US-20260125009-A1 - VEHICLE HAVING TAILGATE AUDIO MODE AND METHOD

Abstract

A vehicle has a body, a plurality of audio devices supported on or within the body, a motor and a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module. One or more batteries power the plurality of audio devices and the plurality of electronic modules. A controller is configured to control electrical power supplied to the plurality of electronic modules and configured to operate in a tailgate audio mode to control electric power supplied by the one or more batteries to the electronic modules in the tailgate audio mode. The controller determines available battery energy and expected energy and derates the power supplied to one or more of the plurality of electronic modules based on power supply of the one or more batteries in the tailgate audio mode.

Inventors

• Stuart C. Salter
• Jessica Louise Smith
• David Celinske
• Brendan F. Diamond
• Rudi Todd Ansbacher
• Ronak Parikh

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A vehicle comprising: a body; a plurality of audio devices supported on or within the body; a motor; a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module; one or more batteries for powering the plurality of audio devices and the plurality of electronic modules; and a controller configured to control electrical power supplied to the plurality of electronic modules and configured to operate in a tailgate audio mode to control electric power supplied by the one or more batteries to the electronic modules in the tailgate audio mode, wherein the controller determines available battery energy and expected energy consumption and derates the power supplied to one or more of the plurality of electronic modules based on power supply of the one or more batteries in the tailgate audio mode.
2. 2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller allows the plurality of audio devices to operate in the tailgate mode.
3. 3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the controller initiates charging of the one or more batteries to an elevated charge state upon detection of the tailgate audio mode.
4. 4 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises an internal combustion engine.
5. 5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the one or more batteries include an approximately 12-volt battery.
6. 6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an input for entering the tailgate mode.
7. 7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller detects an open door of the vehicle in a stopped vehicle condition and initiates the tailgate audio mode based on the open door in the stopped vehicle condition.
8. 8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller derates the display control module to turn off one or more screens based on available power from the one or more batteries.
9. 9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the controller derates the lock control module to turn off power supplied to operate electronic locks.
10. 10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the controller derates the audio control module to turn off one or more internal audio speakers.
11. 11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the controller derates the modem control module to turn off power.
12. 12 . A vehicle comprising: a body; a plurality of audio devices supported on or within the body; a motor; a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module; one or more batteries for powering the plurality of audio devices and the plurality of electronic modules; and a controller configured to control electrical power supplied to the plurality of electronic modules and configured to operate in a tailgate audio mode to control electric power supplied by the one or more batteries to the electronic module in the tailgate audio mode, wherein the controller supplies power to the plurality of audio devices and supplies power to only one or more of the audio control module, the display control module, the lock control module, the brake control module and the modem control module of the plurality of electronic modules in the tailgate audio mode.
13. 13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the controller supplies electrical power to only the audio control module, the display control module, the lock control module, the brake control module and the modem control module of the plurality of electronic modules.
14. 14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the controller determines available battery energy and expected energy consumption and derates the battery power supplied to one or more of the audio control modules, the display control module, the lock module, the brake module and the modem module.
15. 15 . A method of controlling electronic modules on a vehicle in a tailgate audio mode, the method comprising the steps of: entering a tailgate audio mode on the vehicle; storing electrical energy in one or more batteries; supplying the electrical energy to a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module; powering one or more audio devices in the tailgate audio mode with the electrical energy; and derating one or more of the plurality of electronic modules to reduce power consumption based on expected energy consumption and the available power in the one or more batteries.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of inputting an input from an operator to enter the tailgate audio mode.
17. 17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of initiating charging of the one or more batteries to an elevated charge state upon entering the tailgate audio mode.
18. 18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine.
19. 19 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising the step of detecting an open door of the vehicle in a stopped condition and initiating the tailgate audio mode based on the open door in the vehicle stopped condition.
20. 20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the controller further derates energy supplied to one or more of the display control module to turn off one or more screens based on available energy from the one or more batteries, the lock control module to turn off the power supplied to operate electronic locks, the audio control module to turn off one or more internal audio speakers and the modem control module to turn off power.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to motor vehicles that may operate in a tailgate audio mode, and more particularly relates to a vehicle and method of efficiently controlling the motor vehicle electric powered modules to provide for extended tailgate audio mode operation with audio devices. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Motor vehicles are commonly equipped with a plurality of audio speakers and exciters for providing sound for entertainment and feedback. Some motor vehicles may be utilized for tailgating in a tailgate audio mode in which the motor vehicle is stopped in Park and audio speakers and exciters may be operated to provide sound entertainment. It may be desirable to provide for a vehicle configured with a tailgate audio mode that offers efficient battery energy utilization. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle has a body, a plurality of audio devices supported on or within the body, a motor and a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module. The vehicle further has one or more batteries for powering the plurality of audio devices and the plurality of electronic modules. A controller is configured to control electrical power supplied to the plurality of electronic modules and configured to operate in a tailgate audio mode to control electric power supplied by the one or more batteries to the electronic modules in the tailgate audio mode. The controller determines available battery energy and expected energy and derates the power supplied to one or more of the plurality of electronic modules based on power supply of the one or more batteries in the tailgate audio mode. Embodiments of the first aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: the controller allows the plurality of audio devices to operate in the tailgate mode;the controller initiates charging of the one or more batteries to an elevated charge state upon detection of the tailgate audio mode;the motor comprises an internal combustion engine;the one or more batteries include an approximately 12-volt battery;an input for entering the tailgate mode;the controller detects an open door of the vehicle in a stopped vehicle condition and initiates the tailgate audio mode based on the open door in the stopped vehicle condition;the controller derates the display control module to turn off one or more screens based on available power from the one or more batteries;the controller derates the lock control module to turn off power supplied to operate electronic locks;the controller derates the audio control module to turn off one or more internal audio speakers; andthe controller derates the modem control module to turn off power. According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle has a body, a plurality of audio devices supported on or within the body, a motor and a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module. The vehicle also has one or more batteries for powering the plurality of audio devices and the plurality of electronic modules. A controller is configured to control electrical power supplied to the plurality of electronic modules and is configured to operate in a tailgate audio mode to control electric power supplied by the one or more batteries to the electronic module in the tailgate audio mode. The controller supplies power to the plurality of audio devices and supplies power to only one or more of the audio control module, the display control module, the lock control module, the brake control module and the modem control module of the plurality of electronic modules in the tailgate audio mode. Embodiments of the second aspect of the present disclosure can include any one or a combination of the following features: the controller supplies electrical power to only the audio control module, the display control module, the lock control module, the brake control module and the modem control module of the plurality of electronic modules; andthe controller determines available battery energy and expected energy consumption and derates the battery power supplied to one or more of the audio control modules,, the display control module, the lock module, the brake module and the modem module. The disclosure further includes a method of controlling electronic modules on a vehicle in a tailgate audio mode. The method comprises the steps of entering a tailgate audio mode on the vehicle, storing electrical energy in one or more batteries, supplying the electrical energy to a plurality of electronic modules including an audio control module, a display control module, a lock control module, a brake control module and a modem control module, powering one or more audio devi