HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20140288747A1
• Filed: 06/10/2014
• Published: 09/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: SAITO, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 10,017,175 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/209 Fuel quantity remaining in tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes a traveling mode determination module configured to determine a traveling mode at least one of an internal-combustion engine traveling mode for running by transmitting motive power produced by the internal-combustion engine to wheels of the vehicle and an electric motor traveling mode for running by transmitting motive power produced by the electric motor to the wheels of the vehicle. The traveling mode determination module prohibiting the internal-combustion engine traveling mode and causing the vehicle to run in the electric motor traveling mode when the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank is less than or equal to a first predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal-combustion engine;

an electric motor;

a fuel tank configured to supply fuel to the internal-combustion engine;

a remaining amount detection module configured to detect an amount of remaining fuel in the fuel tank; and

a traveling mode determination module configured to determine a traveling mode at least one of an internal-combustion engine traveling mode for running by transmitting motive power produced by the internal-combustion engine to wheels of the vehicle and an electric motor traveling mode for running by transmitting motive power produced by the electric motor to the wheels of the vehicle;

wherein the traveling mode determination module prohibiting the internal-combustion engine traveling mode and causing the vehicle to run in the electric motor traveling mode when the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank is less than or equal to a first predetermined amount.

2. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission configured to transmit the motive power produced by the internal-combustion engine to the wheels via clutches in the internal-combustion engine traveling mode; and

a clutch control module configured to control connection and disconnection of the clutches,

wherein the clutch control module prohibiting the internal-combustion engine traveling mode by setting the clutches in a disconnected state.

3. The hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein when the remaining amount detection module detects the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank being equal to a second predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined amount, the remaining amount detection module starts calculation of a fuel consumption, and determines a value acquired by subtracting the consumption from the second predetermined amount as the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank.

4. The hybrid vehicle of claim 2, wherein when the remaining amount detection module detects the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank being equal to a second predetermined amount greater than the first predetermined amount, the remaining amount detection module starts calculation of a fuel consumption, and determines a value acquired by subtracting the consumption from the second predetermined amount as the amount of the remaining fuel in the fuel tank.