Hybrid vehicle powertrain control method and apparatus

• US 20070208467A1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Raghavan, Madhusudan, Roesser, Robert, Maguire, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,539,562 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0622 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0217 in accordance with energy consumption, time reduction or distance reduction criteria
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0967 Systems involving transmission of highway information, e.g. weather, speed limits transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling a hybrid vehicle powertrain, including recording a starting and ending point of a desired route, determining an optimally fuel efficient route, and executing a powertrain control strategy based on the route. Real-time traffic data and topographical data are continuously evaluated, and the route and powertrain control strategy are updated based on the data. A hybrid vehicle is also provided having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery, and a navigation system for receiving a route starting point and ending point. A powertrain control module (PCM) detects the battery charge and determines a powertrain strategy along an optimally fuel efficient route based on the detected charge level when the points are selected, and sustains the charge level in the absence of user-selected route points. Sensors receive real-time traffic data, and the navigation system includes topographical data for determining the optimally fuel efficient route.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, at least one motor/generator, and a rechargeable battery, the method comprising:

recording at least one set of route input data, including a starting point and an ending point of a preferred route of the vehicle;

determining an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching said ending point based on said at least one set of route input data;

selecting a powertrain control strategy to attain said optimally fuel efficient route, wherein said powertrain control strategy includes determining when to run the engine and the at least one motor/generator, and when to charge the battery; and

executing said powertrain control strategy.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving real-time traffic data, wherein said at least one set of route input data includes said received real-time traffic data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving topographical information describing the topography of said route, wherein said at least one set of route input data includes said received topographical information.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising continuously evaluating said real-time traffic data and updating said route and said powertrain control strategy based at least in part on said continuously evaluated real-time traffic data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining an optimally fuel efficient route includes setting a threshold charge level for the battery, determining the current charge level of the battery, and determining said powertrain control strategy at least in part on the difference between said current battery charge level and said threshold battery charge level.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said developing said powertrain control strategy includes powering the vehicle using the engine, and further includes using one of homogeneous charge compression ignition, port fuel injection, active fuel management, direct injection strategy, and variable compression ratio strategy.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining a powertrain control strategy includes using at least one of ethanol, gasoline, dimethyl ether, and diesel fuel to run the internal combustion engine.

8. A method for optimizing the fuel economy of a vehicle having a hybrid powertrain including an engine, a battery, and at least one motor/generator, the method comprising:

determining the presence or absence of a user-selected ending point for a preferred vehicle route; and

selecting one of a charge-depleting mode or a charge-sustaining mode, wherein said charge-depleting mode is selected when said presence is determined, and wherein said charge-sustaining strategy is selected when said absence is determined.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said charge-depleting strategy is selected, further comprising detecting the current charge level of the battery, determining an optimally fuel efficient route based on said detected current charge level, and determining a powertrain control strategy for optimizing the fuel economy of the vehicle over said route.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving real-time traffic data, wherein said determining an optimally fuel efficient route includes continuously evaluating said received real-time traffic data, and updating said powertrain control strategy in response to said evaluated real-time traffic data.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving topographical information describing the topography of said route, and updating said powertrain control strategy in response to said topographical information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said charge-sustaining mode is selected, further comprising detecting a charge level of the battery and continuously recharging the battery to thereby maintain said detected charge level.

13. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine;

a motor/generator;

a battery operatively connected to the engine and motor/generator and rechargeable using at least of said engine and said motor/generator;

a navigation system operable for receiving a user-selected route starting point and ending point; and

a powertrain control module (PCM) operatively connected to said navigation system, said PCM being operable for detecting a charge level of said battery and determining a powertrain strategy along an optimally fuel efficient route based in part on said detected charge level when said route starting and ending points are selected, and operable for sustaining said detected charge level of said battery in the absence of said route starting and ending points.

14. The hybrid vehicle of claim 13, including a plurality of vehicle sensors operable for receiving real-time traffic data from an external source relative to the vehicle, wherein said PCM is configured to receive said real-time traffic data and determine said optimally fuel efficient route based in part on said received real-time traffic data and said starting and ending points.

15. The hybrid vehicle of claim 13, wherein said navigation system includes topographical data for said route, and said PCM determines said route based in part on said topographical data.

16. The hybrid vehicle of claim 13, wherein said powertrain strategy includes powering the vehicle with said engine, and includes one of homogenous charge compression ignition, port fuel injection, active fuel management, direct injection strategy, and variable ratio strategy with said engine.

17. The hybrid vehicle of claim 13, wherein said powertrain strategy includes using at least one of ethanol, gasoline, dimethyl ether, and diesel fuel to run said engine.