Vehicle generator control system and method for saving fuel

• US 8,566,003 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Daekwang, Jung, Minyoung, Yu, Jiyong, Lee, Junyong, Ahn, Chikung, Kim, Hyungjun
• Primary Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US13/300,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20130054111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 701/102, 180/65.285, 290/40.C
• US Class Current: 701/102
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00

Abstract

A vehicle generation controlling system for saving fuel includes a battery supplying power to electric components of a vehicle, a generator generating power by using rotational force of an engine and supplying the generated power to the battery and the electric components, and an ECU determining whether generation control is prevented by monitoring vehicle information on the vehicle and operational information on an operation of an electric product of a cooling system among the electric components and controlling the generator to prevent the generation control according to the determination. As a result, the generation control is performed based on whether an electric product of a cooling system is actuated and vehicle information on the vehicle to thereby prevent cooling performance from being deteriorated due to the generation control.

Claims

1. A vehicle generation controlling system, comprising:

a battery supplying power to electric components of a vehicle;

a generator generating power by using rotational force of an engine and supplying the generated power to the battery and the electric components; and

an engine control unit (ECU) determining whether generation control is prevented by monitoring vehicle information on the vehicle and operational information on an operation of an electric product of a cooling system among the electric components and controlling the generator to prevent the generation control according to the determination;

wherein the ECU monitors a battery temperature value sensed in the battery and performs the generation control to maintain fixed voltage without changing voltage by using the monitored battery temperature value to prevent the generation control; and

wherein when the ECU determines that the generation control is prevented, the ECU stands by for a time as long as a predetermined set value of a delay time before preventing the generation control according to the determination.

2. The vehicle generation controlling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the ECU determines that the generation control is prevented when judging that the electric product of the cooling system is in operation through the operational information and judging that a value of the temperature of cooling water, a value of the opening degree of an accelerator, and a value of a vehicle speed in the vehicle information are larger than a set value of the cooling water temperature, a set value of the accelerator opening degree, and a set value of the vehicle speed, respectively.

3. The vehicle generation controlling system as defined in claim 1, wherein the electric product of the cooling system is any one product or two or more components of a cooling fan, an electromotive water pump, and an electromotive air-conditioner compressor.

4. A control method of a vehicle generation controlling system with an engine control unit (ECU) performing generation control for saving fuel by interworking with a battery and a generator connected with electric components of a vehicle, the method comprising:

judging, by the ECU, whether an electric product of a cooling system among the electric components is in operation after an engine of the vehicle starts;

judging, by the ECU, whether a value of the temperature of cooling water in vehicle information monitored from the outside is larger than a predetermined set value of the cooling water temperature when judging the electric product of the cooling system is in operation;

judging, by the ECU, whether a value of the opening degree of an accelerator in the vehicle information is larger than a predetermined set value of the accelerator opening degree when judging that the value of the cooling water temperature is larger than the set value of the cooling water temperature;

judging, by the ECU, whether a value of a vehicle speed in the vehicle information is larger than a predetermined set value of the vehicle speed when judging the value of the accelerator opening degree is larger than the set value of the accelerator opening degree vehicle speed; and

controlling, by the ECU, the generator to prevent the generation control when judging the value of the vehicle speed is larger than the set value of the vehicle speed;

wherein the ECU monitors a battery temperature value sensed in the battery and performs the generation control to maintain fixed voltage without changing voltage by using the monitored battery temperature value to prevent the generation control; and

wherein the preventing of the generation control includes standing, by the ECU, for a time as long as a predetermined set value of a delay time before preventing the generation control after judging that the value of the vehicle speed is larger than the set value of the vehicle speed.