FOR STARTING VEHICLE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application Serial No.

201310125236.3, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on April 11, 2013, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to vehicle technology, and more particularly, to an emergency starting device used for a vehicle, a vehicle comprising the emergency starting device and a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency.

BACKGROUND

Generally, a storage battery of a vehicle may be over-consumed due to reasons such as forgetting to turn off lights of the vehicle. When the storage battery is insufficient in voltage, the vehicle cannot be started normally. Conventional solutions for such a problem may be calling for help or looking for a temporary power source corresponding to the storage battery to ignite to start the vehicle. However, with regard to calling for help, it may need to wait for a long time and cost a lot. And with regard to looking for the temporary power source, it may not only need to find the temporary power source and connecting wires corresponding to the storage battery, but also require the user to have a related skill in connecting the temporary power source with the vehicle, therefore, there may be some safety risks, such as short circuit or overload. SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the related art to at least some extent.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an emergency starting device used for a vehicle, which includes an emergency battery; a connector, configured to connect with a storage battery of a vehicle; and a control module, connected with the emergency battery and the connector respectively, and configured to identify a power status of the storage battery when obtaining a connecting signal indicating that the connector is connected with the storage battery, and to control the emergency battery according to the power status.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to: obtain a voltage of the storage battery; and control the emergency battery to output power for starting the vehicle when the voltage of the storage battery is greater than or equal to a first preset voltage.

In some embodiments, the emergency battery is controlled to output power for charging the storage battery and starting the vehicle when the voltage of the storage battery is greater than or equal to the first preset voltage.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to: prevent the emergency battery from outputting power for starting the vehicle if the voltage of the storage battery is smaller than the first preset voltage.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to: judge whether an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period; and if yes, keep the emergency battery outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started and control the vehicle to charge the emergency battery after the vehicle is started.

In some embodiments, the control module is further configured to: stop the emergency battery from outputting power for starting the vehicle if an ignition of the vehicle does not occur within the preset period.

In some embodiments, the control module comprises: a control unit, in which a power input terminal of the control unit is connected with a positive output terminal of the emergency battery and a positive input terminal of the connector respectively, a voltage sample terminal of the control unit is connected with a negative input terminal of the connector; a switch unit, in which a first terminal of the switch unit is connected with a negative input terminal of the connector, a second terminal of the switch unit is connected with a charge control terminal of the control unit, a third terminal of the switch unit is connected with an output start control terminal of the control unit, a fourth terminal of the switch unit is connected with a current sample terminal of the control unit; and a shunt, in which a first terminal of the shunt is connected with the current sample terminal of the control unit and the fourth terminal of the switch unit respectively, a second terminal of the shunt is connected with a reference ground terminal of the control unit and a negative input terminal of the emergency battery respectively.

In some embodiments, the emergency starting device further comprises: a lighting module, connected with the control module; an alarming module, connected with the control unit and configured to alarm; and a power output module, connected with the control module and configured to output a second preset voltage.

With the emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control module may identify the power status of the storage battery and control the emergency battery to output power for charging the storage battery and starting the vehicle according to the power status of the storage battery, and thus the vehicle may be started safely and effectively.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a vehicle, which includes a storage battery; and an emergency starting device according to the aforementioned embodiments of the present disclosure.

With the vehicle comprising the emergency starting device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control module may identify the power status of the storage battery and control the emergency battery to output power for charging the storage battery and starting the vehicle according to the power status of the storage battery, and thus the vehicle may be started safely and effectively.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency. The method comprises steps of: obtaining a connecting signal indicating that a connector of an emergency starting device is connected with a storage battery of the vehicle; identifying a power status of the storage battery; and controlling an emergency battery of the emergency starting device according to the power status.

