Clutch control device of hybrid vehicle

• US 8,930,098 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nissato, Yukihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US13/267,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20120089284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/54, 701/67, 477/5, 477/181, 903/918, 903/946, 903/903, 180/65.23, 180/65.27, 180/65.285, 180/65.29, 180/65.235
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• 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 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 20/40 Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/085 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/246 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A clutch control device of a hybrid vehicle includes a battery, a generator, a motor, a motor shaft connected with a driving shaft of the vehicle by using electricity from the generator or the battery, an engine which drives the generator and the vehicle, a clutch, and a control unit. The control unit changes an engaged state of the clutch between the motor shaft and an engine shaft of the engine to a released state and changes an engine driving state of the hybrid vehicle, in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine, to a motor driving state of the hybrid vehicle in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the motor, when a vehicle velocity of the hybrid vehicle is the change vehicle velocity.

Claims

1. A clutch control device of a hybrid vehicle, the clutch control device comprising:

a battery which is charged with electricity generated by a generator;

a motor which drives a motor shaft that is connected with a driving shaft of the hybrid vehicle by using at least one of the electricity generated by the generator and the electricity charged in the battery;

an engine which drives the generator and the hybrid vehicle;

a clutch; and

a control unit which acquires a possible battery output that can be outputted by the battery and which sets a change vehicle velocity depending on the possible battery output, the control unit which changes a engaged state of the clutch in which the motor shaft and an engine shaft of the engine are engaged with each other to a released state of the clutch in which the motor shaft and the engine shaft are released from each other and changes an engine driving state of the hybrid vehicle in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the engine to a motor driving state of the hybrid vehicle in which the hybrid vehicle is driven by the motor, when a vehicle velocity of the hybrid vehicle is the change vehicle velocity.

2. The clutch control device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit acquires a possible motor driving force that can be outputted by the motor and that corresponds to the vehicle velocity based on a maximum electric generation output that is outputted by the generator and the possible battery output,

the control unit acquires a maximum engine driving force that is outputted by the engine and that corresponds to the vehicle velocity, and

the control unit sets a velocity in which a difference between the possible motor driving force and the maximum engine driving force is equal to or less than a predetermined difference, as the change vehicle velocity.

3. The clutch control device according to claim 2, wherein

the control unit acquires a maximum motor driving force that is outputted by the motor and that corresponds to the vehicle velocity, and

the control unit sets a velocity in which a difference between the maximum motor driving force and the maximum engine driving force is equal to or less than a predetermined difference, as the change vehicle velocity, when the possible motor driving force is equal to or greater than the maximum motor driving force.

4. The clutch control device according to claim 1, wherein

in a case where the possible battery output is equal to or less than an emergency determination output for determining a prior step of running out of the battery, the control unit prevents the clutch from being engaged, irrespective of the vehicle velocity, and releases the clutch when the clutch is in the engaged state.

5. The clutch control device according to claim 1, wherein

the control unit acquires the possible battery output from a temperature and a state of charge of the battery.