HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT ENGINE

• US 20040106494A1
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Patil, Prabhakar B., Woestman, Joanne T., Bhavsar, Chinu P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,986,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle 10 having a propulsion system 12 which integrates a motor-generator 14 and a variable displacement internal combustion engine 16. Motor-generator 14 and engine 16 are each operatively coupled to drive train 17 of vehicle 10, and cooperatively power vehicle 10.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:

determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;

comparing the demanded torque to a first torque threshold;

partitioning the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold;

comparing the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the engine torque is non-zero; and

determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine when the engine torque is non-zero, the number of operating cylinders being based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein partitioning the demanded torque includes allocating all of the demanded torque to the motor when the demanded torque is not above the first torque threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein partitioning the demanded torque includes allocating at least some of the demanded torque to the engine when the demanded torque is above the first torque threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein all of the engine cylinders are operated when the demanded torque is above the second torque threshold.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating all of the demanded torque to the engine when the electrical storage device has a state of charge below a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first torque threshold is a function of vehicle speed or engine speed.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating a majority of torque values to the motor when the demanded torque changes rapidly, thereby maintaining a substantially constant engine torque allocation.

8. A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:

determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;

comparing an amount of charge in the electrical storage device to a predetermined value, the predetermined value being based on the demanded torque;

comparing the demanded torque to a first torque threshold when the amount of charge is above the predetermined value;

partitioning the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold;

comparing the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the amount of charge is not above the predetermined value; and

determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein partitioning the demanded torque includes allocating all of the demanded torque to the motor when the demanded torque is not above the first torque threshold.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein all of the engine cylinders are operated when the demanded torque is above the second torque threshold.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising comparing the demanded torque to the second torque threshold when the amount of charge is above the predetermined value and the demanded torque is above the first torque threshold.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising allocating all of the demanded torque to the engine when the amount of charge of the electrical storage device is not above the predetermined value.

13. A method for operating a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, and an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, the method comprising:

determining a demanded torque for the vehicle;

comparing an amount of charge in the electrical storage device to a predetermined value, the predetermined value being based on the demanded torque;

allocating all of the torque to the engine when the amount of charge of the electrical storage device is not above the predetermined value;

comparing the demanded torque to a torque threshold;

determining a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the torque threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein all of the cylinders are operated when the demanded torque is above the torque threshold.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising allocating at least some of the torque to the motor when the amount of charge of the electrical storage device is above the predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising allocating a majority of torque values to the motor when the demanded torque changes rapidly, thereby maintaining a substantially constant engine torque allocation.