In some embodiments, identifying a power status of the storage battery comprises obtaining a voltage of the storage battery, and controlling the emergency battery according to the power status comprises: judging whether the voltage is greater than or equal to a first preset voltage; and if yes, controlling the emergency battery to output power for starting the vehicle.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises step of: preventing the emergency battery from outputting power for starting the vehicle when the voltage is smaller than the first preset voltage.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises steps of: judging whether an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period; if yes, keeping the emergency battery outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started and controlling the vehicle to charge the emergency battery after the vehicle is started; and if no, stopping the emergency battery from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

With the method for starting the vehicle in an emergency according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by identifying the power status of the storage battery and controlling the emergency battery to output power for charging the storage battery and starting the vehicle according to the power status of the storage battery, the vehicle may be started safely and effectively.

Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a control module of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig. 8 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions.

In addition, terms such as "first" and "second" are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. Thus, the feature defined with "first" and "second" may comprise one or more this feature. In the description of the present disclosure, the term "a plurality of means two or more than two, unless specified otherwise.

In the description of the present disclosure, it should be understood that, unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass such as mechanical or electrical mountings, connections and couplings, also can be inner mountings, connections and couplings of two components, and further can be direct and indirect mountings, connections, and couplings, which can be understood by those skilled in the art according to the detail embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the following, an emergency starting device used for a vehicle will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 1, the emergency starting device includes an emergency battery 101, a connector 102 and a control module 103. The emergency battery 101 is configured to charge a storage battery 104 of the vehicle when a voltage of the storage battery 104 is insufficient. The emergency battery 101 can also provide power for staring the vehicle. The connector 102 is configured to connect with the storage battery 104, for example, when the vehicle needs to be started in an emergency, the connector 102 is connected with the storage battery 104 of the vehicle. The control module 103 is connected with the emergency battery 101 and the connector 102 respectively, and configured to identify a power status of the storage battery 104 when obtaining a connecting signal indicating that the connector 102 is connected with the storage battery 104, and to control the emergency battery 101 according to the power status. In one embodiment, the storage battery 104 is a standing battery of the vehicle (i.e., storage battery used by the vehicle itself).

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of the control module of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In one embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the control module 103 comprises a control unit 201, a switch unit 202 and a shunt 203. A power input terminal 1 of the control unit 201 is connected with a positive output terminal A+ of the emergency battery 101 and a positive input terminal B+ of the connector 102 respectively, a voltage sample terminal 2 of the control unit 201 is connected with a negative input terminal B- of the connector 102. A first terminal of the switch unit 202 is connected with the negative input terminal B- of the connector 102, a second terminal of the switch unit 202 is connected with a charge control terminal 3 of the control unit 201, a third terminal of the switch unit 202 is connected with an output start control terminal 4 of the control unit 201, a fourth terminal of the switch unit 202 is connected with a current sample terminal 5 of the control unit 202. A first terminal of the shunt 203 is connected with the current sample terminal 5 of the control unit 201 and the fourth terminal of the switch unit 202 respectively, a second terminal of the shunt 203 is connected with a reference ground terminal of the control unit 201 and a negative input terminal A- of the emergency battery 101 respectively.

In one embodiment, the control module 103 is further configured to obtain a voltage of the storage battery 104, and control the emergency battery 101 to output power for starting the vehicle when the voltage is greater than or equal to a first preset voltage. The first preset voltage can be understood as a final discharge voltage of the storage battery 104.

Specifically, the emergency starting device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is connected with the storage battery 104 via the connector 102 when the vehicle needs to be started in an emergency. After obtaining the connecting signal indicating that the connector 102 is connected with the storage battery 104, the control unit 201 identifies the power status of the storage battery 104. That is, the control unit 201 obtains the voltage of the storage battery 104, compares the voltage of the storage battery 104 with the first preset voltage (for example, the final discharge voltage of the storage battery 104); when the voltage of the storage battery 104 is greater than or equal to the first preset voltage, the control unit 201 sends a control signal via the output start control terminal 4 to drive the switch unit 202, the switch unit 202 sends a response signal which is sent to the emergency battery 101 via the shunt 203, and then the emergency battery 101 is controlled to output power for starting the vehicle in response to the emergency starting of the vehicle.

