Method and device for monitoring/controlling the starting of a heat engine of a hybrid vehicle

• US 9,611,825 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 04/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Original Assignee: Renault Sas (Renault)
• Inventors: Dang, Christophe, Laurain, Emmanuel, Nguyen, Hoang-Giang, Ketfi-Cherif, Ahmed, Van-Frank, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDMAN, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US14/433,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20150308398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 340438, 340657, 324426, 320104, 320107, 320134, 701 314, 701 328, 701423, 702 63, 702183
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/268 Electric drive motor starts the engine, i.e. used as starter motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2054 by controlling transmissions or clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/24 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/106 for maintaining or recovering the adhesion of the drive wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/108 whilst braking, i.e. ABS
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• 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 20/40 : 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 20/50 : Control strategies for responding to system failures, e.g. for fault diagnosis, failsafe operation or limp mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/021 : Means for detecting failure or malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/242 : for electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 : Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/08 : Electric propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/228 : Warning displays
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 : Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0825 : related to prevention of engine restart failure, e.g. disabling automatic stop at low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0862 : characterised by the electrical power supply means, e.g. battery
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 : for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/061 : Battery state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/062 : Battery current
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/063 : Battery voltage
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2250/02 : Battery voltage drop at start, e.g. drops causing ECU reset
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

A method for monitoring/controlling starting of a heat engine of a hybrid vehicle including at least one electrical engine, including: launching a simulated sequence for starting the heat engine by using a start battery; measuring and recording progress over time of at least one parameter of the start battery, including a given current strength and voltage at terminals of the start battery; and detecting whether or not the progress over time of the at least one parameter reaches a predetermined value defining a state of the start battery, with or without a required capacity, for starting the heat engine during a predetermined time interval.

Claims

1. A method for commanding and controlling starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle including at least one electric motor, the method comprising:

beginning a simulated starting sequence of starting the combustion engine using a starting battery;

measuring and recording an evolution with respect to time of at least one parameter of the starting battery comprising a given current strength and a given voltage across terminals of the starting battery;

detecting whether the evolution with respect to time of the parameter or parameters reaches a predetermined value defining a state of the starting battery having a capacity to start the combustion engine over a predetermined interval of time;

if it is detected that the state of the starting battery has the capacity, starting the combustion engine, using the starting battery; and

if it is not detected that the state of the starting battery has the capacity, allowing the electric motor to be used for propelling the hybrid vehicle and warning a driver that the state of the starting battery, which was detected, does not have the capacity.

2. The command and control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beginning of the simulated starting sequence is performed while the electric motor of the hybrid vehicle is in operation.

3. The command and control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beginning of the simulated starting sequence is performed while the electric motor of the hybrid vehicle is switched off.

4. The command and control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting the state of capacity of the starting battery is performed for a duration of less than 300 ms (milliseconds).

5. The command and control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined value defining the state of the starting battery is defined by an increase in current strength of several hundred amps and a drop in voltage below one to several volts for a duration of between 100 ms (milliseconds) and 200 ms (milliseconds).

6. The command and control method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined value defining the state of the starting battery is defined by the current strength reaching at least 800 A (Amps), and a drop in voltage of less than 3.8 V (Volts) starting from 12.8 V (Volts) for a duration of less than 200 milliseconds.

7. A device for command and control of starting of a combustion engine of a hybrid vehicle comprising:

a combustion engine;

at least one electric motor;

a starter motor;

a starting battery; and

a main electronic control unit,

wherein each of the combustion engine, at least one electric motor, the starter motor, and the starting battery are all operated by and connected by electrical connection to the main electronic control unit,

wherein the main electronic control unit is configured to;

begin a simulated starting sequence of starting the combustion engine by the starter motor powered by the starting battery;

measure and record an evolution with respect to time of at least one parameter of the starting battery comprising a given current strength and a given voltage across terminals of the starting battery;

detect whether or not the evolution with respect to time of the parameter or parameters reaches a predetermined value defining a state of capacity of the starting battery of having or not having a capacity to start the combustion engine, over a predetermined interval of time;

if it is detected that the state of the starting battery has the capacity, starting the combustion engine, using the starting battery; and

if it is not detected that the state of the starting battery has the capacity, allowing the electric motor to be used for propelling the hybrid vehicle and warning a driver that the detected state of the starting battery does not have the capacity.

8. The command and control device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising

a semi-automatic gearbox or automatic gearbox connected to the combustion engine,

wherein the main electronic control unit allows the starting of the combustion engine followed by an engagement of the gearbox if it is detected that the state of the starting battery has the capacity when the vehicle is being propelled by the electric motor.

9. The device for starting a combustion engine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the starting battery is a 12 V (Volts) auxiliary battery.

10. The device allowing starting of a combustion engine as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an indicator means housed in the vehicle, connected to the main electronic control unit and alerting the driver to a mode of operation of the vehicle.