Method for determining a voltage level across an electric circuit of a powertrain

• US 8,265,821 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company), Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG), Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Wang, Wei D., Cawthorne, William R., Kothari, Aniket, Kokotovich, Nicholas, Ren, Wei, Zhang, Bo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Diacou, Ari M
• Application Number:
  US12/253,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20090108673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 320/9, 320/21, 320/162, 320/FOR.108, 340/636.15, 340/636.2, 307/10.1, 324/433, 324/503, 701/22, 701/33.7, 701/34.4, 903/907, 180/65.29
• US Class Current: 701/33.7
• 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 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/465 Slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/662 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/24 for controlling the temperature of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 2050/0006 : Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0671 : Engine manifold pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 : Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1015 : Input shaft speed, e.g. turbine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/104 : Output speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 : Temperature
• 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 2555/20 : Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/027 : Clutch torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0605 : Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0616 : Position of fuel or air injector
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 : Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A method for determining a voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain includes measuring a plurality of voltage levels and utilizing a comparison test between at least two voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level.

Claims

1. A method for determining a circuit voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain, the method comprising:

measuring a plurality of voltage levels comprising first, second and third voltage levels each variously corresponding to respective ones of a voltage level measured across a battery of the electric circuit, a voltage level measured across an inverter of the electric circuit and a voltage level measured across a ground wire of a voltage divider of the electric circuit and a terminal of the battery of the electric circuit;

utilizing a comparison test between at least two of the first, second and third voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level; and

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on at least the determined circuit voltage level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels; and

determining the circuit voltage level as the first voltage level when the difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is less than a threshold voltage level.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining an invalid first voltage level if the difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is greater than the threshold voltage level.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels is measured across one of the inverter and the battery of the electric circuit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels is measured across the ground wire of the voltage divider of the electric circuit and the terminal of the battery of the electric circuit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage level and the second voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels are measured at different locations of the electric circuit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage level and the second voltage level are provided to a controller along different communication busses.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling charging of the battery of the powertrain based on the determined circuit voltage level.

10. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling a torque level generated by the powertrain based on the determined circuit voltage level.

4. A method for determining a circuit voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain, the method comprising:

measuring a plurality of voltage levels;

utilizing a comparison test between at least two voltage levels of the plurality of voltage levels to determine the circuit voltage level;

determining a difference between a first voltage level and a second voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels;

determining a difference between the first voltage level and a third voltage level of the plurality of voltage levels;

determining the circuit voltage level as the first voltage level if either the difference between the first voltage level and the second voltage level is less than a first threshold voltage level or the difference between the first voltage level and the third voltage level is less than a second threshold voltage level; and

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on at least the determined circuit voltage level.

11. A method for determining a circuit voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain, the method comprising:

measuring a first plurality of voltage levels;

utilizing a difference between at least two voltage levels of the first plurality of voltage levels to determine a first circuit voltage level;

measuring a second plurality of voltage levels;

utilizing a difference between at least two voltage levels of a second plurality of voltage levels to determine a second circuit voltage level; and

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on one of the determined first circuit voltage level, the determined second circuit voltage level, and both the determined first circuit voltage level and the determined second circuit voltage level.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling power transfer within the powertrain comprises controlling charging of a battery of the powertrain.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein controlling power transfer within the powertrain comprises controlling a torque level generated by the powertrain.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on the determined first circuit voltage level when the second circuit voltage level is invalid.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based an average of the determined first circuit voltage level and the determined second circuit voltage level.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a third circuit voltage level; and

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on the third circuit voltage level, when the first circuit voltage level and the second circuit voltage level are invalid.

17. A method for determining a circuit voltage level across an electrical circuit of a powertrain, the method comprising:

determining a first circuit voltage level at a first controller and a second circuit voltage level at a second controller;

routing the determined first circuit voltage level from the first controller to a third controller;

routing the determined second circuit voltage level from the second controller to the third controller; and

controlling power transfer within the powertrain based on one of the determined first circuit voltage level, the determined second circuit voltage level, and both the determined first circuit voltage level and the determined second circuit voltage level.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising controlling charging of a battery of the powertrain based on one of the determined first circuit voltage level, the determined second circuit voltage level, and both the determined first circuit voltage level and the determined second circuit voltage level.

19. The method of claim 17, comprising controlling a torque level generated by the powertrain based on one of the determined first circuit voltage level, the determined second circuit voltage level, and both the determined first circuit voltage level and the determined second circuit voltage level.