Hybrid vehicles
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle'"'"'s instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine'"'"'s maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine'"'"'s maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle'"'"'s load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.
69 Citations
40 Claims
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1-16. -16. (canceled)
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17. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption;
wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque, and wherein said vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when operating said engine to store DC energy in the electrical storage device, and any accessory load. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption;
wherein a rate of change of torque output of said engine is limited to a threshold value, wherein when a rate of change of road load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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31. A method of control of a hybrid vehicle, said hybrid vehicle comprising:
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at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption, and to control the operation of said engine and said first and second motors, and wherein said controller limits a rate of change of torque output of said engine to a threshold value, and wherein when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque, wherein said vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when operating said engine to store DC energy in the electrical storage device, and any accessory load. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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36. A method of control of a hybrid vehicle, said hybrid vehicle comprising:
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at least two wheels, operable to receive power to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a first alternating current (AC) electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel said hybrid vehicle;
a second AC electric motor;
an engine coupled to said second electric motor, operable to provide power to said at least two wheels to propel the hybrid vehicle, and/or to said second electric motor to drive the second electric motor to generate electric power;
a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter having an AC side coupled to said first electric motor, operable to accept AC or DC current and convert the current to DC or AC current respectively;
a second AC-DC converter coupled to said second electric motor, at least operable to accept AC current and convert the current to DC;
an electrical storage device coupled to a DC side of said AC-DC converters, wherein the electrical storage device is operable to store DC energy received from said AC-DC converters and provide DC energy to at least said first AC-DC converter for providing power to at least said first electric motor; and
a controller, operable to start and stop the engine to minimize fuel consumption, and to control the operation of said engine and said first and second motors, and wherein said controller limits a rate of change of torque output of said engine to a threshold value, and wherein when a rate of change of road load exceeds said threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, said controller is operable to operate said first motor and/or said second motor to supply additional power to at least said two wheels to supply remaining required torque.
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37. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising;
providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to a DC side of a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter;
the first AC-DC converter converting the DC to AC;
providing the AC to the first AC electric motor to drive the AC electric motor; and
providing power to at least two wheels of the hybrid vehicle;
starting and operating an engine comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the vehicle and/or drive a second AC electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to generate electric power, comprising providing power to the at least two wheels and/or the second AC electric motor respectively;
converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter;
storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device, wherein the electrical storage device is coupled to a DC side of the second AC-DC converter;
limiting a rate of change of torque output of the engine to a threshold value; and
operating the first and/or the second AC electric motors to supply additional power to the at least two wheels to supply remaining required torque when a rate of change of vehicle load exceeds the threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine, wherein said vehicle load comprises road load, electrical load incurred when storing DC energy in the electrical storage device, and any accessory load. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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operating a first alternating current (AC) electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the hybrid vehicle, comprising;
providing direct current (DC) from an electrical storage device to a DC side of a first alternating current-direct current (AC-DC) converter;
the first AC-DC converter converting the DC current to AC current;
providing the AC current to the first AC electric motor to drive the AC electric motor; and
providing power to at least two wheels of the hybrid vehicle;
starting and operating an engine comprised in the hybrid vehicle to propel the vehicle and/or drive a second AC electric motor comprised in the hybrid vehicle to generate electric power, comprising providing power to the at least two wheels and/or the second AC electric motor respectively;
converting the generated electric power from AC to DC using a second AC-DC converter;
storing the converted electric power in the electrical storage device, wherein the electrical storage device is coupled to a DC side of the second AC-DC converter;
limiting a rate of change of torque output of the engine to a threshold value; and
operating the first and/or the second AC electric motors to supply additional power to the at least two wheels to supply remaining required torque when a rate of change of road load exceeds the threshold value of the rate of change of torque output of the engine.
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Specification