Self-learning control system for plug-in hybrid vehicles
First Claim
1. A system for optimizing rechargeable energy storage device depletion comprising:
- a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having an electric motor, a consumable fuel powered means, and a rechargeable energy storage device to power the electric motor, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is configured to be recharged from a recharging station or the consumable fuel powered means, the rechargeable energy storage device having a minimum state of charge (SOC); and
a controller comprising a computer configured to receive data inputs and provide outputs, the controller configured to define an orientation point representative of a geographic location of the recharging station, to determine a current location of the vehicle, to calculate a straight-line distance between the current location of the vehicle and the orientation point, and to monitor a state of charge (SOC) of the rechargeable energy storage device;
the controller is further configured to determine an optimal rechargeable energy storage device depletion strategy based on the straight-line distance to substantially sustain the monitored state of charge (SOC) when the straight-line distance is increasing, and to selectively deplete the rechargeable energy storage device to reach about the minimum state of charge (SOC) as the straight-line distance approaches about zero; and
the controller is further configured to generate the outputs to implement the optimal rechargeable energy storage device depletion strategy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is provided to instruct a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle how optimally to use electric propulsion from a rechargeable energy storage device to reach an electric recharging station, while maintaining as high a state of charge (SOC) as desired along the route prior to arriving at the recharging station at a minimum SOC. The system can include the step of calculating a straight-line distance and/or actual distance between an orientation point and the determined instant present location to determine when to initiate optimally a charge depleting phase. The system can limit extended driving on a deeply discharged rechargeable energy storage device and reduce the number of deep discharge cycles for the rechargeable energy storage device, thereby improving the effective lifetime of the rechargeable energy storage device. This “Just-in-Time strategy can be initiated automatically without operator input to accommodate the unsophisticated operator and without needing a navigation system/GPS input.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A system for optimizing rechargeable energy storage device depletion comprising:
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a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having an electric motor, a consumable fuel powered means, and a rechargeable energy storage device to power the electric motor, wherein the rechargeable energy storage device is configured to be recharged from a recharging station or the consumable fuel powered means, the rechargeable energy storage device having a minimum state of charge (SOC); and a controller comprising a computer configured to receive data inputs and provide outputs, the controller configured to define an orientation point representative of a geographic location of the recharging station, to determine a current location of the vehicle, to calculate a straight-line distance between the current location of the vehicle and the orientation point, and to monitor a state of charge (SOC) of the rechargeable energy storage device; the controller is further configured to determine an optimal rechargeable energy storage device depletion strategy based on the straight-line distance to substantially sustain the monitored state of charge (SOC) when the straight-line distance is increasing, and to selectively deplete the rechargeable energy storage device to reach about the minimum state of charge (SOC) as the straight-line distance approaches about zero; and the controller is further configured to generate the outputs to implement the optimal rechargeable energy storage device depletion strategy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of optimizing depletion of a rechargeable energy storage device of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to a minimum state of charge (SOC), the method comprising the steps of:
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defining an orientation point representative of a geographic location of a recharging station; repeatedly determining a present location of said vehicle in response to changes in location of said vehicle; repeatedly calculating a straight-line distance between the orientation point and the determined present location of said vehicle; monitoring a state of charge (SOC) of said rechargeable energy storage device; substantially sustaining the monitored state of charge (SOC) of said rechargeable energy storage device when the calculated straight-line distance between the orientation point and the determined present location is increasing; initiating depletion of said rechargeable energy storage device to about said minimum state of charge (SOC) when the calculated straight-line distance between the orientation point and the determined present location is decreasing; and said rechargeable energy storage device about reaching said minimum state of charge (SOC) when the calculated straight-line distance is about zero. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer-usable medium comprising a plurality of computer readable instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by a processor, causes the processor to:
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generate and store an orientation point for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage device, wherein the orientation point comprises a recharging station; determine, at a first time instant, a first straight-line distance between a first current location of the vehicle and the orientation point, determine, at a second time instant, a second straight-line distance between a second current location of the vehicle and the orientation point, initiate a charge sustaining phase of the rechargeable energy storage device when the second straight-line distance is greater than the first straight-line distance; and initiate a charge depleting phase of the rechargeable energy storage device when the second straight-line distance is less than the first straight-line distance, and the second straight-line distance is less than a limited distance requirement of the rechargeable energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification