Control apparatus for transmission-equipped hybrid vehicle, and control method for the same

• US 6,867,509 B1
• Filed: 10/23/2000
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naoto, Okada, Daimon, Suzuki, Takashi, Takaoka, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/694,021
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.A, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 290/40.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/54 Transmission for changing ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 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 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/12 of exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/145 Structure borne vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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 10/10 : including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/11 : Stepped gearings
• 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 20/30 : Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 : Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 : characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0213 : characterised by the method for generating shift signals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• 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: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/91 : Orbital, e.g. planetary gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/917 : with transmission for changing gear ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/919 : Stepped shift
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 : Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/951 : Assembly or relative location of components

Abstract

The priority sequence in a control of adjusting the drive power with respect to a vehicle drive power request is set in the sequence of: (1) an engine output increase, (2) a motor output increase, and (3) a gear speed change in a gear ratio increasing direction. More specifically, a gear speed of a least gear ratio is selected within such a range that an engine revolution speed higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable. A requested drive power is achieved singly by an engine output with the gear speed selected. When the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output, the requested drive power is achieved by the engine output and a motor output. When the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output, the gear speed is changed in a gear ratio increasing direction.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor as drive power sources, and having a transmission that is disposed between the engine and a vehicle drive wheel and that changes drive power transmission by selection from a plurality of gear speeds, the control apparatus comprising:

a controller that detects a drive power requested for the vehicle drive wheel and that adjusts the drive power by setting an engine output increase, a motor output increase, and a gear speed change by increasing a gear ratio, in an order of descending priorities of;

(1) the engine output increase, (2) the motor output increase, and (3) the gear speed change by increasing the gear ratio, so as to achieve the drive power requested;

wherein the controller

(a) initially selects a gear speed of a low gear ratio within a range such that an engine revolution speed higher than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable;

(b) achieves the requested drive power singly by the engine output with the gear speed selected;

otherwise

(c) achieves the requested drive power by the engine output and motor output when the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output;

otherwise

(d) changes the year speed by increasing a gear ratio when the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output.

2. A control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller change the gear speed in accordance with a factor that affects a motor control.

3. A control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller changes the gear speed based on at least one of a state of charge of a battery, a battery temperature, and an inverter temperature, which are factors that affect the motor control.

4. A control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller detects the requested vehicle drive power based on a vehicle speed and an amount of operation of an accelerator.

5. A control method for a hybrid vehicle having an engine and a motor as drive power sources, and having a transmission that is disposed between the engine and a vehicle drive wheel and that changes drive power transmission by selection from a plurality of gear speeds, the control method comprising:

detecting a drive power requested for the drive wheel; and

adjusting the drive power by setting an engine output increase, a motor output increase, and a gear speed change by increasing a gear ratio, in an order of descending priorities of;

(1) the engine output increase, (2) the motor output increase, and (3) the gear speed change by increasing the gear ratio, so as to achieve the drive power requested, wherein the drive power adjusting step includes the steps of;

initially selecting a gear speed of a low gear ratio within a range such that an engine revolution speed hither than or equal to a predetermined lower limit revolution speed is attainable;

achieving a requested drive power singly by an engine output with the gear speed selected;

otherwise

achieving the requested drive power by the engine output and a motor output when the requested drive power is not achievable singly by the engine output;

otherwise

changing the gear speed by increasing a gear ratio when the requested drive power is not achievable by the engine output and the motor output.