Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,476,573 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2001
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US09/826,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20010028233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 318/445-450, 318/473, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 318/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/065 by reducing the computational load on the digital processor of the control computer
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0814 comprising means for controlling automatic idle-start-stop
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0851 characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/104 Control of the starter motor torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2002 using different starting modes, methods, or actuators depending on circumstances, e.g. engine temperature or component wear
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• 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 903/917 with transmission for changing gear ratio

Abstract

A motor control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, wherein during operations of automatic start-up/stop control of the engine, at restarting of the engine when a start-up condition is satisfied, the control means controls to said electric motor so as to start up engine by the electric motor only, during operation of automatic start-up/stop control of the engine, at restarting of the engine when a start-up condition is not satisfied, a controller controls to drive a starter motor and an electric motor by outputting an engine activation signal so that the starter motor is always assisted by the electric motor during engine start. The electric motor is started by voltage supplied by the main battery. By such system, the engine and motor are not collectively controlled, and simplification of the system is achieved. Further, synchronism of the engine and motor is obtained and quietness at restart of the engine also results.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, having an electric motor which is directly connected with an engine mounted on the vehicle and has both driving and power-generating functions, comprising:

a motor controller that executes automatic start-up/stop control of said engine, and in start-up of the engine starts the engine with a starter motor by operation of a key and by operation of said electric motor,

wherein while the engine is stopped by operation of automatic start-up/stop control, at restarting of the engine when a start-up condition is satisfied, the controller starts the engine using only the electric motor, and while the engine is stopped by operation of the automatic start-up/stop control, at restarting of the engine when the start-up condition is not satisfied, the controller drives the starter motor and the electric motor by outputting an engine activation signal so that the electric motor assists engine restart after engine speed exceeds a predetermined speed.

2. The control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said motor controller delays driving of said electric motor until the engine activation signal is output for a predetermined time.

3. The control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein in a restart of said engine when said start-up condition is satisfied while the engine is stopped by operation of the automatic start-up/stop control, said motor controller stops driving of said electric motor when a start-up of said engine is not successful by said electric motor only during a predetermined time, and when start-up of said engine is obtained by operation of the key.

4. The control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein when the key inputs an engine drive signal to said starter motor, said motor controller starts driving said electric motor after a rotation condition indicating that said starter motor begins to drive is satisfied.

5. The control apparatus for a hybird vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein said start-up condition is satisfied when all of the following conditions are met, said conditions being a) voltage of a main battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage, b) engine water temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and c) torque is not within a torque limit.

6. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine mounted on the vehicle;

an electric motor directly connected to a shaft of the engine, said electric motor having both driving and power-generating functions;

a starter motor for use in starting said engine and controllable by operation of a key; and

a motor controller for executing automatic start-up/stop control of said engine, initial start-up of said engine occurring in response to operation of said key for controlling said starter motor and by said motor controller sensing operation of said key and controlling said electric motor,

wherein, when said motor controller executes startup/stop control to stop said engine and said engine remains stopped, as a subsequent engine restart operation begins, if a start-up condition is satisfied the motor controller controls only the electric motor to restart the engine, and if the start-up condition is not satisfied the motor controller outputs an engine activation signal to drive the starter motor and controls driving of the electric motor to restart the engine.

7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein said motor controller executes stopping of the engine while said vehicle is in an idling condition or the vehicle is in a stopped condition.

8. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein during the restart of said engine when the start-up condition is satisfied, said motor controller controls to stop driving of said electric motor when a start-up of said engine is not successful by said electric motor during a predetermined time.

9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein at initial start-up of said engine, when said key inputs an engine drive signal to said starter motor, said motor controller starts driving of said electric motor after a rotation condition indicating that said starter motor begins to drive is satisfied.

10. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein said start-up condition is satisfied when a voltage of a main battery is equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage, engine water temperature is equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature, and torque is not within a torque limit.

11. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein said start-up condition includes a voltage of a main battery equal to or greater than a predetermined voltage.

12. The hybrid vehicle of claim 11, wherein said start-up condition includes an engine water temperature equal to or greater than a predetermined temperature.

13. The hybrid vehicle of claim 12, wherein said start-up condition includes a torque value that is not within a torque limit.