Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

Field of the invention
The present disclosure relates to a control unit to perform a thermal operation in a vehicle.

Background of the invention
[001] In case of electric vehicles such as plug-in-hybrid vehicles (PHEV) , it is optimal to prepare a battery of the vehicle thermally in order to enable efficient and fast charging. Similarly, when the vehicle is about to be parked (Home/ Office), it is possible to turn off/ reduce cabin heating/cooling in advance. This helps to reduce power consumption, with minimal impact on the power output of the vehicle. Further in case of highways and empty roads where vehicle is due to run for longer hours, the e-Motor can be prepared thermally for more efficient performance. When the vehicle enters highway, e-Motor is expected to run at high speed, so cooling can be increased.

[002] The prior art US8635020 discloses a method for automatically entering favorite locations into a navigation system is provided. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving information regarding a location from an object within a vehicle using a navigation system. An identifier to the information and the information and identifier are stored in the navigation system. The user may retrieve the information from the navigation system using the identifier. The information from the objects may be received in various wireless formats, including RFID, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
[003] The present disclosure purports to identify special optimization features that can be paired to a particular location and/or condition (for instance, e-motor cooling and highway location or charging and home/parking/charging station location). The locations can be stored in the ECU of the vehicle or in a cloud based memory. When the vehicle will get closer to these stored specific locations, the conditions for suitable optimization process will be identified and specific actions can be triggered to form such optimization. Specific thermal operations can be triggered based on the distance of the vehicle from a location of interest.

[004] Furthermore, a user interface feature can also calculate and store the benefits of these predictive features and inform the user. The drivers themselves may add/edit more such locations of interest such as Home, Office, regular parking location, regular filling/charging location.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings
[005] An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings:
[006] Figure 1 depicts a control unit to perform a thermal operation in a vehicle.
[007] Detailed description of the drawings

[008] The present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to accompanying drawings. Throughout all the figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In predetermined instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. Further, the principles and techniques widely known in the art to implement the present disclosure are not described in detail.

[009] Referring to Figure 1, the same depicts a control unit (1) to perform a thermal operation in a vehicle. Said control unit (1) is adapted to identify a location of interest (4) when said vehicle is in an operating condition. The control unit determines a distance between said current location of said vehicle and said identified location of interest (4) and triggers the thermal operation when said distance is within a pre-defined distance.

[0010] Further the construction of the control unit (1) and the components connected to the control unit (1) are explained in detail. The control unit (1) is a logic circuitry and software programs implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any component that operates on signals based on operational instructions. According to an embodiment, the control unit is a controller as a component in HVAC (heating ventilation air conditioning) control unit of the vehicle, capable of controlling a cabin temperature inside the vehicle. In an example the control unit is a component of the Battery thermal management system (BTMS) in Hybrid vehicle. In the (BTMS), several components work together to control the battery's temperature and manage its heat operations. This includes a Battery Management System (BMS) responsible for monitoring and managing the performance, health, and safety of the battery pack, including temperature control. It collects temperature data from temperature sensors placed throughout the battery pack and uses this information to regulate the battery's temperature within safe operating limits. The BTMS further includes coolant system to manage the temperature of the battery pack. This system typically consists of a pump, radiator, heat exchanger, and coolant fluid. The BMS communicates with the coolant system to regulate the flow of coolant through the battery pack, removing excess heat during charging or high-demand driving and providing heating when necessary in cold conditions.
[0011] The BTMS utilizes control algorithms to regulate the temperature of the battery pack based on various factors such as ambient temperature, battery state of charge, driving conditions, and power demand. These algorithms determine when to activate heating or cooling systems to maintain the battery within its optimal temperature range.

[0012] According to the present invention, said location of interest (4) is inputted into said control unit(1) via an interface (2) by anyone of the following means comprising a manual entry, an automatic identification of said location of interest, and a past history. Said location of interest is chosen from a group of locations comprising a charging station, a parking space and a highway.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control unit comprises (1) a memory(7) to store information related to multiple location of interests and the interface for inputting the location of interest(4). Said thermal operation to be performed is mapped to said identified location of interest in a memory of said control unit. The location of interest is inputted into the control unit via plurality of methods. Few such methods that are practiced is a manual entry, wherein the user of the vehicle enters the location of interest of his choice and the vehicle is detected in proximity or within the predefined distance range, a certain function is performed. In another way, the location of interest is inputted automatically based on the current/past requirements of the user of the vehicle . One such location of interest is a home, a parking space, highway or the like. In this case, the vehicle control unit automatically includes/updates the list of location of interest in the memory of the control unit. Yet in another way of inputting the location of the interest, a travel history of the vehicle is considered, and the control unit stores the required locations in the memory. The location of interest is chosen from a group of locations comprising a charging station, a parking space and a highway.

