VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD OF VEHICLE

• US 20100087288A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Masaya
• Granted Patent: US 8,088,035 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• 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: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/12 Induction machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/52 Clutch motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 : Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 : Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 : Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 : by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 : by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/28 : Accelerator pedal thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 : Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/142 : acoustic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 : Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0023 : Detecting, eliminating, remedying or compensating for drive train abnormalities, e.g. failures within the drive train
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 : with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 : by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 : Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/25 : by controlling the electric load
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 : for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 : including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• 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 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 : peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0866 : Power split variators with distributing differentials, with the output of the CVT connected or connectable to the output shaft
• 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 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• 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

Abstract

The intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr is set to the smallest of the standard intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr1 set according to the input limit Win of the battery, the sequential intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr2 set for the sequential gearshift position, and the power mode intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr3 set for the power mode (S400 to S480). When the vehicle speed V is less than the intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr, the hybrid vehicle is driven with output of the torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft within the range of the input limit Win or the output limit Wout of the battery with intermittent operation of the engine. When the vehicle speed V is more than or equal to the intermittence prohibition vehicle speed Vpr, the hybrid vehicle is driven with output of the torque demand Tr* to the driveshaft within the range of the input limit Win or the output limit Wout of the battery in prohibition of the intermittent operation of the engine.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric power-mechanical power input output assembly connected with a driveshaft linked to an axle of the vehicle and with an output shaft of the internal combustion engine in such a manner as to be rotatable independently of the driveshaft and configured to input and output power to and from the driveshaft and the output shaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

a motor capable of outputting power to the driveshaft;

an accumulator configured to transmit electric power to and from the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly and the motor;

an input output limits setting module that sets input and output limits of the accumulator as maximum allowable electric powers to be charged in and discharged from the accumulator, according to a state of the accumulator;

an intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module that sets an intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed for prohibiting an intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine, according to the set input limit of the accumulator;

a vehicle speed detector that detects a vehicle speed;

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

a controller configured to, when the detected vehicle speed is less than the set intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed, control the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly, and the motor so that the vehicle is driven with a driving power corresponding to the set driving power demand in a range defined by the set input and output limits of the accumulator with the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine,

when the detected vehicle speed is more than or equal to the set intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed, the controller controlling the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly, and the motor so that the vehicle is driven with the driving power corresponding to the set driving power in the range defined by the set input and output limits of the accumulator with a continuous operation of the internal combustion engine.

2. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed having a tendency to be lower against severer limitation of the input limit of the accumulator.

3. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, further including:

a control mode setting module that sets at least one vehicle control mode of multiple vehicle control modes where output powers corresponding to driver'"'"'s operation are different,

wherein the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed, according to the set vehicle control mode, and

the controller controls the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly, and the motor, according to the set vehicle control mode.

4. The vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein the controller, when more than one vehicle control modes are set by the control mode setting module, specifies the smallest of the set intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speeds according to the set vehicle control modes as the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed.

5. The vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein the multiple vehicle control modes include an ordinary mode which enhances both fuel efficiency and responsiveness of output power and a power mode which gives higher priority to the responsiveness of output of power,

the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module, when the ordinary mode is set by the control mode setting module, sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed according to the input limit of the accumulator using a first relationship,

when the power mode is set by the control mode setting module, the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module setting the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed according to the input limit of the accumulator using a second relationship where the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed is defined to be greater than the one defined in the first relationship.

6. The vehicle in accordance with claim 3, wherein the multiple vehicle control modes include a sequential gearshift mode where braking force applied to the vehicle is changed according to driver'"'"'s gearshift operation in a state of accelerator-off and brake-off,

the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module, when the sequential gearshift mode is set by the control mode setting module, sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed according to the driver'"'"'s gearshift operation and the input limit of the accumulator.

7. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module, when the sequential gearshift mode is set by the control mode setting module, sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed having a tendency to be lower against greater braking force applied to the vehicle.

8. The vehicle in accordance with claim 6, wherein the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed setting module, when the sequential gearshift mode is set by the control mode setting module, sets the intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed using multiple relationships that are different according to the driver'"'"'s gearshift operation.

9. The vehicle in accordance with claim 1, the electric power-mechanical power input and output assembly includes:

a generator configured to input and output power; and

a three shaft-type power input output structure connected to three shafts, the driveshaft, the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, and a rotating shaft of the generator, and designed to input and output power to residual shaft based on powers input from and output to any two shafts among the three shafts.

10. A control method of a vehicle, the vehicle including:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric power-mechanical power input output assembly connected with a driveshaft linked to an axle of the vehicle and with an output shaft of the internal combustion engine in such a manner as to be rotatable independently of the driveshaft and configured to input and output power to and from the driveshaft and the output shaft through input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

a motor capable of outputting power to the driveshaft;

an accumulator configured to transmit electric power to and from the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly and the motor,

the control method, setting an intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed for prohibiting an intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine according to an input limit of the accumulator, the input limit and an output limit of the accumulator settable according to a state of the accumulator as maximum allowable electric powers to be charged in and discharged from the accumulator, and

controlling, when a vehicle speed is less than the set intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed, the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly, and the motor so that the vehicle is driven with a driving power corresponding to a driving power demand required for driving the vehicle in a range defined by the input and output limits of the accumulator with the intermittent operation of the internal combustion engine,

while controlling, when the vehicle speed is more than or equal to the set intermittent operation prohibition vehicle speed, the internal combustion engine, the electric power-mechanical power input output assembly, and the motor so that the vehicle is driven with the driving power corresponding to the driving power in the range defined by the input and output limits of the accumulator with a continuous operation of the internal combustion engine.