Hybrid vehicle powertrain control method
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) operable for developing a powertrain control strategy for powering the vehicle using at least one of the engine, the motor/generator, and the battery, the method comprising:
- determining a current location of the vehicle as a starting point of a preferred route;
recording a user-selected ending point of the preferred route;
processing a set of route information using the PCM to thereby determine an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching the ending point; and
automatically executing the powertrain control strategy over the optimally fuel efficient route;
wherein automatically executing the powertrain control strategy substantially depletes a charge level of the battery as the vehicle travels over the optimally fuel efficient route such that the charge level of the battery is substantially depleted when the vehicle reaches the ending point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) includes determining a current location of the vehicle as a starting point of a preferred route, recording a user-selected ending point of the preferred route, and processing route information using the PCM to thereby determine an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching the ending point. The method includes automatically executing the powertrain control strategy over the optimally fuel efficient route by substantially depleting a charge level of the battery as the vehicle travels over the optimally fuel efficient route such that the charge level of the battery is depleted when the vehicle reaches the ending point. When the ending point is not recorded, the PCM can default to a charge-sustaining mode.
25 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) operable for developing a powertrain control strategy for powering the vehicle using at least one of the engine, the motor/generator, and the battery, the method comprising:
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determining a current location of the vehicle as a starting point of a preferred route; recording a user-selected ending point of the preferred route; processing a set of route information using the PCM to thereby determine an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching the ending point; and automatically executing the powertrain control strategy over the optimally fuel efficient route; wherein automatically executing the powertrain control strategy substantially depletes a charge level of the battery as the vehicle travels over the optimally fuel efficient route such that the charge level of the battery is substantially depleted when the vehicle reaches the ending point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) operable for developing a powertrain control strategy for powering the vehicle using at least one of the engine, the motor/generator, and the battery, the method comprising:
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recording an ending point of a preferred route using a vehicle navigation system; determining an optimally fuel efficient route for reaching the ending point using route information, the route information including real time traffic data and electronic map information; and executing the powertrain control strategy over the optimally fuel efficient route such that a charge level of the battery is substantially depleted to an approximately zero charge level when the vehicle reaches the ending point.
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9. A method for controlling a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle having an engine, a motor/generator, a battery that is rechargeable using at least one of the engine and the motor/generator, and a powertrain control module (PCM) operable for developing a powertrain control strategy for powering the vehicle using at least one of the engine, the motor/generator, and the battery, the method comprising:
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determining the presence or absence of a recorded user-selected ending point for a preferred vehicle route; determining an optimally fuel-efficient route for reaching the ending point based on route information, the route information including at least one of traffic information and topographic information; executing a charge-depleting powertrain control strategy to thereby reach the ending point by depleting a charge level of the battery to an approximately zero charge level when the recorded user-selected ending point is present; and executing a charge-sustaining powertrain control strategy when the user-selected ending point is absent, the charge-sustaining mode sustaining the charge level of the battery above a minimum threshold charge level. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification