Coast switch for an electrified vehicle

• US 9,656,671 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2014
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Perkins, William, Miller, Kenneth James, Hartl, Derek, Martin, Douglas Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US14/468,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20160052519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 180 651, 180 6521, 180 6531, 903912, 903914, 903946, 903947
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/131 Pivotable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/24 Coasting mode
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/02 including control of driveline clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• 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 2030/1809 Without torque flow between driveshaft and engine, e.g. with clutch disengaged or transmission in neutral
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18127 Regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2059/0221 for selecting modes, i.e. input device for selecting between different modes with range selector F16H2059/082; for conjoint control B60W30/182
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/02 Selector apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/105 consisting of electrical switches or sensors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

An example method of controlling an electrified vehicle includes activating a coast switch to a place an electrified vehicle in a coast mode.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

activating a coast switch to a place an electrified vehicle in a coast mode that prevents any regenerative braking of the electrified vehicle, the activating comprising moving the coast switch from a first position to a second position,

wherein the coast switch is biased to the first position, and a user holds the coast switch in the second position to overcome the bias and maintain the electrified vehicle in the coast mode.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a gear selector in a drive mode during the activating.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the gear selector can be actuated between at least a drive mode, a neutral mode, and a reverse mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the coast switch is separate from a gear selector of the electrified vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second position is a depressed position and the first position is a released position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein deactivating the coast switch comprises moving the coast switch from the second position to the first position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the coast switch separately from a gear selector of the electrified vehicle without applying a brake.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising transitioning gears of a powersplit powertrain from an engaged position to a disengaged position in response to activating the coast mode, the powersplit powertrain transmitting torque to a differential of the electrified vehicle when the gears are in the engaged position, the powersplit powertrain prevented from transmitting torque to a differential of the electrified vehicle when the gears are in the disengaged position.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising shutting down at least one electric machine of the electrified vehicle in response to the activating.

10. An electrified vehicle, comprising:

a gear selector actuatable between at least a drive mode, a neutral mode, and a reverse mode; and

a coast switch separate from the gear selector, the coast switch activated to selectively place an electrified vehicle in a coast mode that prevents any regenerative braking of the electrified vehicle, the coast switch biased to a first position and activated by moving from the first to a second position, wherein a user holds the coast switch in the second position to overcome the bias and maintain the electrified vehicle in the coast mode.

11. The electrified vehicle of claim 10, wherein the coast switch is activated to selectively place the electrified vehicle in the coast mode when the gear selector is in drive mode.

12. The electrified vehicle of claim 10, wherein the coast switch comprises a button disposed on a gear shift knob.

13. The electrified vehicle of claim 10, wherein the coast switch comprises a button disposed on a steering wheel of the electrified vehicle.

14. The electrified vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a clutch that moves a power transfer unit from an engaged position to a disengaged position in response to activation of the coast switch, the power transfer unit having gears that transmit torque to a differential when in the engaged position and do not transmit torque to the differential when in the disengaged position.

15. The electrified vehicle of claim 10, further comprising an electric machine configured to provide regenerative braking of the electrified vehicle when activated and to provide no regenerative braking when deactivated, the electric machine deactivated when the electrified vehicle is in the coast mode.