VEHICLE DRIVE POWER GENERATION CONTROL APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A control apparatus for drive power generators of a hybrid vehicle, which include an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine as drive power generators for generating power to drive a drive shaft of the vehicle, a charge storage device for transferring electric power to and from the rotary electric machine, and an external electric power input device for receiving electric power from an external power source external to the vehicle and charging the charge storage device with received electric power, the control apparatus comprising:
- a remaining distance calculation section that calculates a remaining distance to a next external charge point, at which electric charging is possible by the external power source;
an electric motor travelable distance estimation section that estimates an electric motor travelable distance, which is a travelable distance attained by the vehicle when traveling in an electric motor travel mode by stopping the internal combustion engine and supplying the electric power from the charge storage device to the rotary electric machine used as the power generator; and
a travel mode selection section that compares the remaining distance and the electric motor travelable distance to select the electric motor travel mode and an internal combustion engine travel mode based on a comparison result indicating that the vehicle can and cannot travel to the next external charge point in the electric motor travel mode, respectively, the engine travel mode using the internal combustion engine as the power generator.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle control ECU calculates an estimated EV travelable distance based on a minimum travel cost and a usable charge amount of a battery, when a next external charge point, at which an external power source is available for charging, is set. The minimum travel cost indicates a minimum value of electric power amount consumed by a battery when a vehicle travels a unit distance. If the estimated EV travelable distance is longer, electric motor travel is selected estimating that it is possible to reach the next external charge point. If a remaining distance is longer and a present SOC is higher than a usable SOC lower limit, hybrid travel is selected. If the present SOC is lower than the usable SOC lower limit, a constant SOC travel is selected.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A control apparatus for drive power generators of a hybrid vehicle, which include an internal combustion engine and a rotary electric machine as drive power generators for generating power to drive a drive shaft of the vehicle, a charge storage device for transferring electric power to and from the rotary electric machine, and an external electric power input device for receiving electric power from an external power source external to the vehicle and charging the charge storage device with received electric power, the control apparatus comprising:
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a remaining distance calculation section that calculates a remaining distance to a next external charge point, at which electric charging is possible by the external power source; an electric motor travelable distance estimation section that estimates an electric motor travelable distance, which is a travelable distance attained by the vehicle when traveling in an electric motor travel mode by stopping the internal combustion engine and supplying the electric power from the charge storage device to the rotary electric machine used as the power generator; and a travel mode selection section that compares the remaining distance and the electric motor travelable distance to select the electric motor travel mode and an internal combustion engine travel mode based on a comparison result indicating that the vehicle can and cannot travel to the next external charge point in the electric motor travel mode, respectively, the engine travel mode using the internal combustion engine as the power generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification