Hybrid vehicle with cylinder deactivation

• US 8,464,690 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2012
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tula Technology, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Tula Technology, Incorporated
• Inventors: Shost, Mark A., Serrano, Louis J., Tripathi, Adya S., Yuille, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US13/672,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20130066502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• Field of Search: 123/350, 123/198.F, 701/22, 701 84- 87, 701/101, 701/102, 180/65.265, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 180/65.285, 477/7, 477/15
• US Class Current: 123/350
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel 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 20/16 for reducing engine exhaust emissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/02 Cutting-out cutting-out engines in multiple engine arrangements F02D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/2027 Control of the current by pulse width modulation or duty cycle control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2400/02 Four-stroke combustion engines with electronic control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0002 Controlling intake air
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0087 Selective cylinder activation, i.e. partial cylinder operation deceleration cut-off F02D41/123
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1402 Adaptive control
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/1512 with particular means concerning an individual cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A variety of methods and arrangements for operating an internal combustion engine and one or more motor/generators in a hybrid vehicle are described. In various embodiments, the engine is operated in a skip fire mode. Depending on the state of charge of an energy storage device and/or other factors, the engine is operated to generate more or less than a desired level of torque. The one or more motor/generators are used to add or subtract torque so that the motor/generator(s) and the engine collectively deliver the desired level of torque. In some embodiments, the engine may be run with a substantially open throttle to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency.

Claims

1. A hybrid powertrain controller for a vehicle with at least one electric motor/generator and an internal combustion engine having a plurality of working chambers, the hybrid powertrain controller comprising:

an engine control unit arranged to operate the engine in a skip fire manner; and

an electric motor/generator control unit arranged to operate the at least one electric motor/generator to add torque to or subtract torque from a powertrain of the vehicle wherein the hybrid powertrain controller is arranged to operate the engine and the at least one electric/motor generator to deliver a desired torque.

2. A hybrid powertrain controller as recited in claim 1 wherein operating the engine in a skip fire manner involves deactivating at least one selected working cycle of at least one selected working chamber and firing at least one selected working cycle of at least one selected working chamber wherein individual working chambers are sometimes deactivated and sometimes fired.

3. A hybrid powertrain controller as recited in claim 1 wherein an air intake throttle helps keep the manifold absolute pressure substantially constant and substantially independent of changes in requested torque.

4. A hybrid powertrain controller as recited in claim 1 wherein an air intake throttle is positioned to maintain a manifold air pressure of greater than one selected from the group consisting of 70, 80, 90 and 95 kPa while any working chambers are being fired.

5. A method for operating a hybrid powertrain in a vehicle with at least one electric motor/generator and an internal combustion engine having a plurality of working chambers, the method comprising;

operating the internal combustion engine in a skip fire manner;

operating the at least one engine motor/generator to add torque to or to subtract torque from a powertrain of the vehicle; and

operating the engine and the at least one electric/motor generator to deliver a desired torque.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein operating the engine in a skip fire manner involves deactivating at least one selected working cycle of at least one selected working chamber and firing at least one selected working cycle of at least one selected working chamber wherein individual working chambers are sometimes deactivated and sometimes fired.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising positioning an air intake throttle to keep the manifold absolute pressure substantially constant and substantially independent of changes in requested torque.

8. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising positioning an air intake throttle to maintain a manifold air pressure of greater than one selected from the group consisting of 70, 80, 90 and 95 kPa while any working chambers are being fired.