Catalyst warming control-apparatus

• US 7,007,464 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 03/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1999
• 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: Ibaraki, Shigeru, Asami, Kiyoshi, Kishida, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TU MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/643,912
• Time in Patent Office: 2,022 Days
• Field of Search: 602/84, 603/00, 603/03, 602/74, 602/85, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8, 477/2, 477/3
• US Class Current: 60/300
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• 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 2240/445 Temperature
• 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 10/26 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0622 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/66 specially adapted for continuously variable gearings control of exclusively fluid gearing F16H61/38
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The catalyst warming control apparatus of the present invention is provided for a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a generator for generating electric power from the output from the internal combustion engine, a power storage unit for storing electric power generated by the generator, and an electric motor driven by the electric power stored in the power storage unit, the hybrid vehicle being driven by at least one of the outputs from the internal combustion engine and the motor. The catalyst warming control apparatus includes a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of a catalyst or a value relating to the same; a first comparison circuit for comparing the detected result from the temperature detector with a preset reference value; and a control circuit for allowing the generator to generate electric power and to store the power in the power storage unit when the internal combustion engine is driven, and when the detected result by the temperature detector is equal to or below the reference value according to the output from the comparison circuit.

Claims

1. A catalyst warming control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle asserting control over the vehicle both when the vehicle is moving and when the vehicle is standing still, having an internal combustion engine, a generator for generating electric power from an output of the internal combustion engine, a power storage unit for storing electric power generated by the generator, and an electric motor driven by the electric power stored in the power storage unit, the hybrid vehicle being driven by at least one of the internal combustion engine and the motor, the catalyst warming control apparatus comprising:

a clutch for performing the connection or disconnection of the transmission of the power between the generator connected to the engine, and the motor;

a coolant temperature detector for detecting an engine temperature of the internal combustion engine;

a temperature detector for detecting the temperature of a catalyst or a value relating to the same, wherein the value relating to the same includes the temperature of vehicle cooling water;

a first comparison circuit for comparing the detected engine temperature with a preset first reference value;

a control circuit for allowing the generator to generate electric power and to store the power in the power storage unit when the internal combustion engine is driven, and when the detected engine temperature is equal to or below the first reference value;

a remaining charge detector for detecting a remaining charge of the power storage unit or a value relating to the same;

a second comparison circuit for comparing the detected result from the remaining charge detector with a preset second reference value relating to the remaining charge,

wherein the control circuit drives the vehicle by the output from the internal combustion engine, engages the clutch, and allows the generator to generate electric power and to store the power in the power storage unit, when the detected result from the temperature detector is equal to or below the reference value according to the output from the first comparison circuit, and when the detected result from the remaining charge detector is equal to or below the second reference value relating to the remaining charge according to the output from the second comparison circuit; and

wherein the control circuit allows the generator to generate electric power, disengages the clutch, and drives the vehicle by the generated electric power and stores the electric power, when the detected result from the temperature detector is equal to or below the first reference value according to the output from the first comparison circuit, and when the detected result from the remaining charge detector is above the second reference value relating to the remaining charge according to the output from the second comparison circuit.

2. A catalyst warming control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit allows the generator to generate electric power, and drives the vehicle by the motor, when the detected result from the temperature detector is equal to or below the reference value according to the output from the first comparison circuit, and when the detected result from the remaining charge detector is above the reference value relating to the remaining charge according to the output from the second comparison circuit.