CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

• US 20130066497A1
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Yukihiro Nissato
• Inventors: NISSATO, Yukihiro
• Granted Patent: US 9,688,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• 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: 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/087 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/106 Rate of change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/06 Improving the dynamic response of the control system, e.g. improving the speed of regulation or avoiding hunting or overshoot
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A control apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle, includes: a temperature detector configured to detect a motor temperature of the electric motor; a pressing speed detector configured to detect a pressing speed of an accelerator pedal; an electric current detector configured to detect a value of the electric current supplied to the electric motor from the battery; and an engine controller configured to allow, when the motor temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or lower than a threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the pressing speed detected by the pressing speed detector, so that the generator generates the electric power, and configured to allow, when the motor temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the value of the electric current detected by the electric current detector, so that the generator generates the electric power.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle comprising:

an electric motor configured to drive a driving wheel of the hybrid electric vehicle;

a battery configured to supply an electric current to the electric motor;

a generator configured to supply an electric current to the electric motor; and

an engine configured to allow the generator to generate electric power, the control apparatus comprising;

a temperature detector configured to detect a motor temperature of the electric motor;

a pressing speed detector configured to detect a pressing speed of an accelerator pedal;

an electric current detector configured to detect a value of the electric current supplied to the electric motor from the battery; and

an engine controller configured to allow, when the motor temperature detected by the temperature detector is equal to or lower than a threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the pressing speed detected by the pressing speed detector, so that the generator generates the electric power, and configured to allow, when the motor temperature is higher than the threshold temperature, the engine to be started based on the value of the electric current detected by the electric current detector, so that the generator generates the electric power.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a threshold temperature setter configured to set the threshold temperature so that the lower a temperature of the battery, the lower the threshold temperature.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a threshold temperature setter configured to set the threshold temperature so that the lower state of charge of the battery, the lower the threshold temperature.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a threshold temperature setter configured to set the threshold temperature so that the longer a continuous energization time that is a period of time during which the electric current is continuously supplied to the electric motor from the battery, the lower the threshold temperature.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the motor temperature includes a temperature of a coil of the electric motor.