Hybrid vehicle launch control
First Claim
1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
- a launch actuation device having at least an off state or mode and a launch preparation state or mode;
at least two wheels having a wheel speed or wheel torque;
a continuously variable transmission coupled to the at least two wheels;
an engine coupled to the continuously variable transmission and having an engine output speed or torque;
a battery for storing electrical energy;
a motor coupled to the continuously variable transmission and configured to provide an output power or output torque using the electrical energy stored in the battery;
a memory configured to store engine data; and
an electronic control unit coupled to at least the launch actuation device, the engine, the continuously variable transmission, the motor, and the memory, wherein when or after the launch actuation device switches from the off state or mode to the launch preparation state or mode, the electronic control unit is configured to increase the engine output speed or torque and adjust the output power or output torque of the motor based on the engine data and temporarily set or maintain the wheel speed or wheel torque to be substantially zero during the launch preparation state or mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A launch control system which maximizes hybrid vehicle acceleration from a standing start. A hybrid vehicle includes wheels, an engine, a motor-generator, a processor, and an actuation device. The processor controls an engine speed and an engine torque independently from a wheel speed and a wheel torque. While the hybrid vehicle is at a standstill, the actuation device is switched to an on state, and the engine speed and engine torque is raised to optimal values. When the actuation device is subsequently switched to an off state, the engine speed and the engine torque is applied to the plurality of wheels to launch the hybrid vehicle. The processor blends or further adjusts the torque applied to the plurality of wheels to maximize the acceleration while optimizing an amount of wheel slip. The processor then learns the launch to improve performance on subsequent launches.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:
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a launch actuation device having at least an off state or mode and a launch preparation state or mode; at least two wheels having a wheel speed or wheel torque; a continuously variable transmission coupled to the at least two wheels; an engine coupled to the continuously variable transmission and having an engine output speed or torque; a battery for storing electrical energy; a motor coupled to the continuously variable transmission and configured to provide an output power or output torque using the electrical energy stored in the battery; a memory configured to store engine data; and an electronic control unit coupled to at least the launch actuation device, the engine, the continuously variable transmission, the motor, and the memory, wherein when or after the launch actuation device switches from the off state or mode to the launch preparation state or mode, the electronic control unit is configured to increase the engine output speed or torque and adjust the output power or output torque of the motor based on the engine data and temporarily set or maintain the wheel speed or wheel torque to be substantially zero during the launch preparation state or mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of initiating and executing a launch operation for a hybrid vehicle having at least two wheels, a continuously variable transmission coupled to the at least two wheels, an engine coupled to the continuously variable transmission, and a motor coupled to the continuously variable transmission, the method comprising:
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storing engine data in a memory communicatively coupled to an electronic control unit that is coupled to the continuously variable transmission, the engine, and the motor; detecting, using a brake pedal sensor, a brake application percentage or amount of a brake pedal; detecting, using an accelerator pedal sensor, an accelerator application percentage or amount of an accelerator pedal; setting, using the electronic control unit, a current launch control state or mode of the hybrid vehicle to a launch preparation state or mode when or after the brake application percentage or amount is greater than or equal to a brake application threshold percentage or amount and the accelerator application percentage or amount is greater than or equal to an accelerator application threshold percentage or amount; increasing, using the electronic control unit, an engine output speed or torque of the engine based on the engine data when or after the current launch control state or mode is set to the launch preparation state or mode; adjusting, using the electronic control unit, an output power or an output torque of the motor when or after the current launch control state or mode is set to the launch preparation state or mode, the output power or the output torque of the motor being provided using electrical energy stored in a battery; and temporarily setting or maintaining, using the electronic control unit, a wheel speed or a wheel torque to be substantially zero when or after the current launch control state or mode is set to the launch preparation state or mode. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of initiating and executing a launch operation for a hybrid vehicle having a launch actuation device configured to receive or detect an input from a finger or a hand of a driver of the hybrid vehicle, at least two wheels, a continuously variable transmission coupled to the at least two wheels, an engine coupled to the continuously variable transmission, and a motor coupled to the continuously variable transmission, the method comprising:
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storing engine data in a memory communicatively coupled to an electronic control unit that is coupled to the continuously variable transmission, the engine, and the motor; detecting or receiving, using the launch actuation device, a first input corresponding to a launch preparation state or mode; increasing, using the electronic control unit, an engine output speed or torque of the engine based on the engine data, when or after the first input is detected or received; adjusting, using the electronic control unit, an output power or an output torque of the motor when or after the first input is detected or received, the output power or the output torque of the motor being provided using electrical energy stored in a battery; temporarily setting or maintaining, using the electronic control unit, a wheel speed or a wheel torque of the at least two wheels to be substantially zero, during the launch preparation state or mode; detecting or receiving, using the input device, a second input corresponding to a launch state or mode; and applying, using the electronic control unit, the engine output speed or torque to the at least two wheels for launching an acceleration of the hybrid vehicle, when or after the second input is detected or received. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification