating assembly50as the user is driving the electrified vehicle10to the charging station20. Because the user recognizes from the charge port symbol62that the charge port26is within the front driver side fender30, the user can position the electrified vehicle10in an appropriate manner for charging the electrified vehicle10from the charging station20. The user does not need to exit the passenger compartment of the electrified vehicle10to view a physical location of the charge port26. Instead, the user can rely on the charge port locating assembly50.

The charge port symbol62indicates to the user not only that the charge port26is on the driver side, but also that the charge port26is located near the front portion84of the vehicle10. The charge port symbol62can thus provide an indication of where the charge port26is located along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle10. The longitudinal axis of the vehicle10extends from the front portion84to the rear portion88.

An example locating method used in connection with the locating assembly can include displaying the vehicle symbol58and the charge port symbol62on the display54of the electrified vehicle10. How the charge port symbol62is positioned relative to the vehicle symbol58on the display54indicates a position of the charge port26.

Referring now toFIG. 4, in another exemplary, non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure, a charge port locating assembly150includes a vehicle symbol158, a first charge port symbol162A, and a second charge port symbol162B. The first charge port symbol162A can represent a position of a first charge port of an associated electrified vehicle. The second charge port symbol162B can represent a position of a second charge port of the associated electrified vehicle. Here, the electrified vehicle associated with the charge port locating assembly150includes a first charge port within a front driver side fender, and a second charge port at a rear of the electrified vehicle.

The first charge port can, for example, an Alternating Current (AC) charge port configured to receive an AC charge. The second charge port can be a Direct Current (DC) charge port configured to receive a DC charge, such as a DC fast charge.

In such an example, the first charge port symbol162A can be different than the second charge port symbol162B to help the user distinguish the location of the AC charge port from the location of the DC charge port. Here, the first charge port symbol162A is of a first color and the second charge port symbol162B is of a second color different than the first color.

Another variation could include a shape of the first charge port symbol162A differing from a shape of the second charge port symbol162B. For example, the first charge port symbol162A could be a letter “A” to represent that the first charge port is an AC charge port. Further, the second charge port symbol could be a letter “D” to represent that the second charge port is a DC charge port. Other symbols helping the user to visually differentiate between the two charge ports could be used in other examples.

Features of some of the disclosed examples include a display indicating a position of one or more charge ports on an electrified vehicle. A user can view the display to understand a positioning of the charge port instead of, for example, referencing an owner's manual. The disclosed examples enable a user to understand where the charge ports are located on the electrified vehicle, even when the user is positioned within the passenger compartment of the electrified vehicle. This can be particularly useful where the user is unfamiliar with the electrified vehicle, such as in car sharing or car rental situations.