Hybrid vehicle

• US 6,507,127 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Masaki, Ryoso, Amano, Masahiko, Hanyu, Tomoyuki, Miyazaki, Taizo
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US09/668,170
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40.C, 290/40.A, 180/65.2, 180/65.4, 701/22, 701/65
• US Class Current: 290/40.00C
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/443 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/15 Preventing overcharging
• 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 20/12 using control strategies taking into account route information estimation or calculation of non-directly measurable driving parameters B60W40/00
• 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 2555/40 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/105 : Output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/102 : the input or output shaft of the transmission is connected or connectable to two or more differentials
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/725 : with means to change ratio in the mechanical gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/727 : with at least two dynamo electric machines for creating an electric power path inside the gearing, e.g. using generator and motor for a variable power torque path special adapted for a hybrid electric vehicle B60K6/20
• 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: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

An altitude calculation unit 44 estimates an inclination of a road from vehicle speed and vehicle drive torque, and calculates altitude of a vehicle. A battery management unit 43 calculate difference between average altitude determined from the past altitude history and the present altitude and varies a target value of battery charging rate or upper and lower limit values thereof in response to the difference. Charging and discharging command value is calculated in response to difference between charging rate detection value and the target value or the upper and lower limit values. An integrated control unit 22 sets output share between an engine and a motor based on vehicle target drive torque calculated by a target toque determination unit 21 and charging and discharging command from the battery management unit 43, determines an optimum operation point of the engine and issues a control command to the engine and the motor. Thereby, even when a travelling route ahead of the vehicle is not set, a possible prevention of regenerative braking due to full charging during downhill rolling is avoided and a fuel economy for a hybrid vehicle is improved in total.

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine which generates driving energy for driving a vehicle;

a speed changer which changes revolution speed of the engine and transmits driving force to wheel tires;

an electric motor which increases or decreases driving force of the wheel tires;

a battery which supplies electric power for driving the electric motor as well as is used to be charged by regenerative electric power from the motor;

a battery management means for managing a charging rate of the battery, and

an altitude calculating means for calculating altitude of the vehicle,

wherein the battery management means is configured to set a charging rate target value or a charging rate upper limit value based on the calculated altitude information, wherein the battery management means sets the charging rate target value or the charging rate upper limit value based a difference between an average altitude calculated according to the past altitude history and the present altitude of the vehicle.

2. A hybrid vehicle comprising:

an engine which generates driving energy for driving a vehicle;

a speed changer which changes revolution speed of the engine and transmits driving force to wheel tires;

an electric motor which increases or decreases driving force of the wheel tires;

a battery which supplies electric power for driving the electric motor as well as is used to be charged by regenerative electric power from the motor;

a battery management means for managing a charging rate of the battery, and

an altitude calculating means for calculating altitude of the vehicle,

wherein the battery management means is configured to set a charging rate target value or a charging rate upper limit value based on the calculated altitude information, wherein the altitude calculating means calculates the. altitude based on information of driving torque and vehicle speed of the vehicle.

3. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the altitude calculating means uses a driving torque command value as the driving torque of the vehicle.

4. A hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the altitude calculating means estimates the driving torque of the vehicle from torque of the motor.