Displacement on demand with regenerative braking

• US 7,308,959 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Roberts, Alexander J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALTERS, JOHN DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/662,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20050056475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,555 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/65.8, 180/65.2
• US Class Current: 180/65.31
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• 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 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A regenerative braking system for a vehicle includes a displacement on demand (DOD) engine having cylinders, a battery, and an electric machine having motor and generator modes. The electric machine is selectively driven by a wheel of the vehicle. A controller detects a braking condition of the vehicle and deactivates at least one of the cylinders in response to the braking condition. The controller operates the electric machine in the generator mode during the braking condition to charge the battery.

Claims

1. A regenerative braking system for a vehicle, comprising:

a displacement on demand (DOD) engine including cylinders;

a battery;

an electric machine that has motor and generator modes and that is selectively driven by a wheel of said vehicle; and

a controller that detects a braking condition of said vehicle, that deactivates at least one of said cylinders while maintaining at least another of said cylinders active in response to said braking condition, that operates said electric machine in said generator mode during said braking condition to charge said battery, and that monitors a vehicle speed and activates at least one of said cylinders when said vehicle speed achieves a threshold.

2. The regenerative braking system of claim 1 wherein said controller detects termination of said braking condition and activates all of said cylinders in response to said termination.

3. The regenerative braking system of claim 1 wherein said controller selectively operates said electric machine in said motor mode to drive said wheel.

4. The regenerative braking system of claim 1 wherein said controller selectively deactivates all of said cylinders of said engine and operates said electric machine in said motor mode to drive said wheel.

5. A method of charging and discharging a battery in a vehicle, comprising:

detecting a braking condition of said vehicle;

deactivating at least one cylinder of an engine in response to said braking condition while maintaining at least another cylinder of said engine active;

driving an electric machine in a generator mode with a wheel of said vehicle to charge said battery; and

monitoring a vehicle speed and activating at least one of said cylinders when said vehicle speed achieves a threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

activating said electric machine in a drive mode to drive said wheel.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising providing electrical current to said electrical machine from said battery.

8. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

detecting termination of said braking condition; and

activating said at least one cylinder in response to said termination.

9. A method of operating a vehicle having a regenerative braking system, comprising:

detecting a braking condition of said vehicle;

deactivating a cylinder of an engine in response to said braking condition while maintaining at least another cylinder of said engine active;

retarding motion of said vehicle by driving an electric machine in a generator mode with a wheel of said vehicle to generate electrical current;

monitoring a vehicle speed; and

activating at least one of said cylinders and relieving said retarding when said vehicle speed achieves a threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising charging a battery with said electrical current.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

activating said electric machine in a drive mode to drive said wheel.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing electrical current to said electric machine from a battery.