RADIO FREQUENCY-BASED AUTOMATIC DRIVE SWITCHING OF HYBRID VEHICLE

摘要

A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatic switching between the drive modes of a hybrid battery-combustion vehicle as it is being driven to shuttle between indoors (where exhaust is prohibited) and outdoors where combustion drive mode may be switched on to propel as well as to recharge the battery. Electromagnetic means, such as a transponder, transmitter and/or receiver, are used to define a gateway into a warehouse, for example, and providing on-board said vehicle means to detect said electromagnetic means or receiver. Upon detection, the vehicle's drive is switched from one drive mode to the other. Transmitters may be placed to cover the warehouse area, to define a perimeter there around or merely to define a gateway. A single frequency may be employed to signal to the receiver to switch on and off alternately upon each occurrence of detection. Preferably, 2 frequencies are employed to signal to the receiver to switch on and off respectively. Alternatively, the switching to operate a first drive mode is maintained as long as the receiver detects the RF, and in the absence of such RF being detected, a second drive mode is switched on.