Control device for vehicle and method of controlling vehicle

• US 9,346,423 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Takehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEEKS, MARTIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/416,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20150175103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/26 Transition between different drive modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/02 electric constitutive elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/033 characterised by the use of electrical cells or batteries for propulsion puposes B60K1/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06; testing of charge state G01R31/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/108 for diagnosis of the starter or its components
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/006 on road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks testing of ignition installations peculiar to internal combustion engines F02P17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3278 of relays, solenoids or reed switches measuring contact resistance G01R27/205; high voltage magnetic switches G01R31/3271, G01R31/333; testing electric windings G01R31/72; monitoring of fail safe circuits H01H47/002
• 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

A control device for a vehicle includes: a motor generator mechanically connected to an output shaft of an engine; a main battery electrically connected to the motor generator; a sub battery electrically connected to an electric load of the vehicle; and a relay adapted to switch whether the batteries are to be electrically connected or not by turning the relay on or off. The relay is turned off during a powering operation of the motor generator, and the relay is turned on during a regenerative operation of the motor generator. It is determined that the relay is off-fixed in a case where a voltage of the second battery is a predetermined voltage or lower or a charge current of the second battery is a predetermined current or smaller in a state that a command to turn on the relay is outputted during the regenerative operation of the motor generator.

Claims

1. A control device for a vehicle, comprising:

a motor generator mechanically connected to an output shaft of an engine;

a first battery electrically connected to the motor generator;

a second battery electrically connected to an electric load of the vehicle;

a relay configured to switch to cause the first battery and the second battery to be electrically connected or not by turning the relay on or off; and

a controller electrically connected to each of the motor generator, the first battery and second battery, the controller being configured to turn off the relay during a power operation of the motor generator so as to disconnect an electric connection between the first battery and the second battery, the controller being configured to turn on the relay during the regenerative operation of the motor generator so as to electrically connect the first battery and the second battery,

wherein the controller is configured to determine that the relay is fixed in an off state in a case where a voltage of the second battery is a predetermined voltage or lower or a charge current of the second battery is a predetermined current or smaller in a state that a command to turn on the relay is outputted during the regenerative operation of the motor generator.

2. A method of controlling a vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

a motor generator mechanically connected to an output shaft of an engine;

a first battery electrically connected to the motor generator;

a second battery electrically connected to an electric load of the vehicle; and

a relay configured to switch to cause the first battery and the second battery to be electrically connected or not by turning the relay on or off,

wherein the method comprises;

turning off the relay during a power operation of the motor generator so as to disconnect an electric connection between the first battery and the second battery, and turning on the relay during regenerative operation of the motor generator so as to electrically connect the first battery and the second battery; and

determining that the relay is fixed in an off state in a case where a voltage of the second battery is a predetermined voltage or lower or a charge current of the second battery is a predetermined current or smaller in a state that a command to turn on the relay is outputted during the regenerative operation of the motor generator.