System and method for controlling an electrically heated catalyst for a hybrid vehicle

• US 8,727,050 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Roos, Bryan Nathaniel, Spohn, Brian L., Gonze, Eugene V., Santoso, Halim G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hau
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, BRYAN A
• Application Number:
  US12/392,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20100212981A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.275, 180/309, 180/65.1, 292/2, 292/285, 292/268, 292/257
• US Class Current: 180/65.275
• 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 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/12 Catalyst or filter state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/192 Mitigating problems related to power-up or power-down of the driveline, e.g. start-up of a cold engine
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/0097 the purifying devices are arranged in a single housing
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2013 using electric or magnetic heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2033 using a fuel burner or introducing fuel into exhaust duct
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/503 Battery correction, i.e. corrections as a function of the state of the battery, its output or its type
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0807 Remote means
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0833 Vehicle conditions F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A system and control module for controlling an electrically heated catalyst includes a remote start module generating a remote start signal, a catalyst control module controlling the electrically heated catalyst based on the remote start signal and an engine control module starting the engine after preheating and/or when required by the vehicle to honor a request as defined in this document.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle comprising:

generating a remote start signal;

in response to the remote start signal, initiating preheating of an electrically heated catalyst; and

starting an engine independent of a state-of-charge of a battery in response to a catalyst temperature being less than a predetermined temperature when an ignition is in an off position after initiating preheating.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising after a predetermined time after generating a remote start signal, generating a remote start off signal.

3. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising when the ignition is in a run position, determining the state-of-charge of a battery.

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein initiating comprises initiating preheating based on the state-of-charge.

5. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising when the vehicle is not autostop-capable, determining the state-of-charge of a battery and electrically controlling the catalyst in response to the state-of-charge and wherein starting an engine comprises starting the engine for at least one of additional catalyst heating, a cabin temperature request and a component warm-up.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising when a door unlock signal is generated, turning off the engine.

7. A method as recited in claim 5 further comprising when a door unlock signal is generated, turning off the engine when the vehicle is autostop-capable and the state-of-charge is not in or near a charge-sustaining mode.

8. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein when the vehicle is autostop-capable, and the state-of-charge of a battery is near charge-sustaining operation, deactivating the electrically heated catalyst and, thereafter, starting the engine.

9. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein when the vehicle is in autostop mode and the state-of-charge of a battery is not near charge-sustaining operation, electrically maintaining the heated catalyst.

10. A method as recited in claim 9 wherein when a cabin temperature request cannot be met, heating the catalyst electrically until starting the engine.

11. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein initiating preheating comprises initiating preheating from a hybrid battery.

12. A control module for controlling an electrically heated catalyst comprising:

a remote start module that generates a remote start signal;

a catalyst control module that initiates preheating of the electrically heated catalyst based on the remote start signal; and

an engine control module that starts an engine independent of a state-of-charge of a battery in response to a catalyst temperature being less than a predetermined temperature when an ignition is in an off position after preheating of the electrically heated catalyst is initiated.

13. A system comprising:

an electrically heated catalyst; and

a control module as recited in claim 12.

14. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

the system as recited in claim 13; and

a hybrid battery in communication with the electrically heated catalyst.

15. A control module as recited in claim 12 further comprising a state-of-charge module that determines the state-of-charge of the battery.

16. A control module as recited in claim 15 wherein the engine control module starts the engine when the state-of-charge is near a charge-sustaining mode.

17. A control module as recited in claim 15 wherein the engine control module starts the engine based on the state-of-charge and a cabin temperature request.

18. A control module as recited in claim 15 wherein the engine control module starts the engine when a vehicle is not autostop-capable.

19. A control module as recited in claim 18 further comprising a door lock module that generates a door unlock signal and turns off the engine in response to the door unlock signal.

20. A control module as recited in claim 12 further comprising a hybrid battery in communication with the electrically heated catalyst.