Hybrid/electric vehicle charge port door

A battery charge display system includes a display assembly attached to a cover of a charge port, and a controller. The display assembly having a first indicator coupled to a first surface of the cover and a second indicator coupled to a second surface of the cover. The controller is configured to, in response to the cover being in an open position after vehicle deactivation, illuminate the display assembly such that the first and second indicators display a battery state of charge.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to electric, hybrid-electric, and plug-in vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Plug-in vehicles, such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in electric vehicles, may include a rechargeable power source, such as a battery, that is configured to accept electrical power from a power source located externally to the vehicle. Such external power sources may include standard household electric outlets, external chargers or charging stations.

SUMMARY

A charge port for a vehicle includes a cover having first and second surfaces, a display assembly and a controller. The display assembly has a first indicator coupled with the first surface and a second indicator coupled with the second surface. The controller is configured to, in response to the cover defining an open position, illuminate the indicators to display a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle on the first and second surfaces.

A vehicle includes a charge port, a cover, a display assembly and a controller. The charge port is configured to attach to a charge cable to charge a battery. The cover defines first and second surfaces and is rotatably attached to the charge port such that the cover defines a closed state when the second surface is parallel to the charge port and an open state otherwise. The display assembly is attached to the cover and has a first indicator coupled to the first surface and a second indicator coupled to the second surface. The controller is configured to activate the display assembly such that in the open state, a current state of charge of the battery is displayed on the first and second surfaces via the first and second indicators, and in the closed state a current state of charge of the battery is displayed on the first surface via the first indicator.

A battery charge display system includes a display assembly attached to a cover of a charge port, and a controller. The display assembly having a first indicator coupled to a first surface of the cover and a second indicator coupled to a second surface of the cover. The controller is configured to, in response to the cover defining an open position after vehicle deactivation, illuminate the display assembly such that the first and second indicators display a battery state of charge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With respect toFIG. 1, a schematic side view of a vehicle10is illustrated. The vehicle10may be any type of automobile including, but not limited to, sedans, coupes, SUVs, CUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, full size vans, commercial vehicles, convertibles, recreation vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, golf carts, neighborhood electric vehicles, battery electrical vehicles and fuel cell vehicles and buses. The vehicle10includes a vehicle body11and a propulsion unit, which in this embodiment is an electric motor12configured to deliver torque to front wheels14. In other embodiments, torque may be delivered to rear wheels or to all wheels on the vehicle, and other types of propulsion units may be used. The electric motor12receives electrical power from a battery16which is configured to store electrical energy supplied by a source external to the vehicle10. In some embodiments of the vehicle10, an internal combustion engine (not shown) is connected to vehicle body11and configured to deliver torque to wheels such as front wheels14to assist the electric motor12in propelling the vehicle10. In other embodiments, the internal combustion engine may also be configured to recharge the battery16. In still other embodiments, the internal combustion engine's sole duty may be to recharge the battery16.

The overall life of a rechargeable the battery is dependent upon the number of full discharges and recharges the battery undergoes. The microprocessor, computer or other computing device (not shown) may be programmed with an algorithm that calculates whether the battery16should be recharged in a manner that optimizes the life of the battery16. In other embodiments, the vehicle10may record a particular driver's driving habits and duration of vehicle operation to calculate how often the battery16should be recharged to maximize the life of the battery16in view of that particular driver's driving habits and patterns.

Vehicle body11includes an outer panel18. A recharging port20is supported on the outer panel18. In the illustrated embodiment, the recharging port20is configured to engage a standard three-hole plug of an electrical extension cord and is further configured to receive a charge from a standard household electrical outlet rated at approximately 120 volts or from an external charger or a charging station. In other embodiments, a unique plug dedicated to the recharging of plug-in vehicles may be employed. In still other embodiments, the recharging port may be configured to receive an electric charge from electrical outlets providing power at approximately 240 volts, or at other voltages. Thus, the connector configuration can consist of straight pins, it can be a twist-lock type, an SAE or other configuration. The recharging port20is connected to the battery16via a recharging cable22that is configured to deliver electrical power from the recharging port20to the battery16. The recharging port20may also be configured to detect the presence of a plug or other device engaged with the recharging port20.