[0014] According to the present invention, said thermal operation comprises regulating a temperature of a battery (3) of the vehicle to a target temperature, deactivating a regulation of a temperature of a cabin (5) of the vehicle, activating a cooling operation for an e-motor (6) of the vehicle. The temperature of the battery (3) of the vehicle is regulated to the target temperature when the location of interest (4) is the charging station. The regulation of temperature of the cabin (5) of the vehicle is deactivated when the location of interest (4) is the parking space. The regulation of temperature of the cabin of the vehicle is deactivated when the location of interest (4) is the parking space. The cooling operation for the e-motor(6) of is activated when the location of interest is the highway. It is to be understood that parking space includes all such places where vehicle may be parked such as a home, office, shopping mall etc. It is further to be understood that highway includes roads where the vehicle is expected to run for longer hours.

[0015] In a working example, in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle use case, when the location of interest (4) is within the pre-defined distance, vehicle needs to be prepared for the thermal operation associated with the location. When regular charging locations are approaching (charging stations which may include homes and offices), to make the charging most efficient and fast, it is necessary to maintain the battery temperature in an optimal range. Once the location of interest is within the pre-defined distance (nearing), thermal preparation of battery (3) can be triggered. Preconditioning for fast charging is the conditioning of the battery while the vehicle is operated (driving). Goal is to reach a battery temperature at the beginning of charging (start temperature), which ensures shortest charging duration under given constraints (e.g., desired SOC after charging). In an example, to determine the target temperature, charging scenarios with different battery start temperatures are simulated. Based on this result, desired temperature can be determined. Before the charging simulation is executed, a logic is required which estimates the energy demand (in form of SOC drop) required to reach the different charging start temperatures. Charging simulation is then executed with different start temperatures (which are later used as target temperature) and different start SOC (different SOC drop due to preconditioning). The simulation requires knowledge of the implementing strategy for temperature management of the battery while charging. Based on the currently available strategy, battery temperature is controlled to stay within limits, if these limits are not violated, thermal system will not cool down or heat up battery. Through simulation, for a given pre-conditioning time and a target battery temperature, the best option to reach the target temperature in the given pre-conditioning time can be reached. In case no option reaches the target temperature, the option which brings the battery temperature closest to the target temperature is selected.

[0016] In another working example, in order deactivate a regulation of a temperature of a cabin (5) of the vehicle, in order to save energy, the control unit may control the cabin temperature in such a way that optimal energy is consumed while arriving at the location of interest. For example, while approaching a regular parking location (or a short stop), controller based on algorithms can decide to switch off certain actuators, thereby consuming lesser energy than usual from battery and can therefore maintain comfortable cabin temperature (cooling or heating) bandwidth. The algorithm shall estimate the best time for switching of actuators that use energy once a regular location trigger is received. It shall also decide the sequence in which these actuators shall be switched off (or controlled). To decide the switch off time and actuator controls, the algorithm shall model the system. It shall back calculate different start times associated with different sequence of switching off the actuators and the corresponding energy gained. The algorithm shall finally deploy an option considering a maximum energy gained and within the range of comfortable temperature.
[0017] In another working example, a cooling operation for the e-motor(6) is activated. The same requires the controller to predict high-load phases that would lead to too-high temperatures. By predictively knowing high load phases, the control unit will be able to keep the e-motor temperatures closer to their optimal working temperature and thereby enhancing component lifetime.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A control unit(1) to perform a thermal operation in a vehicle (10), said control unit adapted to:

- identify a location of interest (4) when said vehicle is in an operating
condition;
- determine a distance between said current location of said vehicle and
said identified location of interest; and
- trigger the thermal operation when said distance is within a pre-defined distance.

2. The control unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location of interest is inputted into said control unit via an interface (2) by anyone of the following means comprising a manual entry, an automatic identification of said location of interest, and a past history.

3. The control unit (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said location of interest (4) is chosen from a group of locations comprising a charging station, a parking space and a highway.

4. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said thermal operation comprises:
-regulating a temperature of a battery (3) of the vehicle to a target temperature,
-deactivating a regulation of a temperature of a cabin (5) of the vehicle,
-activating a cooling operation for an e-motor (6) of the vehicle.

5. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the temperature of the battery(3) of the vehicle is regulated to the target temperature when the location of interest is the charging station.

6. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the regulation of temperature of the cabin(5) of the vehicle is deactivated when the location of interest is the parking space.

7. The control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the cooling operation for the e-motor (6) of is activated when the location of interest is the highway.