US-12617287-B2 - Vehicle with electrified charging trailer control

Abstract

A vehicle configurable to tow a charging trailer having at least one electric outlet configured to charge a battery powered device includes a human-machine interface (HMI), a wireless transceiver, and a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the HMI, the controller programmed to, in response to the wireless transceiver receiving signals associated with at least one battery powered device in a connected charging trailer having a battery state of charge (SOC) below a corresponding threshold, signal the HMI to generate an associated output. Input from the HMI may enable or disable regenerative braking of the charging trailer to charge connected battery powered devices to control the associated effect of the charging of devices in the charging trailer on efficiency of the towing vehicle.

Inventors

• Stuart C. Salter
• Michael Kipley
• Matthew Simpson
• Ryan O'Gorman
• Pietro Buttolo
• Peter Phung
• William David Treharne

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20220711

Claims (2)

1. 1 . A system comprising: a vehicle configured to tow a charging trailer; a human-machine interface (HMI) within the vehicle; a transceiver within the vehicle configured to receive wireless signals from battery powered devices within the charging trailer indicating associated battery states of charge (SOC); and a controller programmed to control the HMI to generate a prompt to enable regenerative braking of the charging trailer in response to SOC of one or more of the battery powered devices being below a corresponding desired SOC threshold, wherein the controller is further programmed to control the HMI to generate a prompt to disable regenerative braking of the charging trailer in response to all of the battery powered devices having an SOC exceeding the corresponding desired SOC threshold.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to control the HMI to generate a prompt in response to detecting at least one of the battery powered devices being disconnected from an electrical outlet of the charging trailer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to a vehicle system and method for use in operation of an electrified charging trailer capable of charging battery powered devices, such as tools and recreational vehicles, as the trailer is towed by the vehicle. BACKGROUND Various types of commercially available charging trailers may be used to transport and charge electric utility vehicles, ATV's, e-bikes, tools, lifts, etc. The charging trailers may include one or more electric machines and batteries. The electric machine may operate as a traction motor to power wheels of the trailer, and/or as a generator that may be used to charge the trailer battery and connected battery-powered devices carried by the trailer. Operation of the electric machine as a generator while being towed by a vehicle may affect the vehicle operation and efficiency, as well as associated trip planning. SUMMARY A vehicle with electrified charging trailer control can recognize objects/vehicles and associated battery state of charge (SOC) within the trailer and can prompt within the vehicle to enable a power generation feature and/or to connect battery powered devices within the trailer so they can be charged during travel. The vehicle system may provide for configuration of various parameters, such as a minimum SOC to prompt for connection, or whether to prompt to switch devices when a connected device reaches a specified SOC, a level for trailer regenerative braking and associated effect on vehicle range, efficiency, or fuel, etc. The vehicle may control the power generation feature of the trailer based on a predicted vehicle destination, route, travel time, or recommended charge level of the trailer battery or one or more devices carried by the trailer, for example. The vehicle may a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, or may be an electrified vehicle, including a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric vehicle. In various embodiments, a vehicle configurable to tow a charging trailer having at least one electric outlet configured to charge a battery powered device includes a human-machine interface (HMI), a wireless transceiver, and a controller in communication with the wireless transceiver and the HMI, the controller programmed to, in response to the wireless transceiver receiving signals associated with at least one battery powered device in a connected charging trailer having a battery state of charge (SOC) below a corresponding threshold, signal the HMI to generate an associated output. The wireless transceiver may include a Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), WiFi, Zigbee, RFID, or similar transceiver. The wireless transceiver may receive signals from a wireless transceiver mounted in the trailer, which in turn communicates with the at least one battery powered device to determine the battery SOC of the device. The vehicle may be a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, or an electrified vehicle having a traction battery powering an electric machine to provide propulsive torque to vehicle wheels. Electrified vehicles may include a hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or battery electric vehicle. The controller may be further programmed to transmit a signal via the wireless transceiver to enable regenerative braking of the charging trailer in response to input received via the vehicle HMI. In one or more embodiments, the vehicle controller may be further programmed to signal the vehicle HMI to generate an associated output in response to receiving a signal via the transceiver indicating the at least one battery powered device has an SOC exceeding an associated threshold. The associated output may prompt the user to disable regenerative braking of the charging trailer associated with charging battery powered devices in the trailer. The controller may be further programmed to signal the HMI to generate an associated output in response to receiving a signal via the transceiver indicating the at least one battery powered device is disconnected from the at least one electric outlet. The HMI may prompt the user to connect or plug-in the disconnected device in the trailer for charging. The controller may determine whether the device has a battery SOC below an associated threshold, and only generate the HMI prompt if the disconnected device has an SOC below the threshold. The controller may be further programmed to signal the HMI to generate the associated output in response to detecting movement of the vehicle when a charging trailer is hitched or electrically connected to the vehicle. Embodiments may also include a vehicle controller programmed to signal the HMI to generate the associated output in response to receiving a signal indicating closed doors of a connected charging trailer and the at least one battery powered device being disconnected from the at least one electric outlet. The controller may be further programmed to transmit a signal via the wireless transceiver to disable regenerative braking of the charging trail