Control apparatus of hybrid vehicle

• US 9,067,596 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2014
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Okamoto, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Shafi, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US14/228,804
• Publication Number:
  US 20140297080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/123, 701/114, 701/24, 701/84, 180/65.1, 180/65.265, 180/65.4, 180/65.2, 903/930, 903/905
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/1882 characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/194 related to low temperature conditions, e.g. high viscosity of hydraulic fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle has an engine, a motor, an engine-driven generator, and a battery. A controller determines an engine output based on an efficiency function that is defined by a drive power of the vehicle, a generated electric power from the generator, and a discharged electric power from the battery. The determined engine output controls the efficiency function to be kept in a value range that includes a maximum efficiency value of the efficiency function.

Claims

1. A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle having (i) an engine and a motor serving as a power source of the vehicle, (ii) a generator driven by the engine, and (iii) a battery that is charged and discharged, the control apparatus comprising:

a controller determining an engine output based on a system efficiency function that is defined by a drive power of the vehicle, a generated electric power from the generator, and a discharged electric power from the battery, wherein

the engine output determined by the controller controls the system efficiency function to have a maximum value or to stay within a preset value range that includes the maximum value.

2. The control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the controller calculates a requested energy of charging and discharging based on at least one of a state of the battery, outside air temperature, or future driving information, and

the controller determines the engine output to fulfill the requested energy while keeping the system efficiency function within a preset value range.

3. The control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle of claim 1, wherein

the controller defines the system efficiency function by using an amount of heat for heating a coolant of the engine, an amount of heat released from the coolant in a hot water circuit, the drive power, the generated electric power, and the discharged electric power.

4. The control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle of claim 3, wherein

the controller calculates at least one of the requested energy of charging and discharging or a requested energy for heat storage, based on at least one of a state of the battery, outside air temperature, future driving information, or coolant temperature of the engine, and

the controller determines the engine output to fulfill the requested energy while keeping the system efficiency function within a preset value range.