Vehicular control device and method of controlling a vehicle

• US 9,085,228 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoki, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MAURICE L
• Application Number:
  US12/447,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20100049387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,924 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/51, 701/102, 701/110, 701/93, 701/95, 701/54, 180 6521- 658, 903/902, 123/350, 123/352
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• 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 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• 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 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0652 Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 : Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0661 : Speed change rate
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 : Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 31/001 : Electric control of rotation speed
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/023 : in relation with the gear ratio shifting conjoint control for improving gear change B60W30/19
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/0873 : with switching, e.g. to change ranges
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/728 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• 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

Abstract

An ECU executes a program including the steps of: calculating a period of time elapsing after a stage was immediately previously shifted before the stage is currently shifted; if the elapsed period of time is at most a predetermined period of time, performing a process to advance an elevation rate applied to the rotation speed of an engine; determining an elevation rate applied to the rotation speed of the engine; and performing a process to control elevating the rotation speed of the engine.

Claims

1. A vehicular control device for a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a rotating electric machine serving as driving sources, said vehicle including a first rotating electric machine coupled with an output shaft of said internal combustion engine and generating electric power based on motive power of said internal combustion engine, a power split device transmitting the motive power of said internal combustion engine to a wheel shaft of said vehicle, and an accelerator pedal, said power split device splitting the motive power received from said internal combustion engine into one of driving force for said wheel shaft and motive power for said first rotating electric machine, between said power split device and said wheel shaft a second rotating electric machine being provided to provide said wheel shaft with driving force, the vehicular control device comprising:

a detection unit detecting a state of an operation member operated to select a shift position of a plurality of shift positions corresponding to a plurality of stages, respectively, each with a lower limit value for a rotation speed of said internal combustion engine; and

an operation unit connected to said detection unit, said operation unit programmed to be operative, in response to said accelerator pedal not being depressed, to;

determine from said state as detected whether said shift position has been changed;

set a rate of change applied to the rotation speed of said internal combustion engine in accordance with an elapsed period of time from when said shift position was previously changed until said shift position is currently changed; and

control said first rotating electric machine in accordance with said rate of change, as set, to allow said internal combustion engine to have the rotation speed set at least at said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position.

2. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit sets said rate of change to increase as said elapsed period of time is shorter.

3. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit sets said rate of change to increase by a predetermined value if said elapsed period of time is at most a predetermined period of time.

4. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit determines whether said shift position is changed to another one of said shift positions that increases said lower limit value.

5. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, further comprising a revolution detection unit connected to said operation unit for detecting the rotation speed of said internal combustion engine, wherein if the rotation speed detected is at least said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position changed, said operation unit controls said internal combustion engine to cease to inject fuel for said internal combustion engine.

6. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, wherein:

said power split device, said second rotating electric machine and said wheel shaft are connected, with a transmission posed therebetween; and

said transmission changes torque of said second rotating electric machine and transmits the changed torque to said wheel shaft.

7. The vehicular control device according to claim 1, further comprising a requirement detection unit connected to said operation unit for detecting a degree of a requirement of force driving said vehicle, wherein if said degree of said requirement detected is substantially zero, said operation unit controls said first rotating electric machine to allow said internal combustion engine to have the rotation speed set at least said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position.

8. A method of controlling a vehicle with an internal combustion engine and a rotating electric machine serving as driving sources, said vehicle including a first rotating electric machine coupled with an output shaft of said internal combustion engine and generating electric power based on motive power of said internal combustion engine, a power split device transmitting the motive power of said internal combustion engine to a wheel shaft of said vehicle and an accelerator pedal, said power split device splitting the motive power received from said internal combustion engine into one of driving force for said wheel shaft and motive power for said first rotating electric machine, between said power split device and said wheel shaft a second rotating electric machine being provided to provide said wheel shaft with driving force, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a state of an operation member operated to select a shift position of a plurality of shift positions corresponding to a plurality of stages, respectively, each with a lower limit value for a rotation speed of said internal combustion engine;

in response to said accelerator pedal not being depressed;

determining from said state as detected whether said shift position has been changed;

setting a rate of change applied to the rotation speed of said internal combustion engine in accordance with an elapsed period of time from when said shift position was previously changed until said shift position is currently changed; and

controlling said first rotating electric machine in accordance with said rate of change, as set, to allow said internal combustion engine to have the rotation speed set at least at said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position.

9. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the step of setting includes the step of setting said rate of change to increase as said elapsed period of time is shorter.

10. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the step of setting includes the step of setting said rate of change to increase by a predetermined value if said elapsed period of time is at most a predetermined period of time.

11. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the step of determining includes the step of determining whether said shift position is changed to another one of said shift positions that increases said lower limit value.

12. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the rotation speed of said internal combustion engine; and

controlling said internal combustion engine to cease to inject fuel for said internal combustion engine if said shift position is changed and the rotation speed detected is at least said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position changed.

13. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein:

said power split device, said second rotating electric machine and said wheel shaft are connected, with a transmission posed therebetween; and

said transmission changes torque of said second rotating electric machine and transmits the changed torque to said wheel shaft.

14. The method of controlling a vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising the step of detecting a degree of a requirement of force driving said vehicle, wherein the step of controlling includes the step of controlling said first rotating electric machine to allow said internal combustion engine to have the rotation speed set at least said lower limit value corresponding to said shift position if said degree of said requirement detected is substantially zero.