Inputs for optimizing performance in hybrid vehicles

• US 20060278449A1
• Filed: 06/09/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jose De La Torre Bueno, Law Office Of Scott C Harris Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jose De La Torre Bueno, Law Office Of Scott C Harris Inc.
• Inventors: Torre-Bueno, Jose De La
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.290
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• 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 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle controller operates to use GPS navigation information to determine how much energy should be delivered from or sent to, the battery. The battery charge can be better managed by using knowledge of the future path of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

Determining information about a future path of a vehicle that is operating using stored energy and consumable fuel, and which includes a source for said stored energy, that can be recharged; and

Using said information, along with a level of charge of said source, to determine an amount of said stored energy to be used by said vehicle.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises obtaining current route information from a GPS navigator associated with the vehicle.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises using contour information for said route.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises a manual control which inhibits a specified operation.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising obtaining dynamic information about a vehicle path at a current time, and using said dynamic information as part of said using.

6. A method as in claim 1, further comprising using a parameter indicative of a current amount by pollution by the engine as part of said using.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein said parameter comprises information about whether the catalytic converter is operating properly.

8. A controller for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a monitoring port, which monitors a state of charge of a charge storage unit in a vehicle;

a future trip detection part, which determines at least one aspect associated with a future trip of the vehicle; and

a processing part, using said aspect along with said state of charge of said source, to determine an amount of said stored energy to be used by said vehicle.

9. A controller as in claim 8, wherein said future trip detection part is associated with an automatic navigator device in the vehicle.

10. A controller as in claim 8, wherein said aspect includes at least contour information for said route.

11. A controller as in claim 8, further comprising a manual control which overrides said amount selected by said controller.

12. A controller as in claim 8, further comprising a part which obtains dynamic information about a vehicle path at a current time, and wherein said processing part uses said dynamic information as part of determining said amount.

13. A controller as in claim 8, wherein said processing part uses a parameter indicative of an amount by which said engine will cause pollution at a current time.

14. A controller as in claim 13, wherein said parameter comprises information about whether a catalytic converter is operating properly.

15. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a battery;

a motor, operating off power stored in said battery;

a GPS navigator, that allows determination of future trip information;

a controller, including a monitoring port, which monitors a state of charge of the battery, and also receives information from said GPS navigator, and controls how much energy is received by and delivered by said battery, based on both of said state of charge of said battery, and said information.

16. A vehicle as in claim 15, wherein said controller determines a contour of a road ahead that will be traveled, based on said information, and uses said contour to determine an amount of charge to be delivered.

17. A vehicle as in claim 15, further comprising a catalytic converter, and said controller detects a temperature of said catalytic converter, and uses said temperature to determine energy delivery by said battery.