Dynamically assisting hybrid vehicles

• US 8,670,888 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2013
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XL Hybrids, Inc. (The Shyft Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XL Hybrids
• Inventors: Brenner, Neal Ennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Application Number:
  US13/920,946
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/123, 903/930, 903/917, 903/947, 903/943, 180/65.1, 180/65.27, 180/65.23, 318/139
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/547 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• 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 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• 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

A system includes a computing device with memory configured to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions for operations that include receiving information representative of an amount of energy stored over a first period of time in an energy storage device of a vehicle that includes a first propulsion system. Operations include receiving information representative of a performance measure of the vehicle for a second period of time, shorter than the first period of time, and, determining an assistance adjustment from an estimated value of stored energy from the information representative of the amount of energy stored over the first period of time. Operations include determining a level of assistance for a second propulsion system included in the vehicle from the received information representative of the performance measure, and, adjusting the level of assistance using the assistance adjustment determined from the estimated value of the stored energy.

Claims

1. A computing device-implemented method comprising:

receiving information representative of an amount of electrical energy stored over a first period of time in an electrical energy storage device of a hybrid vehicle that includes a combustion engine;

receiving information representative of a performance measure of the hybrid vehicle for a second period of time, shorter than the first period of time;

determining, by a processor, an assistance adjustment from an estimated value of stored electrical energy from the information representative of the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device;

determining a level of assistance for an electric motor based system included in the hybrid vehicle from the received information representative of the performance measure; and

adjusting the level of assistance using the assistance adjustment determined from the estimated value of the stored electrical energy.

2. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the assistance adjustment from the estimated value of stored electrical energy is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

3. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the level of assistance for the electric motor based system is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

4. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the performance measure represents miles-per-gallon.

5. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the performance measure represents instantaneous miles-per-gallon.

6. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device represents the charge of a battery included in the hybrid vehicle.

7. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents a level of assistance for an alternative fuel propulsion system.

8. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents recharging an energy storage device.

9. A system comprising:

a computing device comprising;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving information representative of an amount of electrical energy stored over a first period of time in an electrical energy storage device of a hybrid vehicle that includes a combustion engine;

receiving information representative of a performance measure of the hybrid vehicle for a second period of time, shorter than the first period of time;

determining an assistance adjustment from an estimated value of stored electrical energy from the information representative of the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device;

determining a level of assistance for an electric motor based system included in the hybrid vehicle from the received information representative of the performance measure; and

adjusting the level of assistance using the assistance adjustment determined from the estimated value of the stored electrical energy.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the assistance adjustment from the estimated value of stored electrical energy is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein determining the level of assistance for the electric motor based system is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the performance measure represents miles-per-gallon.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the performance measure represents instantaneous miles-per-gallon.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device represents the charge of a battery included in the hybrid vehicle.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents a level of assistance for an alternative fuel propulsion system.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents recharging an energy storage device.

17. One or more computer readable non-transitory media storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving information representative of an amount of electrical energy stored over a first period of time in an electrical energy storage device of a hybrid vehicle that includes a combustion engine;

receiving information representative of a performance measure of the hybrid vehicle for a second period of time, shorter than the first period of time;

determining an assistance adjustment from an estimated value of stored electrical energy from the information representative of the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device;

determining a level of assistance for an electric motor based system included in the hybrid vehicle from the received information representative of the performance measure; and

adjusting the level of assistance using the assistance adjustment determined from the estimated value of the stored electrical energy.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein determining the assistance adjustment from the estimated value of stored electrical energy is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

19. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein determining the level of assistance for the electric motor based system is executed internal to the hybrid vehicle.

20. The computing device-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the performance measure represents miles-per-gallon.

21. The computing device-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the performance measure represents instantaneous miles-per-gallon.

22. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the amount of electrical energy stored over the first period of time in the electrical energy storage device represents the charge of a battery included in the hybrid vehicle.

23. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents a level of assistance for an alternative fuel propulsion system.

24. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the level of assistance for the electric motor based system represents recharging an energy storage device.