Recreational Vehicle User Interface System and Method

Abstract

A recreational vehicle user interface (RVUI) system/method that allows centralized control and monitoring of electrical/environmental subsystems within the context of a recreational vehicle is disclosed. The system/method permits monitoring of a wide variety of electrical/environmental subsystems in this context, including but not limited to battery temperatures, battery voltages, overall system voltages, battery disconnect relays, vent fans, solar panels, cabin temperatures, battery temperature alarms, power converter modules, temperature sensitive power converters, load management controllers, AC distribution controllers, transfer switches, AC/generator inputs, storage tank levels, pumps, and other electrical loads. The system/method may be optionally configured to wirelessly communicate with a mobile device using a variety of customizable mobile user interface applications, and/or be configured to support a universal control/sensor motherboard that mates to a customizable user interface daughterboard with associated custom display/control indicia bezel/panel or integrated touch screen display/control.

1 . A method for monitoring and control of battery charging within a recreational vehicle electrical/environmental subsystem (RVEES) comprising:
 (1) determining if a cycle delay has elapsed, and if not, proceeding to step (1);   (2) incrementing a counter value;   (3) determining if said counter value is equal to a preset count parameter C2, and if not, proceeding to step (5);   (4) disconnecting said battery from a battery charger and proceeding to step (1);   (5) determining if battery storage mode is enabled, and if not, proceeding to step (7);   (6) determining if said counter value is equal to a preset count parameter C8, and if so, proceeding to step (8), otherwise proceeding to step (4);   (7) determining if said counter value is equal to a preset count parameter C6, and if not, proceeding to step (12);   (8) determining if said battery voltage is greater than a predetermined upper voltage VH, and if so, proceeding to step (1);   (9) determining if said battery voltage is greater than a predetermined lower voltage VL, and if not, proceeding to step (11);   (10) enabling battery boost charging;   (11) connecting said battery to said charger and proceeding to step (1);   (12) determining if said counter value is equal to a preset count parameter C9, and if not, proceeding to step (1); and   (13) resetting said counter value to zero and proceeding to step (1).   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said count parameter C2 has a value of 2. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said count parameter C6 has a value of 6. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said count parameter C8 has a value of 8. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said count parameter C9 has a value of 9. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said count parameter C2 has a value of 2; said count parameter C6 has a value of 6; said count parameter C8 has a value of 8; and said count parameter C9 has a value of 9. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said voltage VL has a value of 12.5V. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said voltage VH has a value of 12.7V. 
     
     
         9 . A method for monitoring and control of battery charging within a recreational vehicle electrical/environmental subsystem (RVEES) comprising:
 (1) determining if a battery charge converter and associated load system are both active, and if not, proceeding to step (1);   (2) continuously monitoring said converter voltage and if said converter voltage falls below an upper threshold VH and said battery voltage is greater than a lower threshold VL, then connecting said battery to said battery charge converter regardless of any other state;   (3) waiting a first time period T1;   (4) disconnecting said battery from said charge converter;   (5) waiting a time period T2;   (6) waiting a time period T3;   (7) measuring said battery voltage;   (8) determining if said measured battery voltage indicates a charge mode is necessary, and if so, proceeding to step (10);   (9) connecting said battery to said converter system and adjusting said converter voltage to the proper battery charging stage based on said measured battery voltage; and   (10) disconnecting said battery from said converter and proceeding to step (6).   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said lower threshold has a value of 12.3V. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said upper threshold has a value of 13.0V. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said time period T1 has a value of 0.5 hour. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said time period T2 has a value of 1.5 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said time period T3 has a value of 0.25 hour.