Patent Publication Number: US-2012029729-A1

Title: Remote control system for a hybrid vehicle

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to remote activation devices for vehicles, and more particularly, to remote activation devices for hybrid vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A remote starter is typically used so that an operator can start a vehicle by a transmitter, such as a key fob, without actually being inside the vehicle. For a typical remote starter, an operator can simply push a button on the transmitter to start the vehicle. 
     Current remote starters for vehicles are configured to remotely start an internal combustion engine. 
     SUMMARY 
     A remote control system for a hybrid vehicle includes an input device for selection of one or more features of the hybrid vehicle. The one or more features include control of an electric motor within the vehicle. The system also includes a remote device. The system also includes a configurable remote control module for control of the one or more features based on the selection. The remote control module promotes control of the one or more features in response to a signal from the remote device. 
     In other features, the remote device includes a selection area for actuating a remote start of the electric motor. The one or more features include climate control features. The one or more features include air conditioning control, window control and seat control. The one or more features include controlling a vehicle battery condition. The one or more features include at least one of opening and closing windows based on a preselected temperature. The one or more features include at least one of activating the control of heating and cooling functions for vehicle seats based on a preselected temperature. 
     In other features, the system includes a feature selection module that selects a plurality of features based on the one or more features that were selected using the input device. The system also includes a feature activation module that activates control of the plurality of features. The system also includes an engine control module that promotes control of the electric motor. The input device is positioned at a dashboard of the vehicle. 
     In other features, the one or more features include promoting control of an internal combustion engine. The remote control module promotes control of an internal combustion engine. The system also includes promoting control of A/C, seats, mirrors, audio presets, battery condition, electric motor condition engine/transmission condition, and combinations thereof. The remote control module activates the control of the one or more features including actuating a stop or a start condition of the feature. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a remote control system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating the remote control system according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a configurable remote control module according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating a method for operating a remote control system according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As used herein, the term module refers to components, devices and systems that are electric and/or mechanical that provides signals, instructions, and/or activates other vehicle components and systems. Modules can include all those functions listed above. Further, a module may be an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
     The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of a configurable remote control system for a hybrid vehicle. The remote control system includes a remote device, such as a key fob, that sends a remote signal to a configurable remote control module of a hybrid vehicle. The remote control module is configured based on user inputs to activate various vehicle functions in response to signals from the remote device. The remote control system may include memory to store selections that are specific to different users. Examples of vehicle functions include but are not limited to starting an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, activating air conditioning (AC), activating heated or cooled seats, adjusting seat position, turning on a radio, pre-conditioning a battery, pre-conditioning a transmission for optimal driving performance, and activating various other vehicle functions for occupant comfort or enhanced drivability. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a remote control system  10  includes a configurable remote control module  12 . The configurable remote control module  12  receives signals from a remote device  16  via a receiver  14  to activate a vehicle function. One or more vehicle components/subsystems and/or modifications thereof are preselected by a vehicle operator utilizing the remote control module. The configurable remote control module  12  is configured so that the one or more vehicle components/subsystems are controlled when a remote function is activated. Therefore, a remote activation can include control of vehicle ignition and various other vehicle subsystems, which will be discussed herein, depending on the configuration of the remote control module  12 . 
     The configurable remote control module  12  is configurable based on user inputs to an input device  18 . A vehicle operator selects using input device  18  one or more selection options to configure the configurable remote control module  12 . In one embodiment, the input device  18  is positioned at a dashboard (not shown) of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the input device  18  includes touch-screen menu options, a plurality of buttons, and/or other selection devices. In an exemplary embodiment, selection options include internal combustion engine, electric motor, air conditioning, window control, and seat control. In alternative embodiments, various other vehicle systems and devices may also be selected via the input device  18 . 
     The configurable remote control module  12  sends signals to various vehicle control modules  20  based on the user input and signals from the remote device  16 . In one embodiment, the remote device  16  includes various selection areas (e.g., buttons  24 ) that indicate different functions, for example, remote start, vehicle locks, trunk operation, seat position, windows, a security feature such as a panic alarm, etc. Various other functions may also be represented by the areas. In one embodiment, the start button is depressed to send a signal to the receiver  14  to initiate a remote start of the vehicle engine or electric motor. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the remote control system  10  is illustrated in more detail in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The remote device  16  includes a transmitter (TX)  28  that transmits signals from the remote device  16  to the receiver (RX)  14 . When the configurable remote control module  12  receives signals from the receiver  14 , the configurable remote control module  12  promotes the control of one or more of vehicle components and subsystems that were selected via the input device  18 . Promoting control can include activating, deactivating or otherwise modifying or adjusting the selected vehicle components and subsystems. 
     Examples of vehicle subsystems include control modules and control devices, such as an ignition control module  30  that controls a vehicle ignition  32 , a HVAC control module  34  that controls HVAC system  36 , and an engine control module  38  that controls an internal combustion engine  40 . In an exemplary embodiment, the configurable remote control module  12  also can activate the engine control module  38  to send a signal to a hybrid control module  49  to control an electric motor  42 . Other control modules that can be activated by the configurable remote control module  12  include a window control module  44  that controls windows  46  on the vehicle, a seat control module  48  that controls heating, cooling and positioning of seats, a battery control module (not shown), a transmission control module (not shown), etc. 
