POWER GENERATION CONTROL DEVICE AND POWER GENERATION CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE

• US 20130069367A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Watanabe, Takeshi
• Granted Patent: US 8,704,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4833 Step up or reduction gearing driving generator, e.g. to operate generator in most efficient speed range
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/10 by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/58 Combined or convertible systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A device that controls a power generator driven by power from an engine includes: a brake operation amount detection unit that detects a brake operation amount; and a power generation amount setting unit that sets a power generation amount of the power generator to be lower when a vehicle is predicted to accelerate in accordance with the brake operation amount.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A power generation control device for a vehicle, which controls a power generator driven by a power of an engine, comprising:

a brake operation amount detection unit that detects a brake operation amount; and

a power generation amount setting unit that sets a power generation amount of the power generator to be lower when the vehicle is predicted to accelerate in accordance with the brake operation amount.

9. The power generation control device for a vehicle as defined in claim 8, wherein, at a constant brake operation amount, the power generation amount setting unit sets the power generation amount of the power generator when a brake pedal is returned to be smaller than the power generation amount of the power generator when the brake pedal is depressed.

10. The power generation control device for a vehicle as defined in claim 9, wherein the power generation amount setting unit increases the power generation amount of the power generator as a depression speed of the brake pedal increases, and reduces the power generation amount of the power generator as a return speed of the brake pedal increases.

11. The power generation control device for a vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein the power generation amount setting unit increases the power generation amount of the power generator as the depression speed of the brake pedal increases, and

when absolute value of the depression speed of the brake pedal and an absolute value of the return speed of the brake pedal are compared under equal conditions, an amount by which the power generation amount of the power generator is reduced in accordance with the return speed of the brake pedal is larger than an amount by which the power generation amount of the power generator is increased in accordance with the depression speed of the brake pedal.

12. The power generation control device for a vehicle as defined in claim 8, further comprising a total load adjustment unit that limits a total load on the power generator and an auxiliary machine driven by the power of the engine by reducing the power generation amount of the power generator as a load on the auxiliary machine increases.

13. The power generation control device for a vehicle as defined in claim 12, further comprising an air conditioner temporary stopping unit that temporarily stops an air conditioner compressor when a current value required by an electric power steering equals or exceeds a predetermined current value,

wherein the total load adjustment unit removes the limit when the air conditioner temporary stopping unit is activated.

14. A power generation control method for a vehicle, in which a power generation amount of a power generator driven by a power of an engine is controlled, comprising:

a step of detecting a brake operation amount; and

a step of setting the power generation amount of the power generator to be lower when the vehicle is predicted to accelerate in accordance with the brake operation amount.