Method of controlling a reversible electric machine

• US 8,179,070 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Original Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur (Valeo SE)
• Inventors: Lecole, Brice, Laurence, Magali
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSENAU, DEREK JOHN
• Application Number:
  US11/575,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,427 Days
• Field of Search: 318280-282, 318445-447, 318/456, 318/461
• US Class Current: 318/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/103 Accelerator thresholds, e.g. kickdown
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2044 using pre-magnetisation or post-magnetisation of the coils
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0822 related to action of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/101 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/103 Clutch pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A method of preparing a reversible electric machine with a phase for starting a heat engine of a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic start/stop system, whereby said machine comprises a rotor which is connected to the heat engine. The method comprises the following steps consisting in detecting an action prior to a heat engine start command and applying a magnetizing electric current to the rotor of the machine upon detection of the action.

Claims

1. A method of preparing a reversible electrical machine with a phase for starting a thermal engine of a vehicle equipped with an automatic starting/stopping system, the reversible electrical machine comprising a rotor coupled to said thermal engine, said method comprising the steps of detecting an action prior to a start instruction to start the thermal engine, and applying an electrical magnetization current to the reversible electric machine as soon as said prior action is detected;

wherein said prior action is a pressing of a control pedal driving the thermal engine;

wherein said pedal is a clutch pedal and/or an accelerator pedal;

wherein said reversible electric machine further comprises at least one sensor, said method further comprising the step of detecting said pressing of said pedal using said at least one sensor, wherein said detection of a first pressing level triggering the application of said magnetization electric current to the rotor of the reversible electrical machine, and the detection of a second pressing level triggering said start instruction;

wherein said first pressing level is at least equal to approximately 10% of a total pressing and the said second pressing level is at least equal to approximately 90% of the total pressing.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pressing levels are detected by a continuous sensor.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said continuous sensor is also able to supply a pressing speed.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said value of the first pressing level increases when the pressing speed decreases as far as a given minimum value.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, for pressing speeds below said minimum value, no magnetization electric current is applied to the rotor of the reversible electrical machine.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the application of the magnetization electric current is interrupted if a start instruction is not triggered after a given period after said prior action is detected.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, after an interruption of the application of the magnetization electric current, a new attempt at preparing the reversible electrical machine is made only after cancellation of said prior action.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said prior action cancellation consists of a zero pressing of said pedal.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein a new attempt at preparing the reversible electrical machine is prevented if a total number of attempts of triggering said start instruction exceeds a maximum number of interrupted attempts.

10. A method of preparing a reversible electrical machine with a phase for starting a thermal engine of a vehicle equipped with an automatic starting/stopping system, the reversible electrical machine comprising a rotor coupled to said thermal engine, said method comprising the steps of detecting an action prior to a start instruction to start the thermal engine, and applying an electrical magnetization current to the reversible electric machine as soon as said prior action is detected;

wherein said prior action is a pressing of a control pedal driving the thermal engine;

wherein said pedal is a clutch pedal and/or an accelerator pedal;

wherein said reversible electric machine further comprises at least one sensor, said method further comprising the step of detecting said pressing of said pedal using said at least one sensor, wherein said detection of a first pressing level triggering the application of said magnetization electric current to the rotor of the reversible electrical machine, and the detection of a second pressing level triggering said start instruction;

wherein said first and second pressing levels are detected by two successive binary sensors.