Battery control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,204,636 B1
• Filed: 08/30/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• 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: Fujimura, Akira, Kawarada, Nobuyuki, Shibutani, Atsushi, Kinoshita, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOATLEY, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US09/651,066
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• Field of Search: 320/134, 320/136, 320/162, 320/127, 320/128
• US Class Current: 320/134
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• 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 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/13 Maintaining the SoC within a determined range
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/14 Preventing excessive discharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3828 using current integration
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00306 Overdischarge protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 : with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 : Regulation of charging current or voltage
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which is capable of improving the time of continuous availability for use of the battery by controlling the amount of charge/discharge in accordance with a change in the voltage characteristic of the battery. The hybrid vehicle comprises a combustion engine for outputting driving force of the vehicle, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, and a battery for supplying power to the motor and for storing energy regenerated by the motor acting as a generator when the assisting force is not required. The battery control apparatus for controlling the battery comprises a remaining battery charge calculator for calculating a remaining charge of the battery, a memory effect detector for detecting the occurrence of the memory effect in the battery, a use permission zone determining device for determining the use permission zone of the remaining charge of the battery in accordance with the occurrence of the memory effect, and a charge/discharge amount controller for controlling an amount of charge/discharge in the use permission zone of the remaining charge of the battery.

Claims

1. A battery control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting driving force of the vehicle, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from said engine, and a battery for supplying power to said motor and for storing energy regenerated by said motor acting as a generator when the assisting force is not required, said battery control apparatus comprising:

a remaining battery charge calculator for calculating a remaining charge of said battery;

a memory effect detector for detecting the occurrence of the memory effect in said battery;

a use permission zone determining device for determining a use permission zone of the remaining charge of said battery in accordance with the occurrence of said memory effect; and

a charge/discharge amount controller for controlling an amount of charge/discharge in the use permission zone of the remaining charge of said battery.

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

a remaining battery charge correcting device for detecting a voltage of said battery, comparing the detected voltage with a determination voltage corresponding to the remaining battery charge of a predetermined value, and correcting the remaining charge calculated by said remaining battery charge calculator to said predetermined value based on the comparison result of said detected voltage and said determination voltage,

wherein, said use permission zone determining device changes said determination voltage when said remaining battery charge is corrected, in accordance with the occurrence of the memory effect.

3. A battery control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remaining battery charge correcting device for detecting a voltage of said battery, comparing the detected voltage with a determination voltage corresponding to the remaining battery charge of a predetermined value, and correcting the remaining charge calculated by said remaining battery charge calculator to said predetermined value based on the comparison result of said detected voltage and said determination voltage,

wherein, said use permission zone determining device changes said predetermined value of said remaining charge when said remaining charge of said battery is corrected, in accordance with the occurrence of the memory effect.