Motor control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,333,612 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• 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: Suzuki, Minoru, Hara, Kazuhiro, Yoshikawa, Shinji, Ochiai, Shinobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Duda, Rina I.
• Application Number:
  US09/676,500
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 318/432, 318/139, 318/459, 318/366, 318/367, 318/368, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.5, 180/165
• US Class Current: 318/432
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/08 Methods and devices for control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• 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 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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: 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

The motor control apparatus of the present invention is provided for a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, a power storage unit for supplying electric power to the motor and for storing electric energy regenerated by the motor, and electrical equipment which is operated by electric power. The motor control apparatus comprises: a first electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied from or stored in the power storage unit; a second electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied to or drawn from the motor; a drive mode determining device for determining the drive mode, based on a predetermined parameter; a measured electric power selector for selecting one of the value measured by the first electric power measuring device and the value measured by the second electric power measuring device, depending on the determination by the drive mode determining device; and a motor controller for controlling the electric power which is to be supplied to or is to be drawn from the motor, depending on the measured value selected by the measured electric power selector.

Claims

1. A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, a power storage unit for supplying electric power to the motor and for storing electric energy regenerated by the motor, and electrical equipment which is operated by the electric power, the motor control apparatus comprising:

a first electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied from or stored in the power storage unit;

a second electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied to or drawn from the motor;

a drive mode determining device for determining a drive mode, based on a predetermined parameter;

a measured electric power selector for selecting one of the value measured by the first electric power measuring device and the value measured by the second electric power measuring device, depending on the determination by the drive mode determining device; and

a motor controller for controlling the electric power which is to be supplied to or is to be drawn from the motor, depending on the measured value selected by the measured electric power selector.

2. A motor control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drive mode determining device determines one of an assistance mode for accelerating the vehicle, a deceleration mode for decelerating the vehicle, a cruise mode for driving the vehicle at a constant speed, and an idling mode for idling the vehicle, and

the measured electric power selector selects the value measured by the first electric power measuring device when in the cruise mode or the idling mode, and selects the value measured by the second electric power measuring device when in the assistance mode or the deceleration mode.

3. A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, a power storage unit for supplying electric power to the motor and for storing electric energy regenerated by the motor, and electrical equipment which is operated by the electric power, the motor control apparatus comprising:

an electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power transferred between the power storage unit and the motor;

a motor controller for controlling the electric power which is to be supplied to the motor or which is to be drawn from the motor, depending on the value measured by the electric power measuring device;

a drive mode determining device for determining a drive mode, based on a predetermined parameter; and

a gain switcher for switching a gain which defines a rate of change in the torque of the motor, depending on the determination by the drive mode determining device wherein

the motor controller controls the electric power which is to be supplied to or is to be drawn from the motor, depending on the rate of change defined by the gain switched by the gain switcher.

4. A motor control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the drive mode determining device determines one of an assistance mode for accelerating the vehicle, a deceleration mode for decelerating the vehicle, a cruise mode for driving the vehicle at a constant speed, and an idling mode for idling the vehicle, and

the gain switched by the gain switcher in the cruise mode or the idling mode is smaller than the gain in the assistance mode or the deceleration mode.

5. A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle with a combustion engine for outputting a driving force, an electric motor for generating a force for assisting the output from the engine, a power storage unit for supplying electric power to the motor and for storing electric energy regenerated by the motor, and an electrical equipment which is operated by the electric power, the motor control apparatus comprising:

a first electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied from or stored in the power storage unit;

a second electric power measuring device for measuring the electric power supplied to or drawn from the motor;

a drive mode determining device for determining a drive mode, based on a predetermined parameter;

a measured electric power selector for selecting one of the value measured by the first electric power measuring device and the value measured by the second electric power measuring device, depending on the determination by the drive mode determining device;

a motor controller for controlling the electric power supplied to or drawn from the motor, depending on the measured value selected by the measured electric power selector; and

a gain switcher for switching a gain which defines a rate of change in the torque of the motor, depending on the determination by the drive mode determining device, wherein

the motor controller controls the electric power which is to be supplied to or is to be drawn from the motor, depending on the rate of change defined by the gain switched by the gain switcher.

6. A motor control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drive mode determining device determines one of an assistance mode for accelerating the vehicle, a deceleration mode for decelerating the vehicle, a cruise mode for driving the vehicle at a constant speed, and an idling mode for idling the vehicle, and

the measured electric power selector selects the value measured by the first electric power measuring device when in the cruise mode or the idling mode, and selects the value measured by the second electric power measuring device when in the assistance mode or the deceleration mode.

7. A motor control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the drive mode determining device determines one of an assistance mode for accelerating the vehicle, a deceleration mode for decelerating the vehicle, a cruise mode for driving the vehicle at a constant speed, and an idling mode for idling the vehicle, and

the gain switched by the gain switcher in the cruise mode or the idling mode is smaller than the gain in the assistance mode or the deceleration mode.