In one embodiment, the control module 103 is further configured to judge whether an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period. When an ignition of the vehicle occurs within the preset period, the control module 103 is configured to keep the emergency battery outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started and to control the vehicle to charge the emergency battery 101 after the vehicle is started. When an ignition of the vehicle does not occur within the preset period, the control module 103 is configured to stop the emergency battery 101 from outputting power for starting the vehicle. Specifically, the control unit 201 controls the emergency battery 101 to output power for starting the vehicle via the output start control terminal 4, and meanwhile monitors whether an ignition occurs. If an ignition occurs within the preset period, the output start control terminal 4 of the control unit 201 is delayed to be closed, so as to keep the emergency battery outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started, and after the vehicle is started, the control unit 201 controls an engine of the vehicle to charge the emergency battery 101. If an ignition does not occur within the preset period, the control unit 201 stops from sending the control signal, so that the emergency battery 101 is stopped from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

It should be noted that, when the voltage of the storage battery 104 is greater than or equal to the first preset voltage, the emergency starting device is connected with the vehicle, the emergency battery 101 is connected in parallel with the storage battery 104, and thus the emergency battery can output power for both charging the storage battery 104 and starting the vehicle. Further, if an ignition occurs within the preset period, both the storage battery 104 and the emergency battery 101 provide power for starting the vehicle, and if no ignition occurs within the preset period, the emergency battery 101 will run out and the storage battery 104 will not be fully charged, and the vehicle cannot be started at this time.

In one embodiment, the control module 103 is further configured to prevent the emergency battery 101 from outputting power for starting the vehicle if the voltage is smaller than the first preset voltage. The first preset voltage can be understood as the final discharge voltage of the storage battery 104. Specifically, the emergency starting device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is connected with the storage battery 104 via the connector 102. The control unit 201 identifies the power status of the storage battery 104 after obtaining the connecting signal. That is, the control unit 201 obtains the voltage of the storage battery 104, compares the voltage of the storage battery 104 with the first preset voltage (for example, the final discharge voltage of the storage battery 104); and when the voltage is smaller than the first preset voltage (for example, the voltage of the storage battery 104 is insufficient seriously or the storage battery 104 is short-circuited), the control unit 201 does not send the control signal. In other words, the control unit 201 does not response to the emergency starting of the vehicle (i.e., the emergency starting of the vehicle is not performed) when the voltage of the storage battery 104 is smaller than the first preset voltage.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 3, the emergency starting device used in the vehicle may further include a lighting module 301, an alarming module 302 and a power output module 303. The lighting module 301 is connected with the control module 103. The alarming module 302 is connected with the control module 103 and configured to alarm (for example, send out or display alarm information). The power output module 303 is connected with the control module 103 and configured to output a second preset voltage. It should be noted that the power output module 303 may have various applications depending on actual needs, such as charging an external device or operating the external device. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the power output module 303 is used to charge an external device, and in this case, the second preset voltage may be a rated charging voltage of the external device. The lighting module 301, the alarming module 302 and the power output module 303 may provide great convenience for the user.

With the emergency starting device used for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the control module 103 controls the emergency battery 101 to output power for starting the vehicle or stop from outputting power for starting the vehicle, or controls the emergency battery 101 to output power for charging the storage battery 104 after detecting the voltage of the storage battery 104 and monitoring the ignition of the vehicle. Then the vehicle may be started safely and effectively.

Furthermore, the control module prevents the emergency battery from outputting power for starting the vehicle when the voltage of the storage battery is smaller than the first preset voltage (for example, the voltage of the storage battery 104 is insufficient seriously), which may prolong a service life of the storage battery, and improve the safety.

