HYBRID CONTROLS ARCHITECTURE

• US 20150142229A1
• Filed: 11/21/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Books, Martin T., Hsieh, Tung-Ming, Muralidhar, Praveen, Freyermuth, Vincent, Zhou, Lining
• Granted Patent: US 9,718,454 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/248 Current for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods and systems for hybrid powertrain control are disclosed. Certain example embodiments control an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator of a hybrid electric powertrain. Example controls may determine a total output demanded of a powertrain based at least in part upon an operator input, a battery output target based upon a battery state of charge and independent of the operator input, and an engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the battery output target. Such example controls may further determine a constrained engine output target, a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained engine output target, and a constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and a battery constraint. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and figures.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain, the method comprising:

determining with one or more electronic controllers;

a total output demanded of the powertrain based at least in part upon an operator input,

a battery output target based upon a battery state of charge and independent of the operator input,

an engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the battery output target,

a constrained engine output target based upon the engine output target and an engine constraint,

a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained engine output target, and

a constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and a battery or motor/generator constraint; and

operating the one or more electronic controllers to control an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator of the powertrain based at least in part upon said act of determining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of operating includes providing an engine control command based upon the constrained engine output target and providing a motor/generator command based upon the constrained battery output target.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining with the one or more electronic controllers:

a modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained battery output target,

a second constrained engine output target based upon the modified engine output target and a second engine constraint,

a second modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the second constrained engine output target, and

a second constrained battery output target based upon the second modified battery output target and a second battery constraint;

wherein the act of operating includes providing an engine control command based upon the second constrained engine output target and providing a motor/generator command based upon the second constrained battery output target.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein engine constraint is based upon a negotiable performance or efficiency criterion for the engine, and the battery constraint is based upon a negotiable performance or efficiency criterion for the battery or motor/generator.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the second engine constraint is based upon a predetermined engine operating limit, and the second battery constraint is based upon a predetermined battery or motor/generator operating limit.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining with the one or more electronic controllers:

a modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained battery output target,

a second constrained engine output target based upon the modified engine output target and a second engine constraint,

a second modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the second constrained engine output target,

a second constrained battery output target based upon the second modified battery output target and a battery or motor/generator constraint,

a second modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the second constrained battery output target, and

a third constrained engine output target based upon the third modified engine target and a third engine constraint;

wherein the act of operating includes providing an engine control command based upon the third constrained engine output target and providing a motor/generator command based upon the second constrained battery output target.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein engine constraint and the second engine constraint are based upon a negotiable performance or efficiency criteria for the engine, and the battery constraint is based upon a negotiable performance or efficiency criterion for the battery or motor/generator.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the third engine constraint is based upon a predetermined engine operating limit, and the second battery constraint is based upon a predetermined battery or motor/generator operating limit.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the battery output target is determined based upon a vehicle speed and a state of charge target which varies based upon the vehicle speed.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the total output demanded of the powertrain, the battery output target, the engine output target, the constrained engine output target the modified battery output target, and the constrained battery output target are calculated in units of power.

11. The method of claim 1 where the battery comprises an electrochemical storage medium and the motor/generator comprises an electric motor/generator.

12. A system for controlling a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain, the system comprising:

one or more electronic control units configured to perform calculations of;

a total operational demand of the powertrain based at least in part upon a vehicle control device input,

a desired battery output based upon a battery state of charge and independent of the vehicle control device input,

a desired engine output based upon the total operational demand and the desired battery output,

a constrained desired engine output based upon the desired engine output and an engine constraint,

a recalculated desired battery output based upon the total operational demand and the constrained desired engine output, and

a constrained desired battery output based upon the recalculated desired battery output and a battery or motor/generator constraint;

wherein the one or more electronic controllers are configured to control an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator of the powertrain based at least in part upon said calculations.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more electronic controllers are configured to output an engine control command using the constrained engine output and output a motor/generator command using the constrained desired battery output.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to perform calculations of:

a recalculated desired engine output based upon the total operational demand and the constrained desired battery output,

a second constrained desired engine output based upon the recalculated desired engine output and a second engine constraint,

a second recalculated desired battery output based upon the total operational demand and the second constrained desired engine output, and

a second constrained desired battery output based upon the second recalculated desired battery output and a second battery or motor/generator constraint;

wherein the one or more electronic controllers are configured to output an engine control command based upon the second constrained desired engine output and output a motor/generator command based upon the second constrained desired battery output.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the engine constraint and the battery or motor/generator constraint are based upon one or more non-mandatory desired performance or efficiency criteria.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the second engine constraint and the second battery or motor/generator constraint are based upon one or more predetermined mandatory limits.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more electronic control units are further configured to perform calculations of:

a recalculated desired engine output based upon the total operational demand and the constrained desired battery output,

a second constrained engine output based upon the recalculated desired engine output and a second engine constraint,

a second recalculated desired battery output based upon the total operational demand and the second constrained desired engine output,

a second constrained desired battery output based upon the second recalculated desired battery output and a second battery or motor/generator constraint,

a second recalculated desired engine output based upon the total operational demand and the second constrained desired battery output, and

a third constrained engine output based upon the third recalculated engine target and a third engine constraint;

wherein the one or more electronic controllers are configured to output an engine control command using the third constrained engine output and output a motor/generator command based upon the second constrained desired battery output.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the engine constraint, the second engine constraint, and the battery or motor/generator constraint are based upon one or more non-mandatory desired performance or efficiency criteria.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the third engine and the second battery or motor/generator constraint are based upon one or more predetermined mandatory limits.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the desired battery output is dynamically determined using a state of charge target which varies as a function of a speed of the vehicle and a current battery state of charge.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein the one or more electronic controllers are configured as a plurality of electronic control units.

22. The method of claim 12 where the battery comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic storage device and the motor/generator comprises a pump.

23. A method comprising:

operating an electronic control system to perform the operations of;

determining a total output demanded of a hybrid electric powertrain including an engine, a battery, and a motor/generator,

determining a battery output target based upon a battery state of charge and independent of the total output demanded,

determining an engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the battery output target,

providing a motor/generator command and an engine command based upon a value resulting from a sequence of multiple constraints and recalculations of the engine output target and multiple constraints and recalculations of the battery output target, wherein the engine command is constrained by at least an engine operating constraint, and the battery command is constrained by at least the engine operating constraint and a battery or motor/generator operating constraint;

controlling operation of a motor/generator of the powertrain based upon the battery command; and

controlling operation of an engine of the powertrain based upon the engine command.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the operation of providing a motor/generator command and an engine command comprises:

determining a constrained engine output target based upon the engine output target and an engine constraint;

determining a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained engine output target; and

determining a constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and a battery or motor/generator constraint.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the constrained battery output target is used as the motor/generator command and the constrained engine output target is used as the engine command.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the engine command and the motor/generator command are first constrained by non-mandatory constraints and second constrained by mandatory constraints.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the operation of providing a motor/generator command and an engine command comprises:

determining a soft constrained engine output target based upon the engine output target and one of said non-mandatory engine constraints;

determining a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the soft constrained engine output target;

determining a soft constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and another of said non-mandatory constraints;

determining a modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the soft constrained battery output target;

determining a hard constrained engine output target based upon the modified engine output target and one of said mandatory constraints;

determining a second modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the hard constrained engine output target, and

determining a hard constrained battery output target based upon the second modified battery output target and another of said mandatory constraints.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the hard constrained battery output target is used as the motor/generator command and the hard constrained engine output target is used as the engine power command.

29. The method of claim 23 wherein the engine power command and the battery power command are constrained by both a soft constraint and a hard constraint.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the operation of providing a motor/generator command and an engine command comprises:

determining a soft constrained engine output target based upon the engine output target and a soft engine constraint;

determining a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the soft constrained engine output target;

determining a soft constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and a soft battery or motor/generator constraint;

determining a modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the soft constrained battery output target;

determining a second soft constrained engine output target based upon the modified engine output target and a second soft engine constraint;

determining a second modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the second soft constrained engine output target;

determining a hard constrained battery output target based upon the second modified battery output target and a hard battery or motor/generator constraint;

determining a second modified engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the hard constrained battery output target; and

determining a hard constrained engine output target based upon the second modified engine target and a hard engine constraint.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein the hard constrained battery output target is used as the motor/generator command and the hard constrained engine output target is used as the engine command.