Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling hybrid vehicle

• US 20090115358A1
• Filed: 10/30/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ono, Hiroaki, Kachi, Tadayoshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,198,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0685 Engine crank angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 : Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 : Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes a power generator that generates electric power using power from an internal combustion engine; a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle; a first inverter connected to an electric power storage device and the motor to drive the motor; a second inverter connected to the electric power storage device; and a large drive power determination portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle. When it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-force required state, the second inverter is connected to the power generator. When it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-force required state, the second inverter is connected to the motor.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a power generator that generates electric power using power from the internal combustion engine;

a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle;

an electric power storage device which is charged with the electric power, and from which the electric power is discharged;

a first inverter that is connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, and that drives the motor;

a second inverter connected to the electric power storage device;

a connection switching device that switches a connection state of the second inverter between a connection state in which the second inverter connected to the power generator, and a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the motor;

a required drive power setting portion that sets required drive power required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle;

a large drive power determination portion that determines whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; and

a control device which controls the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the power generator, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-power required state, and which controls the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the motor, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the large drive power determination portion determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state, the control device controls the first inverter so that a three-phase alternating current is applied from the first inverter to the motor;

and controls the second inverter so that a three-phase alternating current is applied from the second inverter to the motor.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the control device controls the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that phases of the three-phase alternating current applied from the first inverter to the motor are the same as phases of the three-phase alternating current applied from the second inverter to the motor.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein when the hybrid vehicle is started, the large drive power determination portion determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein when a road gradient is equal to or larger than a predetermined gradient, the large drive power determination portion determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.

6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

the first inverter is electrically connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, and the second inverter is electrically connected to the electric power storage device;

when the second inverter is connected to the power generator, the second inverter is electrically connected to the power generator; and

when the second inverter is connected to the motor, the second inverter is electrically connected to the motor.

7. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine;

a power generator that generates electric power using power from the internal combustion engine;

a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle;

an electric power storage device which is charged with the electric power, and from which the electric power is discharged;

a first inverter that is connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, and that drives the motor;

a second inverter connected to the electric power storage device; and

a connection switching device that switches a connection state of the second inverter between a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the power generator, and a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the motor, the method comprising;

determining whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; and

controlling the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using required drive power required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle while the second inverter is connected to the power generator, when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-power required state; and

controlling the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the required drive power required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle while the second inverter is connected to the motor, when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state, the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching device are controlled so that a three-phase alternating current is applied from the first inverter to the motor, a three-phase alternating current is applied from the second inverter to the motor, and phases of the three-phase alternating current applied from the first inverter to the motor are the same as phases of the three-phase alternating current applied from the second inverter to the motor.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

detecting an amount of charge of the electric power storage device; and

applying the three-phase alternating current from the second inverter to the motor, when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state, and the amount of charge is larger than a predetermined amount

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising

stopping the internal combustion engine, when it is determined that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state, and the amount of charge is larger than the predetermined amount.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the method of controlling the hybrid vehicle is repeatedly executed at predetermined time intervals.

12. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a power generator that generates electric power using power from the internal combustion engine;

a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle;

an electric power storage device which is charged with the electric power, and from which the electric power is discharged;

a first inverter that is electrically connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, and that drives the motor;

a second inverter electrically connected to the electric power storage device; and

a connection switching device that switches a connection state of the second inverter between a connection state in which the second inverter is electrically connected to the power generator, and a connection state in which the second inverter is electrically connected to the motor.

13. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein when the second inverter is electrically connected to the electric power storage device and the motor, the first inverter is electrically connected to the electric power storage device and the motor.

14. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

a large drive power determination portion that determines whether drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; and

a control device which controls the connection switching device so that the second inverter is electrically connected to the power generator, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-power required state, and which controls the connection switching device so that the second inverter is electrically connected to the motor, when the large drive power determination device determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.

15. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a power generator that generates electric power using power from the internal combustion engine;

a motor that outputs power for travel of the hybrid vehicle;

electric power storage means which is charged with the electric power, and from which the electric power is discharged;

a first inverter that is connected to the electric power storage means and the motor, and that drives the motor,

a second inverter connected to the electric power storage means;

connection switching means for switching a connection state of the second inverter between a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the power generator, and a connection state in which the second inverter is connected to the motor;

required drive power setting means for setting required drive power required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle;

large drive power determination means for determining whether the hybrid vehicle is in a large-drive-power required state in which drive power equal to or larger than a predetermined value is required for the travel of the hybrid vehicle; and

control means for controlling the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching means so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the power generator, when the large drive power determination means determines that the hybrid vehicle is not in the large-drive-power required state, and for controlling the internal combustion engine, the first inverter, the second inverter, and the connection switching means so that the hybrid vehicle travels using the set required drive power while the second inverter is connected to the motor, when the large drive power determination means determines that the hybrid vehicle is in the large-drive-power required state.