METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING SHIFTING BETWEEN OPERATING MODES IN HYBRID VEHICLES

• US 20090192014A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: TIWARI, Awadesh, KESAVAN, Deepa
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/4
• 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: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0604 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A method for controlling shifting between a plurality of operating modes in a hybrid vehicle includes the steps of obtaining a plurality of throttle position values, generating a comparison between a first throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values and a second throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values, and selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, based at least in part on the comparison between the first and second throttle position values.

Claims

1. A method for controlling shifting between a plurality of operating modes in a hybrid vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a plurality of throttle position values;

generating a comparison between a first throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values and a second throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values; and

selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes based at least in part on the comparison between the first and second throttle position values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle includes a regenerative braking feature, and the plurality of operating modes comprise a first operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is in use, and a second operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is not in use, and the step of selectively allowing a shift comprises the step of:

selectively allowing a shift between the first operating mode and the second operating mode, based at least in part on the comparison between the first and second throttle position values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first throttle position value represents a current throttle position value occurring at a current point in time, the second throttle position value represents a previous throttle position value occurring at a prior point in time before the current point, and the step of generating the comparison comprises the step of:

generating a comparison between the current throttle position value and the previous throttle position value, the comparison comprising a difference between the current and the previous throttle position values.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selectively allowing a shift comprises the step of:

selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, based at least in part on the current throttle position value and the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of selectively allowing a shift comprises the step of:

selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, based at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is greater than a first predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of selectively allowing a shift comprises the step of:

selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, based at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is less than a second predetermined value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of throttle position values further comprises a plurality of additional prior throttle position values occurring at additional respective points in time before the prior point, and the method further comprises the steps of:

subtracting each of the plurality of additional prior throttle position values from an immediately subsequent throttle position value, to thereby generate a plurality of additional differences; and

selectively allowing the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, only if the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values and each of the plurality of additional differences are all greater than a predetermined threshold value.

8. A program product for controlling shifting between a plurality of operating modes in a hybrid vehicle, the program product comprising:

a program configured to at least facilitate;

obtaining a plurality of throttle position values;

generating a comparison between a first throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values with a second throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values; and

selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes based at least in part on the comparison between the first and second throttle position values; and

a computer-readable signal-bearing media bearing the program.

9. The program product of claim 8, wherein the hybrid vehicle includes a regenerative braking system and a battery, and the plurality of operating modes comprises:

a first operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is in use; and

a second operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is not in use.

10. The program product of claim 8, wherein:

the first throttle position value represents a current throttle position value occurring at a current point in time;

the second throttle position value represents a previous throttle position value occurring at a prior point in time before the current point; and

the comparison between the current and the previous throttle position values comprises a difference between the current and the previous throttle position values.

11. The program product of claim 10, wherein the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based also at least in part on the current throttle position value.

12. The program product of claim 10, wherein the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is greater than a first predetermined value.

13. The program product of claim 12, wherein the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based also at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is greater than a second predetermined value.

14. The program product of claim 13, wherein:

the plurality of throttle position values further comprises a plurality of additional prior throttle position values occurring at additional respective points in time before the prior point; and

the program is further configured to at least facilitate subtracting each of the plurality of additional prior throttle position values from an immediately subsequent throttle position value, to thereby generate a plurality of additional differences; and

the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based also at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values and each of the plurality of additional differences are all greater than a predetermined threshold value.

15. A system for controlling shifting between a plurality of operating modes in a hybrid vehicle, the system comprising:

a sensor configured to obtain a plurality of throttle position values;

a first control module coupled to the sensor, the first control module configured to;

receive the plurality of throttle position values;

generate a comparison between a first throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values with a second throttle position value of the plurality of throttle position values; and

generate an instruction for selectively allowing a shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes, based at least in part on the comparison between the first and second throttle position values; and

a second control module coupled to the first control module and configured to;

receive the instruction from the first control module; and

selectively allow the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes based at least in part on the instruction.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the hybrid vehicle includes a regenerative braking system and a battery, and the plurality of operating modes comprises:

a first operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is in use; and

a second operating mode, in which the regenerative braking feature is not in use.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first throttle position value represents a current throttle position value occurring at a current point in time;

the second throttle position value represents a previous throttle position value occurring at a prior point in time before the current point; and

the comparison between the current and the previous throttle position values comprises a difference between the current and the previous throttle position values.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based also at least in part on the current throttle position value.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based at least in part on whether:

the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is greater than a first predetermined value; and

the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values is greater than a second predetermined value.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the plurality of throttle position values further comprises a plurality of additional prior throttle position values occurring at additional respective points in time before the prior point;

the second control module is further configured to at least facilitate subtracting each of the plurality of additional prior throttle position values from an immediately subsequent throttle position value, to thereby generate a plurality of additional differences; and

the shift between at least two of the plurality of operating modes is selectively allowed based also at least in part on whether the difference between the current and the previous throttle position values and each of the plurality of additional differences all are greater than a predetermined threshold value.