Methods of supplying energy to an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle, and apparatuses, media and signals for the same

• US 6,909,200 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GE Hybrid Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Azure Dynamics Incorporated
• Inventors: Bouchon, Nicolas Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US10/084,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 370/10.1, 180/65.2, 318/139, 701/93
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/32 characterised by the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/908 Fuel cell

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, media and signals for supplying energy to an energy bus in communication with an energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle are disclosed. One such method includes controlling power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation. Another such method involves controlling energy contributions onto the energy bus from the energy generating device and from the regenerative braking system respectively, to prevent the contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution. The energy generating device may include an auxiliary power unit, such as fuel cell, or a generator coupled to a prime mover such as an internal combustion engine, for example.

Claims

1. A method of supplying energy to an energy bus in communication with an energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising controlling power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling power comprises controlling power supplied by an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein controlling power comprises controlling a current supplied by a generator.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein controlling power comprises controlling a current supplied by a fuel cell.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling comprises commencing said controlling no later than a time at which the regenerative braking system of the vehicle commences supplying energy to the energy bus.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling comprises reducing said power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising increasing power supplied by the regenerative braking system of the vehicle to the energy bus, while reducing said power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein increasing power comprises increasing a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking system until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a total desired braking torque in response to the braking signal.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising identifying a maximum available regenerative braking torque.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising identifying a maximum desired regenerative braking torque, in response to said total desired braking torque and said maximum available regenerative braking torque.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein identifying said maximum desired regenerative braking torque comprises setting said maximum desired regenerative braking torque equal to the lesser of:

(a) said total desired braking torque;

(b) said maximum available regenerative braking torque; and

(c) a torque equivalent of a desired current drain from the energy bus, said desired current drain comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising identifying, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein controlling comprises setting a desired power output of the energy generating device, in response to said maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein setting said desired power output comprises setting a desired current level of an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein setting said desired current level of the APU comprises setting said desired current level equal to the lesser of:

(a) a present desired current level of the APU; and

(b) a desired current drain from the energy bus comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus, minus a current equivalent of said maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising identifying, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising setting a present desired regenerative braking torque of a regenerative braking system of the vehicle, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and the power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein setting said present desired regenerative braking torque comprises setting said present desired regenerative braking torque equal to the lesser of

(a) said maximum desired regenerative braking torque;

and

(b) a torque equivalent of;

(i) a desired current drain from the energy bus, said desired current drain comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus;

minus

(ii) an actual current supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising identifying, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising setting a friction braking torque of a friction braking system of the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein setting said friction braking torque comprises setting said friction braking torque equal to a difference between said present desired regenerative braking torque and said total desired braking torque.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling comprises controlling energy contributions onto the energy bus from the energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system of the vehicle respectively, to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

24. An apparatus for supplying energy to an energy bus in communication with an energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit configured to control power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control said power by controlling power supplied by an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control said power by controlling a current supplied by a generator.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control said power by controlling a current supplied by a fuel cell.

28. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said processor circuit is configured to commence said controlling no later than a time at which the regenerative braking system of the vehicle commences supplying energy to the energy bus.

29. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control said power by reducing said power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said processor circuit is configured to increase power supplied by a regenerative braking system of the vehicle to the energy bus, while reducing said power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said processor circuit is configured to increase a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking system until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

32. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify a total desired braking torque in response to the braking signal.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify a maximum available regenerative braking torque.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify a maximum desired regenerative braking torque, in response to said total desired braking torque and said maximum available regenerative braking torque.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set said maximum desired regenerative braking torque equal to the lesser of:

(a) said total desired braking torque;

(b) said maximum available regenerative braking torque; and

(c) a torque equivalent of a desired current drain from the energy bus, said desired current drain comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

37. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control said power by setting a desired power output of the energy generating device, in response to said maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set said desired power output by setting a desired current level of an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set said desired current level of the APU equal to the lesser of:

(a) a present desired current level of the APU; and

(b) a desired current drain from the energy bus comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus, minus a current equivalent of said maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

41. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set a present desired regenerative braking torque of a regenerative braking system of the vehicle, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and the power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set said present desired regenerative braking torque equal to the lesser of:

(a) said maximum desired regenerative braking torque; and

(b) a torque equivalent of;

(i) a desired current drain from the energy bus, said desired current drain comprising a desired charging current for charging an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus;

minus

(ii) an actual current supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

43. The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify, as said desired charging current, a maximum allowable charging current for charging the ESS.

44. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set a friction braking torque of a friction braking system of the vehicle.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set said friction braking torque equal to a difference between the present desired regenerative braking torque and the total desired braking torque.

46. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control energy contributions onto the energy bus from the energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system of the vehicle respectively, to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

47. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 24 and further comprising the energy generating device, said energy generating device being in communication with said processor circuit and with the energy bus.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein said energy generating device comprises an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

49. The system of claim 48 wherein said APU comprises a generator.

50. The system of claim 48 wherein said APU comprises a fuel cell.

51. The system of claim 47 further comprising the energy bus.

52. The system of claim 47 further comprising the regenerative braking system, the regenerative braking system being in communication with said processor circuit and with the energy bus.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein said processor circuit is configured to increase power supplied by said regenerative braking system to the energy bus, while reducing said power supplied by said energy generating device to the energy bus.

54. The system of claim 52 further comprising an energy storage system (ESS) in communication with the energy bus.

55. An apparatus for supplying energy to an energy bus in communication with energy generating means and with regenerative braking means in a hybrid electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation; and

means for controlling power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus, in response to the braking signal.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said means for controlling power comprises means for controlling power supplied by an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

57. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said means for controlling comprises means for commencing said controlling no later than a time at which the regenerative braking means of the vehicle commences supplying energy to the energy bus.

58. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said means for controlling comprises means for reducing said power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 further comprising means for increasing power supplied by a regenerative braking means of the vehicle to the energy bus, while said means for reducing is reducing the power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus.

60. The apparatus of claim 59 wherein said means for increasing power comprises means for increasing a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking means until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

61. The apparatus of claim 55 further comprising means for identifying a total desired braking torque in response to the braking signal.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 further comprising means for identifying a maximum available regenerative braking torque.

63. The apparatus of claim 62 further comprising means for identifying a maximum desired regenerative braking torque, in response to said total desired braking torque and said maximum available regenerative braking torque.

64. The apparatus of claim 63 wherein said means for controlling comprises means for setting a desired power output of the energy generating means, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

65. The apparatus of claim 64 wherein said means for setting said desired power output comprises means for setting a desired current level of an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

66. The apparatus of claim 63 further comprising means for setting a present desired regenerative braking torque of a regenerative braking means of the vehicle, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and the power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

67. The apparatus of claim 66 further comprising means for setting a friction braking torque of a friction braking means of the vehicle.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein said means for setting the friction braking torque comprises means for setting the friction braking torque equal to a difference between said present desired regenerative braking torque and said total desired braking torque.

69. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said means for controlling comprises first means for controlling a first energy contribution onto the energy bus from the energy generating means, and further comprising second means for controlling a second energy contribution onto the energy bus from a regenerative braking means of the vehicle, wherein said first and second means for controlling cooperate to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

70. A system comprising the apparatus of claim 55 and further comprising said energy generating means for generating said power supplied by said energy generating means to the energy bus, said energy generating means being in communication with said means for reducing power and with the energy bus.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein said energy generating means comprises an auxiliary power unit (APU) of the vehicle.

72. The system of claim 70 further comprising the regenerative braking means for regeneratively braking the vehicle, said regenerative braking means being in communication with the energy bus.

73. The system of claim 72 further comprising an energy storage means for storing energy, in communication with the energy bus.

74. A computer readable medium providing codes for directing a processor circuit to control power supplied by an energy generating device to an energy bus in communication with the energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

75. A signal comprising code segments for directing a processor circuit to control power supplied by an energy generating device to an energy bus in communication with the energy generating device and with a regenerative braking system in a hybrid electric vehicle, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

76. A method of supplying energy to an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising controlling energy contributions onto the energy bus from an energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system respectively, wherein controlling comprises preventing said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

77. The method of claim 76 wherein controlling comprises reducing power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

78. The method of claim 76 wherein controlling comprises reducing power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, while increasing power supplied by the regenerative braking system to the energy bus.

79. The method of claim 78 wherein increasing power comprises increasing a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking system until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

80. The method of claim 76 further comprising identifying a maximum desired regenerative braking torque to be applied by the regenerative braking system.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein controlling comprises setting a desired energy contribution of the energy generating device, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

82. The method of claim 80 further comprising setting a present desired regenerative braking torque of the regenerative braking system, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and an actual energy contribution supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

83. The method of claim 76 wherein controlling comprises controlling power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

84. An apparatus for supplying energy to an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising a processor circuit configured to control energy contributions onto the energy bus from an energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system respectively, wherein said processor circuit is configured to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

85. The apparatus of claim 84 wherein said processor circuit is configured to reduce power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

86. The apparatus of claim 84 wherein said processor circuit is configured to reduce power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, while increasing power supplied by the regenerative braking system to the energy bus.

87. The apparatus of claim 86 wherein said processor circuit is configured to increase a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking system until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

88. The apparatus of claim 84 wherein said processor circuit is configured to identify a maximum desired regenerative braking torque to be applied by the regenerative braking system.

89. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set a desired energy contribution of the energy generating device, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

90. The apparatus of claim 88 wherein said processor circuit is configured to set a present desired regenerative braking torque of the regenerative braking system, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and an actual energy contribution supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus.

91. The apparatus of claim 84 wherein said processor circuit is configured to control power supplied by the energy generating device to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

92. An apparatus for supplying energy to an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

first means for controlling a first energy contribution onto the energy bus from energy generating means; and

second means for controlling a second energy contribution onto the energy bus from regenerative braking means,

wherein said first and second means for controlling cooperate to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

93. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said first means for controlling comprises means for reducing power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus.

94. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said second means for controlling comprises means for increasing power supplied by the regenerative braking means to the energy bus, and wherein said first means for controlling comprises means for reducing power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus, while said second means for controlling is increasing said power supplied by the regenerative braking means.

95. The apparatus of claim 94 wherein said means for increasing power comprises means for increasing a regenerative braking torque applied by the regenerative braking means until a desired regenerative braking torque is achieved.

96. The apparatus of claim 92 further comprising means for identifying a maximum desired regenerative braking torque to be applied by the regenerative braking means.

97. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein said first means for controlling comprises means for setting a desired energy contribution of the energy generating means, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque.

98. The apparatus of claim 96 wherein said second means for controlling comprises means for setting a present desired regenerative braking torque of the regenerative braking means, in response to the maximum desired regenerative braking torque and an actual energy contribution supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus.

99. The apparatus of claim 92 wherein said first means for controlling comprises means for reducing power supplied by the energy generating means to the energy bus, in response to a braking signal indicative of user brake actuation.

100. A computer readable medium providing codes for directing a processor circuit to control energy contributions onto an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle from an energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system respectively, wherein said codes direct said processor circuit to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.

101. A signal comprising code segments for directing a processor circuit to control energy contributions onto an energy bus in a hybrid electric vehicle from an energy generating device and from a regenerative braking system respectively, wherein said code segments direct said processor circuit to prevent said contributions from exceeding a desired total energy contribution.