Method and apparatus for efficiently operating a hybrid vehicle

• US 6,304,055 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Winstead, Vincent John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Edward H.
• Application Number:
  US09/607,809
• Time in Patent Office: 473 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/132, 320/134, 320/136, 320/163, 320/164, 320/DIG. 21
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• 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

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for operating a hybrid vehicle 10 which requires the creation of a state of charge value and which further requires the modification of the state of charge value in accordance with the monitored speed of the vehicle 10, effective to allow the hybrid vehicle 10 to be efficiently operated.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use within a hybrid vehicle, said apparatus comprising a controller which stores a state of charge threshold value, which measures at least one attribute of said hybrid vehicle, and which selectively modifies said state of charge threshold value in accordance with said measured at least one attribute.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said measured at least one attribute comprises the speed of said hybrid vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said state of charge threshold value is reduced when said speed exceeds a certain speed value.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said state of charge threshold value is reduced when said speed exceeds a certain speed value for a predetermined period of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said certain speed comprises a relatively high speed.

6. An apparatus for use with a hybrid vehicle of the type having a plurality of wheels, an internal combustion engine, and a second energy source, wherein said internal combustion engine and said second energy source respectively and selectively provide torque to a pair of wheels of said hybrid vehicles, said apparatus comprising:

a controller which is coupled to said internal combustion engine and to said second energy source and which substantially prevents said second energy source from providing said torque when said hybrid vehicle exceeds a certain speed.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said certain speed comprises a relatively high speed.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said second energy source comprises an electric battery.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said controller allows said internal combustion engine to provide electrical charge to said electric battery when said hybrid vehicle is traveling at a speed which is less than said certain speed.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said controller allows only said internal combustion engine to provide said torque to said wheels when said hybrid vehicle exceeds said certain speed.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said controller stores a state of charge value and wherein said controller monitors the state of charge of said electric battery and compares said monitored state of charge with said state of charge value and, based upon said comparison, causes said internal combustion engine to provide electrical charge to said electric battery.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said controller measures at least one attribute of said vehicle and, in response to said at least one measured attribute, changes said state of charge value.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said at least one attribute comprises speed.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said controller decreases said state of charge value when said speed increases.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said controller decreases said state of charge value when said speed increases over a pre-determined period of time.

16. A method for operating a hybrid vehicle having a battery, said method comprising the steps of creating a state of charge threshold value;

monitoring an attribute of the vehicle; and

changing said value in accordance with the monitored attribute.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said attribute comprises speed.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said value is decreased when said speed increases.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said value is decreased when said speed increases over a certain time.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of monitoring the state of charge of said battery;

and providing electric charge to said battery when said monitored state of charge is less than said value.