Engine operation controller for hybrid electric vehicle

• US 6,739,418 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi FUSO Truck & Bus Corporation (Daimler Truck Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi FUSO Truck & Bus Corporation (Daimler Truck Holding AG)
• Inventors: Yanase, Takashi, Susuki, Yuta, Ogata, Makoto, Takeda, Nobuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/018,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20020157883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.4, 180/65.2, 180/65.3, 477/183, 477/185, 477/187, 477/116, 477/107, 701/1, 701/54, 123/179.3, 123/179.4
• US Class Current: 180/65.245
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/445 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/20 having different nominal voltages
• 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 2510/0676 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/143 Busses
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0833 Vehicle conditions F02N11/0822, F02N11/0825 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2200/0815 Vehicle door sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2011 Control involving a delay; Control involving a waiting period before engine stop or engine start
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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

Abstract

An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric automobile is equipped at least with a motor and an engine. The engine operation controller is provided with a speed detection section for detecting the speed of the vehicle, a control section for controlling operation of the engine, and a decision section for deciding whether or not a stop of the vehicle is a stop at a stopping place. If it is detected by the speed detection section that the speed is less than a predetermined value, operation of the engine is prohibited by the control section. Furthermore, a delay section is provided for delaying removal of the operation prohibition of the engine when it is decided by the decision section that the stop of the vehicle is a stop at a stopping place.

Claims

1. An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric vehicle equipped at least with a motor and an engine, comprising:

speed detection means for detecting speed of the vehicle;

decision means for deciding whether or not a stop of the vehicle is a stop at a stopping place;

control means for prohibiting operation of said engine if it is detected by said speed detection means that said speed is less than a predetermined value, and

delay means for delaying removal of the operation prohibition of said engine when it is decided by said decision means that said stop of said vehicle is a stop at a stopping place.

2. An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric vehicle equipped at least with a motor and an engine, comprising:

speed detection means for detecting speed of the vehicle;

decision means for deciding whether or not a stop of the vehicle is a stop at a stopping place;

control means for prohibiting operation of said engine if it is detected by said speed detection means that said speed is less than a predetermined value; and

delay means for delaying removal of the operation prohibition of said engine when it is decided by said decision means that said stop of said vehicle is a stop at a stopping place, and

door detection means for detecting an open or closed state of a door of the vehicle;

wherein, when an open or closed state of said door is detected by said door detection means, said decision means decides that a stop of the vehicle is a stop at a stopping place.

3. An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric vehicle equipped at least with a motor and an engine, comprising:

speed detection means for detecting speed of the vehicle;

door detection means for detecting an open or closed state of a door of the vehicle; and

control means for controlling operation of said engine;

wherein, if it is detected by said speed detection means that said speed is less than a first predetermined value, operation of said engine is prohibited by said control means;

thereafter, when an open or closed state of the door is not detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means if said speed becomes equal to or greater than a second predetermined value which is greater than said first predetermined value; and

when an open or closed state of the door is detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means if said speed becomes equal to or greater than a third predetermined value which is greater than said second predetermined value.

4. An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric vehicle equipped at least with a motor and an engine, comprising:

speed detection means for detecting speed of the vehicle;

door detection means for detecting an open or closed state of a door of the vehicle; and

control means for controlling operation of said engine (4);

wherein, if it is detected by said speed detection means that said speed is less than a first predetermined value, operation of said engine is prohibited by said control means;

thereafter, when an open or closed state of the door is not detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means if a first predetermined time elapses; and

when an open or closed state of the door is detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means if a second predetermined time greater than said first predetermined time elapses.

5. An engine operation controller for a hybrid electric vehicle equipped at least with a motor and an engine, comprising:

speed detection means for detecting speed of the vehicle;

door detection means for detecting an open or closed state of a door of the vehicle; and

control means for controlling operation of said engine;

wherein, if it is detected by said speed detection means that said speed is less than a first predetermined value, operation of said engine is prohibited by said control means;

thereafter, when an open or closed state of the door is not detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means, if a first predetermined time elapses and, in addition, said speed becomes equal to or greater than a second predetermined value which is greater than said first predetermined value; and

when an open or closed state of the door is detected by said door detection means, the operation prohibition of said engine is removed by said control means, if a second predetermined time greater than said first predetermined time elapses and, in addition, said speed becomes equal to or greater than a third predetermined value which is greater than said second predetermined value.