Selective electric mode for electric vehicle

• US 9,884,619 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Porras, Angel Fernando, Bolger, Bryan Michael, Ochocinski, Christopher Adam, Supina, Joseph Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Antonucci, Anne M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stroud, James E
• Application Number:
  US15/233,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 545 Days
• Field of Search: 701 22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• 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 20/00 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 20/13 in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion
• 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 2510/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/244 Charge state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2300/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/02 peculiar to engines driving vehicles; peculiar to engines driving variable pitch propellers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/93 : Conjoint control of different elements

Abstract

An exemplary method includes using a controller to automatically operate a vehicle in an electric mode when an actual speed of the vehicle is at or below a set threshold, and to automatically operate the vehicle in a hybrid mode when the actual speed is above the set threshold. The method further including adjusting the set threshold using a selector device such that the set threshold is changed without influencing the actual speed. Another exemplary method includes using a controller to automatically initiate a transition of a vehicle from an electric mode to a hybrid mode, or from the hybrid mode to the electric mode. The controller initiates the transition in response to a comparison of a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle to a threshold state of charge that is configured to be adjusted by an operator.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

using a controller to automatically operate a vehicle in an electric mode when an actual speed of the vehicle is at or below a set threshold, and to automatically operate the vehicle in a hybrid mode when the actual speed is above the set threshold; and

adjusting the set threshold using a selector device such that the set threshold is changed without influencing the actual speed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the set threshold when the vehicle is moving.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set threshold is one of a plurality of fixed choices.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging a battery of the vehicle to a charge level when operating the vehicle in a hybrid mode, the charge level calculated based on a desired reserve charge when the vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the desired reserve charge comprises an operator-adjustable desired reserve charge.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator-adjustable desired reserve charge can be adjusted by an operator when the vehicle is moving.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the operator-adjustable desired reserve charge comprises an operator-adjustable electric distance amount.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising alerting an operator of the vehicle of a transition between the electric mode and the hybrid mode, and providing the operator with an option to bypass the transition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the alerting comprises initiating an audible count down timer.

10. A method, comprising:

using a controller to automatically initiate a transition of a vehicle from an electric mode to a hybrid mode, or from the hybrid mode to the electric mode, the controller initiating the transition in response to a comparison of a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle to a threshold state of charge that is configured to be adjusted by an operator.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold state of charge is calculated based on a desired reserve charge when the vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising charging the battery of the vehicle to the threshold state of charge when operating the vehicle in a hybrid mode.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold state of charge is configured to be adjusted by an operator when the vehicle is moving.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a controller configured to automatically initiate a transition of a vehicle from an electric mode to a hybrid mode, or from the hybrid mode to the electric mode, the controller configured to automatically initiate the transition in response to a comparison of a state of charge of a battery of the vehicle to a threshold state of charge; and

a selector device that is actuated to adjust the threshold state of charge.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to cause a battery of the vehicle to be charged to a charge level when operating the vehicle in the hybrid mode, the charge level calculated based on the desired reserve charge when the vehicle stops operating in the hybrid mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the desired reserve charge comprises a range of desired reserve charges.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a threshold speed selector device that is actuated to adjust the set threshold speed without influencing the actual speed.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transition is of a first type, and the controller is further configured to initiate a transition of a second type where the vehicle is transitioned from the electric mode to the hybrid mode, or from the hybrid mode to the electric mode, in response to a comparison of an actual speed of the vehicle to a set threshold speed.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to provide an alert to an operator of the vehicle in response to an upcoming transition from the electric mode to the hybrid mode, or from the hybrid mode to the electric mode, and to provide the operator with an option to bypass the upcoming transition.