Assistance controlling apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 6,791,203 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Fukuchi, Hironao, Kiyomiya, Takashi, Matsubara, Atsushi, Takahashi, Hideyuki, Izumiura, Atsushi, Kumagai, Katsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullins, Burton S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/629,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.C, 180/65.2, 602/76
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0619 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 33/006 depending on engine operating conditions, e.g. start, stop or ambient conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0082 Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

This invention relates to an assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle which assists an outputs of the engine by an output of the motor.

The assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to this invention, comprises: an engine which outputs propulsive power for the vehicle; a motor which assists the output of the engine; a remaining quantity detector which detects whether the remaining quantity of the fuel is under a fixed value or not; and an assistance-restricting unit which restricts the assistance of the output of the engine by the motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

Claims

1. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine which outputs propulsive power for the vehicle;

a motor which assists the output of the engine;

a remaining quantity detector which detects whether the remaining quantity of the fuel is under a fixed value or not; and

an assistance-restricting unit which restricts the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

2. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit which gives an alarm when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

3. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the assistance-restricting unit stops the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

4. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the assistance-restricting unit stops the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

5. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the assistance-restricting unit decreases the output assistance quantity by said motor gradually when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

6. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the assistance-restricting unit decreases the output assistance quantity by said motor gradually when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

7. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

8. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

9. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

10. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

11. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

12. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine.

13. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

14. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

15. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

16. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

17. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

18. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the remaining quantity detector detects the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank.

27. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, whereby catalyst damage is prevented.

19. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine which outputs propulsive power for the vehicle;

a motor which assists the output of the engine;

a remaining quantity detector which detects whether the remaining quantity of the fuel is under a fixed value or not by detecting the remaining quantity of the fuel from the ratio of air and fuel in the fuel-air mixture introduced in the engine; and

an assistance-restricting unit which restricts the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor by controlling an output assistance quantity by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

20. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 19, further comprising an alarm unit which gives an alarm when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

21. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the assistance-restricting unit stops the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

22. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the assistance-restricting unit decreases the output assistance quantity by said motor gradually when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

23. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

an engine which outputs propulsive power for the vehicle;

a motor which assists the output of the engine;

a remaining quantity detector which detects whether the remaining quantity of the fuel is under a fixed value or not by detecting the remaining quantity of the fuel in a fuel tank; and

an assistance-restricting unit which restricts the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor by restricting an output assistance quantity by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

24. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 23, further comprising an alarm unit which gives an alarm when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

25. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the assistance-restricting unit stops the assistance of the output of the engine by said motor when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.

26. An assistance controlling apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 23, wherein the assistance-restricting unit decreases the output assistance quantity by said motor gradually when the remaining quantity detector detects that the remaining quantity of the fuel is under the fixed value.