METHOD OF SELECTING MODES OF OPERATION FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20140046518A1
• Filed: 08/07/2012
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Dye, Thomas K., Roos, Bryan N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,440,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for enabling a user of a hybrid vehicle to assign different modes of operation to different segments of a particular route instead of, for example, simply operating the vehicle in an electric mode until its battery is depleted and then switching to an engine or charge-sustaining mode. This method may be useful in situations where a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is being frequently driven on a particular route whose distance exceeds the PHEV'"'"'s electric mode range. The customized route, complete with operating mode selections for certain route segments, can be stored at the vehicle and automatically implemented when the vehicle recognizes the stored route. Other potential features include evaluating the route after it has been developed and/or driven and providing the user with some feedback so that they can make it more efficient.

Claims

1. A method for use with a hybrid vehicle, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving route information from a user;

(b) using the route information to develop a route;

(c) receiving an operating mode selection from the user; and

(d) using the operating mode selection to assign a certain operating mode of the hybrid vehicle to a certain segment of the route, wherein the route includes a plurality of individual segments.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving route information from the user that includes a start location and a destination location;

and step (b) further comprises using the start location and the destination location to develop the route.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein step (b) further comprises using the start location, the destination location, map data and a route generating algorithm to automatically develop the route.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (b) further comprises displaying the start location and the destination location to the user, receiving a route selection from the user, and using the start location, the destination location, and the route selection to manually develop the route.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises performing a preliminary evaluation on the route and providing the results of the preliminary evaluation to the user before receiving the operating mode selection from the user.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the preliminary evaluation includes determining the overall distance of the route and comparing the overall distance of the route to the electric mode range of the hybrid vehicle, and if the electric mode range of the hybrid vehicle exceeds the overall distance of the route then selecting the electric mode for the entire route.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the preliminary evaluation includes at least one piece of feedback from the group consisting of:

an estimated energy consumption for the entire route, an estimated energy consumption for certain segments of the route, or a recommendation for certain operating modes for certain segments of the route.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises automatically generating the plurality of individual segments of the route and receiving an operating mode selection from the user for each of the plurality of segments

9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (c) further comprises enabling the user to adjust the plurality of individual segments of the route by presenting the automatically generated segments of the route on a touch screen of a user interface that includes adjustable slidebars.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises allowing the user to generate the plurality of individual segments of the route and receiving an operating mode selection from the user for each of the plurality of segments.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (c) further comprises enabling the user to generate the plurality of individual segments of the route by receiving voice commands from the user through a user interface that dictates the start and/or destination locations of the segments.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(e) saving the route including the plurality of individual segments and the corresponding operating mode selections; and

(f) implementing a certain mode of operation when the hybrid vehicle encounters a certain segment of the route.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (f) further comprises automatically recognizing when the hybrid vehicle is being driven on the route and implementing a certain mode of operation when the hybrid vehicle encounters a certain segment of the route.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving route information from the user that includes a plurality of start locations and destination locations;

and step (b) further comprises using the route information to develop a plurality of routes that each extends from a different start location to a different destination location, and the plurality of routes are generally joined in serial fashion.