STATE OF CHARGE CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a state of charge in a hybrid electric vehicle battery, comprising:
- sensing a battery state of charge in a hybrid electric vehicle battery, the battery being operable to provide energy to propel a vehicle;
accessing an upper state of charge limit;
accessing a lower state of charge limit, the upper and lower limit defining a state of charge range;
storing a target state of charge value which has been set at less than the midpoint of the state of charge range, wherein the target state of charge value is kept at that level regardless of predicted vehicle driving conditions; and
regulating the battery state of charge based upon the target state of charge value and the upper and lower limits.
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Accused Products
Abstract
State of charge control for electric and hybrid vehicles. In one embodiment, a battery may be electrically connected to an electric motor to propel a vehicle. In such an embodiment, during vehicle operation a state of charge of the battery may fluctuate within a given state of charge range and may be regulated to a target state of charge. Such target state of charge may be set below the midpoint of the state of charge range. As the vehicle operates various devices may be controlled to regulate the state of charge to the target. In particular, an electric motor may be employed to lower the state of charge and an internal combustion engine may be employed to raise the state of charge. In other embodiments, regenerative braking, solar power or the like may be employed to raise the state of charge from at or below the target state of charge to the upper state of charge limit.
93 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a state of charge in a hybrid electric vehicle battery, comprising:
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sensing a battery state of charge in a hybrid electric vehicle battery, the battery being operable to provide energy to propel a vehicle; accessing an upper state of charge limit; accessing a lower state of charge limit, the upper and lower limit defining a state of charge range; storing a target state of charge value which has been set at less than the midpoint of the state of charge range, wherein the target state of charge value is kept at that level regardless of predicted vehicle driving conditions; and regulating the battery state of charge based upon the target state of charge value and the upper and lower limits. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for increasing the charging capacity of a battery that provides energy to propel a vehicle, comprising:
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establishing an upper state of charge limit in a vehicle battery control system; establishing a lower state of charge limit in the vehicle battery control system, the upper and lower limit defining a state of charge range; setting a target state of charge value in the vehicle battery control system to less than the midpoint of the state of charge range such that the target state of charge value does not change based upon predicted vehicle driving conditions; and configuring the vehicle battery control system to charge the battery state of charge to the upper limit through regenerative braking and to discharge the battery state of charge toward the lower target state of charge limit by engaging an electric motor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for controlling a state of charge in a vehicle battery, comprising:
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an electric motor operative to propel the vehicle; a battery electrically coupled to the electric motor; and a battery control system, the battery control system having a predetermined state of charge range defined by an upper state of charge limit, the upper state of charge limit defining a maximum battery charge that should not be exceeded, and a lower state of charge limit, the lower state of charge limit defining a minimum battery charge to be maintained, the battery control system also having a target state of charge permanently set to less than the midpoint of the state of charge range, the battery control system including; a controller operative to maintain the battery state of charge within the range and regulate the battery state of charge to the target state of charge value. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification