Control apparatus of hybrid vehicle

• US 7,434,641 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Endo, Hiroatsu, Takami, Shigeki, Wakuta, Satoru, Miura, Kiyotomo, Ozeki, Tatsuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis; Christopher
• Assistant Examiner(s): COOLMAN, VAUGHN
• Application Number:
  US10/946,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 180 652- 4, 180 656- 8, 903/903, 903/941, 903/943, 903/945, 123/319, 123/395, 123/399, 701/22, 290/40.R, 290/40.F
• US Class Current: 180/65.25
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/904 Component specially adapted for hev

Abstract

A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle having a first drive unit, a second drive unit, a HV battery, a shift control element, a battery state detection element, and a shifting-time drive control element. Furthermore, in the control apparatus, a battery balance control element is formed by an engine control element, a first motor control element, a second motor control element and the shifting-time drive control element. If the shift control element determines there is a need for shifting carried out by a stepped transmission, the battery balance control element calculates the amount of increase/decrease in the amount of charge of the HV battery in accordance with the state of the HV battery, and changes the engine operation point on the basis of the calculated amount of increase/decrease in the battery charge, prior to the shifting.

Claims

1. A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a first drive unit that includes a first electric motor and a power distribution device that outputs driving force to a driving wheel via a differential device using an engine and the first electric motor and without using a stepped transmission;

a second drive unit that includes a second electric motor and a stepped transmission disposed between the second electric motor and the driving wheel;

a battery capable of both supplying electric power to the first electric motor and the second electric motor and storing electric power regenerated by the first electric motor and the second electric motor;

shift determination means for determining whether there is a need for shifting carried out by the stepped transmission;

battery state detection means for detecting a state of the battery;

shifting-time drive control means for controlling driving force output from the second drive unit so that driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the driving wheel substantially reaches a driver request torque; and

battery balance control means for calculating an amount of increase/decrease in a charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the battery detected by the battery state detection means and changing an operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount, prior to the shifting of the stepped transmission, if the shift determination means determines that there is a need for the shifting of the stepped transmission, wherein;

the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for controlling the driving force from the second drive unit during the shifting at a time of determining that there is the need for the shifting, calculates the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the battery and the calculated electric power consumption of the second drive unit, and changes the operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount prior to the shifting if it is determined that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in changing the operation point of the engine, the battery balance control means executes such a control as to change an engine torque without changing an engine rotation speed.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed, and determines whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, and where, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means avoids a change of the operation point of the engine, and wherein, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means executes such a control as to change the operation point of the engine.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in changing the operation point of the engine, the battery balance control means executes such a control as to change an engine rotation speed without changing an engine torque.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed, and determines whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, and where, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means avoids a change of the operation point of the engine, and wherein, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means executes such a control as to change the operation point of the engine.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an engine efficiency map in which operation points of the engine are pre-set so as to achieve a best fuel economy for each of various engine rotation speeds, wherein the battery balance control means executes such a control as to change the operation point of the engine onto a best fuel economy line in the engine efficiency map.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed, and determines whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, and where, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means avoids a change of the operation point of the engine, and wherein, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means executes a control to change the operation point of the engine.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery balance control means executes a returning control to resume a torque of the first electric motor and a torque of the engine corresponding to the operation point of the engine set prior to the shifting based on the state of the battery after the shifting of the stepped transmission has ended.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed, and determines whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, and where, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means avoids a change of the operation point of the engine, and wherein, if it is determined that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means executes a control to change the operation point of the engine.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the battery balance control means calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed, and determines whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, and where, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means avoids a change of the operation point of the engine, and wherein, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, the battery balance control means executes a control to change the operation point of the engine.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor while the battery balance control means is to change a first electric motor electricity amount by changing the engine operation point based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the operation point of the engine is set to achieve a best fuel economy state for the engine against a requested driving force,

an electric power amount of the first motor and the second motor is determined based on the operation point of the engine and the requested driving force,

calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor during the shifting, and

the battery balance control means changes the operation point of the engine when it is able to output the electric power amount required during a shifting from the battery, based on a state of the battery and the calculated amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount.

13. A control method for a hybrid vehicle, having a first drive unit that includes a first electric motor and a power distribution device that outputs driving force to a driving wheel via a differential device using an engine and the first electric motor and without using a stepped transmission;

a second drive unit that includes a second electric motor and a stepped transmission disposed between the second electric motor and the driving wheel;

a battery capable of both supplying electric power to the first electric motor and the second electric motor and storing electric power regenerated by the first electric motor and the second electric motor; and

a controller, the method comprising;

determining a driver request torque;

determining whether there is a need for shifting to be carried out by the stepped transmission;

detecting a state of the battery;

controlling driving force output from the second drive unit so that driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the driving wheel substantially reaches the driver request torque;

calculating an amount of increase/decrease in a charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the battery detected by the battery state detection means;

changing an operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount, prior to the shifting of the stepped transmission, if the shift determination means determines that there is a need for the shifting of the stepped transmission;

calculating an electric power consumption that is needed for controlling the driving force from the second drive unit during the shifting at a time of determining that there is the need for the shifting;

calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the battery and the calculated electric power consumption of the second drive unit; and

changing the operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount prior to the shifting if it is determined that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery.

