Electric motor coupled to an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle

• US 7,198,589 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoetzer, Dieter, Eisenhardt, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US10/432,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,658 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 477/5, 477904- 5
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• 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: 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 477/904 Control signal is acceleration

Abstract

An electric machine coupled to an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, a control unit being provided for specifying an optimal efficiency operating state or for specifying a dynamically optimal operating state for the electric machine. Switchover means are used for switching over the usually specified optimal efficiency operating state to the dynamically optimal operating state before operating procedures in the motor vehicle which require a rapid torque setting.

Claims

1. An electric machine coupled to an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a control device for specifying at least one of an optimal efficiency operating state and a dynamically optimal operating state for the electric machine; and

means for switching over the usually-specified optimal efficiency operating state to the dynamically optimal operating state before operating procedures in the motor vehicle which require a rapid torque setting.

2. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for switching over includes a switchover control input for receiving control signals specifying a switchover before at least one of transmission shifting processes, starting processes of the engine and acceleration processes of the engine.

3. The electric machine according to claim 2, further comprising at least one of a central vehicle control, a transmission control device and a switching device adapted to be operated before at least one of the starting processes and the acceleration processes for forming the control signals specifying the switchover.

4. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the switchover is provided for one of (a) a specified time and (b) until a close of a respective operating process which requires a rapid torque setting.

5. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the control device specifies a flux-forming current and a torque-forming current for the electric machine.

6. The electric machine according to claim 5, wherein the control unit includes means for specifying a pair of values for the flux-forming current and the torque-forming current as a function of a respective torque requirement in the optimal efficiency operating state, and for specifying a nominal value for the flux-forming current and the torque-forming current as a function of a respective torque requirement in the dynamically optimal operating state.

7. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric machine is connected between the internal combustion engine and a vehicle transmission, the vehicle transmission being one of automatic and automated, a coupling being situated at least between the electric machine and the engine.

8. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric machine forms a generator.

9. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric machine forms a motor.

10. The electric machine according to claim 2, wherein the switchover control input includes a bus connection.

11. The electric machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for switching over includes a switchover control input for receiving control signals specifying a switchover before at least one of transmission shifting processes, starting processes of the engine and acceleration processes of the engine, and

the switchover is provided for one of (a) a specified time and (b) until a close of a respective operating process which requires a rapid torque setting.

12. The electric machine according to claim 11, further comprising at least one of a central vehicle control, a transmission control device and a switching device adapted to be operated before at least one of the starting processes and the acceleration processes for forming the control signals specifying the switchover.

13. The electric machine according to claim 11, wherein the control device specifies a flux-forming current and a torque-forming current for the electric machine.

14. The electric machine according to claim 13, wherein the control unit includes means for specifying a pair of values for the flux-forming current and the torque-forming current as a function of a respective torque requirement in the optimal efficiency operating state, and for specifying a nominal value for the flux-forming current and the torque-forming current as a function of a respective torque requirement in the dynamically optimal operating state.

15. The electric machine according to claim 11, wherein the electric machine is connected between the internal combustion engine and a vehicle transmission, the vehicle transmission being one of automatic and automated, a coupling being situated at least between the electric machine and the engine.

16. The electric machine according to claim 11, wherein the electric machine forms a generator.

17. The electric machine according to claim 11, wherein the electric machine forms a motor.