Method for controlling the operating response of a hybrid drive of a vehicle

• US 7,174,980 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoetzer, Dieter, Loeffler, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): RESTIFO, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US10/470,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20040084231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 903/941, 903/942, 903/947
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/945 Characterized by control of gearing, e.g. control of transmission ratio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/946 Characterized by control of driveline clutch

Abstract

A method of controlling the operating response of a hybrid drive of a vehicle is described, the hybrid drive having an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor as the drive motors, and the drive shafts of the drive motors being mechanically linkable to a drive train of the vehicle. A drag torque characteristic curve for the hybrid drive is established by targeted activation of the at least one electric motor.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an operating behavior of a hybrid drive of a vehicle, the hybrid drive including an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor, and at least one of a drive shaft of the internal combustion engine and a drive shaft of the at least one electric motor being operatively connectible to a drive train of the vehicle, the method comprising:

providing control signals for controlling the internal combustion engine and the at least one electric motor, wherein the control signals are based on a negative torque request and a transmission setting of the transmission, and wherein the control signals request a specified torque for transmission to the drive train; and

setting a vehicle-speed-dependent drag torque characteristic curve for the hybrid drive by the control of the hybrid drive, in such a way that the magnitude of the drag torque is independent of the speed of the internal combustion engine and the occurrence of step-wise torques in response to shifting down of the transmission is prevented.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

applying a drag torque by the at least one electric motor by disengaging the internal combustion engine from the drive train.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

performing a coasting operation of the hybrid drive without disengaging the internal combustion engine from the drive train.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the drag torque characteristic curve is continuous.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

maximally matching the continuous drag torque characteristic curve to a maximum possible drag torque characteristic curve.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

determining the drag torque characteristic curve by a drag torque coordinator that provides control signals for the drive motors from a negative torque request and a gear position.

7. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

providing the control signals as a function of an instantaneous speed of the vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the at least one electric motor includes a plurality of electric motors that are operated in at least one of a generator mode and an engine mode for influencing the drag torque characteristic curve.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

picking up a drag torque request by monitoring a position of a gas pedal of the vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the drag torque characteristic curve is influenced as a function of an additional operating parameter of the vehicle.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

varying the drag torque characteristic curve as a function of a braking request by a vehicle driver by the targeted activation of the at least one electric motor.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

increasing a drag torque in a stepwise manner.