Regeneration control apparatus and method for vehicle

• US 6,752,225 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kojima, Masakiyo
• Primary Examiner(s): Fischmann, Bryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeffrey J.
• Application Number:
  US09/996,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20020063000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.1, 180/65.4, 477/3, 477/4, 477/37, 477/39, 477/41, 477/44
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/543 the transmission being a continuously variable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/00 Electrodynamic brake systems for vehicles in general
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0208 Clutch engagement state, e.g. engaged or disengaged
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0034 the gear ratios comprising two forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/2005 with one sets of orbital gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 9/18 only one flange of each pulley being adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/909 Gearing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/918 Continuously variable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

The shift control of a transmission is performed on different bases depending on whether an engine is connected so as to be passively turned, or is disconnected. During the disengaged state, the shift control is performed so that the power generation efficiency of a motor-generator becomes maximized under a predetermined condition. During the engaged state, the shift control is performed so that the turning resistance of the engine becomes minimized under a predetermined condition. Therefore, during running of the vehicle, a battery can be charged through the regeneration control of the motor-generator. Even when the regeneration control is performed while the passive turning of the engine is allowed, good electric power generation efficiency can be achieved.

Claims

1. A regeneration control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle via a transmission capable of shifting a speed ratio;

a connection-disconnection device that is selectively engaged to allow and disengaged to prohibit a power transfer between the internal combustion engine and the transmission;

a rotation device that is connected to the drive wheel via the transmission and that functions at least as an electric power generator; and

a controller that performs a regeneration control of the rotation device so that the rotation device generates electricity and applies a braking force to the vehicle during running of the vehicle, and that, during the regeneration control, selectively controls the speed ratio of the transmission on different bases depending on whether the connection-disconnection device is in an engaged state or a disengaged state,

wherein the controller controls the speed ratio so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine decreases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

2. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the speed ratio so that an electric power generation efficiency of the rotation device increases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the disengaged state.

3. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

4. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the speed ratio so that the turning resistance of the internal combustion engine increases, if the rotation device has a failure when the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

5. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

6. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls the speed ratio so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine decreases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

7. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the speed ratio so that the turning resistance of the internal combustion engine increases, if the rotation device has a failure when the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

8. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

9. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

10. A regeneration control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle via a transmission capable of shifting a speed ratio;

a connection-disconnection device that is selectively engaged to allow and disengaged to prohibit a power transfer between the internal combustion engine and the transmission;

a rotation device that is connected to the drive wheel via the transmission and that functions at least as an electric power generator;

a regeneration controller that performs a regeneration control of the rotation device so that the rotation device generates electricity and applies a braking force to the vehicle during running of the vehicle; and

a during-regeneration shift controller that selectively controls the speed ratio of the transmission on different bases depending on whether the connection-disconnection device is in an engaged state or a disengaged state during the regeneration control by the regeneration controller,

wherein the during-regeneration shift controller controls the speed ratio so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine decreases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

11. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the during-regeneration shift controller controls the speed ratio so that an electric power generation efficiency of the rotation device increases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the disengaged state.

12. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the during-regeneration shift controller controls the speed ratio so that the turning resistance of the internal combustion engine increases, if the rotation device has a failure when the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

13. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

14. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the during-regeneration shift controller controls the speed ratio so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine decreases, if the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

15. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the during-regeneration shift controller controls the speed ratio so that the turning resistance of the internal combustion engine increases, if the rotation device has a failure when the connection-disconnection device is in the engaged state.

16. The regeneration control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transmission is a continuously variable transmission.

17. A method of controlling regeneration of electric power in a vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine connected to a drive wheel of the vehicle via a transmission capable of shifting a speed ratio, a connection-disconnection device that is selectively engaged to allow and disengaged to prohibit a power transfer between the internal combustion engine and the transmission, and a rotation device that is connected to the drive wheel via the transmission and that functions at least as an electric power generator, the control method comprising:

determining whether the vehicle has a deceleration request;

determining whether the connection-disconnection device is in an engaged state or a disengaged state, if the deceleration request is present;

selectively controlling the speed ratio of the transmission on different bases depending on whether the connection-disconnection device is determined to be in the engaged state or the disengaged state; and

performing a regeneration control of the rotation device so that the rotation device generates electricity and applies a braking force to the vehicle,

wherein the speed ratio is controlled so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine decreases, if the connection-disconnection device is determined to be in the engaged state.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the speed ratio is controlled so that an electric power generation efficiency of the rotation device increases, if the connection-disconnection device is determined to be in the disengaged state.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the speed ratio is controlled so that a turning resistance of the internal combustion engine increases, if the rotation device has a failure when the connection-disconnection device is determined to be in the engaged state.