Apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle
First Claim
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1. A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine; and
a propulsion system controller for actuating said propulsion system, said propulsion system controller varying the operating conditions of an electric motor/generator system in response to a state-of-charge of an electrical storage medium of said vehicle.
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Abstract
A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine and an electric storage medium, and a propulsion system controller for actuating the propulsion system. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator system in response to operating conditions of the vehicle. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator during and engine cranking sequence.
76 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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an internal combustion engine; and
a propulsion system controller for actuating said propulsion system, said propulsion system controller varying the operating conditions of an electric motor/generator system in response to a state-of-charge of an electrical storage medium of said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A propulsion system controller for use in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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a means for sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium;
a means for sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine; and
a motor/generator for providing starting force to said internal combustion engine in a first mode of operation and for generating an electrical charge and a second mode of operation, said propulsion system controller instructing said motor/generator to operate in between said first and said second modes of operation.
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7. A propulsion system controller for use in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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a first operating system;
a second operating system;
a means for sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium, said means for sensing the state-of-charge of said electric storage medium being operated by said first operating system;
a means for sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine, said means for sensing the temperature of said engine coolant being operated by said first operating system; and
a motor/generator for providing starting force to said internal combustion engine in a first mode of operation and for generating an electrical charge and a second mode of operation, said first operating system and said second operating system instructing said motor/generator to operate in between said first and said second modes of operation.
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8. A method for operating a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine; and
operating a motor/generator in a first mode of operation for providing a starting force to said internal combustion engine and in a second mode of operation for generating an electrical charge. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for operating a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine;
operating a motor/generator in a first mode of operation for providing a starting force to said internal combustion engine and in a second mode of operation for generating an electrical charge;
varying the starting speed of said motor/generator in said first mode in response to the state-of-charge of said electric storage medium; and
varying a prime pulse to said internal combustion engine in response to the state-of-charge of said electric storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 26, 27)
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25. A method for varying the state of a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine;
sensing the temperature of said electric storage medium;
determining if a fault condition is present;
sensing the operating condition of a motor/generator; and
varying a degree of electric power being used to drive said vehicle, said degree of electric power corresponding to sensed vehicle operating conditions.
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28. A propulsion system controller for use in a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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a motor/generator for providing starting force to an internal combustion engine in a first mode of operation and for generating an electrical charge in a second mode of operation;
a first operating system, said first operating system varying the prime pulse to an internal combustion engine and the starting force applied to said internal combustion engine by said motor/generator, said operating system varying the staring force and the prime pulse according to engine coolant temperature and battery state-of-charge;
a second operating system, said second operating system varying the state of operation of said motor generator during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, said first operating system and said second operating system instructing said motor/generator to operate in between said first and said second modes of operation;
a third operating system, said third operating system varying a degree of electric power being used to drive said vehicle, said degree of electric power corresponding to sensed vehicle operating conditions;
a means for sensing the state-of-charge of an electric storage medium, said means for sensing state-of-charge of said electric storage medium being operated by said first operating system; and
a means for sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine, said means for sensing the temperature of said engine coolant being operated by said first operating system.
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Specification