In addition, the emergency starting device according to embodiments of the present disclosure is simple in structure and functionally rich, and provides great convenience for the user.

In the following, a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, the vehicle comprises a storage battery 104 and an emergency starting device 402 as described above. In one embodiment, the storage battery 104 is a standing battery of the vehicle, namely the storage battery used by the vehicle itself.

With the vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure, the storage battery 104 may be charged by the emergency starting device when the voltage of the storage battery 104 is insufficient, and thus the vehicle may be started more safely and effectively.

In the following, a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in Fig. 5, the method for starting a vehicle in an emergency includes the following steps.

At step 501, a connecting signal indicating that a connector of an emergency starting device is connected with a storage battery of the vehicle is obtained.

It should be noted that the emergency starting device may include the connector and an emergency battery, the connector is configured to connect with the storage battery when the vehicle needs to be started in an emergency. After the emergency starting device is connected with the storage battery via the connector, the emergency starting device obtains the connecting signal.

At step 502, a power status of the storage battery is identified.

After obtaining the connecting signal, the power status of the storage battery is identified, i.e., an energy consumption condition of the storage battery is detected.

At step 503, the emergency battery is controlled according to the power status.

After identifying the power status of the storage battery, the emergency battery is controlled according to the power status, for example, the emergency battery is controlled to output power, stop from outputting power for starting the vehicle or charging the storage battery.

Fig. 6 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 6, the method includes following steps. At step 601, a signal indicating that a connector of an emergency starting device is connected with a storage battery of the vehicle is obtained.

At step 602, a voltage of the storage battery is obtained.

In this embodiment, after obtaining the connecting signal, the voltage of the storage battery is obtained to identify the power status of the storage battery.

At step 603, whether the voltage is greater than or equal to a first preset voltage is judged, if yes, execute step 604, and if no, execute step 605.

The first preset voltage can be understood as a final discharge voltage of the storage battery.

At step 604, the emergency battery is controlled to output power for starting the vehicle. When the voltage of the storage battery is greater than or equal to the first preset voltage, the emergency battery is controlled to output power for starting the vehicle and the vehicle is started.

At step 605, the emergency battery is prevented from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

When the voltage of the storage battery is smaller than the first preset voltage, for example, the voltage of the storage battery is insufficient seriously or the storage battery is short-circuited, the emergency battery is controlled not to respond to emergency starting of the vehicle, i.e., the emergency battery is prevented from outputting power for starting the vehicle. Thus, a service life of the storage battery may be prolonged and the safety may be improved.

Fig. 7 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 7, the method comprises following steps.

At step 701, a signal indicating that a connector of an emergency starting device is connected with a storage battery of the vehicle is obtained.

At step 702, the voltage of the storage battery is obtained.

At step 703, whether the voltage is larger than or equal to the first preset voltage is judged, if yes, execute step 704, and if no, execute step 705.

At step 704, the emergency battery is controlled to output power for starting the vehicle and then execute step 706.

At step 705, the emergency battery is prevented from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

At step 706, whether an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period is judged, if yes, execute step 707, and if no, execute step 708.

At step 707, the emergency battery is kept outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started and the vehicle is controlled to charge the emergency battery after the vehicle is started.

When an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period, the vehicle is started and then the emergency battery is charged by an engine of the vehicle.

At step 708, the emergency battery is stopped from outputting power for starting the vehicle. Fig. 8 is a flow chart of a method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to still yet another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 8, the method comprises following steps.

At step 801, whether the emergency starting device is connected with the storage battery is judged, if yes, execute step 802, and if no, execute step 803.

At step 802, a voltage of the storage battery is obtained and whether the voltage is greater than or equal to the final discharge voltage of the storage battery is judged, if yes, execute step 804, and if no, execute step 805.

At step 803, the emergency starting device is connected with the storage battery or no action is performed.

At step 804, the emergency starting device is activated to output power for starting the vehicle, and whether an ignition of the vehicle occurs within a preset period is judged, if yes, execute step 806, and if no, execute step 807.

