Power output apparatus, motor driving method and computer-readable recording medium having program recorded thereon for allowing computer to execute motor drive control

• US 20040150365A1
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ochiai, Kiyoe
• Granted Patent: US 7,276,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/801
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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

Abstract

A power output apparatus includes two motor generators, a DC power supply, a relay, three inverters and a control CPU. One of the motor generators includes three-phase coils. The DC power supply is connected via the relay between respective neutral points of the three-phase coils. When the sum of respective powers of the motor generators is zero, the control CPU generates a signal SE at L level for rendering the relay OFF to output the generated signal to the relay, and generates signals PWMC1, PWMC2 and PWMI3 for driving the other motor generator by electric power generated by the one motor generator to output the generated signals to the inverters respectively.

Claims

1. A power output apparatus comprising:

a first inverter;

a second inverter;

a 2Y motor having a first three-phase motor coil and a second three-phase motor coil functioning as stators, energization of said first and second three-phase motor coils being controlled respectively by said first and second inverters;

a power supply connected between a first neutral point of said first three-phase motor coil and a second neutral point of said second three-phase motor coil; and

an electric motor which is different from said 2Y motor.

2. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said 2Y motor generates electric power from a rotational force from an internal combustion engine and starts said internal combustion engine.

3. The power output apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a planetary gear to which said 2Y motor, said electric motor and said internal combustion engine are connected.

4. The power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a third inverter driving said electric motor; and

a control unit controlling said first, second and third inverters, wherein

when said control unit controls said first and second inverters to allow said 2Y motor to function as an electric generator, said control unit controls said third inverter to allow said third inverter to drive said electric motor by electric power generated by said 2Y motor.

5. The power output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit disconnects said power supply from said first and second neutral points.

6. The power output apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a relay unit provided between said first and second neutral points and said power supply, wherein

said relay unit is controlled by said control unit to connect/disconnect said power supply to/from said first and second neutral points.

7. A motor driving method for driving a 2Y motor coupled to an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle and an electric motor coupled to drive wheels of said hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a first step of calculating a first power of said 2Y motor and a second power of said electric motor;

a second step of determining whether the sum of said calculated first power and said calculated second power is zero or not; and

a third step of disconnecting, when said sum is equal to zero, a power supply from respective neutral points of two three-phase coils included in said 2Y motor.

8. The motor driving method according to claim 7, further comprising:

a fourth step of driving said 2Y motor as an electric generator; and

a fifth step of driving said electric motor by electric power generated by said 2Y motor.

9. The motor driving method according to claim 7, further comprising:

a sixth step of driving, when said sum is unequal to zero, said 2Y motor as an electric motor while increasing a voltage from said power supply to charge a capacitor provided on an input side of an inverter which drives said 2Y motor; and

a seventh step of driving, when said sum is unequal to zero, said 2Y motor as an electric generator while decreasing a DC voltage from said capacitor to charge said power supply.

10. A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon for allowing a computer to execute drive control of a 2Y motor coupled to an internal combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle and an electric motor coupled to drive wheels of said hybrid vehicle, said computer following said program to execute:

a first step of calculating a first power of said 2Y motor and a second power of said electric motor;

a second step of determining whether the sum of said calculated first power and said calculated second power is zero or not; and

a third step of disconnecting, when said sum is equal to zero, a power supply from respective neutral points of two three-phase coils included in said 2Y motor.

11. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10, said computer following said program to further execute:

a fourth step of driving said 2Y motor as an electric generator; and

a fifth step of driving said electric motor by electric power generated by said 2Y motor.

12. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10, said computer following said program to further execute:

a sixth step of driving, when said sum is unequal to zero, said 2Y motor as an electric motor while increasing a voltage from said power supply to charge a capacitor provided on an input side of inverters driving said 2Y motor; and

a seventh step of driving, when said sum is unequal to zero, said 2Y motor as an electric generator while decreasing a DC voltage from said capacitor to charge said power supply.