Power output apparatus and movable body with power output apparatus mounted thereon

• US 20030176256A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kamichi, Kensuke, Oba, Hidehiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/6612 for engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/662 with endless flexible members
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 : Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

The technique of the invention sets a relationship between the throttle opening (corresponding to the accelerator opening), the vehicle speed, and the target torque of a drive shaft, so as to enable a greater braking torque to be output in a working status of a cruise control system than a braking torque, which is output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening in a non-working status of the cruise control system. This arrangement ensures output of a sufficient braking force to the drive shaft even under the condition of a relatively large drive load applied to the drive shaft, for example, during a downslope run, thus enabling the vehicle speed to be certainly kept at a preset level under the control of the cruise control system.

Claims

1. A power output apparatus, comprising:

a power output unit that outputs power to a drive shaft; and

a controller that drives and controls said power output unit to make a power according to an accelerator opening output to the drive shaft, sets a wider power output range, in response to setting of a revolving speed, than a possible power output range according to the accelerator opening in the drive control, and drives and controls said power output unit to keep a revolving speed of the drive shaft at the preset revolving speed by output of a power in the preset power output range.

2. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller sets, in response to setting of the revolving speed, a power output range to possibly output a greater braking force than a braking force output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening.

3. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said power output unit comprises an internal combustion engine that functions as a power source, and a transmission that changes speed of a power from the internal combustion engine and outputs the speed-changed power to the drive shaft, and

said controller utilizes a rotational resistance of the internal combustion engine due to regulation of a change gear ratio set in the transmission, so as to enable the greater braking force to be output to the drive shaft.

4. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

5. A power output apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said power output unit comprises a motor that functions as a power source to output a power to the drive shaft and generates electric power in response to input of a power from the drive shaft, and

said controller utilizes a braking force due to regenerative control of the motor, so as to enable the greater braking force to be output to the drive shaft.

6. A movable body, comprising:

a power output unit that outputs power to a drive shaft; and

a controller that drives and controls said power output unit to make a power according to an accelerator opening output to the drive shaft, sets a wider power output range, in response to setting of a travelling speed, than a possible power output range according to the accelerator opening in the drive control, and drives and controls said power output unit to keep a travelling speed of the drive shaft at the preset travelling speed by output of a power in the preset power output range.

7. A movable body in accordance with claim 6, wherein said controller sets, in response to setting of the travelling speed, a power output range to possibly output a greater braking force than a braking force output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening.

8. A movable body in accordance with claim 7, wherein said power output unit comprises an internal combustion engine that functions as a power source, and a transmission that changes speed of a power from the internal combustion engine and outputs the speed-changed power to the drive shaft, and

said controller utilizes a rotational resistance of the internal combustion engine due to regulation of a change gear ratio set in the transmission, so as to enable the greater braking force to be output to the drive shaft.

9. A movable body in accordance with claim 8, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

10. A movable body in accordance with claim 6, wherein said power output unit comprises a motor that functions as a power source to output a power to the drive shaft and generates electric power in response to input of a power from the drive shaft, and

said controller utilizes a braking force due to regenerative control of the motor, so as to enable the greater braking force to be output to the drive shaft.

11. A movable body in accordance with claim 6, wherein said movable body is a vehicle.

12. A method of controlling a power output unit that outputs power to a drive shaft, said method driving and controlling said power output unit to make power according to an accelerator opening output to the drive shaft, setting a wider power output range in a process of the drive control, in response to setting of a revolving speed, than a possible power output range according to the accelerator opening, and driving and controlling said power output unit to keep a revolving speed of the drive shaft at the preset revolving speed by output of a power in the preset power output range.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, said method setting, in response to setting of the revolving speed, a power output range to possibly output a greater braking force than a braking force output to the drive shaft in a full closed position of the accelerator opening.