Control apparatus of electric vehicle

• US 7,095,191 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 08/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Heavy Industries Limited (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: Sakurai, Tomohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): HORN, ROBERT WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US11/139,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 318/139
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/06 Ignition switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A control apparatus of an electric vehicle in which relays are switched to a disconnecting state without causing failure of the electric vehicle. Main relays Ry1, Ry2 switchable between a connecting state and a disconnecting state are provided between a drive motor 11 for driving driven wheels and a motor drive battery 34 for supplying current to the drive motor 11. When these main relays Ry1, Ry2 are to be switched to the disconnecting state, it is determined whether or not the output current I from the motor drive battery 34 is below a predetermined current and whether or not the vehicle speed V is below a predetermined speed. When it is determined that the output current I is below the predetermined current and the vehicle speed V is below the predetermined speed, the main relays Ry1, Ry2 are switched to their disconnecting states. By this means it is possible to prevent welding failure of the main relays Ry1, Ry2 and to protect an invertor 36 and high-voltage auxiliaries 58 from an induced voltage of the drive motor 11.

Claims

1. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle having an electric motor for driving driven wheels and a battery for supplying current to the electric motor, the apparatus comprising:

a relay provided between the electric motor and the battery and switchable between a connecting state in which it supplies current to the electric motor and a disconnecting state in which it cuts of the supply of current to the electric motor;

relay control means for switching the relay between the connecting state and the disconnecting state by outputting a control signal to the relay; and

current detecting means for detecting an output current of the battery,

wherein the relay control means switches the relay to the disconnecting state when there is a vehicle stop request and the output current of the battery is below a predetermined value.

2. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a switch turned on and off by a driver,

wherein the vehicle stop request is determined according to the switch operated by the driver.

3. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the relay control means keeps the relay in a connecting state when there is the vehicle stop request and the output current is above the predetermined value.

4. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle having an electric motor for driving driven wheels and a battery for supplying current to the electric motor, the apparatus comprising:

a relay provided between the electric motor and the battery and switchable between a connecting state in which it supplies current to the electric motor and a disconnecting state in which it cuts of the supply of current to the electric motor;

relay control means for switching the relay between the connecting state and the disconnecting state by outputting a control signal to the relay; and

electromotive force detecting means for detecting an induced electromotive force from the electric motor,

wherein the relay control means switches the relay to the disconnecting state when there is a vehicle stop request and the induced electromotive force from the electric motor is below a predetermined value.

5. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the electromotive force detecting means detects the induced electromotive force on the basis of a motor revolution number or a vehicle speed.

6. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising

a drive circuit provided between the electric motor and the relay for generating a drive current of the electric motor.

7. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising

a drive circuit provided between the electric motor and the relay for generating a drive current of the electric motor.

8. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising

a switch turned on and off by a driver,

wherein the vehicle stop request is determined according to the switch operated by the driver.

9. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 4,

wherein the relay control means keep the relay in connecting states when there is the vehicle stop request and the induced electromotive force from the electric motor is above the predetermined value.

10. A control apparatus of an electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the electromotive force detecting means detects the induced electromotive force on the basis of a motor revolution number or a vehicle speed.