14. The control method according to claim 13, wherein, in changing the operation point of the engine, executing a control so to change an engine rotation speed without changing an engine torque.

15. The control method according to claim 14, further comprising:

calculating an electric power consumption needed for the shifting to be performed; and

determining whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, avoiding a change of the operation point of the engine and, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, executing a control to change the operation point of the engine.

16. The control method according to claim 13, further comprising using an engine efficiency map in which operation points of the engine are pre-set so as to achieve a best fuel economy for each of various engine rotation speeds, wherein control is executed so as to change the operation point of the engine onto a best fuel economy line in the engine efficiency map.

17. The control method according to claim 16, further comprising:

calculating an electric power consumption needed for the shifting to be performed; and

determining whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, avoiding a change of the operation point of the engine and, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, executing a control to change the operation point of the engine.

18. The control method according to claim 13, further comprising executing a returning control to resume a torque of the first electric motor and a torque of the engine corresponding to the operation point of the engine set prior to the shifting based on the state of the battery after the shifting of the stepped transmission has ended.

19. The control method according to claim 18, further comprising:

calculating an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed; and

determining whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, avoiding a change of the operation point of the engine and, if it is determined that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, executing a control to change the operation point of the engine.

20. The control method according to claim 13, wherein, in changing the operation point of the engine, executing a control so to change an engine torque without changing an engine rotation speed.

21. The control method according to claim 20, further comprising:

calculating an electric power consumption needed for the shifting to be performed; and

determining whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, avoiding a change of the operation point of the engine and, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, executing a control to change the operation point of the engine.

22. The control method according to claim 13, further comprising:

calculating an electric power consumption that is needed for the shifting to be performed; and

determining whether it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, wherein, if it is determined that it is possible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, avoiding a change of the operation point of the engine and, if it is determined that that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery, executing a control to change the operation point of the engine.

23. The control method according to claim 13, wherein calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor while the battery balance control means is to change a first electric motor electricity amount by changing the engine operation point based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery.

24. The control method according to claim 13, wherein:

the operation point of the engine is set to achieve a best fuel economy state for the engine against a requested driving force,

an electric power amount of the first motor and the second motor is determined based on the operation point of the engine and the requested driving force,

calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor during the shifting, and

the operation point of the engine changes when it is able to output the electric power amount required during a shifting from the battery, based on a state of the battery and the calculated amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount.

25. A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a first drive unit that includes a first electric motor and a power distribution device that outputs driving force to a driving wheel via a differential device using an engine and the first electric motor and without using a stepped transmission;

a second drive unit that includes a second electric motor and a stepped transmission disposed between the second electric motor and the driving wheel;

a battery capable of both supplying electric power to the first electric motor and the second electric motor and storing electric power regenerated by the first electric motor and the second electric motor;

a shift determination element that determines whether there is a need for shifting carried out by the stepped transmission;

a battery state detection element that detects a state of the battery;

a shifting-time drive control element that controls driving force output from the second drive unit so that driving force output from the first drive unit and the second drive unit to the driving wheel substantially reaches a driver request torque; and

a battery balance control element that calculates an amount of increase/decrease in a charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the battery detected by the battery state detection element and changes an operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount, prior to the shifting of the stepped transmission, if the shift determination element determines that there is a need for the shifting of the stepped transmission, wherein;

the battery balance control element calculates an electric power consumption that is needed for controlling the driving force from the second drive unit during the shifting at a time of determining that there is the need for the shifting, calculates the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery in accordance with the state of the batten and the calculated electric power consumption of the second drive unit, and changes the operation point of the engine based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount prior to the shifting if it is determined that it is impossible to output the amount of electric power from the battery.

26. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor while the battery balance control means is to change a first electric motor electricity amount by changing the engine operation point based on the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery.

27. The control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein:

the operation point of the engine is set to achieve a best fuel economy state for the engine against a requested driving force,

an electric power amount of the first motor and the second motor is determined based on the operation point of the engine and the requested driving force,

calculating the amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount of the battery is conducted according to electricity consumption necessary for a torque change of the second electric motor during the shifting, and

the battery balance control element changes the operation point of the engine when it is able to output the electric power amount required during a shifting from the battery, based on a state of the battery and the calculated amount of increase/decrease in the charge amount.