Please download the dossier by clicking on the dossier button x
×

Energy management device for a vehicle having a plurality of different energy sources

  • US 9,701,302 B2
  • Filed: 09/03/2014
  • Issued: 07/11/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A vehicle energy management device used in a vehicle including a plurality of vehicle devices driven by different energy sources, the vehicle energy management device comprising:

  • a travel route calculator configured to calculate a travel route of the vehicle;

    an energy consumption-related information obtainer configured to obtain energy consumption-related information which is information related to energy consumption of the vehicle along the travel route, the energy consumption-related information including a road attribute and a road slope angle;

    an energy consumption amount computer configured to calculate an estimated value of an energy consumption amount per unit time, by the plurality of vehicle devices when the vehicle travels along the travel route, based on a first force applied to the vehicle due to the road slop angle, a second force applied to the vehicle due to rolling resistance of tires of the vehicle, a third force applied to the vehicle due to air resistance, and a fourth force applied to the vehicle due to acceleration resistance;

    a control plan preparer configured to divide the travel route into a plurality of sections based on the road attribute, the road slope angle, and the estimated value of the energy consumption amount per unit time, and prepare a control plan for the plurality of vehicle devices based on the estimated value of the energy consumption amount per unit time;

    a vehicle device controller configured to control at least a motor and an engine included in the plurality of vehicle devices to drive the vehicle by using at least one of the different energy sources which is selected according to the control plan; and

    a feedback controller configured to perform feedback control of the plurality of vehicle devices to reduce a difference between the estimated value and an actual measured value of the energy consumption amount by the plurality of vehicle devices,wherein the vehicle energy management device comprises at least one hardware computing device configured to implement the travel route calculator, the energy consumption-related information obtainer, the energy consumption amount computer, the control plan preparer, the vehicle device controller, and the feedback controller, andwherein the control plan preparer switches an operation mode of the vehicle back and forth at least among an electric vehicle mode, an engine mode, a hybrid electric vehicle mode, based on the estimated value of the energy consumption amount per unit time that is calculated using the first to fourth forces.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×