Power control apparatus for hybrid vehicle

• US 7,296,648 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2003
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Saito, Osamu, Tatara, Yusuke, Oshida, Shuji, Hasebe, Tetsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Swenson; Brian
• Application Number:
  US10/528,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 180/233, 180/242, 180/65.1, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 180/65.4
• US Class Current: 180/242
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/13 using AC generators and AC motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• 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 2510/08 Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/24 Energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle (1), the hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine (11), a front motor-generator (12), and a transmission (13) which are connected to front wheels (Wf), and a rear motor-generator (14) which is connected to rear wheels (Wr) via a rear differential gear box (DR). A calculated value, which is obtained by subtracting a front output power F_POWER and an accessory output power DV_POWER from a battery output power limit B_LimPow is set as an rear output power limit R_LimPow. The smaller of a rear drive command R_PowCmd (which is set depending on the running state of the vehicle) and a rear output power limit R_LimPow is set as a new rear drive command R_PowCmd. Accordingly, a demanded motor output power can be obtained without increasing the size of the main battery (15).

Claims

1. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine for driving either the front wheels or the rear wheels;

a first motor-generator which is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;

a second motor-generator which is connected to the other of the front and rear wheels;

an electrical energy storage device which receives energy from and sends energy to the first and second motor-generators; and

a control unit which is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the first and second motor-generator, and the electrical energy storage device, and which includes;

an electrical discharge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device;

an electrical power calculation section for calculating the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator or for calculating the electrical power being supplied to the first motor-generator;

an output power command calculation section for calculating an output power command for a powering operation of the second motor-generator; and

an output power limiting section which is adapted to calculate the sum of the electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device and the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator or the difference between the electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device and the electrical power being supplied to the first motor-generator, to compare magnitudes of the sum or the difference and of the output power command for the second motor-generator, and to set the smaller of the sum or the difference and the output power command for the second motor-generator as a new output power command for the second motor-generator.

2. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrical energy storage device which is different from the electrical energy storage device, and which is operatively connected to the control unit,

wherein the control unit further includes a second electrical discharge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device, and

wherein the electrical discharge amount calculation section is adapted to set a calculated value, which is obtained by subtracting the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device from the electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device, as a new electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device.

3. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a second electrical energy storage device which is different from the electrical energy storage device, and which is operatively connected to the control unit,

wherein the control unit further includes a second electrical discharge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device, and a generation command calculation section which is adapted to obtain a calculated value by subtracting the output power command for the second motor-generator and the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device from the electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device, and to set the absolute value of the calculated value as a generation command for a generating operation of the first motor-generator when the calculated value is negative.

4. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a deterioration detecting device for determining whether the electrical energy storage device has deteriorated,

wherein the control unit further includes an output power command setting section for setting the output power command for the second motor-generator in such a manner that, when the electrical power calculation section is calculating the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator, and when deterioration of the electrical energy storage device is detected by the deterioration detecting device, the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator which is calculated by the electrical power calculation section is set as the output power command for the second motor-generator.

5. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a second electrical energy storage device which is different from the electrical energy storage device, and which is operatively connected to the control unit,

wherein the control unit further includes a second electrical discharge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device, and

wherein the output power command setting section is adapted to set a calculated value, which is obtained by subtracting the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device from the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator which is calculated by the electrical power calculation section, as the output power command for the second motor-generator.

6. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine for driving either the front wheels or the rear wheels;

a first motor-generator which is connected to an output shaft of the internal combustion engine;

a second motor-generator which is connected to the other of the front and rear wheels;

an electrical energy storage device which receives energy from and sends energy to the first and second motor-generators; and

a control unit which is operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, the first and second motor-generator, and the electrical energy storage device, and which includes;

an electrical charge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power chargeable into the electrical energy storage device;

an electrical power calculation section for calculating the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator or for calculating the electrical power being supplied to the first motor-generator;

a regeneration command calculation section for calculating a regeneration command for a regenerating operation of the second motor-generator; and

a regeneration limiting section which is adapted to calculate the sum of the electrical power chargeable into the electrical energy storage device and the electrical power being supplied to the first motor-generator or the difference between the electrical power chargeable into the electrical energy storage device and the electrical power being generated by the first motor-generator, to compare magnitudes of the sum or the difference and of the regeneration command for the second motor-generator, and to set the smaller of the sum or the difference and the regeneration command for the second motor-generator as a new regeneration command for the second motor-generator.

7. A power control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a second electrical energy storage device which is different from the electrical energy storage device, and which is operatively connected to the control unit,

wherein the control unit further includes a second electrical discharge amount calculation section for calculating the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device, and

wherein the electrical charge amount calculation section is adapted to set a calculated value, which is obtained by adding the electrical power being discharged from the second electrical energy storage device to the electrical power chargeable into the electrical energy storage device, as a new electrical power dischargeable from the electrical energy storage device.