Apparatus and method for controlling a hybrid vehicle
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
- determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state of charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine;
operating a motor/generator in a first mode of operation for providing a starting force to said internal combustion engine and in a second mode of operation for generating an electrical charge; and
varying the rate of a prime pulse during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, said prime pulse being varied in response to the value of the state of charge of said electrical storage medium and the engine coolant temperature of said internal combustion engine.
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Abstract
A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric storage medium, and a propulsion system controller for actuating the propulsion system. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator system in response to operating conditions of the vehicle. The propulsion system controller further varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator during an engine cranking sequence.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for operating a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state of charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine;
operating a motor/generator in a first mode of operation for providing a starting force to said internal combustion engine and in a second mode of operation for generating an electrical charge; and
varying the rate of a prime pulse during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, said prime pulse being varied in response to the value of the state of charge of said electrical storage medium and the engine coolant temperature of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
varying the rate of a prime pulse and the starting force being applied to said internal combustion engine during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine.
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6. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a low RPM and a prime pulse when the state of charge is below a predetermined value indicating a low state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined value indicating a low engine coolant temperature.
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7. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a low RPM and a medium prime pulse when the state of charge is below a predetermined value indicating a low state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is in a range defined by predetermined values indicating a medium engine coolant temperature.
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8. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a low RPM and a minimal prime pulse when the state of charge is below a predetermined value indicating a low state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is above a predetermined value indicating a medium engine coolant temperature.
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9. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a low RPM and a prime pulse when the state of charge is in a medium range defined by a pair of predetermined values indicating a medium state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is below a predetermined value indicating a low engine coolant temperature.
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10. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a medium RPM and a minimal prime pulse when the state of charge is in a medium range defined by a pair of predetermined values indicating a medium state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is in a medium temperature range defined by a pair of predetermined values.
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11. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a medium RPM when the state of charge is in a medium range defined by a pair of predetermined values indicating a medium state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is above a medium temperature range defined by a pair of predetermined values.
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12. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a high RPM when the state of charge is above a medium range defined by a pair of predetermined values indicating a medium state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is above a low temperature defined by a predetermined value.
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13. The method as in claim 5, wherein said internal combustion engine is started with a low RPM and a prime pulse when the state of charge is above a medium range defined by a pair of predetermined values indicating a medium state of charge and the engine coolant temperature is below a low temperature defined by a predetermined value.
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14. A method for operating a propulsion system of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:
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determining if an engine starting command has been requested;
sensing the state of charge of an electric storage medium;
sensing the temperature of an engine coolant of an internal combustion engine;
operating a motor/generator in a first mode of operation for providing a starting force to said internal combustion engine and in a second mode of operation for generating an electrical charge;
varying the starting speed of said motor/generator in said first mode in response to the state of charge of said electric storage medium; and
varying the rate of the prime pulse during a starting sequence of said internal combustion engine, said prime pulse being varied in response to the value of the state of charge of said electrical storage medium and the engine coolant temperature of said internal combustion engine. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification