Vehicle, driving apparatus and control method of both

• US 7,946,951 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 05/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), DENSO Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Akihiro, Hashimoto, Toshiya, Oyama, Shunsuke, Nomura, Masaki, Ikemoto, Noriaki, Yamamoto, Masaya, Ueoka, Kiyoshiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; Tisha D
• Application Number:
  US12/071,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20080227590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 477/3, 477/7, 903/903, 903/951, 903/960, 180/65.28, 180/65.31, 180/65.22, 180/65.235, 180/65.24, 701/22, 701/101, 701/110
• US Class Current: 477/3
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/065 Idle condition
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/105 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/96 having chargeable mechanical accumulator

Abstract

During a standstill, a prescribed rotation speed N3, which is lower than a prescribed rotation speed N2 used during a travel at a low vehicle speed, is set as a minimum rotation speed Nemin (S410), and when a demand for an idle operation has been made (S490), the minimum rotation speed Nemin is set as a target rotation speed Ne* and the value 0 is set as a target torque Te* (S500), whereby an engine is controlled. As a result of this, it is possible to improve the fuel consumption of a vehicle when the engine is operated at idle at standstill compared to a case where the engine is operated at idle at the minimum rotation speed Nemin for which the prescribed rotation speed N2 is set regardless of whether or not the vehicle is at a standstill.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to a drive shaft coupled to an axle, and connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to be rotatable independently of the drive shaft, and can input and output mechanical power to and from said drive shaft and said output shaft, with the input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

an electric motor that can output mechanical power to said drive shaft;

a generator capable of exchanging electric power with said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor;

a vehicle speed detection device that detects a vehicle speed;

a standstill judgment device that judges whether or not a vehicle is at a standstill on the basis of said detected vehicle speed; and

a control device that when a demand for an idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of a power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a high vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed high vehicle speed range, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a second rotation speed higher than said first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of the power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a low vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed low vehicle speed range, and controls the internal combustion engine so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a third rotation speed lower than said second rotation speed during a standstill in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is at a standstill.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a device that learns an idle controlled variable, which is a controlled variable for said idle operation of said internal combustion engine when prescribed learning conditions have held, the prescribed learning conditions including an operating condition under which said internal combustion engine is operated at idle, and a rotation speed condition under which the rotation speed of said internal combustion engine or the target rotation speed during said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is not less than said third rotation speed and lower than said second rotation speed lower than a learning upper limit rotation speed.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising:

a temperature detection device that detects the temperature of a cooling medium of said internal combustion engine,

said prescribed learning conditions being conditions including a temperature condition under which the temperature of said detected cooling medium is not less than a prescribed temperature and a vehicle speed condition under which said detected vehicle speed is not more than a prescribed vehicle speed.

4. A vehicle according to claim 2,

wherein said control device is a device that learns said idle controlled variable by judging that said learning conditions have held when all of the plurality of conditions including said operating condition and the rotation speed condition have held and

wherein said standstill judgment device sets, as a standstill-judgment vehicle speed range, a first range including the value 0 when a plurality of conditions among said prescribed learning conditions do not hold, sets, as said standstill-judgment vehicle speed range, a second range wider than the first range when only said rotation speed condition among said prescribed learning conditions does not hold, judges that said vehicle is at a standstill when said detected vehicle speed is in said set standstill-judgment vehicle speed range for a specified duration, and judges that said vehicle is not at a standstill when said detected vehicle speed is outside said set standstill-judgment vehicle speed range.

5. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said standstill judgment device is a device that judges that said vehicle is at a standstill when said detected vehicle speed is in standstill-judgment vehicle speed range including the value 0 for a specified duration, and judges that said vehicle is not at a standstill when said detected vehicle speed is outside said standstill-judgment vehicle speed range.

6. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a device that makes a changeover between said prescribed high vehicle speed range and said prescribed low vehicle speed range with hysteresis given to said detected vehicle speed.

7. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a device that makes a changeover of a rotation speed during said idle operation of said internal combustion engine between said first rotation speed and said second rotation speed with hysteresis given to said detected vehicle speed.

8. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said control device is a device that sets said first rotation speed as a minimum rotation speed of said internal combustion engine during said high vehicle speed travel, sets said second rotation speed as said minimum rotation speed during said low vehicle speed travel, sets said third rotation speed as said minimum rotation speed during said standstill, and performs control so that said internal combustion engine is operated at the set minimum rotation speed when a demand for said idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made.

9. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said demand for said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is a demand made on the basis of at least one of a plurality of demands, including a demand for a warm-up operation of said internal combustion engine, a demand for an idle learning of said internal combustion engine, and a demand for an actuation of equipment that uses energy from said internal combustion engine.

10. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a status detection device that detects the status of said generator;

a power-operation demand judgment device that judges whether or not a demand for a power operation, which is a demand for an operation of said internal combustion engine, has been made on the basis of the vehicle power demand required by said vehicle during said high vehicle speed travel or during said low vehicle speed travel; and

a charge-operation demand judgment device that judges whether or not a demand for a charge operation, which is a demand for an operation of said internal combustion engine for charging the generator on the basis of said detected status of the generator, has been made during said standstill;

said control device being a device that controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said internal combustion engine is operated at a target drive point based on said vehicle power demand regardless of a demand for said idle operation of said internal combustion engine and the vehicle travels by use of said drive power demand when it has been judged by said power operation demand judgment device that said power operation demand has been made during said high vehicle speed travel or during said low vehicle speed travel, and controls said internal combustion engine and said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism so that said generator is charged regardless of a demand for said idle operation of said internal combustion engine when it has been judged that said demand for a charge operation has been made during said standstill.

11. A vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a shift position detection device that detects a shift position,

said control device being a device that performs control when said detected shift position is a parking position during said standstill so that said internal combustion engine is operated at idle by using, as said third rotation speed, a low rotation speed compared to a case where said detected shift position is a travel position.

12. A vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism is a mechanism that comprises a generator that inputs and outputs mechanical power, and a three-shaft power input output module that is connected to the three shafts of said drive shaft, said output shaft and a rotating shaft of said generator and, on the basis of the mechanical power input and output to and from two out of the three shafts, inputs and outputs mechanical power to a remaining shaft.

13. A driving apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle along with an internal combustion engine and an accumulator unit capable of charge and discharge, said driving apparatus comprising:

an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to a drive shaft coupled to an axle and connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to be rotatable independently of the drive shaft, can exchange electric power with said accumulator unit, and can input and output mechanical power to and from said drive shaft and said output shaft, with the input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

an electric motor that can exchange electric power with said accumulator unit and can output mechanical power to said drive shaft;

a standstill judgment device that judges whether or not the vehicle is at a standstill on the basis of a vehicle speed; and

a control device that when a demand for an idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of a power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a high vehicle speed travel which is such that a detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed high vehicle speed range, controls said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a second rotation speed higher than said first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of the power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a low vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed low vehicle speed range, and controls the internal combustion engine so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a third rotation speed lower than said second rotation speed during a standstill in a case where it has been judged by said standstill judgment device that said vehicle is at a standstill.

14. A control method of a vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine;

an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to a drive shaft coupled to an axle, and connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to be rotatable independently of the drive shaft, and can input and output mechanical power to and from said drive shaft and said output shaft, with the input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

an electric motor that can output mechanical power to said drive shaft;

a generator capable of exchanging electric power with said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor;

said control method of a vehicle comprising the steps of;

(a) judging whether or not a vehicle is at a standstill on the basis of a vehicle speed; and

(b) when a demand for an idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made, controlling said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of a power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a high vehicle speed travel which is such that a detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed high vehicle speed range, controlling said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a second rotation speed higher than said first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of the power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a low vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed low vehicle speed range, and controlling the internal combustion engine so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a third rotation speed lower than said second rotation speed during a standstill in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is at a standstill.

15. A control method of a driving apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle along with an internal combustion engine and an accumulator unit capable of charge and discharge, said driving apparatus comprising:

an electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism that is connected to a drive shaft coupled to an axle and connected to an output shaft of said internal combustion engine so as to be rotatable independently of the drive shaft, can exchange electric power with said accumulator unit, and can input and output mechanical power to and from said drive shaft and said output shaft, with the input and output of electric power and mechanical power;

an electric motor that can exchange electric power with said accumulator unit and can output mechanical power to said drive shaft;

said control method of a driving apparatus comprising the steps of;

(a) judging whether or not a vehicle is at a standstill on the basis of a vehicle speed; and

(b) when a demand for an idle operation of said internal combustion engine has been made, controlling said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of a power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a high vehicle speed travel which is such that a detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed high vehicle speed range, controlling said internal combustion engine, said electric power-mechanical power input output mechanism and said electric motor so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a second rotation speed higher than said first rotation speed and the vehicle travels by use of the power demand required for the travel in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is not at a standstill and during a low vehicle speed travel which is such that said detected vehicle speed is in a prescribed low vehicle speed range, and controlling the internal combustion engine so that said idle operation of said internal combustion engine is performed at a third rotation speed lower than said second rotation speed during a standstill in a case where it has been judged that said vehicle is at a standstill.