A cover member24is hingedly connected to the outer panel18and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. The cover member24has a first surface26and a second surface28. The cover member24also includes a display subassembly30. The display subassembly30has a first indicator32coupled with the first surface26and a second indicator34coupled with the second surface28. The first and second indicators32,34are further coupled to the battery16and are configured to display, via the display subassembly30, a state of charge of the battery16on the cover member24. In at least one other embodiment the state of charge of the battery16includes, but is not limited to a time to full charge, a time remaining before charge, a scheduled charge time, as well as an error in the charge connection and system charge errors. Likewise, the display subassembly30, via the first and second indicators32,34, may display any combination of the states of charge.

The display subassembly30communicates with a controller36to relay the state of charge of the battery16to the first and second indicators32,34. Coupling the first indicator32with the first surface26and the second indicator34with the second surface28, the state of charge of the battery16may be visible when the cover member24is in either the open or closed position. The display subassembly30may be attached to the cover member24using adhesives, fasteners, or any other attachment member to allow the first indicator32to be coupled with the first surface26and the second indicator34to be coupled with the second surface28.

When in the open position, the state of charge of the battery16may be displayed using the first indicator32and the second indicator34. Likewise, when in the closed position, the state of charge of the battery16may be displayed using the first indicator32. Other embodiments may vary display of the state of charge of the battery16on either the first indicator32or the second indicator34depending on the position of the cover member24. For example, the display subassembly30may only indicate the state of charge the battery16on the first indicator32when the cover member24is in the closed position to save charge. Likewise, the display subassembly30may only indicate the state of charge of the battery16on the second indicator34when the cover member24is in the open position to save charge.

In at least one other embodiment, the controller36may be configured to detect the presence of a key38. The controller36may communicate with the key38via near field communication, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or any other wireless communication means. The controller36may be configured to activate the display subassembly30if the key38is within range of the controller36. As will be discussed in more detail below, if the key38is in range of the controller36, the controller36may activate the display subassembly30to display the state of charge of the battery16. Further, the controller36may activate the display subassembly30to display the state of charge of the battery16if a door unlocked command is received from the key38. When the controller36activates the display subassembly30, the first and second indicators32,34may indicate the state of charge of the battery16.

With respect toFIG. 2, an expanded view is presented of the recharging port20, the display subassembly30and the cover member24. As depicted inFIG. 2, a plug40of a charge cord assembly, such as an extension cord assembly42, is engaged with the recharging port20. An opposite end (not shown) of extension cord assembly42is attached to a household electrical outlet and electrical power is flowing into the recharging port20. The display assembly30may also be configured to indicate when the battery16is charging. For example, when the recharging port20is receiving electrical power through extension cord assembly42and the battery16is receiving a charge, the display assembly30may be configured to illuminate, for instance, green, to indicate that the battery16is receiving a charge. Likewise, the display assembly30may be configured to illuminate, for instance red, to indicate that the battery16is not receiving charge or, for instance yellow, to indicate that the extension cord assembly42is not connected to the recharging port20.

As stated above, the display assembly30can indicate the current state of charge of the battery16. For example, the display subassembly30may use a plurality of lights44if the first indicator32and the second indicator34. In the illustrated embodiment, the display assembly30is configured to illuminate a portion of the lights44in an arc, as indicated by the first indicator32the length of which correlates to the percentage of charge of the battery16. Likewise, the display assembly30is configured to illuminate a portion of the lights44in a line, as indicated by the second indicator34, the length of which correlates to the percentage of charge of the battery16. Further, the first indicator32may represent state of charge the battery16by a line and the second indicator34may represent state of charge the battery16by an arc. The greater the number of lights that are illuminated, the closer to completion the recharging process is. Illumination of the lights44may also vary in color. For example, when the state of charge the battery16is low, the lights44may illuminate in red. As completion of the recharging process pursues, the lights44may also illuminate in yellow and green.

The display assembly30may also employ flash patterns in conjunction with illumination of the lights44to indicate the state of charge the battery16. For example, when the state of charge of the battery16is low, the lights44may blink rapidly in red and as the recharging process pursues, the lights44may follow a slowed blinking pattern in yellow. Once the recharging process is complete, the lights44may be illuminated as a solid color in green.

The display assembly30may be further configured to communicate the occurrence of a fault during the recharging process. For example, the display assembly30may be configured to illuminate each of the lights44in blue to indicate that although plug46is engaged with the recharging port20, electrical power is not flowing to battery16. In other embodiments, rather than illuminating the lights44in blue when a fault is detected, the display assembly30may be configured to blink the lights44on and off in orange to alert the user of a fault. In still other embodiments, when a fault is detected, the lights44may flash on and off in blue. In other embodiments, other colors and flash patterns may be employed for both the recharging process and fault detection.

In addition to illuminating, the display assembly30, via the first indicator32and the second indicator34, may be configured to emit an audible signal such as, but not limited to, a siren or a chime. The display assembly30may be further configured to provide information to a user about the state of charge of the vehicle using such audible signals. For instance, when a user plugs an external electric power source into the recharging port20and the battery16begins to receive a charge, the display assembly30may be configured to emit a chime or other audible signal through the first and second indicators32,34to alert the user that recharging is underway. In circumstances where a fault is detected and the battery16is not receiving a charge after engaging the recharging port20with an external power source, the display assembly30may be configured to emit a second audible signal such as a siren or a buzz or some other signal to alert the user of the fault. The audible signals may be emitted by the display assembly30in addition to, or instead of, the illumination described above.

The display assembly30may also be configured to illuminate lights44solely for the purpose of illuminating the recharging port20. Further, an external light48may also be attached to the display subassembly30. The external light48may be illuminated simultaneously with the first indicator32and the second indicator34, or independently of the first indicator32and the second indicator34. The external light48, when used simultaneously with the first and second indicators32,34, may employ flash pattern or color scheme to indicate an interval of the recharging process. For example, the external light48may illuminate red when the state of charge of the battery16is low and progress to yellow and green as the state of charge the battery16increases and completes. Further, if the lights44used by the first indicator32and the second indicator34invoke a color scheme, the external light48may provide a flash pattern to indicate the interval of the recharging process. For example, the external light48may blink rapidly when the state of charge of the battery16is low and reduce the blinking frequency as the recharging process increases and completes. When used independently of the first indicator32and the second indicator34, the external light48may solely provide illumination of the recharging port20. The display assembly30may be configured to illuminate the lights44of the first and second indicators32,34in the manner discussed above to convey information about the status of the battery16and other systems and circumstances relating thereto.

Referring toFIG. 3, a control logic flow diagram for the controller36to activate the display subassembly30is depicted. At50, the controller36determines if there has been a vehicle deactivation. The vehicle deactivation at50is consistent with the vehicle being turned off and a parked position. If at50, the controller36determines there has been a vehicle deactivation, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to display the battery state of charge information on the first surface of the cover member at52. If at50the controller36determines there has not been a vehicle deactivation, the controller36determines if the key38is within range at54. If the controller36determines that the key is not within range at54the control logic ends. If however, the controller36determines the key is within range at54, the controller36determines if there has been a door-unlock command at56. If at56the controller36determines there has been a door-unlock command, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to display the state of charge of the battery using the first indicator32on the first surface26of the cover member24at52. If at56the controller36determines there has not been a door-unlock command, the controller continues to check if the key is within range at54.

At60, the controller36determines if the cover member is in the open position. If at60, the controller36determines the cover member is in the closed position, the controller36determines if the display subassembly30is active at61. If at61, the controller determines that the display subassembly30is not active the control logic ends. If, at61, the controller36determines that the display subassembly30is active, the state of charge of the battery is displayed on the first surface26of the cover member24using the first indicator at52. If at60, the controller36determines the cover member24is in the open position, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to provide the state of charge of the battery using the first and second indicators on the first and second surfaces26,28of the cover member at62. At64, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to illuminate the external light48, or lamp to illuminate the recharging port as described above. At66, the controller36determines if the battery is charging.

If at66, the controller36determines that the battery is charging, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to provide state of charge of the battery using the first and second indicators32,34on the first and second surfaces26,28of the cover member at68. If at66, the controller36determines if the battery is not charging, the controller36determines if there has been a charge error or fault at70. If at70the controller36determines that there has been a charge error, the controller36activates the display subassembly30to indicate the charge error using the first and second indicators32,34on the first and second surfaces26,28of the cover member at72. If at70, the controller36determines that there has not been a charge error, the control logic ends.