Electrical-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with hybrid drive
First Claim
1. An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:
- an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover;
means for determining a required power generation quantity; and
a control unit for, in cases where the electric device is required to operate as the generator, alternately setting a power-generation execution term and a power-generation suspension term and for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator so as to substantially equalize a mean quantity of actual power generation by the electric device to the required power generation quantity, wherein during the power-generation execution term, the electric device operates as the generator and provides a power generation quantity greater than the mean quantity, and during the power-generation suspension term, operation of the electric device as the generator is suspended, wherein said power-generation execution term and said power-generation suspension term define a duty cycle for respectively enabling and disabling the generator and a sum of the power-generation execution term and the power-generation suspension term is equal to 1 second or shorter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric-power generating apparatus is designed for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover. The apparatus includes an electric device which operates as either a generator or a motor. The electric device is connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque thereto and therefrom. A control unit operates for, in cases where the electric device is required to operate as the generator, alternately setting a power-generation execution term and a power-generation suspension term and thereby controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator so as to substantially equalize a mean quantity of actual power generation to a required power generation quantity. During the power-generation execution term, the electric device operates as the generator and provides a power generation quantity greater than the mean quantity. During the power-generation suspension term, operation of the electric device as the generator is suspended.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover;
means for determining a required power generation quantity; and
a control unit for, in cases where the electric device is required to operate as the generator, alternately setting a power-generation execution term and a power-generation suspension term and for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator so as to substantially equalize a mean quantity of actual power generation by the electric device to the required power generation quantity, wherein during the power-generation execution term, the electric device operates as the generator and provides a power generation quantity greater than the mean quantity, and during the power-generation suspension term, operation of the electric device as the generator is suspended, wherein said power-generation execution term and said power-generation suspension term define a duty cycle for respectively enabling and disabling the generator and a sum of the power-generation execution term and the power-generation suspension term is equal to 1 second or shorter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover;
first means for determining whether or not the electric device is required to operate as the generator; and
second means for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator according to a duty cycle comprised of an on time and an off time, a sum of the on time and the off time being equal or less than 1 second, in cases where the first means determines that the electric device is required to operate as the generator.
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12. An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover;
first means for determining whether or not the electric device is required to operate as the motor; and
second means for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the motor according to a duty cycle comprised of an on time and an off time, a sum of the on time and the off time being equal or less than 1 second, in cases where the first means determines that the electric device is required to operate as the motor.
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13. An electric-power generating apparatus for an automotive vehicle with a hybrid drive including a prime mover, the apparatus comprising:
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an electric device operating as either a generator or a motor, and being connected with the prime mover for transmitting and receiving torque to and from the prime mover;
first means for determining a required power generation rate;
second means for determining whether or not the electric device is required to operate as the generator; and
third means for controlling the electric device to intermittently operate as the generator according to a duty cycle comprised of an on time and an off time, a sum of the on time and the off time being equal or less than 1 second, so as to substantially equalize a mean rate of actual power generation by the electric device to the required power generation rate in cases where the second means determines that the electric device is required to operate as the generator.
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Specification