METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A HYBRID VEHICLE WITH INDEPENDENT REAR ELECTRIC MOTORS

• US 20150307086A1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: KETFI-CHERIF, Ahmed, NGUYEN, Hoang-Giang, DANG-VAN-NHAN, Christophe, VAN-FRANK, Jean, LINDA, Jean-Louis, MAGNE, Pierre Alain
• Application Number:
  US14/647,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20150307086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0405 characterised by their position
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/266 with two coaxial motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 Stepped gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/14 in conjunction with braking regeneration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/30 Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 : Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 : Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 : Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/40 : Coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/26 : Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/029 : Adapting to failures or work around with other constraints, e.g. circumvention by avoiding use of failed parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 : Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine and electric motors each coupled to a wheel of a rear axle by a coupling device, and an electronic control unit connected to sensors, to a mechanism selecting a propulsion mode and also to the internal combustion engine and to the electric motors. The method includes: depending on running conditions of the vehicle and depending on the selected propulsion mode, controlling the coupling devices, controlling operation of the internal combustion engine and of the electric motors, and controlling torque of the internal combustion engine and of the electric motors.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine coupled to a front axle and electric motors each coupled to a wheel of the rear axle by a coupling device, and a means for selection, by a driver, of an operating mode of the vehicle from:

an electric mode, in which only the electric motors, coupled to rear wheels by the coupling device, ensure propulsion of the vehicle;

a combustion mode, in which only the internal combustion engine, coupled to the front axle, ensures drive of the vehicle; and

a hybrid mode, for which movement of the vehicle is caused by joint operation of the internal combustion engine and electric motors coupled respectively to the front axle and the wheels of the rear axle;

the vehicle further including an electronic control unit connected at an input to sensors sensing running conditions and to the means for selection of the operating mode of the vehicle, and connected at an output to the internal combustion engine and to the electric motors,

the method comprising, after a selection of an operating mode of the vehicle by the driver, validation, by the electronic control unit, of the selected operating mode depending on the running conditions of the vehicle.

13. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the validation, or not, of the selected propulsion mode is signalled to the driver by visual, haptic, or voice feedback.

14. A method for controlling a hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising:

controlling engagement or disengagement of the coupling devices depending on the running conditions of the vehicle and depending on the selected propulsion mode;

controlling operation of the internal combustion engine and of the electric motors depending on the running conditions of the vehicle and depending on the selected propulsion mode; and

controlling torque of the internal combustion engine and of the electric motors depending on the running conditions of the vehicle and depending on the selected propulsion mode.

15. A control method according to claim 12, wherein, during a transition from an electric mode to a combustion mode,

a request to change mode submitted by the driver can be validated,

the internal combustion engine is started,

speed of rotation of the internal combustion engine is increased progressively to a point of operation corresponding to the request of the driver,

speed of rotation of the electric motors is cancelled progressively, then

a transmission ratio corresponding to torque and to the speed of rotation required of the internal combustion engine is engaged,

the speeds of the internal combustion engine and of the electric motors being modified such that the sum of the torques at wheels provided by the internal combustion engine and the electric motors are at least equal to the torque request of the driver.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein

different motor or resistive torques are applied between a left electric motor and a right electric motor, and

a warning message indicating a different torque setpoint between the left and right electric motors is emitted in return.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein, during deceleration or regenerative braking, a non-slip motor torque of the rear wheels is controlled by increasing torque required at the electric motors to prevent wheels of the rear axle from slipping.

18. A control method according to claim 12, wherein the running conditions of the vehicle include speed of the vehicle, gradient of the road, steering angle of the wheels, and grip of the road.

19. A control system for controlling a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine coupled to a front axle and an electric powertrain including electric motors each coupled to a rear wheel by a coupling device, the control system comprising:

an electronic control unit connected by a first network to a control device of the electric powertrain and connected to the combustion powertrain by a second network,

the control device of the electric powertrain configured to control independently each of the electric motors and coupling devices.

20. A control system according to claim 19, wherein the electronic control unit is connected, by the second network, to sensors configured to measure values concerning running conditions of the vehicle.

21. A control system according to claim 19, wherein the running conditions of the vehicle include speed of the vehicle, gradient, and grip of the wheel on a road surface.

22. A control system according to claim 19, wherein the control device of the electric powertrain is connected to the electric motors by a third network and to the coupling devices.