HYBRID VEHICLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20100241297A1
• Filed: 11/26/2008
• Published: 09/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoki, Takanori, Kamiya, Kazuyoshi
• Application Number:
  US12/600,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20100241297A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• 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 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A running mode is determined on the basis of an input mode setting signal MSW. A lower intermittence prohibition vehicle speed is set when the running mode is a power mode than when the running mode is a normal mode. When a vehicle speed is equal to or higher than the set intermittence prohibition vehicle speed, an engine is prohibited from being operated intermittently. When the vehicle speed is not equal to or higher than the intermittence prohibition vehicle speed, a vehicle runs with the engine permitted to be operated intermittently. When the power mode is set, the engine is more often prohibited from being operated intermittently and hence is more often in operation. Therefore, the responsiveness of a driving force is enhanced. Further, when the normal mode is set, the engine is more often permitted to be operated intermittently. Therefore, no deterioration in fuel economy is caused.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor that inputs/outputs a motive power for running;

a storage device that exchanges electric powers with at least the electric motor;

a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed;

a required driving force setting device that sets a required driving force required for running;

a running mode setting device that sets a running mode from among a plurality of running modes including a normal mode and a power mode in which higher priority is given to acceleration performance than in the normal mode;

a vehicle speed threshold setting device that sets a vehicle speed threshold, which is a boundary value between a stop permission vehicle speed range for permitting the internal combustion engine to be stopped and a stop prohibition vehicle speed range for prohibiting the internal combustion engine from being stopped, smaller when the power mode is set than when the normal mode is set in setting the vehicle speed threshold on a basis of the running modes; and

a control device that permits the internal combustion engine to be stopped and controls at least the electric motor such that the hybrid vehicle runs by a driving force based on the set required driving force when the detected vehicle speed is included in the set stop permission vehicle speed range, and prohibits the internal combustion engine from being stopped and controls at least the internal combustion engine, and the electric motor such that the hybrid vehicle runs by a driving force based on the set required driving force when the detected vehicle speed is included in the set stop prohibition vehicle speed range.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed threshold setting device sets the vehicle speed threshold smaller when the internal combustion engine is in operation than when the internal combustion engine is stopped.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the electric power/motive power input/output device is equipped with an electric power generator capable of inputting/outputting a motive power, and three shaft-type motive power input/output devices connected to the output shaft of the internal combustion engine, the drive shaft, and a rotary shaft of the electric power generator to input a motive power from one shaft or output a motive power to the one shaft, on a basis of motive powers or output to or input from the other two shafts among the three shafts.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a running mode setting switch, wherein the running mode setting device sets a running mode in accordance with an operation of the running mode setting switch.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the running mode setting device makes a changeover in the running mode depending on whether or not at least one of a value of an accelerator operation amount, an amount of change in the accelerator operation amount, an average of a vehicle speed V, and an amount of change in the average of the vehicle speed V has exceeded a certain value.

6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed threshold setting device sets a predetermined vehicle speed threshold for each of the running modes.

7. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed threshold setting device sets the vehicle speed threshold on a basis of input/output limits of a battery.

9. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electric power/motive power input/output device connected to a drive shaft connected to wheels, and connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine rotatable independently of the drive shaft, that inputs motive powers from the drive shaft and the output shaft and outputs motive powers to the drive shaft and the output shaft along with an electric power and a motive power input/output, wherein

the electric power/motive power input/output device exchanges electric powers with the storage device and is controlled by the control device such that the hybrid vehicle runs by a driving force based on the set required driving force.

8. A control method for a hybrid vehicle that includes:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric motor that inputs/outputs a motive power for running;

a storage device that exchanges electric powers with at least the electric motor;

a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed; and

a running mode setting device that sets a running mode from among a plurality of running modes including a normal mode and a power mode in which higher priority is given to acceleration performance than in the normal mode, the control method comprising;

setting a vehicle speed threshold, which is a boundary value between a stop permission vehicle speed range for permitting the internal combustion engine to be stopped and a stop prohibition vehicle speed range for prohibiting the internal combustion engine from being stopped, smaller when the power mode is set than when the normal mode is set in setting the vehicle speed threshold on a basis of the running modes; and

permitting the internal combustion engine to be stopped and controlling at least the electric motor such that the hybrid vehicle runs by a driving force based on a required driving force required for running when the detected vehicle speed is included in the set stop permission vehicle speed range, and prohibiting the internal combustion engine from being stopped and controlling at least the internal combustion engine and the electric motor such that the hybrid vehicle runs by a driving force based on the required driving force when the detected vehicle speed is included in the set stop prohibition vehicle speed range.