Hybrid electric vehicle with variable displacement engine

• US 6,691,807 B1
• Filed: 04/11/2000
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Patil, Prabhakar B., Woestman, Joanne T., Bhavsar, Chinu P.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/547,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 701/22, 701/70, 123/198.F
• US Class Current: 180/65.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/24 characterised by the combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/04 for electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/905 : Combustion engine

Abstract

A hybrid electric vehicle 10 having a propulsion system 12 which integrates a motor-generator 14 and a variable displacement internal combustion engine 16. Motor-generator 14 and engine 16 are each operatively coupled to drive train 17 of vehicle 10, and cooperatively power vehicle 10.

Claims

1. A control system for a vehicle having a variable displacement engine, a motor, an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor, a driver operated control, and a sensor for detecting a vehicle operating condition, the control system comprising:

a controller in communication with the engine, the motor, the driver operated control, and the sensor, the controller being configured to at least,

a) receive an input from at least one of the driver operated control and the sensor,

b) determine a demanded torque based on the input received,

c) compare the demanded torque to a first torque threshold,

d) partition the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold,

e) compare the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the engine torque is non-zero, and

f) determine a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate all of the demanded torque to the motor when the demanded torque is not above the first torque threshold.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes one of a battery state of charge sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an engine speed sensor.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the electrical storage includes a battery in communication with the sensor, and the controller is further configured to receive an input from the sensor related to a state of charge of the battery, and to allocate all of the demanded torque to the engine when the battery state of charge is below a predetermined value.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the driver operated control includes one of an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a vehicle shifter, and a speed control system.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein all of the engine cylinders are operated when the demanded torque is above the second torque threshold.

7. The control system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a motor controller and an engine controller.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the controller further comprises a propulsion controller in communication with the motor controller and the engine controller, the propulsion controller being configured to receive the input from at least one of the driver operated control and the sensor, and to determine the demanded torque and partition the demanded torque.

9. A vehicle comprising:

a variable displacement engine capable of selectively providing torque to drive the vehicle;

a motor capable of selectively providing torque to drive the vehicle;

an electrical storage device operatively connected to the motor and capable of providing electrical power to the motor;

a driver operated control; and

a controller in communication with the engine, the motor, and the driver operated control and configured to at least receive an input from the driver operated control, determine a demanded torque based on the input received, compare the demanded torque to a first torque threshold, partition the demanded torque into an engine torque and a motor torque based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the first torque threshold, compare the demanded torque to a second torque threshold when the engine torque is non-zero, and determine a number of operating cylinders for the engine based on the comparison of the demanded torque to the second torque threshold.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the driver operated control includes one of an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, a vehicle shifter, and a speed control system.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to allocate all of the demanded torque to the motor when the demanded torque is not above the first torque threshold.

12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein all of the engine cylinders are operated when the demanded torque is above the second torque threshold.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a sensor operatively connected to the controller for providing an input to the controller related to a vehicle operating condition.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the sensor includes one of a battery state of charge sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and an engine speed sensor.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electrical storage device includes a battery in communication with the sensor, and the controller is further configured to receive an input from the sensor related to a state of charge of the battery, and to allocate all of the demanded torque to the engine when the battery state of charge is below a predetermined value.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the controller comprises a motor controller and an engine controller.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the controller further comprises a propulsion controller in communication with the motor controller and the engine controller, the propulsion controller being configured to receive inputs from the driver operated control and the sensor, and to determine the demanded torque and partition the demanded torque.