At step 805, the emergency starting device is prevented from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

At step 806, the emergency battery is kept outputting power for starting the vehicle until the vehicle is started and the vehicle is controlled to charge the emergency battery after the vehicle is started.

At step 807, the emergency battery is stopped from outputting power for starting the vehicle.

With the method for starting a vehicle in an emergency according to embodiments of the present disclosure, by identifying the power status of the storage battery and monitoring the ignition of the vehicle, the emergency battery can be controlled to output power for starting the vehicle, stop from outputting power for starting the vehicle or charging the storage battery according to actual conditions, the vehicle may be started safely and effectively. Furthermore, the emergency battery is prevented from outputting power for starting the vehicle when the voltage of the storage battery is smaller than the first preset voltage (for example, the voltage of the storage battery is insufficient seriously), which may prolong a service life of the storage battery, and improve the safety.

In addition, the method for starting the vehicle in an emergency according to embodiments of the present disclosure is easy to implement, convenient and safe.

Any process or method described in the flowing diagram or other means may be understood as a module, segment or portion including one or more executable instruction codes of the procedures configured to achieve a certain logic function or process, and the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure include other performances, in which the performance may be achieved in other orders instead of the order shown or discussed, such as in a almost simultaneous way or in an opposite order, which should be appreciated by those having ordinary skills in the art to which embodiments of the present disclosure belong.

The logic and/or procedures indicated in the flowing diagram or described in other means herein, such as a constant sequence table of the executable code for performing a logical function, may be implemented in any computer readable storage medium so as to be adopted by the code execution system, the device or the equipment (such a system based on the computer, a system including a processor or other systems fetching codes from the code execution system, the device and the equipment , and executing the codes) or to be combined with the code execution system, the device or the equipment to be used. With respect to the description of the present invention, "the computer readable storage medium" may include any device including, storing, communicating, propagating or transmitting program so as to be used by the code execution system, the device and the equipment or to be combined with the code execution system, the device or the equipment to be used. The computer readable medium includes specific examples (a non-exhaustive list): the connecting portion (electronic device) having one or more arrangements of wire, the portable computer disc cartridge (a magnetic device), the random access memory (RAM), the read only memory (ROM), the electrically programmable read only memory (EPROMM or the flash memory), the optical fiber device and the compact disk read only memory (CDROM). In addition, the computer readable storage medium even may be papers or other proper medium printed with program, as the papers or the proper medium may be optically scanned, then edited, interpreted or treated in other ways if necessary to obtain the program electronically which may be stored in the computer memory.

It should be understood that, each part of the present invention may be implemented by the hardware, software, firmware or the combination thereof. In the above embodiments of the present invention, the plurality of procedures or methods may be implemented by the software or hardware stored in the computer memory and executed by the proper code execution system. For example, if the plurality of procedures or methods is to be implemented by the hardware, like in another embodiment of the present invention, any one of the following known technologies or the combination thereof may be used, such as discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing various logic functions upon an application of one or more data signals, application specific integrated circuits having appropriate logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGA), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA).

It can be understood by those having the ordinary skills in the related art that all or part of the steps in the method of the above embodiments can be implemented by instructing related hardware via programs, the program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, and the program includes one step or combinations of the steps of the method when the program is executed.

In addition, each functional unit in the present disclosure may be integrated in one progressing module, or each functional unit exists as an independent unit, or two or more functional units may be integrated in one module. The integrated module can be embodied in hardware, or software. If the integrated module is embodied in software and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in the computer readable storage medium.

The computer readable storage medium may be, but is not limited to, read-only memories, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

Reference throughout this specification to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "one embodiment", "another example," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," means that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases such as "in some embodiments," "in one embodiment", "in an embodiment", "in another example," "in an example," "in a specific example," or "in some examples," in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure.