Managing recreational vehicles and accessories
Inventors
Weed, Joshua T. • Shaughnessy, Aidan B. • Krosschell, Brian D.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11529913-B2
Publication Date
2022-12-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.
Core Innovation
The disclosure describes a recreational vehicle with an electrical power supply supported by a frame and configured to provide power to at least one removable accessory. The system includes a plurality of ground engaging members supporting the frame and at least one sensor operatively coupled to the frame to provide sensor information. A controller is operatively coupled to the frame and configured to receive user input via a user interface indicating at least one user priority.
The controller receives the sensor information from the at least one sensor and adjusts the power from the electrical power supply to the at least one removable accessory based on the sensor information and the user input. The controller uses user priorities together with vehicle parameters and sensor value satisfying a vehicle parameter threshold associated with the at least one accessory, and provides one or more commands to limit an amount of power supplied to the accessory.
The disclosure further covers controlling and limiting power for accessory operation by determining accessories from priorities and vehicle parameters meeting thresholds, including determining that a current consumption meets a threshold criterion and terminating power. The disclosure also covers calculating accessory power consumption from voltage and current consumption, and adjusting accessory power based on user input and the calculated power consumption. The controller can implement priority-based power plans using thresholds associated with battery state of charge and accessory current or consumption criteria.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover two related aspects: a recreational vehicle system with a controller that priority- and sensor-driven adjusts power to removable accessories, and a method for controlling a plurality of accessories by determining accessories based on priorities and sensor-threshold vehicle parameters and then commanding power limiting. Across the independent claims, the main inventive features are centered on priorities, sensor information, threshold-based accessory selection/decisioning, and limiting power supplied to the accessory(ies).
Priority- and sensor-driven power adjustment for removable accessories on a recreational vehicle
A controller receives user input indicating at least one user priority, receives sensor information from the at least one sensor, and adjusts power from an electrical power supply to at least one removable accessory based on the sensor information and the user input.
Accessory determination by priority and vehicle-parameter threshold with power limiting commands
A method receives user input indicating a plurality of priorities corresponding to a plurality of accessories, receives sensor information indicating a vehicle parameter, determines at least one accessory based on the plurality of priorities and the vehicle parameter satisfying a vehicle parameter threshold associated with the at least one accessory, and provides one or more commands to limit an amount of power supplied to the at least one accessory.
Together, the independent claims define a priority-based control scheme that uses sensor information and vehicle parameter thresholds to determine which removable accessory(ies) to control and how to limit power delivered to those accessory(ies), including threshold-driven decisions and power-limiting commands.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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