System and method for providing feedback to a driver of a hybrid electric vehicle

• US 20020082754A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Grutter, Peter John, Robichaux, Jerry D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,751,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/42 Means to improve acoustic vehicle detection by humans
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A feedback system 10 for use with a hybrid electric vehicle 12 having a propulsion system 14 which includes a motor/generator 16 and an internal combustion engine 20. The system 10 provides a driver of vehicle 12 with tactile, audible, visual and/or other perceivable feedback, effective to notify the driver that the powertrain 14 of the vehicle is active when the internal combustion engine 20 is stopped.

Claims

1. A feedback system for use with a hybrid electric vehicle of the type having a drive line, an electric machine which is operatively coupled to said drive line, and which selectively provides torque to said drive line, and an engine which is operatively coupled to said drive line and which selectively provides torque to said drive line, said feedback system comprising:

a controller which is communicatively coupled to said engine and to said electric machine, said controller being effective to determine when said engine is stopped and said electric machine is in an active torque producing state, and based upon said determination to communicate signals to said electric machine, said signals being effective to cause said electric machine to transmit torque pulsations to said drive line, thereby notifying a driver of said vehicle of said active torque producing state of said electric machine.

2. The feedback system of claim 1 wherein said hybrid electric vehicle further comprises a braking system, and wherein said controller is communicatively coupled to said braking system and is further effective to determine whether said braking system is engaged and to communicate said signals to said electric machine only if said braking system is engaged.

3. The feedback system of claim 2 further comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor which is communicatively coupled to said controller and which is adapted to measure a speed of said vehicle and to generate a data signal to said controller representing said measured speed; and

wherein said controller is further effective to receive said data signal and to determine whether said measured speed is less than a predetermined threshold value, and to communicate said signals to said electric machine only if said measured speed is less than said predetermined threshold value.

4. The feedback system of claim 3 wherein said electric machine comprises an integrated starter/generator.

5. The feedback system of claim 3 wherein said braking system is a friction braking system.

6. The feedback system of claim 1 wherein said controller is further effective to dampen said torque pulsations as said vehicle beings to move.

7. A vehicle comprising:

a drive train;

an electric motor which is operatively coupled to said drive train and which selectively provides torque to said drive train;

an engine which is operatively coupled to said drive train and which selectively provides torque to said drive train;

an indicator which selectively generates a notification signal; and

a controller which is communicatively coupled to said indicator, to said electric motor and to said engine, said controller being effective to determine whether said engine is stopped and said electric motor is activated, and to selectively communicate a signal to said indicator based upon said determination, said signal being effective to cause said indicator to generate said notification signal, thereby notifying a driver that said electric motor is activated.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said indicator comprises a visual indicator.

9. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said indicator comprises a audible indicator.

10. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said indicator comprises a vibrating indicator.

11. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said indicator comprises a torque pulse indicator.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said indicator comprises at least two of a visual indicator, an audible indicator, a vibrating indicator and a torque pulse indicator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said certain mode is an engine off mode.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said feedback comprises at least one of an audible indication, a visual indication, a vibrational indication, and a torque pulse indication.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said torque pulse indication is provided by said motor/generator.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said vehicle further comprises a braking system, said method further comprising the step of monitoring said braking system;

and wherein said feedback is provided only if said braking system is engaged.

18. The method of claim 14 further including the steps of:

monitoring a speed of said vehicle; and

wherein said feedback is provided only if said speed is less than a predetermined threshold value.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said predetermined threshold value is five kilometers per hour.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said motor/generator comprises an integrated starter/alternator.

13. A method for providing feedback to a driver of a hybrid electric vehicle of the type having an electric motor/generator and an engine, said method comprising the steps of monitoring an operational status of said engine;

and said motor; and

if said engine is in a certain mode and said motor is active, providing said feedback to said driver, effective to notify said driver that said motor/generator is active.