Internal combustion engine control unit for, and method of controlling a hybrid vehicle

• US 6,520,160 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Akihiro, Hino, Seiji, Harada, Osamu, Yamaguchi, Katsuhiko, Kobayashi, Yukio, Kojima, Masakiyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirsch, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US09/837,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 123/492, 123/DIG.8
• US Class Current: 123/492
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/024 to increase temperature of the exhaust gas treating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1502 using one central computing unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 123/08 : Multiple engine units
• 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

An internal combustion engine control unit for hybrid vehicle makes an electric motor function as a main driving source for the vehicle under a predetermined condition and at the same time, controls a hybrid mechanism so as to warm up the internal combustion engine. If a requested engine output to the internal combustion engine exceeds a predetermined output or if an accelerator opening degree exceeds a predetermined opening degree, the same control unit changes the operating condition of the internal combustion engine from the warm-up operation condition to an operation condition fitting to the requested engine output.

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine control unit for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a hybrid mechanism that drives the vehicle by selectively using power of the internal combustion engine and power of an electric motor; and

a controller that drives the vehicle with the power of said electric motor as a main driving power and controls said hybrid mechanism so as to warm up said internal combustion engine, said controller inhibits warm-up operation of said internal combustion engine if at least one of conditions;

(a) a requested engine output to said internal combustion engine is more than a predetermined output, and (b) an accelerator opening degree is equal or more than a predetermined opening degree, is satisfied when said internal combustion engine is being warmed up.

2. The internal combustion engine control unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller changes an operating condition of the internal combustion engine from a warm-up operation condition to another operation condition if at least one of the conditions is satisfied.

3. The internal combustion engine control unit according to claim 2, wherein the another operation condition is a condition for outputting a power depending on the requested engine output.

4. The internal combustion engine control unit according to claim 2, wherein the controller estimates a time for changing the operation condition from the warm-up operation condition to a predetermined operation condition;

and changes the operation condition of the internal combustion engine gradually from the warm-up operation condition to the predetermined operation condition prior to the estimated changing time.

5. The internal combustion engine control unit according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined output is a maximum output generated by the internal combustion engine in the warm-up operation condition.

6. A method of controlling an internal combustion engine unit of a hybrid vehicle, the hybrid vehicle having a hybrid mechanism that drives the hybrid vehicle by selectively using power of the internal combustion engine and power of an electric motor, the method comprising:

inhibiting warm-up operation of the internal combustion engine if at least one of conditions;

(a) a requested engine output to said internal combustion engine is more than a predetermined output, and (b) an accelerator opening degree is equal or more than a predetermined opening degree, is satisfied when said internal combustion engine is being warmed up.

7. The method of controlling an internal combustion engine of claim 6, further comprising changing an operating condition of the internal combustion engine from a warm-up operation condition to another operation condition if at least one of the conditions is satisfied.

8. The method of controlling an internal combustion engine of claim 7, wherein the another operation condition is a condition for outputting a power depending on the requested engine output.

9. The method of controlling an internal combustion engine of claim 7, further comprising:

estimating a time for changing the operation condition from the warm-up operation condition to a predetermined operation condition; and

changing the operation condition of the internal combustion engine gradually from the warm-up operation condition to the predetermined operation condition prior to the estimated changing time.

10. The method of controlling an internal combustion engine of claim 6, wherein the predetermined output is a maximum output generated by the internal combustion engine in the warm-up operation condition.