Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling the same
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an engine and a motor as power sources and that runs with one or both of the engine and the motor being suitably selected, comprising:
- heat impartation element capable of imparting heat to the engine or parts associated with the engine;
an intention determination element that determines whether or not a driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started;
a heat impartation control element that imparts heat to the engine or the parts associated with the engine using the heat impartation element until preheating of the engine or the parts associated with the engine is completed, if the intention determination element determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; and
a running control element that performs running control of the vehicle while using the motor as a power source and refrains from starting the engine until the preheating is completed,wherein the intention determination element determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle when at least one of the following is fulfilled;
(i) a condition that a shift lever is shifted to a position enabling the vehicle to be driven, and (ii) a condition that a vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined speed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
When a starter switch is switched from OFF to ON, a hybrid ECU determines that a driver intends to start driving a vehicle, reads a temperature of each of items (engine coolant, injectors, lubricating oil, and the like), and makes a determination on the necessity of preheating depending on whether each of the items has reached a corresponding one of suitable temperatures. If preheating is required, the hybrid ECU sets an engine start permission flag so as to prohibit the engine from being started, and instructs an engine ECU to preheat the item requiring preheating. On the other hand, if every one of the items has reached the suitable temperature range of its own, the hybrid ECU determines that preheating is not required, and sets the engine start permission flag so as to permit the starting of the engine.
71 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an engine and a motor as power sources and that runs with one or both of the engine and the motor being suitably selected, comprising:
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heat impartation element capable of imparting heat to the engine or parts associated with the engine; an intention determination element that determines whether or not a driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; a heat impartation control element that imparts heat to the engine or the parts associated with the engine using the heat impartation element until preheating of the engine or the parts associated with the engine is completed, if the intention determination element determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; and a running control element that performs running control of the vehicle while using the motor as a power source and refrains from starting the engine until the preheating is completed, wherein the intention determination element determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle when at least one of the following is fulfilled;
(i) a condition that a shift lever is shifted to a position enabling the vehicle to be driven, and (ii) a condition that a vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an engine and a motor as power sources and that runs with one or both of the engine and the motor being suitably selected, comprising:
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heat impartation means capable of imparting heat to the engine or parts associated with the engine; intention determination means for determining whether or not a driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; heat impartation control means for imparting heat to the engine or the parts associated with the engine by means of the heat impartation means until preheating of the engine or the parts associated with the engine is completed, if the intention determination means determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; and running control means for performing running control of the vehicle while using the motor as a power source and refraining from starting the engine until the preheating is completed, wherein the intention determination means determines that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle when at least one of the following is fulfilled;
(i) a condition that a shift lever is shifted to a position enabling the vehicle to be driven, and (ii) a condition that a vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined speed.
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10. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an engine and a motor as power sources and that runs with one or both of the engine and the motor being suitably selected, comprising the steps of:
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determining whether a driver intends to start driving the vehicle before the engine is started; imparting heat to the engine or parts associated with the engine until preheating is completed if it is determined that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle; and performing running control of the vehicle while using the motor as a power source and refraining from starting the engine until the preheating is completed, wherein determining that the driver intends to start driving the vehicle comprises determining at least one of (i) a condition that a shift lever is shifted to a position enabling the vehicle to be driven, and (ii) a condition that a vehicle speed has exceeded a predetermined speed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification