VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100070123A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Koji, Itoh, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric 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 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/27 by heating
• 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 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 : Temperature
• 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 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• 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: 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

Abstract

In a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine, a planetary gear mechanism linked to the output shaft of the engine and to a driveshaft, a first motor linked the planetary gear, a second motor inputting and outputting power to and from the driveshaft, and a battery inputting and outputting electric power to and from the motors, when the battery temperature Tb is lower than the preset reference temperature Tbref, drive control prohibits the intermittent operation of the engine and controls the engine and the motors to output the torque demand to the driveshaft with warm-up control of the battery. When the battery temperature Tb is higher than or equal to the preset reference temperature Tbref and the cooling water temperature Tw is higher than or equal to the preset reference temperature Twref, drive control performs the intermittent operation of the engine and controls the engine and the motors to output the torque demand to the driveshaft. When the battery temperature Tb is higher than or equal to the preset reference temperature Tbref and the cooling water temperature Tw is lower than the preset reference temperature Twref, drive control prohibits the operation of the engine and controls the engine and the motors to keep the warm-up control of the battery and to output the torque demand to the driveshaft.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric power generating unit that generates electric power with at least part of power from the internal combustion engine;

a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to an axle;

an accumulator unit that inputs and outputs electric power from and to the electric power generating unit and the motor;

a temperature detector that detects the temperature of the accumulator unit;

a driving force demand setting module that sets a driving force demand for driving the vehicle; and

a control module that drives the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand and charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit upon a satisfaction of a specific condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is lower than a first preset reference temperature, the specific condition being one of conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine,

the control module performing the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine and controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are not satisfied,

the control module continuing the operation of the internal combustion engine and controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand and charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are satisfied.

2. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control module continues the operation of the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to a second preset reference temperature that is higher than the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are satisfied.

3. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition is a condition that a cooling water temperature of the internal combustion engine is lower than a preset water temperature.

4. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control module sets input and output limits of the accumulator unit based on a state of the accumulator unit including the detected temperature of the accumulator unit and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand within a range of the set input and output limits.

5. A vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electric power generating unit is an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to the driveshaft linked to the axle and to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine to independently rotate with respect to the driveshaft and outputs at least part of power from the internal combustion engine to the driveshaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power.

6. A vehicle in accordance with claim 5, wherein the electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism includes a generator that inputs and outputs power, and a three shaft-type power input output assembly that is connected to three shafts, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, a rotating shaft of the generator, and the driveshaft, the three shaft-type power input output assembly configured to input and output power from and to a residual one shaft based on power input from and output to any two shafts among the three shafts.

7. A control method of a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine, an electric power generating unit that generates electric power with at least part of power from the internal combustion engine, a motor that inputs and outputs power from and to an axle, and an accumulator unit that inputs and outputs electric power from and to the electric power generating unit and the motor, the control method comprising the steps of:

(a) setting a driving power demand for driving the vehicle; and

(b) driving the internal combustion engine and controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of a driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand and charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit upon a satisfaction of a specific condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is lower than a first preset reference temperature, the specific condition being one of conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine,

the step (b) performing the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine and controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are not satisfied,

the step (b) continuing the operation of the internal combustion engine and controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand and charge and discharge of the accumulator unit for warming up the accumulator unit on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are satisfied.

8. A control method of a vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein the step (b) continues the operation of the internal combustion engine and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand on condition that the detected temperature of the accumulator unit is higher than or equal to a second preset reference temperature that is higher than the first preset reference temperature and the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition are satisfied.

9. A control method of a vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein one of the conditions for prohibiting the intermittent operation other than the specific condition is a condition that a cooling water temperature of the internal combustion engine is lower than a preset water temperature.

10. A control method of a vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein the step (b) sets input and output limits of the accumulator unit based on a state of the accumulator unit including the detected temperature of the accumulator unit and controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power generating unit and the motor to ensure output of the driving force equivalent to the set driving force demand within a range of the set input and output limits.