METHOD FOR STARTING A HYBRID VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A method for starting a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a request to start a hybrid vehicle having a primary power source and an auxiliary power source, wherein the hybrid vehicle is already connected to an external power source;
(b) determining if the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle; and
(c) if the method determines that the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle then deactivating the external power source and activating the auxiliary power source, and if the method determines that the auxiliary power source is not needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle then activating or keeping active the external power source.
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Abstract
A method for starting a hybrid vehicle when the vehicle is already connected to an external power source. In some hybrid vehicles, it can be undesirable for an external power source (e.g., an AC power outlet) and an internal power source (e.g., an internal combustion engine/generator) to simultaneously provide the vehicle with electrical energy. There are a variety of reasons why this may be true. For instance, some hybrid vehicles may have difficulty accurately estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) of the vehicle battery when both external and internal power sources are simultaneously providing electrical energy to the vehicle'"'"'s high voltage bus. The method described herein can arbitrate or otherwise determine which power source is preferable for the circumstances and then activate or enable that power source accordingly.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for starting a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a request to start a hybrid vehicle having a primary power source and an auxiliary power source, wherein the hybrid vehicle is already connected to an external power source; (b) determining if the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle; and (c) if the method determines that the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle then deactivating the external power source and activating the auxiliary power source, and if the method determines that the auxiliary power source is not needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle then activating or keeping active the external power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for starting a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a request to start a hybrid vehicle having a primary power source and an auxiliary power source, wherein the hybrid vehicle is already connected to an external power source; (b) activating a vehicle propulsion system in response to the request to start the hybrid vehicle by closing one or more main contactors in the hybrid vehicle; and (c) providing electrical energy from the external power source to the hybrid vehicle after the vehicle propulsion system has been activated, instead of automatically deactivating the external power source in response to the request to start the hybrid vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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a primary power source connected to an external power source; an auxiliary power source; a vehicle propulsion system; and a control system, wherein in response to receiving a request to start the hybrid vehicle, the control system;
i) activates the vehicle propulsion system, ii) determines if the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle, and iii) deactivates the external power source and activates the auxiliary power source if the control system determines that the auxiliary power source is needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle, and activates or keeps active the external power source if the control system determines that the auxiliary power is not needed in order to satisfy the request to start the hybrid vehicle.
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Specification