Indicator apparatus for hybrid vehicle, hybrid vehicle, indicating method for hybrid vehicle

• US 9,878,700 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naoto, Nakashima, Motohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US15/205,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20160318502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/441 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• 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 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• 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 20/20 Control strategies involving selection of hybrid configuration, e.g. selection between series or parallel configuration
• 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 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/081 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/1005 : Transmission ratio engaged
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/244 : Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 : Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 : Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 : Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/90 : Vehicles comprising electric prime movers
• 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: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

An indicator apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a display region having a range that extends between first and second ends of the display region. The display region displays a first mark to indicate to the driver a first state amount that changes in accordance with the output demand from the driver, a first edge of the first mark moving across the range between the first and second ends of the display region as the first state amount changes. A second mark having a second edge is displayed so that the second edge extends across and overlaps the display region, the second edge indicating to the driver a threshold at which switching occurs between an EV traveling mode and an HV traveling mode.

Claims

1. An indicator apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor as motive power sources, and that is capable of traveling in a first traveling mode in which traveling is performed while the internal combustion engine is stopped, and a second traveling mode in which traveling is performed while both the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are operated, the indicator apparatus comprising:

an electronic control unit configured to switch between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode based on an output demand from a driver of the vehicle;

a display region having a range that extends between first and second ends of the display region, the display region displaying a first mark to indicate to the driver a first state amount that changes in accordance with the output demand from the driver, a first edge of the first mark moving across the range between the first and second ends of the display region as the first state amount changes, the first edge of the mark having a first length whereby a first area of the display region over which the first mark moves between the first and second ends of the display region has a width equal to or less than the first length; and

a second mark having a second edge that is displayed so that the second edge extends across the first area of the display region in a direction of the width of the first area and the second edge is superimposed with the first area of the display region, the second edge indicating to the driver a threshold at which switching occurs between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode so that the driver can recognize the switching and whether traveling is being performed in the first traveling mode or the second traveling mode by comparing positions of the first and second edges between the first and second ends of the display region, the first edge becoming superimposed with the second edge when the output demand from the driver reaches the threshold, wherein

the first edge is displayed between the first end of the display region and the second edge when the vehicle is traveling in the first traveling mode, and the first edge is displayed between the second end of the display region and the second edge when the vehicle is traveling in the second traveling mode.

2. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first edge and the second edge have different lengths.

3. The indicator apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the second edge is longer than the first edge.

4. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first state amount and the threshold are accelerator pedal opening degrees.

5. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the electronic control unit is configured to change a value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode, and

the position of the second edge of the second mark changes in accordance with the change of the value of the threshold.

6. The indicator apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the electronic control unit is configured to change the value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode in accordance with a speed of the vehicle.

7. The indicator apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

when an output power of a power storage apparatus that supplies electric power to the electric motor is restricted, the electronic control unit changes the value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling to increase a range in which traveling is performed in the second traveling mode.

8. The indicator apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

when a temperature of a power converting apparatus converting electric power between a power storage apparatus supplying electric power to the electric motor and the electric motor becomes not lower than a prescribed temperature, the electronic control unit changes the value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode to increase a range in which traveling is performed in the second traveling mode.

9. The indicator apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

when a temperature of the electric motor becomes not lower than a prescribed temperature, the electronic control unit changes the value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode to increase a range in which traveling is performed in the second traveling mode.

10. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when starting of the internal combustion engine is demanded based on a prescribed condition irrespective of the output demand from the driver, the electronic control unit forcibly switches to the second traveling mode, and

when forcibly switched to the second traveling mode, the second mark is not displayed thereby showing that the second traveling mode is selected for an entirety of the range of the display region.

11. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the hybrid vehicle includes a switch for allowing the driver to select traveling in the first traveling mode,

when the switch is operated by the driver, the electronic control unit changes a value of the threshold for switching between the first traveling mode and the second traveling mode to increase a range in which traveling is performed in the first traveling mode, and

the position of the second edge of the second mark changes in accordance with the change of the value of the threshold.

12. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

when starting of the internal combustion engine is demanded based on a prescribed condition irrespective of the output demand from the driver, the electronic control unit forcibly switches to the second traveling mode, the prescribed condition including at least one of (i) a case where warm-up driving of the engine is necessary after cold start, (ii) a case where a catalyst of the engine needs to be warmed up, (iii) a case where heater performance of an air conditioner cannot be maintained, and (iv) a case where a temperature of the power storage apparatus is not higher than a prescribed temperature, and

when forcibly switched to the second traveling mode, the second mark is not displayed thereby showing that the second traveling mode is selected for an entirety of the range of the display region.

13. The indicator apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first edge of the display region represents zero output demand from the driver, and

the second edge of the display region represents maximum output demand from the driver.