Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,469,402 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 10/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/825,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.C, 290/40.B, 290/40.R, 180/65.2, 318/139
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• 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 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 Stepped shift

Abstract

A control apparatus is provided for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a electric motor disposed therein. The electric motor has both driving and power-generating functions and is directly connected to the engine mounted on the hybrid vehicle. The control apparatus controls both driving and power-generating states of the motor based on a driving state of the hybrid vehicle and a driving state of the engine, and controls to automatically start up and stop the engine according to an automatic startup condition and an automatic stop condition. The engine automatically stops after the automatic stop condition is satisfied while the control means controls the motor so as to execute a recharging power-generating drive to recharge the vehicle battery. As a result, this system can prevent discharge of unburned combustible gas when automatically stopping a vehicle, can improve sensations in the vehicle during stopping, and can improve start-up performance.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor disposed therein, the electric motor having both driving and power-generating functions to directly connect to the engine mounted on the hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, which controls both driving and power-generating states of said motor based on a driving state of said hybrid vehicle and a driving state of said engine, and controls to automatically start up and stop the engine according to an automatic start-up condition and an automatic stop condition, wherein when the engine automatically is stopped after said automatic stop condition is satisfied, the control means controls the motor so as to execute a recharging power-generating drive.

2. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor control means provides control to stop said power-generating drive of said motor when engine rotational speed becomes nearly zero, when the engine automatically stops.