AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE AND METHOD OF DETERMINING FORWARD OR BACKWARD MOVEMENT OF SAME

• US 20110083917A1
• Filed: 10/13/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Badreddine, Bader M., Kuang, Ming Lang
• Granted Patent: US 9,469,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.23
• 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 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 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• 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: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/10 related to vehicle motion
• 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

Abstract

An automotive vehicle may include an electric machine and a controller. The electric machine may be configured to provide and receive mechanical torque. The controller may be configured to determine forward or backward movement of the vehicle based on the provided or received mechanical torque and a mechanical power of the electric machine.

Claims

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a driveshaft;

an electric machine configured to generate and consume electrical power, wherein the electric machine includes a rotor connected with the driveshaft; and

a controller configured to determine a direction of rotation of the rotor based on (i) a torque command to the electric machine and (ii) the electrical power generated or consumed by the electric machine.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the direction of rotation of the rotor is indicative of forward or backward movement of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the direction of rotation of the rotor if a speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined threshold.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a power storage unit configured to provide electrical power to and receive electrical power from the electric machine.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the power storage unit is a traction battery.

6. An automotive vehicle comprising:

an electric machine configured to provide and receive mechanical torque; and

a controller configured to determine forward or backward movement of the vehicle based on (i) the provided or received mechanical torque and (ii) a mechanical power of the electric machine.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to determine the forward or backward movement of the vehicle if a speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined threshold.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a power storage unit arranged to provide electrical power to and receive electrical power from the electric machine, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the mechanical power of the electric machine based on the provided or received electrical power.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein the power storage unit is a traction battery.

10. The vehicle of claim 6 further comprising a driveshaft connected with the electric machine.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the electric machine includes a rotor, and wherein the forward movement of the vehicle is indicative of a first direction of rotation of the rotor, and the backward movement of the vehicle is indicative of a second direction of rotation of the rotor opposite the first.

12. A method for determining forward or backward movement of a vehicle comprising:

determining a mechanical torque of an electric machine disposed within the vehicle;

determining a mechanical power of the electric machine; and

determining whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward based on the determined mechanical torque and determined mechanical power.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward if a speed of the vehicle is above a predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein determining a mechanical power of the electric machine is based on electrical power of a power storage unit disposed within the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein determining whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward includes determining a direction of rotation of a rotor disposed within the electric machine.