Method for Operating a Hybrid Vehicle and Control Unit for Implementing the Method

• US 20100280736A1
• Filed: 01/30/2007
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Falkenstein, Jens-Werner, Glora, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0011 Proportional Integral Differential [PID] controller
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a control unit for operating a hybrid vehicle in which at least two power units, at least one of which is an internal combustion engine, provide torque for a hybrid vehicle drive. It is proposed that a required total reserve torque is determined, and limits of presently available reserve torques of each individual power unit are determined.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating a hybrid vehicle in which at least two units, of which at least one is an internal combustion engine, supply torque for a hybrid vehicle drive, the method comprising:

ascertaining an overall required reserve torque; and

determining boundary values of currently available reserve torques of each individual unit.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising making an apportionment of the overall reserve torque to the individual units within the determined boundary values, as a function of limits of the currently available reserve torques.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in an internal combustion engine, a reserve torque, able to be achieved by increasing its air charge at a simultaneous ignition timing adjustment, is determined while taking into account a combustibility limit of its fuel.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein, in an electric motor, a maximum torque and/or a minimum torque and/or a state of charge of an energy store which supplies the electric motor with driving power are drawn upon as the boundary values.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising determining an overall gain of a controller having at least one of an overall proportional component and an overall derivative component which is apportioned to the units corresponding to a subdivision of the overall reserve torque.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein a reserve torque of one or more of the units, that is not an internal combustion engine, is first depleted.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising implementing a corresponding overall gain, using the units.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the internal combustion engine is called upon when an actuating range of the units is depleted.

19. A control unit for operating a hybrid vehicle in which at least two units, of which at least one is an internal combustion engine, supply torque for a hybrid vehicle drive, the control unit comprising:

an arrangement for ascertaining an overall required reserve torque; and

an arrangement for determining boundary values of currently available reserve torques of each individual unit.

20. The control unit according to claim 19, wherein an apportionment of the overall reserve torque is made to the individual units within the determined boundary values, as a function of limits of the currently available reserve torques.