Mode transition control system for hybrid vehicle

• US 20060243501A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hidaka, Terumasa
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2710/025 Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18136 Engine braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/21 Providing engine brake control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 903/906 Motor or generator

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle mode transition control apparatus includes a hybrid drive system having a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor generator, and a second clutch disposed between the motor generator and wheels; an engine braking request judging section configured to judge whether a request of an engine braking is present during a motor regenerative braking performed by the motor generator, and a mode transition control section configured to perform a mode transition control of the hybrid drive system in accordance with a transition request. The mode transition control apparatus is configured to decrease a torque capacity of the second clutch being in an engaged state in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present, and to bring the first clutch from a disengaged state to the engaged state to shift to the engine braking.

Claims

1. A mode transition control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, the mode transition control apparatus comprising:

a hybrid drive system including;

a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor generator; and

a second clutch disposed between the motor generator and wheels;

an engine braking request judging section configured to judge whether a request of an engine braking is present during a motor regenerative braking performed by the motor generator; and

a mode transition control section configured

to perform a mode transition control of the hybrid drive system in accordance with a transition request,

to decrease a torque capacity of the second clutch being in an engaged state in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present, and

to bring the first clutch from a disengaged state to the engaged state to shift to the engine braking.

2. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode transition control section is configured to bring the second clutch to a slip state, in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present, by decreasing the torque capacity of the second clutch being in the engaged state to a level to transmit a torque of the engine braking.

3. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mode transition control section is configured to bring the second clutch from the engaged state to the slip state in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present, and to increase the torque of the motor generator to be equal to or greater than an engine drag rotation torque.

4. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mode transition control section is configured to start to bring the first clutch to the engaged state after increasing the torque of the motor generator, and to increase the torque capacity of the first clutch to be greater than the engine drag rotation torque.

5. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mode transition control section is configured to bring the second clutch to the slip state, to bring the first clutch to the engaged state, to start to cause the drag rotation of the engine by the motor generator, and to bring the second clutch from the slip state to the engaged state when an engine speed of the engine becomes equal to a rotational speed of the motor generator at the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present.

6. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engine braking request judging section is configured to judge that the request of the engine braking is present when a battery charge capacity is equal to or greater than an upper level value during the motor regenerative braking in a coasting state;

and the mode transition control section is configured to hold the regenerative braking performed by the motor generator when the request of the engine braking is not present during the motor regenerative braking.

7. The mode transition control apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mode transition control section is configured to decrease the torque capacity of the second clutch being in the engaged state to be equal to or lower than a regenerative torque of the motor generator.

8. A mode transition control method for a hybrid vehicle including a hybrid drive system having a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor generator, and a second clutch disposed between the motor generator and wheels, the mode transition control method comprising:

judging whether a request of an engine braking is present during a motor regenerative braking performed by the motor generator;

performing a mode transition control of the hybrid drive system in accordance with a transition request;

decreasing a torque capacity of the second clutch being in an engaged state in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present; and

bringing the first clutch from a disengaged state to the engaged state to shift to the engine braking.

9. A mode transition control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, the mode transition control apparatus comprising:

a hybrid drive system including;

a first clutch disposed between an engine and a motor generator; and

a second clutch disposed between the motor generator and wheels;

first means for judging whether a request of an engine braking is present during a motor regenerative braking performed by the motor generator;

second means performing a mode transition control of the hybrid drive system in accordance with a transition request;

third means for decreasing a torque capacity of the second clutch being in an engaged state in response to the judgment that the request of the engine braking is present; and

fourth means for bringing the first clutch from a disengaged state to the engaged state to shift to the engine braking.