HYBRID VEHICLES

• US 20110169460A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: POTTER, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/968,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20110169460A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/162
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

In a battery charging system for a hybrid vehicle, a user-operated switch is provided for triggering an engine to charge battery at an earlier stage for an extended journey as compared to a normal journey. A sensor is provided to detect a charge state level of the battery, the output of the sensor being compared at with a threshold set by switch.

Claims

1. A method of operating a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a battery, comprising:

triggering the engine to charge the battery when a value of a battery variable falls below a predetermined threshold value during a normal journey; and

triggering the engine to charge the battery when the battery variable value falls below a higher threshold during a non-normal journey.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-normal journey is an arduous journey.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-normal journey is an extended journey.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hybrid vehicle comprises a battery controller comprising a user-operated input control element adapted to receive the predetermined threshold value.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is set before the normal journey.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is set at least two discrete levels.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold value is adjustable between two limit values.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the battery variable value is a state of charge of the battery.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the engine is controlled to charge the battery substantially throughout operation of the engine.

10. A battery charging system for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a battery;

a battery variable sensor;

a comparator connected to the battery variable sensor and adapted to compare a current value of a battery variable with an adjustable threshold value; and

a battery charging device connected to the comparator and adapted to charge the battery when the battery variable falls below a currently-set threshold value.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the battery charging device is a generator driven by an internal combustion engine of the hybrid vehicle.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the battery variable is a state of charge of the battery.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the adjustable threshold value is set by a user-operated control element.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the adjustable threshold value is settable to at least two discrete levels.

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a separate user-operated control element adapted to cause the battery charging device to charge the battery at substantially all times of operation of the hybrid vehicle.