Hybrid vehicle and control method thereof

• US 8,002,058 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II; J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIGGS, JAMES J
• Application Number:
  US12/501,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20100006358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 772 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/70, 180/65.265, 180/65.21
• US Class Current: 180/65.265
• 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 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/448 Electrical distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/12 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/16 : Ratio selector position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/02 : Control of vehicle driving stability
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18027 : Drive off, accelerating from standstill
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility

Abstract

When an accelerator opening Acc is equal to or more than a threshold value A2 upon a shift from a N position to a D position, a target torque T* is set to gradually change in comparison with when the accelerator opening Acc is less than the threshold value A2 based on a torque demand Trq corresponding to the accelerator opening Acc and a time constant τ or a gradual change restriction until a satisfaction of a release condition. An Engine 22, motors MG1 and MG2 are controlled so as to ensure a driving torque equivalent to the target torque T*.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an internal combustion engine that outputs an engine driving force;

a motor that outputs a motor driving force;

an accumulator that supplies and receives electric power from the motor;

a shift position selecting device that allows a driver to select a neutral position and a drive position;

an accelerator operation amount acquisition device that acquires an accelerator operation amount by the driver;

a limit driving force setting module that sets a limit driving force that is a target value of a total driving force of the engine driving force and the motor driving force to reduce a behavior unstable state including at least a state in which a wheel spin occurs when the hybrid vehicle is in the behavior unstable state;

a limit driving force setting release device that allows the driver to release a setting of the limit driving force by the limit driving force setting module;

a target driving force setting module that sets a driving force demand for driving the vehicle based on the acquired accelerator operation amount, the target driving force setting module setting a target driving force that is a target value of a driving power based on the set driving force demand in response to a non-satisfaction of a predetermined condition upon a shift from the neutral position to the drive position, the target driving force setting module setting the target driving force so as to gradually change in comparison with that on the non-satisfaction of the predetermined condition based on the set driving force demand and a predetermined gradual change restriction until a satisfaction of a predetermined release condition in response to a satisfaction of the predetermined condition upon the shift from the neutral position to the drive position, the predetermined condition being configured to gradually change the target driving force through an annealing with a time constant, the target driving force setting module setting the target driving force based on the driving force demand as well as on the non-satisfaction of the predetermined condition regardless of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied when the setting of the limit driving force by the limit driving force setting module is released; and

a control module that controls the internal combustion engine and the motor so as to ensure the total driving force is equivalent to the set target driving force.

2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electric power-mechanical power input output structure connected to a predetermined axle and an engine shaft of the internal combustion engine and outputting at least a part of power from the internal combustion engine to an axle side with input/output of electric power and mechanical power, the electric power-mechanical power input output structure supplying and receiving electric power from the accumulator,

wherein the motor is capable of outputting power to the predetermined axle or another axle different from the predetermined axle.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the electric power-mechanical power input output structure includes a power generation motor capable of inputting and outputting power and supplying and receiving electric power from the accumulator, and a three shaft-type power input output assembly connected with three shafts, the predetermined axle, the engine shaft of the internal combustion engine, and a rotating shaft of the power generation motor, the three shaft-type power input output assembly configured to input and output power to one remaining shaft, based on input and output of powers from and to any two shafts selected among the three shafts.

4. A control method of a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine that outputs an engine driving force, a motor that outputs a motor driving force, an accumulator that supplies and receives electric power from the motor, and a shift position selecting device that allows a driver to select a neutral position and a drive position, a limit driving force setting module that sets a limit driving force that is a target value of a total driving force of the engine driving force and the motor driving force to reduce a behavior unstable state including at least a state in which a wheel spin occurs when the hybrid vehicle is in the behavior unstable state, a limit driving force setting release device that allows the driver to release a setting of the limit driving force by the limit driving force setting module, the control method comprising:

(a) setting a driving force demand for driving the vehicle based on an accelerator operation amount by the driver, the Step (a) setting a target driving force that is a target value of a driving power based on the set driving force demand in response to a non-satisfaction of a predetermined condition upon a shift from the neutral position to the drive position, the Step (a) setting the target driving force so as to gradually change in comparison with that on the non-satisfaction of the predetermined condition based on the set driving force demand and a predetermined gradual change restriction until a satisfaction of a predetermined release condition in response to a satisfaction of the predetermined condition upon the shift from the neutral position to the drive position, the predetermined condition being configured to gradually change the target driving force through an annealing with a time constant, the Step (a) setting the target driving force based on the driving force demand as well as on the non-satisfaction of the predetermined condition regardless of whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied when the setting of the limiting driving force by the limit driving force setting module is released; and

(b) controlling the internal combustion engine and the motor so as to ensure the total driving force is equivalent to the set target driving force.