CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLE

• US 20160107635A1
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: KODAWARA, Tomoyuki
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,792 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/34 Cabin temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/24 with additional mechanical or electromagnetic braking
• 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 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/13 : in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 : Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/08 : Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 : related to particular drive situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 : Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/214 : by power from domestic supply, e.g. plug in supplies
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 : peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 : using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 : the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/084 : State of vehicle accessories, e.g. air condition or power steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 : comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 : Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 : for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/02 : Gearing between starting-engines and started engines; Engagement or disengagement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 15/067 : the starter comprising an electro-magnetically actuated lever
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 : Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0888 : DC/DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/304 : with other systems inside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a drive system including a starter motor, a transverse engine, and a motor/generator, and a power supply system including a high voltage battery, a capacitor, and a hybrid control module that controls charging and discharging of the capacitor. In the control system for an FF plug-in hybrid vehicle in which an external charging of the high-power battery is available, the hybrid control module starts the starter, performs mode selection control and charge/discharge control, maintains a capacitor voltage at or below a deterioration free voltage when the CS mode is selected during ignition on, and recharges the capacitor to a starter start-up permission voltage that allows the starter to start when a pre-forecast of the reverse transition from the CS mode to the CD mode is established.

Claims

1. A control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle having a drive system including a starter motor, an engine, and a motor/generator, and a power supply system including a high voltage battery representing power supply of the motor/generator, a capacitor representing power supply of the starter motor, and a capacitor charge and discharge control unit that controls charging and discharging of the capacitor, the control system comprising:

an engine start control unit configured to crank the engine for starter start-up using the starter motor powered by the capacitor,

a running mode selection unit configured to select a charge depleting (CD) mode in which an electric vehicle (EV) running is performed by consuming power of the high voltage battery when the charge capacity of the high voltage battery is at or above a threshold value and configured to select a charge sustain (CS) mode in which a hybrid vehicle (HEV) running is performed by maintaining the charge capacity of the high voltage battery when the charge capacity of the high voltage battery is below the threshold value, and

a reverse transition pre-forecast unit configured to predict in advance a transition from the CS mode to the CD mode, wherein the capacity charge and discharge control unit is configured such that, at the time of ignition on with the CS mode being selected, the capacitor voltage is maintained at or below a deterioration free voltage at which deterioration does not proceed, and, upon the reverse transition pre-forecast from the CS mode to the CD mode being established, the capacitor is recharged to and above the starter start-up permission voltage.

2. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitor charge and discharge control unit is configured, when the CD mode is selected during ignition on, to maintain the capacitor voltage at or above the starter start-up permission voltage.

3. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capacitor charge and discharge control unit, is configured, upon transition from the CD mode to the CS mode during ignition on, to forcibly discharge the capacitor from the starter start-up permission voltage or above to the deterioration free voltage or below.

4. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on an increase rate of the charge capacity of the high voltage battery.

5. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on a downhill travel range during a downhill travel in the CS mode.

6. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the capacitor charge and discharge control unit, is configured, upon transition from the CD mode to the CS mode during ignition on, to forcibly discharge the capacitor from the starter start-up permission voltage or above to the deterioration free voltage or below.

7. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on an increase rate of the charge capacity of the high voltage battery.

8. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on an increase rate of the charge capacity of the high voltage battery.

9. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on a downhill travel range during a downhill travel in the CS mode.

10. The control system for a plug-in hybrid vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the reverse transition pre-forecast unit is configured to predict in advance the transition to the CD mode based on a downhill travel range during a downhill travel in the CS mode.