Control system for hybrid vehicle

• US 20050029023A1
• Filed: 07/14/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Hiroatsu, Ozeki, Tatsuya, Takami, Shigeki, Wakuta, Satoru, Miura, Kiyotomo
• Granted Patent: US 6,932,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/19 Improvement of gear change, e.g. by synchronisation or smoothing gear shift
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/42 Changing the input torque to the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/44 Removing torque from current gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2306/52 Applying torque to new gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/061 using electric control means
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/502 for smoothing gear shifts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control system for a hybrid vehicle that is capable of absorbing an inertial force which is generated during shifting of a stepped transmission. During shift control of the stepped transmission by a shift control device and before the shift control is completed, a during-shift drive control element controls a driving force which is output from a second drive unit such that a total driving force which is output from first and second drive units to the drive wheels equals a driver request output. Further, the during-shift drive control elements executes control so as to reduce a difference between the total driving force output to a drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission caused by a switch-over between a first brake and a second brake. Moreover, in an inertial phase of the switch-over between the first brake and the second brake, the during-shift drive control means controls a driving force of a second motor so as to absorb an inertial force which is generated by change in a rotational speed of the second motor with respect to the rotational speed of the drive wheel.

Claims

1. A control system for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a first drive unit having a first motor and a planetary gear for power distribution capable of distributing a driving force of an engine to the first motor and a transmission shaft connected to a drive wheel while the first motor outputs a reaction force;

and a second drive unit having a second motor and a stepped transmission which is interposed between the second motor and the transmission shaft and which is capable of changing a rotational speed of rotatory transmission of the second motor and the transmission shaft by switch-over of a plurality of friction engagement elements which are controlled so as to be selectively engaged by a hydraulic pressure control executed by a hydraulic pressure control unit, the control system comprising;

first drive control means capable of controlling a driving force which is output from the first drive unit to the transmission shaft;

second drive control means capable of controlling a driving force which is output from the second drive unit to the transmission shaft;

shift control means capable of executing shift control of the stepped transmission; and

driver request output detection means which detects a driver request output that is requested by a driver, wherein the first drive control means and the second drive control means execute control such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheels equals the driver request output;

during-shift drive control means which controls the driving force output from the second drive unit such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheel equals the driver request output;

executes control so as to reduce a difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements; and

which controls the driving force of the second motor so as to absorb an inertial force which is generated by a change in the rotational speed of the second motor, with respect to the rotational speed of the drive wheels in an inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements.

2. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first drive control means which is included within the during-shift drive control means controls the driving force output from the first drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

3. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first drive control means includes first motor control means capable of controlling the driving force of the first motor and engine control means capable of controlling the driving force of the engine;

and

in the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements during shifting, the engine control means which is included within the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to change the driving force of the engine, the first motor control means, which is also included within the during-shift drive control means, executes control so as to change the reaction force of the first motor, and the during-shift drive control means changes the driving force from the first drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

4. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the second drive control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, controls the driving force which is output from the second drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

5. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the first drive control means includes first motor control means capable of controlling the driving force of the first motor and engine control means capable of controlling the driving force of the engine;

and in the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements during shifting, the first motor control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, executes control so as to change a rotational speed of the engine by changing the reaction force of the first motor, and the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to change the driving force from the first drive unit by generating an inertial force of the engine, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

6. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second drive control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, controls the driving force which is output from the second drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

7. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the second drive control means includes second motor control means capable of controlling the driving force of the second motor, and in a torque phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements, the second motor control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, executes control so as to change the driving force from the second drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

8. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising torque phase detection means which detects the torque phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

9. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising inertial phase detection means which detects the inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

10. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second drive control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, controls the driving force which is output from the second drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

11. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the second drive control means includes second motor control means capable of controlling the driving force of the second motor, and in a torque phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements, the second motor control means, which is included within the during-shift drive control means, executes control so as to change the driving force from the second drive unit, whereby the during-shift drive control means executes control so as to reduce the difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on the change in the transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

12. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising torque phase detection means which detects the torque phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

13. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising inertial phase detection means which detects the inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

14. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein in the torque phase, control is executed such that the driving force of the second motor is increased while up-shifting, and such that the driving force of the second motor is decreased while down-shifting.

15. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the power consumption of the second motor before shifting is the same as that after shifting.

16. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising torque phase detection means which detects the torque phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

17. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising inertial phase detection means which detects the inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements.

18. The control system for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the stepped transmission includes a first brake which can be engaged by control executed by the hydraulic pressure control unit, a second brake which can be engaged by control of the hydraulic pressure control unit, and a planetary gear unit having a first rotation element connected to the second motor, a second rotation element connected to the transmission shaft, a third rotation element connected to the first brake, and a fourth rotation element connected to the second brake, and the switch-over of the plurality of the friction engagement elements is a switch-over between the first brake and the second brake.

19. A control system for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a first drive unit having a first motor and a planetary gear for power distribution capable of distributing a driving force of an engine to the first motor and a transmission shaft connected to a drive wheel while the first motor outputs a reaction force;

and a second drive unit having a second motor and a stepped transmission which is interposed between the second motor and the transmission shaft and which is capable of changing a rotational speed of rotatory transmission of the second motor and the transmission shaft by switch-over of a plurality of friction engagement elements which are controlled so as to be selectively engaged by a hydraulic pressure control executed by a hydraulic pressure control unit, the control system comprising;

a first drive control element that controls a driving force which is output from the first drive unit to the transmission shaft;

a second drive control element that controls a driving force which is output from the second drive unit to the transmission shaft;

a shift control element that executes shift control of the stepped transmission; and

a driver request output detection element that detects a driver request output that is requested by a driver, wherein the first drive control element and the second drive control element execute control such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheels equals the driver request output;

a during-shift drive control element that controls the driving force output from the second drive unit such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheel equals the driver request output;

executes control so as to reduce a difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements; and

controls the driving force of the second motor so as to absorb an inertial force which is generated by a change in the rotational speed of the second motor, with respect to the rotational speed of the drive wheels in an inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements.

20. A control method for a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle including a first drive unit having a first motor and a planetary gear for power distribution capable of distributing a driving force of an engine to the first motor and a transmission shaft connected to a drive wheel while the first motor outputs a reaction force;

and a second drive unit having a second motor and a stepped transmission which is interposed between the second motor and the transmission shaft and which is capable of changing a rotational speed of rotatory transmission of the second motor and the transmission shaft by switch-over of a plurality of friction engagement elements which are controlled so as to be selectively engaged by a hydraulic pressure control executed by a hydraulic pressure control unit, the control method comprising;

controlling a driving force which is output from the first drive unit to the transmission shaft;

controlling a driving force which is output from the second drive unit to the transmission shaft;

executing shift control of the stepped transmission; and

detecting a driver request output that is requested by a driver;

executing control such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheels equals the driver request output;

controlling the driving force output from the second drive unit such that the driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the drive wheel equals the driver request output;

executing control so as to reduce a difference between the driving force output to the drive wheel and the driver request output based on a change in a transmission force of the stepped transmission that results from the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements; and

controlling the driving force of the second motor so as to absorb an inertial force which is generated by a change in the rotational speed of the second motor, with respect to the rotational speed of the drive wheels in an inertial phase of the switch-over of the plurality of friction engagement elements.