Electric Drive Vehicle Control System
First Claim
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1. A control system for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle, the control system comprising:
- an accelerator of the vehicle capable of causing generation of an accelerator input signal;
a plurality of sensors mounted within the vehicle and each providing a sensor input signal;
a drive controller in communication with the at least one electric drive motor to facilitate adjustment thereto based on the accelerator input signal and at least one of the sensor input signals; and
an auxiliary controller in communication with at least one electric auxiliary motor and the drive controller to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric auxiliary motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electronic control systems and related control methods for controlling electric drive motors for propelling a vehicle and electric auxiliary motors for performing work. The apparatus is shown in use with a vehicle that includes a mowing deck. Features of the control systems allow for safe and efficient use of the vehicle. These features include a power take-off timeout, automatic fail-safe brake (parking), and customized drive characteristics.
83 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A control system for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle, the control system comprising:
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an accelerator of the vehicle capable of causing generation of an accelerator input signal; a plurality of sensors mounted within the vehicle and each providing a sensor input signal; a drive controller in communication with the at least one electric drive motor to facilitate adjustment thereto based on the accelerator input signal and at least one of the sensor input signals; and an auxiliary controller in communication with at least one electric auxiliary motor and the drive controller to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric auxiliary motor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A control system for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor in communication with a driven wheel of the vehicle and at least one electric auxiliary motor in communication with an implement of the vehicle, the control system comprising:
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an accelerator of the vehicle capable of causing generation of an accelerator input signal; a vehicle direction switch capable of causing generation of a direction input signal, a plurality of sensors mounted within the vehicle and each providing a sensor input signal; a drive controller in communication with the at least one electric drive motor to facilitate adjustment thereto based on the accelerator input signal, the direction input signal, and at least one of the sensor input signals; and an auxiliary controller in communication with the at least one electric auxiliary motor and the drive controller to facilitate adjustment of the at least one electric auxiliary motor based on one or more operational states of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A drive controller for an electric drive system of a vehicle, the drive controller having at least one input and at least one output to establish communication with at least one electric drive motor, at least one sensor, and at least one operator input to facilitate control of the electric drive system when the controller is installed in the vehicle, the drive controller having an associated memory and computer-executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of:
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determining whether the vehicle is in a start-up mode; driving the electric drive motor to a predetermined holding torque specification while a vehicle brake is engaged; monitoring whether one or more drive wheels of the vehicle move; and disabling driving of the at least one drive motor if one or more drive wheels of the vehicle move.
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24. An auxiliary controller for an electric drive system of a vehicle, the auxiliary controller having at least one input and at least one output to establish communication with a drive controller, at least one electric auxiliary motor, and at least one sensor to facilitate control of the electric drive system when the controller is installed in the vehicle, the auxiliary controller having an associated memory and computer-executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of:
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receiving one or more signals from either one or both of the at least one sensor and the drive controller; receiving a signal from the drive controller indicating that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time; and stopping the electric auxiliary motor if the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time.
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25. An auxiliary controller for an electric drive system of a vehicle, the auxiliary controller having at least one input and at least one output to establish communication with a drive controller, at least one electric auxiliary motor, and at least one sensor to facilitate control of the electric drive system when the controller is installed in the vehicle, the auxiliary controller having an associated memory and computer-executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of:
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receiving one or more signals from either one or both of the at least one sensor and the drive controller; receiving a signal from the drive controller indicating that a speed of the vehicle has exceeded a predetermined speed; and stopping the electric auxiliary motor if the speed of the vehicle has exceeded the predetermined speed.
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26. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for a control process for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor, at least one electric auxiliary motor, at least one drive controller, and at least one sensor, the steps comprising:
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receiving one or more signals from either one or both of the at least one sensor and the at least one drive controller; receiving a signal from the drive controller indicating that the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time; and stopping the electric auxiliary motor if the vehicle has been stopped for a predetermined period of time.
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27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for a control process for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor, at least one electric auxiliary motor, at least one drive controller, and at least one sensor, the steps comprising:
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receiving one or more signals from either one or both of the at least one sensor and the at least one drive controller; receiving a signal from the drive controller indicating that a speed of the vehicle has exceeded a predetermined speed; and stopping the electric auxiliary motor if the speed of the vehicle has exceeded the predetermined speed.
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28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for a control process for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor and at least one sensor, the steps comprising:
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determining whether the vehicle is in a start-up mode; driving the electric drive motor to a predetermined holding torque specification while a vehicle brake is engaged; monitoring whether a drive wheel of the vehicle moves; and disabling driving of the at least one drive motor if one or more drive wheels of the vehicle move.
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29. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps for a control process for an electric drive system of a vehicle having at least one electric drive motor, at least one electric auxiliary motor, at least one drive controller, and at least one sensor, the steps comprising:
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monitoring a load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor; determining if a predetermined load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor has been exceeded; and decreasing a speed of the at least one electric drive motor when the predetermined load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor has been exceeded.
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30. A drive controller for an electric drive system of a vehicle, the drive controller having at least one input and at least one output to establish communication with at least one electric drive motor, at least one sensor, and at least one operator input to facilitate control of the electric drive system when the controller is installed in the vehicle, the drive controller having an associated memory and computer-executable instructions stored therein for performing the steps of:
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monitoring a load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor; determining if a predetermined load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor has been exceeded; and decreasing a speed of the at least one electric drive motor when the predetermined load on the at least one electric auxiliary motor has been exceeded.
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Specification