Power output apparatus using different torque and speed pattern characteristics and control method thereof

• US 6,787,932 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hirose, Katsuhiko, Takaoka, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/770,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.C, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• 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 903/919 Stepped shift

Abstract

A power output apparatus capable of generating power from at least an electric motor to a drive shaft includes a pattern storing unit that stores a plurality of output characteristic patterns in which power is generated to the drive shaft, a pattern selecting unit that selects one of the output characteristic patterns stored, and a drive controller that controls driving of the electric motor so that power that is within a range of the selected output characteristic pattern is generated to the drive shaft. The power output apparatus may also be controlled to operate the motor in a dash mode that allow motor output to exceed rated values for short periods of time to increase drivability.

Claims

1. A power output apparatus operable to generate power from at least an electric motor to a drive shaft, comprising:

a pattern storing unit that stores a plurality of output characteristic patterns in which the power is generated to the drive shaft, wherein an output characteristic pattern of the plurality of output characteristic patterns correlates between a motor speed and an output torque for supplying the power;

a pattern selecting unit that selects one of said plurality of output characteristic patterns stored in the pattern storing unit;

a drive controller that controls driving of at least the electric motor so that the power that is within a range of the selected output characteristic pattern is generated to the drive shaft; and

a command generating unit that generates a command to drive the electric motor with a driving characteristic that exceeds a rated value of the driving characteristic of the electric motor;

wherein the drive controller is operable, in response to the command from the command generating unit, to add a predetermined output to the selected output characteristic pattern, and control driving of the electric motor with the driving characteristic that exceeds the rated value for a limited period of time.

2. A power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand that is currently desired by an operator;

wherein the drive controller controls driving of at least the electric motor so that the desired power received by the power demand receiving unit is generated to the drive shaft.

3. A power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an internal combustion engine operable to generate additional power to the drive shaft;

wherein said drive controller controls driving of both the electric motor and the engine.

4. A power output apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a power demand receiving unit that receives a power demand that is currently desired by an operator;

wherein the drive controller controls driving of the electric motor and the engine so that the desired power received by the required power receiving unit is generated to the drive shaft.

5. A power output apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the drive controller controls the electric motor and the engine so that the requited power is generated and provided to the drive shaft with a high energy efficiency.

6. A power output apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output characteristic patterns stored in the pattern storing unit include a low-revolution high-torque pattern in which a relatively high torque is produced in a low-revolution region of the drive shaft, and a high-revolution high-torque pattern in which a relatively high torque is produced in a high-revolution region of the drive shaft.

7. A power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a selection output unit that outputs said one output characteristic pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit.

8. A power output apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motor stare detector that detects an operating state of the electric motor; and

a state determining unit that determines whether the electric motor can be driven with the driving characteristic that exceeds the rated value, based on the operating state detected by the motor state detector,

wherein the drive controller performs control in response to the command from the command generating unit, depending upon a result of determination made by the slate determining unit.

9. A power output apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a result output unit that outputs the result of determination made by the state determining unit.

10. A motor vehicle comprising the power output apparatus according to claim 1.

11. A power output apparatus operable to generate power from at least an electric motor to a drive shaft, comprising:

a command generating unit that generates a command to drive the electric motor with a driving characteristic that exceeds a rated value of the driving characteristic of the electric motor, wherein the driving characteristic correlates between a motor speed and an output torque for supplying the power;

a drive controller that controls driving of the electric motor, wherein the drive controller is operable, in response to the command from the command generating unit, to control driving of the electric motor with the driving characteristic that exceeds the rated value for a limited period of time;

a motor state detector that detects an operating state of the electric motor; and

a state determining unit that determines whether the electric motor can be driven with the driving characteristic that exceeds the rated value, based on the operating state detected by the motor state detector,

wherein the drive controller performs control in response to the command from the command generating unit, depending upon a result of determination made by the state determining unit.

12. A power output apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a result output unit that outputs the result of determination made by the state determining unit.

13. A motor vehicle comprising the power output apparatus according to claim 11.