     Further, the input device  18  may be used to select various features that configure the configurable remote control module  12  to send signals to the remote device  16 . For example, the configurable remote control module  12  can be configured to send information (e.g., during a test operation initiated by the remote device  16 ) to the remote device  16  that indicates conditions of vehicle components/subsystems. Examples of the information that indicates conditions of vehicle subsystems can include cabin temperature, seat temperature, engine on/off modes, battery conditions (state of charge (SOC), temperature, etc.), an overall drivability indication based on transmission temperature, engine temperature, SOC, battery temperature, etc., battery charge status, and vehicle warnings or notifications, such as plug-in status of the vehicle, etc. 
     In one embodiment, the configurable remote control module  12  instructs the engine control module  38  to activate the internal combustion engine  40  and/or the electric motor  42  via the hybrid control module  49 . A vehicle operator may choose to select activation of only the electric motor  42  via the input device  18  and not the internal combustion engine  40 . The vehicle operator may also choose to select activation of only the internal combustion engine  40  via the input device  18  and not the electric motor  42 . The vehicle operator may also select various other functions, such as heated and/or cooled seats  50 , seat position, automatic opening windows  46 , radio presets, and automatic A/C temperature control via the HVAC system  36 . Selecting the functions may include starting, stopping, adjusting and/or modifying the selected functions corresponding to vehicle components and vehicle systems. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the HVAC control module  34 , the seat control module  48  and/or the window control module  44  receive signals from a temperature sensor  52 , and the window control module  44  also receives signals from a rain sensor  54 . In the embodiment, the window control module  44  does not open the windows  46  even when the window function is selected via the input device  18  if the rain sensor  54  indicates that it is raining. 
     Further, the HVAC control module  34  and the seat control module  48  may activate heating or cooling functions based on signals from the temperature sensor  52 . For example, if the temperature sensor  52  indicates that the temperature inside the vehicle is above a preselected threshold, the HVAC system  36  may be controlled to cool the vehicle, and the seats  50  may also be cooled. Further, if the temperature sensor  52  indicates that the vehicle temperature is below a preselected threshold, the HVAC system  36  may be controlled to heat the vehicle; and the seats  50  may also be heated. The preselected thresholds may be set via HVAC controls within the vehicle. For example, air conditioning controls of the HVAC system  36  may be set to a desired temperature by a vehicle operator. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the configurable remote control module  12  is illustrated in more detail in accordance with another exemplary embodiment. The configurable remote control module  12  includes an activation module  70 , a feature selection module  72 , and a feature activation module  74 . The feature selection module  72  receives configuration inputs from the input device  18  indicating which features are to be controlled by the configurable remote control module  12 . Features correspond to vehicle sub-modules or other vehicle systems and components. The features indicate which type of engine control is going to be used. For example, the features indicate whether the internal combustion engine  40  or the electric motor  42  will be activated. Other features may include control of windows  46 , seats  50  and the HVAC system  36 . 
     The feature selection module  72  selects the features after receiving signals from the activation module  70  indicating that preselected features are to be controlled, such as activated, deactivated or otherwise modified. The preselected features are to be controlled when a signal from the remote device  16  is received by the receiver  14 . The feature activation module  74  sends signals to various vehicle control modules to activate the features that were selected by the feature selection module  72 . The various control modules then control respective components or devices of the vehicle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a block diagram  100  illustrates a method for operating the remote control system  10  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Control starts in block  102  when a vehicle operator selects a remote configuration via the input device  18 . This selection includes selecting from, for example, menu options, a plurality of buttons, and/or other selection devices. Selection options include but are not limited to starting either an electric motor or an internal combustion engine, activating heating/air conditioning (AC), activating heated or cooled seats, adjusting seat position, turning on a radio, pre-conditioning a battery, pre-conditioning a transmission for optimal driving performance, and activating various other vehicle functions for occupant comfort or enhanced drivability. In one embodiment, the engine control module  38  is configured to activate the electric motor  42  without activation of the internal combustion engine  40 , thus potentially saving fuel. For example, the engine control module  38  communicates with the hybrid control module  49  to activate the electric motor  42 , without activation of the internal combustion engine. Further, the remote control system may be configured to activate the internal combustion engine  40  without activation of the electric motor  42 . Still further in another embodiment, a vehicle operator may select both the electric motor feature and the internal combustion engine feature to have both engines start in response to a remote control operation. 
     In block  104 , signals from the input device  18  are received in the vehicle selection module  72  in order to configure the configurable remote control module  12 . In block  106 , a vehicle operator selects remote start on the remote device  16 . In block  110 , the particular type of engine activation that was configured via the input device  18  is selected. For example, the vehicle operator may have only selected activation of the electric motor  42 , and therefore only the electric motor  42  will activate. Alternatively, the vehicle operator may have only selected activation of the internal combustion engine  40 , and therefore only the internal combustion engine  40  will activate. 
     In block  112 , various other vehicle components/systems are controlled based on the configuration that was selected via the input device  18 . For example, activating air conditioning (AC), activating heated or cooled seats, adjusting seat position, turning on a radio, pre-conditioning a battery, pre-conditioning a transmission for optimal driving performance, and activating various other vehicle functions for occupant comfort or enhanced drivability may be selected as various configuration options. 
     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.