Method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle drive

• US 8,783,395 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Sauvlet, Nils, Fleckner, Marco, Goehring, Markus, Kraxner, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): VANAMAN, FRANK BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US11/942,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20080129049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,437 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 180/65.265, 180/65.28, 903/930, 903/946
• US Class Current: 180/65.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/507 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/023 Fluid clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• 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

Abstract

A method is employed for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle drive which is driven by an electric motor. A speed of the internal combustion engine is adjusted to a target speed. The internal combustion engine speed exceeds the target speed over a predefined time by a predetermined speed differential.

Claims

1. A method for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid sports vehicle that is driven by an electric motor, comprising:

providing a driver operable selector switch for selecting one of a gentle engine starting mode and a predetermined sports car engine noise mode;

using an engine control unit to determine when driving dynamics require the internal combustion engine to supplement the electric motor;

starting the internal combustion engine when the engine control unit determines driving dynamics require the internal combustion engine;

adjusting a speed of the internal combustion engine to a target speed corresponding to a speed of the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch is in the gentle engine starting mode;

adjusting the speed of the internal combustion engine to a sports car engine noise mode speed that exceeds the target speed of the internal combustion engine over a predetermined time by a predetermined speed differential while simultaneously decreasing a coupling strength of a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch is in the sports car engine noise mode for generating a speed overswing, and thereby producing a predetermined acoustical characteristic as a function of the speed overswing; and

reducing the internal combustion engine speed to the target speed after a predetermined time of operating with the predetermined acoustical characteristic and then increasing the coupling strength of the clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor.

2. The method claim 1, wherein the adjusting further comprises:

(a) monitoring at least one start criterion for starting the internal combustion engine;

(b) coupling the internal combustion engine to the electric motor; and

(c) igniting the internal combustion engine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed differential is from 200 to 500 revolutions per minute.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined time is in a range from 0.5 to 1 second.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising suppressing a gear change of a transmission of the hybrid vehicle during switching to the internal combustion engine.

6. A method for starting an internal combustion engine in a hybrid sports vehicle that is driven by an electric motor, comprising:

receiving measurement and control signals from components of the vehicle to determine driving dynamics;

determining from the received measurement and control signals whether conditions require a starting of the internal combustion engine;

determining whether a driver operable selector switch has been set to a sports car engine noise mode;

using the electric motor for starting the internal combustion engine when the measurement and control signals indicate driving dynamics requiring the internal combustion engine;

adjusting an operating speed of the internal combustion engine substantially to an operating speed of the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch has not been set to the sports car engine noise mode;

adjusting the operating speed of the internal combustion engine to a speed sufficiently in excess of the operating speed of the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch has been set to the sports car engine noise mode to produce a noise by the internal combustion engine that is acoustically different from a noise of the internal combustion engine while simultaneously decreasing a coupling strength of a clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch has been set to the sports car engine noise mode; and

reducing the operating speed of the internal combustion engine to a target speed substantially corresponding to the operating speed of the electric motor after a predetermined time and then increasing the coupling strength of the clutch between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor when the driver operable selector switch has been set to the sports car engine noise mode.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of adjusting the operating speed of the internal combustion engine to a speed in excess of the operating speed of the electric motor comprises exceeding the speed of the electric motor by approximately one-third.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined time period is in a range of 0.5 to 1 second.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of adjusting the operating speed of the internal combustion engine to a speed in excess of the operating speed of the electric motor comprises exceeding the speed of the electric motor by a speed differential in a range of from 200 to 500 revolutions per minute.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the predetermined time period is in a range of 0.5 to 1 second.