Vehicle and method of control thereof
First Claim
1. A speed control system for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having a powertrain comprising at least one engine and at least one electric machine, wherein the system is configured to:
- allow a driver to set a target vehicle speed;
operate the powertrain in first and second speed control modes so as to change a vehicle speed of the hybrid electric vehicle to maintain a prescribed distance behind a followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed,wherein in the first speed control mode the system limits operation of the powertrain to an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the electric machine produces positive torque while the engine produces no positive torque; and
determine that at least one of a prescribed one or more conditions is met with reference to data obtained from a sensor of the hybrid electric vehicle or from an external source, the sensor or external source monitoring traffic or locations external to the vehicle,wherein in the second speed control mode the system allows operation of the powertrain in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode, and EV inhibit mode, in which the engine produces positive torque, andwherein when the at least one of the prescribed one or more conditions is met, the system switches from the first speed control mode to the second speed control mode to allow operation of the powertrain in the HEV mode and EV inhibit mode so as to change the vehicle speed to maintain the prescribed distance behind the followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a speed control system and method for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having an engine (121), an electric machine (123) and a mode switch (169), to allow switching between a first speed control mode (EV) and a second speed control mode (HEV). When the control system is in the first mode and at least one of a prescribed one or more conditions is met, e.g. a rate of acceleration demanded by the driver or a difference between a target vehicle speed and a current vehicle speed exceeds a respective prescribed threshold value, the system is operable to not limit operation of the vehicle to the EV mode.
41 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A speed control system for a hybrid electric vehicle, the vehicle having a powertrain comprising at least one engine and at least one electric machine, wherein the system is configured to:
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allow a driver to set a target vehicle speed; operate the powertrain in first and second speed control modes so as to change a vehicle speed of the hybrid electric vehicle to maintain a prescribed distance behind a followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed, wherein in the first speed control mode the system limits operation of the powertrain to an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the electric machine produces positive torque while the engine produces no positive torque; and determine that at least one of a prescribed one or more conditions is met with reference to data obtained from a sensor of the hybrid electric vehicle or from an external source, the sensor or external source monitoring traffic or locations external to the vehicle, wherein in the second speed control mode the system allows operation of the powertrain in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode, and EV inhibit mode, in which the engine produces positive torque, and wherein when the at least one of the prescribed one or more conditions is met, the system switches from the first speed control mode to the second speed control mode to allow operation of the powertrain in the HEV mode and EV inhibit mode so as to change the vehicle speed to maintain the prescribed distance behind the followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of controlling speed of a hybrid electric vehicle via a speed control system, wherein the vehicle has a powertrain comprising an engine and an electric machine, the method comprising:
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allowing a driver to set a target vehicle speed; and operating the powertrain in first and second speed control modes to change a vehicle speed of the hybrid electric vehicle to maintain a prescribed distance behind a followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed; wherein in a first speed control mode of the control system, operation of the powertrain is limited to an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the electric machine produces positive torque while the engine produces no positive torque; and determining that at least one of a prescribed one or more conditions is met with reference to data obtained from a sensor of the hybrid electric vehicle or from an external source, the sensor or external source monitoring one or more of traffic or locations external to the vehicle, wherein in a second speed control mode of the control system, operation of the powertrain is allowed in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode and EV inhibit mode, in which the engine produces positive torque, and wherein when the at least one of the prescribed one or more conditions is met, the system switches from the first speed control mode to the second control speed control mode to allow operation of the powertrain in the HEV mode and EV inhibit mode so as to change the vehicle speed to maintain the prescribed distance behind the followed vehicle without exceeding the target vehicle speed.
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Specification