OPEN MODULAR ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN AND CONTROL ARCHITECTURE

• US 20120259490A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: YANG, HONG, BUCKNOR, NORMAN K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/30 for monitoring or controlling fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/10 Dynamic electric regenerative braking B60L7/22 takes precedence
• 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 10/115 with planetary gears
• 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 2050/0006 Digital architecture hierarchy
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/114 Super-capacities
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A system to control a powertrain includes an energy management layer monitoring a plurality of potential energy storage devices and determining a reference available power for each of the potential energy storage devices. The system further includes a power management layer monitoring the reference available power for the potential energy storage devices, a power demanded of the powertrain, and an electric power constraint for the potential energy storage devices, and determining a power split based upon the monitored reference available power for the potential energy storage devices, the power demanded of the powertrain, and the electric power constraint for the potential energy storage devices. The system further includes a torque control layer controlling torque generation based upon the determined power split.

Claims

1. System to control a powertrain, the system comprising:

an energy management layer;

monitoring a plurality of potential energy storage devices; and

determining a reference available power for each of the potential energy storage devices;

a power management layer;

monitoring the reference available power for the potential energy storage devices, a power demanded of the powertrain, and an electric power constraint for the potential energy storage devices; and

determining a power split based upon the monitored reference available power for the potential energy storage devices, the power demanded of the powertrain, and the electric power constraint for the potential energy storage devices; and

a torque control layer controlling torque generation based upon the determined power split.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprises a first alternative energy storage device and a second alternative energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first alternative energy storage device and the second alternative energy storage device are operator interchangeable and interact with the energy management layer according to a common protocol.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprises a primary energy storage device and a modular auxiliary energy storage device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprises a first battery device with a first chemical composition and a second battery device with a second chemical composition.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprises an ultra-capacitor device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices are concurrently available to the powertrain;

and

further comprising an open energy storage module managing the plurality of potential energy storage devices concurrently available to the powertrain.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy management layer further manages an alternate energy source, and the system further comprising a physical communication layer communicating between the open energy storage module, the controller managing the alternate energy source, and the power management layer.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the energy management layer further comprises:

a motor generator controller managing a motor generator device;

a mechanical controller managing an internal combustion engine; and

a friction controller managing a friction power device; and

further comprising a physical communication layer communicating between the open energy storage module, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, the friction controller, and the power management layer.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices concurrently available to the powertrain are electrically connected to a high-voltage DC bus.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the open energy storage module comprises:

an electronic control layer controlling a DC/DC converter regulating voltage and current for each of the plurality of potential energy storage devices concurrently available to the powertrain; and

a module controller unit balancing current and performing diagnostics and prognostics for each of the plurality of potential energy storage devices concurrently available to the powertrain.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the power management layer comprises a powertrain control module, and the system further comprising a physical communication layer wherein a signal flow is communicated between the powertrain control module and the plurality of potential energy storage devices utilizing a power bus common protocol.

13. System to control a powertrain comprising:

an energy storage device controller managing a plurality of potential energy storage devices;

a motor generator controller managing a motor generator device;

a mechanical controller managing an internal combustion engine; and

a friction controller managing a friction power device;

an energy management layer;

monitoring the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller; and

determining a reference available power for each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller;

a power management layer;

monitoring the reference available power for each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller, a power demanded of the powertrain, and an electric power constraint for each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller; and

determining a power split command based upon the monitored reference available power for each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller, the power demanded of the powertrain, and the electric power constraint for each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller; and

a torque control layer controlling torque generation based upon the power split command.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprise a battery of a first chemical composition and a battery of a second chemical composition.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the plurality of potential energy storage devices comprise a battery and an ultra-capacitor device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the motor generator device comprises an at-wheel motor.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the internal combustion engine comprises an auxiliary power unit.

18. Method to control a powertrain, comprising:

connecting an energy storage device controller, a motor generator controller, a mechanical controller, a friction controller, and an energy and power management controller through a physical communication layer;

within each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller, generating a reference power available signal to the physical communication layer;

within the energy and power management controller, determining a power split command based upon the reference power available signals from each of the energy storage device controller, the motor generator controller, the mechanical controller, and the friction controller and a power demanded of the powertrain; and

utilizing the power split command to command torque generation within the powertrain.

19. System to control a powertrain, the system comprising:

an energy management layer comprising;

a mechanical module;

a motor generator module;

a friction module; and

an energy storage module; and

an energy and power management controller;

communicating with the energy management layer through a power bus common protocol; and

outputting a power split command controlling operation of the powertrain.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the mechanical module, the motor generator module, the friction module, and the energy storage module comprises a separate controller.