Motor control apparatus combined to engine

• US 6,492,741 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2000
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/672,634
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.A, 290/40.B, 290/40.C, 322/16, 180/65.1, 318/255
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 5/04 with the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• 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 10/26 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 2540/06 Ignition switch
• 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 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/023 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A motor control apparatus is combined with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor to form a vehicle-propelling system. The motor is connected to a crank shaft of the engine and has both driving and power-generating functions. The motor control apparatus includes an automatic start-up/stop control device having automatic start-up control and automatic stop control sections. When the vehicle is started with a key, the automatic start-up control section uses the starter motor and always gains assistance from the electric motor in starting the vehicle. Only the automatic start-up control section controls start up of the electric motor, which prevents a noise occurring when a ring gear is engaged with a starter motor gear. This operation improves the quietness of the engine. This arrangement enhances discharge of exhaust gas.

Claims

1. A motor control apparatus combined with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor directly connected to a crank shaft of the engine, said motor control apparatus having both driving and power-generating functions, the motor control apparatus including an automatic start-up/stop controller comprising an automatic start-up control section and an automatic stop control section, wherein said automatic start-up control section, during manual starting of a vehicle with a key, always starts the vehicle with a starter motor and the electric motor vehicle, and said automatic start-up control section is capable of automatically starting the engine using only the electric motor.

2. The motor control apparatus combined with an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined automatic start-up condition in an automatic start-up control mode is unsatisfied, said automatic start-up control section controls start-up using the starter motor and the electric motor, in the same manner as the starting-up control using the key.

3. The motor control apparatus combined with an internal combustion engine as defined in claim 1, wherein said automatic start-up/stop controller has a first function in which said controller starts the engine only with the electric motor, a second function in which said controller starts the engine using the starter motor and continues cranking with the electric motor, and a third function in which said controller controls start-up with the starter motor only, and comprises an idle stop system, said motor control apparatus including a power-supply determining means for determining whether a power supply is at a usable state, wherein, by a signal received from said power supply determining means whether said power supply is in a usable state, said automatic start-up/stop controller executes one of the first to the third functions.

4. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine mounted on the vehicle;

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

a starter motor for use in starting said engine; and

a motor control apparatus for executing automatic start-up/stop control of said electric motor, said motor control apparatus including an automatic start-up/stop controller that, during manual operation of said starter motor by a key, controls said electric motor to assist said starter motor in manual engine start-up,

wherein said automatic start-up/stop controller is capable of automatically starting said engine using only said electric motor.

5. The hybrid vehicle of claim 4, wherein, when a predetermined automatic start-up condition in an automatic start-up control mode is not satisfied, said automatic start-up/stop controller controls start-up by operation of said starter motor and said electric motor.

6. The hybrid vehicle of claim 4, wherein said automatic start-up/stop controller has a first function for starting said engine only with said electric motor, a second function for starting said engine using said starter motor and said electric motor, and a third function for starting said engine using only said starter motor.

7. The hybrid vehicle of claim 6, wherein said motor control apparatus includes:

an idle stop system; and

a power-supply determining means for determining whether a power supply is in a usable state,

wherein said automatic start-up/stop controller executes one of the first and second functions when said power-supply is in the usable state.

8. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine mounted on the vehicle;

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

a main battery for receiving and providing power to said electric motor;

a starter motor for use in starting said engine;

a sub-battery for providing power to said starter motor; and

a motor control apparatus that, during manual operation of said starter motor by a key, controls said electric motor to always assist said starter motor in manual engine start-up, said motor control apparatus including an automatic start-up/stop controller that, in an automatic start-up control mode,

     1) automatically starts said engine using only said electric motor when a start-up condition is satisfied, and

     2) starts said engine using said starter motor and said electric motor when said start-up condition is not satisfied.

9. The hybrid vehicle of claim 8, including a power-supply determining device for determining whether said main battery is in a usable state,

wherein said automatic start-up/stop controller, in the automatic start-up control mode, 3) starts said engine using only said starter motor when a start-up condition is not satisfied and said power-supply determining device determines that said main battery is not in a usable state.