Control system for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,138,784 A
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yano, Toru, Tamagawa, Yutaka, Minami, Hideki, Tatara, Yusuke, Oshima, Yoshikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): AVERY, BRIDGET D
• Application Number:
  US09/154,474
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.8, 180/65.4, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 123/568.11, 123/568.14, 123/568.19, 123/568.21, 123/406.5
• US Class Current: 180/65.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/44 related to combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/26 Controlling the braking effect
• 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 10/26 : 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 2510/068 : Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0207 : changing valve lift or valve lift and timing
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 13/0253 : Fully variable control of valve lift and timing using camless actuation systems such as hydraulic, pneumatic or electromagnetic actuators, e.g. solenoid valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0055 : Special engine operating conditions, e.g. for regeneration of exhaust gas treatment apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/021 : Introducing corrections for particular conditions exterior to the engine conjoint control of vehicle sub-units for propelling the vehicle B60W30/18
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/12 : for deceleration F02D41/0005, F02D41/107 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 : Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio

Abstract

A control system controls a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, a drive control circuit for controlling the electric motor, and electric energy storage device for storing electric energy. The control system has an intake air control unit for controlling an amount of intake air supplied to the engine, and an exhaust gas recirculation control valve for controlling recirculation of exhaust gases from an exhaust system of the engine to an intake system of the engine. A control unit operates the intake air control unit to reduce the amount of intake air and operating the exhaust gas recirculation control valve in an opening direction when the electric motor operates in the regenerative mode while the hybrid vehicle is decelerating.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, a drive control circuit for controlling the electric motor, and electric energy storage means for storing electric energy, comprising:

intake air control means for controlling an amount of intake air supplied to the engine;

an exhaust gas recirculation control valve for controlling recirculation of exhaust gases from an exhaust system of the engine to an intake system of the engine; and

control means for operating said intake air control means to reduce said amount of intake air and operating said exhaust gas recirculation control valve in an opening direction when the electric motor operates in the regenerative mode while the hybrid vehicle is decelerating.

2. A control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

regenerative quantity establishing means for establishing a regenerative quantity depending on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the hybrid vehicle is decelerating; and

regeneration limiting quantity establishing means for establishing a regeneration limiting quantity to limit the regenerative quantity depending on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage means;

said control means comprising means for operating said exhaust gas recirculation control valve in a closing direction based on the regeneration limiting quantity established by said regeneration limiting quantity establishing means.

3. A control system for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, a drive control circuit for controlling the electric motor, and electric energy storage means for storing electric energy, comprising:

intake air control means for controlling an amount of intake air supplied to the engine;

intake valve actuating means for actuating an intake valve of the engine; and

control means for operating said intake air control means to reduce said amount of intake air and controlling said intake valve actuating means to operate said intake valve in an opening direction when the electric motor operates in the regenerative mode while the hybrid vehicle is decelerating.

4. A control system according to claim 3, further comprising:

regenerative quantity establishing means for establishing a regenerative quantity depending on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the hybrid vehicle is decelerating; and

regeneration limiting quantity establishing means for establishing a regeneration limiting quantity to limit the regenerative quantity depending on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage means;

said control means comprising means for controlling said intake valve actuating means based on a valve lift or a valve opening period established based on the regeneration limiting quantity established by said regeneration limiting quantity establishing means.

5. A control system for controlling a hybrid vehicle having an engine for rotating a drive axle, an electric motor for converting kinetic energy of the drive axle into electric energy in a regenerative mode, a drive control circuit for controlling the electric motor, and electric energy storage means for storing electric energy, comprising:

intake air control means for controlling an amount of intake air supplied to the engine;

exhaust valve actuating means for actuating an exhaust valve of the engine; and

control means for operating said intake air control means to reduce said amount of intake air and controlling said exhaust valve actuating means to operate said exhaust valve in an opening direction when the electric motor operates in the regenerative mode while the hybrid vehicle is decelerating.

6. A control system according to claim 5, further comprising:

regenerative quantity establishing means for establishing a regenerative quantity depending on a vehicle speed of the hybrid vehicle when the hybrid vehicle is decelerating; and

regeneration limiting quantity establishing means for establishing a regeneration limiting quantity to limit the regenerative quantity depending on a remaining capacity of the electric energy storage means;

said control means comprising means for controlling said intake valve actuating means or said exhaust valve actuating means based on a valve lift or a valve opening period established based on the regeneration limiting quantity established by said regeneration limiting quantity establishing means.