Hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus, and control method of hybrid vehicle drive apparatus and program thereof

• US 7,117,071 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuo, Kojima, Hiroyuki, Iwatsuki, Ken, Yamaguchi, Kozo, Okoshi, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/275,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20040045751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/65, 701/113, 290/40.A, 290/40.B, 290/40.C, 290/40.E, 290/40.F, 477/3, 477/15, 477/46, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle drive apparatus including an electric power generator mechanically connected to the engine, a drive motor driven by at least one of an electric current generated by the electric power generator and an electric current supplied from a battery; a detector that detects a battery state of the battery and a controller that sets a target torque of the drive motor based on the battery state.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus, comprising:

an electric power generator mechanically connected to an engine;

a drive motor driven by at least one of an electric current generated by the electric power generator and an electric current supplied from a battery;

a detector that detects a battery state of the battery; and

a controller that;

calculates a lowest limit value of the battery state based on a rotating state of the electric power generator; and

sets a target torque of the drive motor based on the lowest limit value of the battery state.

2. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the lowest limit value of the battery state which does not cause the electric power generator to race.

3. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller calculates a maximum limit value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state, and sets the target torque of the drive motor so as not to exceed the maximum limit value.

4. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller sets the target torque of the drive motor at such a value that a battery state can be maintained only by an electric power generated by the electric power generator.

5. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller calculates a correction value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state, and corrects the target torque of the drive motor by the correction value.

6. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the lowest limit value of the battery state which at least allows the electric power generator to maintain a present rotational state.

7. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an output shaft mechanically connected to the drive motor and a drive wheel; and

a differential gear device that has at least three gear elements, each of the gear elements being connected to the engine, the electric power generator, and the output shaft, respectively.

8. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller sets the target torque of the drive motor so that a present value of the battery state does not fall below the lowest limit value.

9. The hybrid vehicle drive control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery state is a battery voltage.

10. A control method of a hybrid vehicle drive apparatus, comprising:

generating an electric current by an electric power generator mechanically connected to an engine;

driving a drive motor by at least one of the electric current generated by the electric power generator and an electric current supplied from a battery;

detecting a battery state of the battery;

calculating a lowest limit value of the battery state based on a rotating state of the electric power generator; and

setting a target torque of the drive motor based on the lowest limit value of the battery state.

11. The control method of claim 10, comprising:

calculating the lowest limit value of the battery state which does not cause the electric power generator to race.

12. The control method of claim 11, comprising:

calculating a maximum limit value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state; and

setting the target torque of the drive motor so as not to exceed the maximum limit value.

13. The control method of claim 11, comprising:

setting the target torque of the drive motor at such a value that a battery state can be maintained only by an electric power generated by the electric power generator.

14. The control method of claim 11, comprising:

calculating a correction value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state; and

correcting the target torque of the drive motor by the correction value.

15. The control method of claim 10, comprising:

calculating the lowest limit value of the battery state which at least allows the electric power generator to maintain a present rotational state.

16. The control method of claim 10, wherein the target torque of the drive motor is set so that a present value of the battery state does not fall below the lowest limit value.

17. The control method of claim 10, wherein the battery state is a battery voltage.

18. A computer readable memory medium for a hybrid vehicle drive apparatus including an electric power generator mechanically connected to an engine, a drive motor driven by at least one of an electric current generated by the electric power generator and an electric current supplied from a battery, and a detector that detects a battery state of the battery, the memory medium storing a program comprising:

instructions to calculate a lowest limit value of the battery state based on a rotating state of the electric power generator; and

instructions to set a target torque of the drive motor based on the lowest limit value of the battery state.

19. The computer readable memory medium of claim 18, the program further comprising:

instructions to calculate the lowest limit value of the battery state which does not cause the electric power generator to race.

20. The computer readable memory medium of claim 19, the program further comprising:

instructions to calculate a maximum limit value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state; and

instructions to correct the target torque of the drive motor so as not to exceed the maximum limit value.

21. The computer readable memory medium of claim 19, the program further comprising:

instructions to set the target torque of the drive motor at such a value that a battery state can be maintained only by an electric power generated by the electric power generator.

22. The computer readable memory medium of claim 19, the program further comprising:

instructions to calculate a correction value of the target torque of the drive motor based on a difference between a present value of the battery state and the lowest limit value of the battery state; and

instructions to correct the target torque of the drive motor by the correction value.

23. The computer readable memory medium of claim 18, the program further comprising:

instructions to calculate the lowest limit value of the battery state which at least allows the electric power generator to maintain a present rotational state.

24. The computer readable memory medium of claim 18, wherein the target torque of the drive motor is set so that a present value of the battery state does not fall below the lowest limit value.

25. The computer readable memory medium of claim 18, wherein the battery state is a battery voltage.