Controller for engine having component

• US 7,356,402 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Kuroda, Daisuke, Obayashi, Kazuyoshi, Tani, Keisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe; Willis R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoang; Johnny H.
• Application Number:
  US11/441,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20060271257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 701/101, 701/102, 701/111, 701/114, 701/115, 701/29, 701/36, 701/50, 701/51, 701/54, 290/40.B, 290/40.C, 290/40.R, 180/54.1, 180/69.3
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/485 Motor-assist type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• 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 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/1022 Input torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A required-generate-current (RGC) is calculated according to conditions of the electric loads and a charging state of the battery. The required-alternator-drive-torque (RADT) is estimated according to the required-generate-current (RGC). A required engine torque is calculated by adding the required-alternator-drive-torque (RADT) and the required-vehicle-drive-torque (RVDT) together. The engine torque which is realized at next calculating timing is estimated in consideration of a response delay of the engine. The differential torque between the estimated engine torque and the required-vehicle-drive-torque (RVDT) is calculated as the permission torque. The command current corresponding to the permission torque is calculated. The control current of the alternator is controlled in such a manner as to generate current corresponding to the command current at the next calculating timing.

Claims

1. A controller for an engine driving a vehicle and having at least one component driven by an output torque of the engine, said controller comprising:

a component-drive-torque calculating means for calculating a component-drive-torque necessary to achieve a function of the component;

an engine control means for adjusting output torque of the engine according to the calculated component-drive-torque; and

a component control means for controlling the component with a time delay corresponding to delayed responsiveness of the adjusted engine torque.

2. A controller for an engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the component is an alternator driven by the engine torque, and

the component control means is an alternator control means for controlling current generated by the alternator.

3. A controller for an engine according to claim 2, further comprising:

a generate current calculating means for calculating a required-generate-current which the alternator is required to generate based on an electric load and state of battery charge,

wherein the component-drive-torque calculating means comprises means for estimating alternator-drive-torque necessary to drive the alternator according to the required-generate-current.

4. A controller for an engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the engine control means calculates a supply torque which can be utilized to drive the component by subtracting a vehicle-drive-torque and a margin from a maximum engine torque, and

the component-drive-torque calculating means calculates the component-drive-torque within a range of torque which can be utilized to drive the component.

5. A controller for an engine according to claim 3, wherein:

the engine control means calculates a supply torque which can be utilized to drive the component by subtracting a vehicle-drive-torque and a margin from a maximum engine torque,

the alternator control means calculates a current which the alternator can generate based a supply torque which can be utilized to drive the component, and

the generate current calculating means calculates the required-generate-current within a range of current which the alternator can generate.

6. A controller for an engine according to claim 1, wherein:

the engine control means controls the engine based on a required engine torque which is a summation of the component-drive-torque and a vehicle-drive-torque necessary to drive the vehicle,

the engine control means estimates the engine torque which can be realized after predetermined calculation timing in consideration of a delay of responsiveness of the engine,

the engine control means calculates a differential torque between the estimated torque and the vehicle-drive-torque to obtain a permission torque, and

the component control means controls a drive torque of the component based on the permission torque.

7. A method for controlling the operations of an engine driving a vehicle and of at least one component driven by an output torque of the engine, said method comprising:

calculating a component-drive-torque necessary to achieve a function of the component;

adjusting output torque of the engine according to the calculated component-drive-torque; and

controlling the component with a time delay corresponding to delayed responsiveness of the adjusted engine torque.

8. The method as in claim 7 wherein:

the component is an alternator driven by the engine torque and current generated by the alternator is controlled.

9. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

calculating a required-generate-current which the alternator is required to generate based on an electric load and state of battery charge,

wherein the component-drive-torque is calculated by estimating an alternator-drive-torque necessary to drive the alternator according to the required-generate-current.

10. The method as in claim 7 wherein:

said calculating step calculates a supply torque which can be utilized to drive the component by subtracting a vehicle-drive-torque and a margin from a maximum engine torque, and the component-drive-torque is calculated within a range of torque which can be utilized to drive the component.

11. The method as in claim 9 wherein:

a supply torque which can be utilized to drive the component is calculated by subtracting a vehicle-drive-torque and a margin from a maximum engine torque,

the alternator is controlled by calculating a current which the alternator can generate based upon the supply torque, and

the required-generate-current is calculated within a range of current which the alternator can generate.

12. The method as in claim 7 wherein:

the engine is controlled based on required engine torque which is a summation of the component-drive-torque and a vehicle-drive-torque necessary to drive the vehicle,

the engine torque which can be realized after predetermined calculation timing is calculated in consideration of a delay of engine responsiveness,

a differential torque between the estimated torque and the vehicle-drive-torque is calculated to obtain a permission torque, and

a drive torque of the component is controlled based on the permission torque.