Control system for parallel hybrid vehicle

• US 6,464,026 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1998
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dan Rendell, Donald E. Panoz, John Horsley, Peter Monkhouse
• Original Assignee: Dan Rendell, Donald E. Panoz, John Horsley, Peter Monkhouse
• Inventors: Monkhouse, Peter, Panoz, Donald E., Rendell, Dan, Horsley, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US09/169,611
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 477/2, 477/3, 607/16, 607/11, 607/18, 701/22
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/152 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/425 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/20 Inrush current reduction, i.e. avoiding high currents when connecting the battery
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• 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 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• 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 58/24 : for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/602 : ABS features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/603 : ASR features related thereto
• 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: B60W 20/00 : Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 : using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/081 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1843 : Overheating of driveline components B60W30/186 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 : Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• 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

Abstract

A vehicular power system for powering a parallel hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, electric motor/generator, ESD source, and an inverter includes a set of demand parameters for controlling the amount of flow of current between the ESD source and the electric motor/generator. The demand parameters are utilized by the inverter for controlling this current. A set of limiting parameters which indicate that the application of full demand would jeopardize the operational environment or is unwarranted by utilizing the limit of full demand. The demand parameters control the amount of current to the electric motor/generator from the ESD during an electric motor/generator assist mode and from the electric motor/generator to the ESD when the battery is acting as a generator for recharging the ESD. Additionally, a plurality of demand parameters may exist providing options for manipulating the control of the electric motor/generator depending upon the operating environment of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicular power system for powering a parallel hybrid vehicle, the parallel hybrid including an internal combustion engine powered by fossil fuel, an electric motor/generator, and a battery source for powering the electric motor/generator, a inverter regulates the flow of current from the battery source to the electric motor/generator, said vehicle power system comprising:

a first demand map providing a first set of demand parameters for controlling the current between said battery and said electrical electric motor/generator corresponding to the operation of said vehicle in a first external operating environment simultaneously utilizing both said internal combustion engine and said electric motor to power said hybrid vehicle;

a second demand map having a second set of demand parameters for controlling the amount of current between said battery and said electric motor/generator corresponding to the operation of said vehicle in a second external operating environment simultaneously utilizing both said internal combustion engine and said electric motor to power said hybrid vehicle;

said first and second demand map being independently selectable from one another and;

a selector for selecting between said first and second demand maps depending upon an external operating environment.

2. A control system for powering a parallel hybrid vehicle, the parallel hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine powered by fossil fuel, an electric motor/generator, and a battery for powering the electric motor/generator, an inverter for regulating the flow of current between the energy source to the electric motor/generator, comprising:

a first set of demand parameters for indicating the desired amount of current to be delivered between said energy source and electric motor/generator as controlled by said inverter;

at least one sensor for sensing the voltage of said battery for controlling said inverter in providing said desired current to said electric motor/generator;

an upper hysteresis band limit established at a predetermined point above said desired current value;

a lower hysteresis band limit established at a predetermined level below said desired current value;

said inverter controlling the presentation of current from said electrical storage device to said electrical motor generator until said current reaches said upper hysteresis band limit and said inverter subsequently controlling the presentation of current from said electrical storage device to said electrical motor generator until said current reaches said lower hysteresis band limit; and

said inverter repeating the presentation of current from said electrical storage device to said electrical motor generator between said upper and lower hysteresis band limits.