Electric power control system for a hybrid vehicle

• US 7,389,837 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Tamai, Goro, Reynolds, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bottorff; Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/691,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20050082095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 180/65.29
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/18 Reluctance machines

Abstract

A vehicle powertrain control system including an electric motor drive system, a first battery coupled to the electric motor drive system, an electronically controlled switched coupled to the first battery, a second battery coupled to the electronically controlled switch, and where the electronically controlled switch applies power from the second battery to supplement the first battery.

Claims

1. A vehicle powertrain control system comprising:

an electric motor drive system;

an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to said electric motor drive system;

a first battery coupled to said electric motor drive system;

an electronically controlled switch coupled to said first battery;

a second battery coupled to said electronically controlled switch, wherein said first and second battery are directly electrically coupled at a common voltage level when said electronically controlled switch is closed;

wherein said electronically controlled switch isolates said first battery from said second battery upon startup of said internal combustion engine; and

wherein said electronically controlled switch applies power from said second battery to supplement said first battery during select operating conditions.

2. The vehicle powertrain control system of claim 1 further comprising a DC/DC converter coupled to said electronically controlled switch, wherein said electronically controlled switch applies power from said DC/DC converter to supplement said second battery.

3. The vehicle powertrain control system of claim 1 wherein said electric motor drive system comprises an inverter coupled to an induction motor.

4. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said first battery comprises a lead acid battery.

5. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said second battery comprises a lead acid battery.

6. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said electronically controlled switch comprises a silicon conducting rectifier.

7. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said electronically controlled switch comprises a transistor.

8. The vehicle control system of claim 1 wherein said electronically controlled switch comprises an electromechanical relay.

9. A vehicle powertrain control system comprising:

an electric motor drive system;

an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to said electric motor drive system;

a first battery coupled to said electric motor drive system;

a second battery coupled to a vehicle accessory system;

an electronically controlled switch coupled to said first battery and said second battery;

a DC/DC converter coupled to said electronically controlled switch;

wherein said electronically controlled switch applies power from said DC/DC converter to supplement said first battery, and wherein said DC/DC converter, said first battery, and said second battery share a common electrical reference when said electronically controlled switch is closed; and

wherein said electronically controlled switch isolates said first battery from said second battery during staffing of said internal combustion engine.

10. The vehicle powertrain control system of claim 9 wherein said electric motor drive system includes an inverter.

11. A vehicle powertrain control system comprising:

an electric motor drive system;

a first battery coupled to said electric motor drive system;

an electronically controlled switch coupled to said first battery;

a second battery coupled to said electronically controlled switch, wherein said first and second battery operate at substantially the same voltage at a common electrical connection when said electronically controlled switch is closed;

wherein said electronically controlled switch applies power from said second battery to supplement said first battery during a first operating condition; and

wherein said electronically controlled switch isolates said first battery from said second battery upon startup of said internal combustion engine.