Drive force distribution apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,704,627 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tatara, Yusuke, Kitano, Kazuhiko, Amanuma, Hirokatsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US10/166,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 307/9.1
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/00 Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/354 having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/165 acting on elements of the vehicle drive train other than the propulsion unit and brakes, e.g. transmission, clutch, differential acting on brakes B60T8/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/613 ESP features related thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/24 Endless track steering specially adapted for vehicles having both steerable wheels and endless track
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 : Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 : with plurality of drive axles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 : Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels. The drive force distribution apparatus includes a first clutch, a second clutch, and a battery. The apparatus further includes a first unit for deciding the distribution between a drive for driving the first drive wheels and a drive force for driving the second drive wheels, a second unit for deciding the distribution between a drive force for driving one of the second drive wheels and a drive force for driving the other of the second drive wheels according to a detected vehicle speed, steering angle, and yaw rate, and a clutch control unit for controlling a degree of engagement of each of the first and second clutches according to the distribution decided by the second unit.

Claims

1. A drive force distribution apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine for driving a pair of first drive wheels and an electric motor for driving a pair of second drive wheels, comprising:

a first clutch interposed between said electric motor and one of said second drive wheels;

a second clutch interposed between said electric motor and the other of said second drive wheels;

a battery for supplying electric energy to said electric motor and storing electric energy regenerated by said electric motor;

a vehicle speed sensor for detecting a vehicle speed;

an accelerator opening sensor for detecting an accelerator opening;

a brake depression force sensor for detecting a brake depression force;

a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel;

a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate;

first means for deciding the distribution between a drive force for driving said first drive wheels and a drive force for driving said second drive wheels according to said vehicle speed detected, said accelerator opening detected, said brake depression force detected, a state of said battery, and a weight distribution of said vehicle;

second means for deciding the distribution between a drive force for driving one of said second drive wheels and a drive force for driving the other of said second drive wheels according to said vehicle speed detected, said steering angle detected, and said yaw rate detected; and

clutch control means for controlling a degree of engagement of each of said first and second clutches according to the distribution decided by said second means.

2. A drive force distribution apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means comprises:

means for deciding a calculated lateral G from said vehicle speed and said steering angle;

means for deciding a lateral distribution coefficient KLR from said calculated lateral G and said vehicle speed;

means for calculating a steering angle yaw rate and a lateral G yaw rate;

means for calculating a corrected torque value KTQ according to said steering angle yaw rate calculated and said lateral G yaw rate calculated; and

means for calculating the drive forces for driving said second drive wheels according to said lateral distribution coefficient KLR and said corrected torque value KTQ.

3. A drive force distribution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the sign of said drive force calculated on one of said second drive wheels is different from the sign of said drive force calculated on the other of said second drive wheels, either of said drive forces is set to 0.

4. A drive force distribution apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a G sensor for detecting a lateral G;

said second means deciding the distribution between said drive forces for driving said second drive wheels according to said vehicle speed detected, said steering angle detected, said yaw rate detected, and said lateral G detected.