US 11,876,639 B2
Utility vehicle control system with real time clock
John Eldon Robbins, Evans, GA (US); Todd P. Steele, Martinez, GA (US); and Bruce Joseph Tenerowicz, North Augusta, SC (US)
Assigned to CLUB CAR, LLC, Evans, GA (US)
Filed by Club Car, LLC, Evans, GA (US)
Filed on May 2, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/734,525.
Application 17/734,525 is a continuation of application No. 16/695,963, filed on Nov. 26, 2019, granted, now 11,349,684.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/773,017, filed on Nov. 29, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0263682 A1, Aug. 18, 2022
Int. Cl. H04L 12/40 (2006.01); B60L 53/60 (2019.01); B60R 16/023 (2006.01); G07C 5/00 (2006.01); G07C 5/02 (2006.01); G07C 5/08 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 12/40013 (2013.01) [B60L 53/60 (2019.02); B60R 16/023 (2013.01); G07C 5/008 (2013.01); G07C 5/02 (2013.01); G07C 5/085 (2013.01); B60L 2200/24 (2013.01); H04L 2012/40273 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for utilizing a real time clock of a vehicle control system of a utility vehicle, the method comprising:
determining, from information provided by the real time clock of the vehicle control system of the utility vehicle, a first current time;
determining, by the vehicle control system and using the first current time from the real time clock, whether a wake-up time has arrived for transmitting a wake-up signal to one or more components of the utility vehicle;
transmitting, by the vehicle control system if the wake-up time has arrived, the wake-up signal to the one or more components of the utility vehicle to cause the one or more components of the utility vehicle to exit an idle mode;
performing, by the vehicle control system in response to transmitting the wake-up signal, an operational status check on the one or more components of the vehicle control system;
retrieving, during the operational status check, operational data relating to the one or more components of the vehicle control system, the operational data including at least one of an operational use data, an operational fault data, and a defined communication bus operational data;
determining, from additional information provided by the real time clock, a second current time, the second current time being later than the first current time;
determining, by the vehicle control system and using the second current time from the real time clock, whether a sleep time has arrived for transmitting a sleep signal to the one or more components of the utility vehicle; and
transmitting, by the vehicle control system if the sleep time has arrived, the sleep signal to the one or more components of the utility vehicle to cause the one or more components of the utility vehicle to return to the idle mode.