Hybrid vehicle and method of controlling the same
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor serving as a power source for driving the hybrid vehicle and a power storage device supplying electric power to the electric motor, comprising:
- a catalytic converter purifying an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine;
a warming-up unit configured to warm up the catalytic converter by retarding opening and closing timing of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine after starting the internal combustion engine;
a setting unit configured to set a traveling distance of the hybrid vehicle;
an estimation unit configured to estimate a possible running distance in an electric-motor traveling mode of traveling with the internal combustion engine turned off and with the electric motor driven, based on a state of charge of the power storage device;
a comparison unit configured to compare the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit with the traveling distance set by the setting unit; and
a power generation unit configured to generate electric power to charge the power storage device by motive power of the internal combustion engine, whereinthe hybrid vehicle switches from the electric-motor traveling mode to a hybrid vehicle mode by starting the internal combustion engine when a state of charge of the power storage device falls below a predetermined threshold value,the hybrid vehicle further including a threshold value setting unit for setting the predetermined threshold value at a first threshold value when the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit is longer than the traveling distance set by the setting unit, and setting the predetermined threshold value at a second threshold value, larger than the first threshold value by an amount necessary for traveling while the catalytic converter is warmed up by the warming up unit when the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit is not longer than the traveling distance set by the setting unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid vehicle is equipped with an engine and a motor generator (MG2) serving as a power source for driving the vehicle. A catalytic converter is provided in an exhaust pipe of the engine. An HV-ECU estimates a possible EV-running distance based on an SOC of a power storage device for comparison with a traveling distance (L) to a destination set by a navigation device. When the possible EV-running distance is longer than the traveling distance (L), the HV-ECU outputs a control signal (CTL2) instructing prohibition of warm-up of the catalytic converter, to an EG-ECU.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor serving as a power source for driving the hybrid vehicle and a power storage device supplying electric power to the electric motor, comprising:
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a catalytic converter purifying an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine; a warming-up unit configured to warm up the catalytic converter by retarding opening and closing timing of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine after starting the internal combustion engine; a setting unit configured to set a traveling distance of the hybrid vehicle; an estimation unit configured to estimate a possible running distance in an electric-motor traveling mode of traveling with the internal combustion engine turned off and with the electric motor driven, based on a state of charge of the power storage device; a comparison unit configured to compare the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit with the traveling distance set by the setting unit; and a power generation unit configured to generate electric power to charge the power storage device by motive power of the internal combustion engine, wherein the hybrid vehicle switches from the electric-motor traveling mode to a hybrid vehicle mode by starting the internal combustion engine when a state of charge of the power storage device falls below a predetermined threshold value, the hybrid vehicle further including a threshold value setting unit for setting the predetermined threshold value at a first threshold value when the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit is longer than the traveling distance set by the setting unit, and setting the predetermined threshold value at a second threshold value, larger than the first threshold value by an amount necessary for traveling while the catalytic converter is warmed up by the warming up unit when the possible running distance estimated by the estimation unit is not longer than the traveling distance set by the setting unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor serving as a power source for driving the hybrid vehicle and a power storage device supplying electric power to the electric motor, wherein
the hybrid vehicle includes: -
a catalytic converter purifying an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine; and a warming-up device configured to warm up the catalytic converter by retarding opening and closing timing of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine after starting the internal combustion engine, and a power generation device configured to generate electric power to charge the power storage device by motive power of the internal combustion engine, wherein the hybrid vehicle switches from the electric-motor traveling mode to a hybrid vehicle mode by starting the internal combustion engine when a state of charge of the power storage device falls below a predetermined threshold value, the method comprising; a first step of setting a traveling distance of the hybrid vehicle; a second step of estimating a state of charge of the power storage device; a third step of estimating a possible running distance in an electric-motor traveling mode of traveling with the internal combustion engine turned off and with the electric motor driven, based on the estimated state of charge; a fourth step of comparing the estimated possible running distance with the traveling distance set in the first step; and a fifth step of setting the predetermined threshold value at a first threshold value when the possible running distance estimated in the third step is longer than the traveling distance set in the first step; and a sixth step of setting the predetermined threshold value at a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value by an amount necessary for traveling while the catalytic converter is warmed up by the warming up device, when the possible running distance estimated in the third step is not longer than the traveling distance set in the first step.
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12. A hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor serving as a power source for driving the hybrid vehicle and a power storage device supplying electric power to the electric motor, comprising:
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a catalytic converter purifying an exhaust gas discharged from the internal combustion engine; a warming-up device warming up the catalytic converter by retarding opening and closing timing of an intake valve of the internal combustion engine after starting the internal combustion engine; a setting device setting a traveling distance of the hybrid vehicle; a power generation device generating electric power for charging the power storage device by motive power of the internal combustion engine, and a control device executing a series of steps, wherein the hybrid vehicle switches from the electric-motor traveling mode to a hybrid vehicle mode by starting the internal combustion engine when a state of charge of the power storage device falls below a predetermined threshold value, and the control device estimates a possible running distance in an electric-motor traveling mode of traveling with the internal combustion engine turned off and with the electric motor driven, based on a state of charge of the power storage device, compares the estimated possible running distance with the traveling distance set by the setting device, controls the warming-up device based on a result of the comparison, and sets the predetermined threshold value at a first threshold value when the estimated possible running distance is longer than the traveling distance set by the setting device, and sets the predetermined threshold value at a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value by an amount necessary for traveling while the catalytic converter is warmed up by the warming up device when the estimated possible running distance is not longer than the traveling distance set by the setting device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification