Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,581,707 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Noda, Kazuyoshi, Morimoto, Kazuhiko, Omata, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US09/825,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20020020571A1
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.2, 180/65.4, 340/439, 340/453, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/428, 340/441, 340/455, 340/456, 340/457
• US Class Current: 180/65.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/50 related to clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• 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: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• 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 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/947 : Characterized by control of braking, e.g. blending of regeneration, friction braking

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes an engine controller which controls a running state of the engine, a motor controller which controls both driving and battery recharging power-generating states, and an indicator which is connected to the motor controller. The indicator is turned on when the recharging power generating control is executed during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle. The indicator is turned on and off when the recharging power generating control is not executed during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle and is in a state that execution is possible. Therefore, by turning on the indicator or by turning it on and off, a driver is informed positively whether the recharging power generating control is executed or the recharging power generation control is not executed. As a result, the driver can operate the vehicle differently so that recharging power generation during vehicle slowdown can be executed efficiently.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid disposed therein as a vehicle-propelling system, the motor being connected to an output shaft of the engine and having both driving and power-generating functions, comprising:

an engine controller that controls a running state of the engine;

a motor controller that controls both driving and recharging power-generating states of the motor independent from the control of the engine by the engine controller; and

an indicator connected to said motor controller,

wherein the indicator (1) is turned on when a recharging power generating control is executed during slowdown of said hybrid vehicle, and (2) is turned on and off when a clutch is disengaged or a shift position is in neutral during slowdown of said hybrid vehicle to indicate that the vehicle is capable of a recharging power generating control.

2. The control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor controller decides during slowdown of a hybrid vehicle whether the recharging power generating control is executed or is not executed and whether the motor controller is in a state capable of execution, on the basis of a recharging power generation during regenerative braking.

3. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a motor disposed therein as a vehicle-propelling system, the motor being connected to an output shaft and having both driving and power-generating functions, comprising:

an engine controller for controlling a running state of the engine;

a motor controller for controlling both driving and recharging power-generating states of the motor; and

an indicator connected to said motor controller,

wherein said indicator provides a first indication that recharging power-generating control executes during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle and said indicator provides a second indication that recharging power-generating control does not execute during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle.

4. The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises a lamp.

5. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lamp illuminates to provide the first indication that the recharging power-generation control executes during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle.

6. The control apparatus of claim 5, wherein said lamp is turned on and off to provide the second indication that the recharging power-generation control is not executing during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle.

7. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lamp is turned on and off to provide the second indication that the recharging power-generation control is not executing during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle.

8. The control apparatus of claim 3, wherein said motor controller operates independently from the control of the engine by the engine controller.

9. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said motor controller operates independently from the control of the engine by the engine controller.

10. The control apparatus of claim 5, wherein said motor controller operates independently from the control of the engine by the engine controller.

11. The control apparatus of claim 4, wherein said lamp provides the second indication that recharging power-generation control does not execute during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle when a clutch is disengaged or when the shift position is neutral.

12. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a motor disposed therein as a vehicle-propelling system, the motor being connected to an output shaft and having both driving and power-generating functions, comprising:

an engine controller for controlling a running state of the engine;

a motor controller for controlling both driving and recharging power-generating states of the motor; and

an indicator connected to said motor controller,

wherein said indicator provides a first indication that recharging power-generation control executes during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle and said indicator provides a second indication that recharging power-generation control does not execute during slowdown of the hybrid vehicle when a clutch is disengaged or when the shift position is neutral.