Control device for a hybrid automobile

• US 5,650,713 A
• Filed: 06/26/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd. (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kanji, Setaka, Yousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephan, Steven L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US08/494,396
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 322/28, 322/14, 318/139, 290/13, 290/14
• US Class Current: 322/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/003 Dynamic electric braking by short circuiting the motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/006 Dynamic electric braking by reversing current, i.e. plugging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/20 Braking by supplying regenerated power to the prime mover of vehicles comprising engine-driven generators
• 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 10/18 including control of braking systems
• 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

In a control device for a small-scale series-type hybrid automobile using an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as power sources, energy generated by the drive motor is applied to a motor/generator through a generator inverter so that the motor/generator drives the internal combustion engine to apply a braking force thereto. In this way, energy generated during regenerative braking which cannot be absorbed by a saturated battery (for example, when the vehicle is travelling downhill) can be used to help brake the vehicle.

Claims

1. A control system for use in a series-type hybrid automobile, the control system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged by an output of the generator;

a drive motor for propelling the automobile;

a drive inverter for applying power from the battery to the drive motor responsive to an operational state of an accelerator pedal;

a generator inverter for driving the generator with power from at least one of the battery and the drive motor; and

a power source capacitor jointly used by the drive inverter and the generator inverter.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising controlling means for operating the generator as a motor to drive the internal combustion engine during a regenerative braking operation by applying power generated by the drive motor thereto via the generator inverter when a charge level of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount.

3. A control system for a series-type hybrid automobile, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a generator inverter for rotatably controlling the generator as a motor for driving the internal combustion engine after a starting operation thereof;

a battery charged by an output of the generator;

a drive motor for propelling the automobile;

a drive inverter for applying power from the battery to the drive motor responsive to an operational state of an accelerator pedal; and

controlling means for operating the drive inverter to drive the generator and thereby drive the internal combustion engine during the starting operation.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controlling means includes switching means for selectively connecting the generator to the drive inverter during the starting operation.

5. A control system for a hybrid automobile, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged by an output of the generator;

a generator inverter for rotatably controlling the generator as a motor for driving the internal combustion engine;

a drive motor for propelling the automobile;

a drive inverter for applying power from the battery to drive the drive motor responsive to an operational state of an accelerator pedal;

controlling means for operating the generator as a motor to drive the internal combustion engine during a regenerative braking operation by the generator inverter when a charge level of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount;

stop control detecting means, in the controlling means, for detecting a stop control of the internal combustion engine by detecting an off state of an ignition key switch of said automobile; and

current detecting means, in the controlling means, for detecting a current flowing in coils of the generator and for performing step-up regenerative braking control of the generator using the generator inverter, responsive to the detected current when the stop control detecting means detects that the ignition key switch is in the off state.

6. A control system for a hybrid automobile, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a rectifier for rectifying an output of the generator;

a battery charged by the rectified output of the generator;

a drive motor for propelling the automobile;

a drive inverter for applying power from the battery to drive the drive motor responsive to an operational state of an accelerator pedal;

controlling means for operating the generator as a motor to drive the internal combustion engine during a regenerative braking operation by the generator inverter when a charge level of the battery is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount;

stop control detecting means, in the controlling means, for detecting a stop control of the internal combustion engine by detecting an off state of an ignition key switch of said automobile; and

current detecting means, in the controlling means, for detecting a current flowing in coils of the generator and for performing a plugging control of the generator by the generator inverter based on the detected current when the stop control detecting means detects that the ignition key switch is in the off state.

7. A control system for a series-type hybrid automobile, the system comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine;

a generator inverter for rotatably controlling the generator as a motor for driving the internal combustion engine;

a battery charged by an output of the generator;

a drive motor for propelling the automobile;

a drive inverter for applying power from the battery to the drive motor responsive to an operational state of an accelerator pedal; and

controlling means for operating the drive inverter to drive the generator and thereby drive the internal combustion engine during a starting operation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controlling means includes switching means for selectively connecting the generator to the drive inverter during the starting operation.