Control Of Multiple Systems Specific To Hybrid Operation Patents (Class 180/65.265)
  • Patent number: 9476719
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an electric machine configured to provide torque to vehicle wheels, a battery electrically coupled with and configured to provide electric power to the electric machine, a display configured to signal information to an operator, and a processor. The processor is configured to present a vehicle driving range on the display. The vehicle driving range is based on a known vehicle route including at least one route segment, an estimated energy usage for the route segment, an available battery charge, and stored energy consumption data from previous drive cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Meyer, Sangeetha Sangameswaran
  • Patent number: 9415698
    Abstract: An ECU may make a changeover between EV running and HV running in accordance with a running situation in each of a CD mode and a CS mode. A start power threshold of an engine at the time when the CD mode is selected may be larger than the start power threshold at the time when the CS mode is selected. Then, the ECU may change the driving force characteristics of a vehicle depending on whether the CD mode or the CS mode is selected that may result in the vehicle driving torque for the same vehicle speed and the same accelerator opening degree being larger when the CD mode is selected than when the CS mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keita Sato, Hiroki Endo, Koji Hokoi
  • Patent number: 9409493
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electric machine in a hybrid or electric motor vehicle fed by a battery by power electronics, the battery including an assembly of modules interconnected in series and the method realizes a module-commutation in which each module can be selectively disconnected from the assembly. The method includes: calculating energy losses as a function of current operating characteristics of the electric machine, or respectively for each of a plurality of possible module-commutation configurations; determining at least one optimum module-commutation configuration from the plurality of possible module-commutation configurations, reducing energy losses to a minimum; and commutating the modules according to the previously determined optimum commutation configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Ali Ercan, Anh-Linh Bui-Van
  • Patent number: 9403446
    Abstract: A driving-force controller for an electric vehicle including at least two motors that independently drive left and right wheels, includes a detector that detects driving operation by a driver, and a controller that calculates a demand torque Tr of the driver, the torque difference ?T applied to the left and right wheels during cornering, left and right torque-difference maintaining torques TLK and TRK of the motors when generating the demand torque Tr while maintaining the torque difference ?T, and controls the motors based on the torque-difference maintaining torques TLK and TRK. The controller determines the priorities of a demand torque mode that generates the demand torque Tr and a torque difference mode that generates the torque difference ?T depending on the driving operation detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI JIDOSHA KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akira Hashizaka, Toshiyuki Matsumi, Hiroaki Miyamoto, Hideaki Taniguchi, Takanori Sugimoto, Masato Nishida, Toshifumi Mizui, Sosuke Nanbu, Yasuyuki Hatsuda, Tetsuya Furuichi, Ryosuke Koga
  • Patent number: 9376208
    Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) is configured with a redundant power generation system on-board the UAV. A redundant power system on-board the UAV can selectively utilize an auxiliary power source during operation and/or flight of the UAV. The power system on-board the UAV may include a battery and at least one auxiliary power source comprising a combustion engine. The combustion engine on-board the UAV may be selectively operated to charge the battery when a charge level of the battery is below a full charge level, and/or to power one or more propeller motors of the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Kristofer Gentry
  • Patent number: 9366336
    Abstract: A service warm-up feature warms transmission fluid to normal operating temperature faster than normal idle without requiring continuous technician attention. This facilitates checking the transmission fluid level. The feature increases the warm-up rate by commanding an increased line pressure and an increased idle speed, which causes more heat to be generated as the fluid flows through restrictions at an increased flow rate with an increased pressure drop. The warm-up rate may be further increased by holding the turbine shaft stationary to increase torque converter heat generation. Various precautions prevent accidental vehicle movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: James Thomas Gooden, Leo Joseph Esper
  • Patent number: 9333969
    Abstract: A Hybrid vehicle has an internal combustion engine, a first motor-generator, i.e., MG, a second MG, a battery section, and a control section. The control section performs first control which transmits power of the first MG to a drive shaft. The control section performs second control which starts the internal combustion engine by generating torque to the internal combustion engine using difference of rotational speeds of the first MG and the second MG, when the battery section fails while performing the first control. In the second control, the control section controls the second MG to generate electric power for driving the first MG. It is possible to provide a hybrid vehicle capable of starting the internal combustion engine even if the battery section becomes abnormal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junmin Cao
  • Patent number: 9266527
    Abstract: A method and system for setting motor torque for a hybrid vehicle that converts charge or discharge limiting power of a battery into maximum charge or discharge torque of a motor to set motor torque and to protect a battery system of the hybrid vehicle may include obtaining maximum discharge power of a battery of the hybrid vehicle, power consumption of a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC), and power consumption of electrical loads; calculating electrical discharge power that may be output by a motor with electric power based on the maximum discharge power, the power consumption of the LDC, and the power consumption of the electrical loads; calculating mechanical discharge power that may be output from the motor based on the electrical discharge power of the motor and discharge efficiency of the motor; and calculating maximum discharge torque of the motor at a determined speed based on the mechanical discharge power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Joon Kim
  • Patent number: 9266443
    Abstract: A system and a method for adaptively adjusting a charge and/or discharge rate and a limit of a battery based on a known driving route are described. The method includes storing, in a memory, a known driving route having a plurality of segments, where each segment has a corresponding discharge rate of the battery which was obtained from a previous trip of the vehicle along the same segment. The method also includes calculating, using a processor, an optimal discharge rate for the known driving route, and applying, using the processor, the optimal discharge rate of the vehicle to each segment of the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua D. Payne, Mohammad E. Dufford, Eiji Fukushiro
  • Patent number: 9255385
    Abstract: A hybrid construction machine according to the present invention includes a controller for controlling an engine with a droop characteristic. The controller includes: a target engine output calculation unit (2-4) that calculates a target output of the engine; a target speed setting unit (2-7) that sets a target speed command of a motor-generator; a target droop calculation unit (2-8) that obtains an intersection point of a constant output line with the target output value of the engine and a constant speed line with the target speed command of the motor-generator on a speed-torque characteristic diagram, and determines a governor characteristic of the engine so that the governor characteristic passes through the intersection point; a governor characteristic changing unit (2-10) that changes the governor characteristic of the engine; and a motor-generator control unit (2-9) that controls the motor-generator in accordance with the target speed command value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishihara, Masatoshi Hoshino, Shinya Sato, Kouji Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9216664
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle including an engine, a motor, a generator, and a battery that is electrically connected to the motor and the generator, an ECU performs “battery-less travel control” enabling the vehicle to travel when a fault occurs in the battery by disconnecting the battery from an electrical system including the motor and the generator and driving the motor using power that is generated by the generator using the power of the engine. When the battery-less travel control is underway and a vehicle speed V exceeds a vehicle speed limit Vsh, the ECU implements a vehicle speed limitation. As a result, a control mode of the motor is less likely to shift to a rectangular control mode during the battery-less travel control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, AISIN AW CO. LTD
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Tanaka, Shoji Nagata
  • Patent number: 9199551
    Abstract: A lock device locks or unlocks a locking subject that relates to a power port and includes a lid. The lock device includes a detector that selectively generates a position detection signal at least corresponding to one of an open position where the lid is open, a closed position where the lid is closed, and a push position where the lid is pushed from the close position. A control unit controls locking or unlocking of the locking subject and a related device of the locking subject based on the position detection signal from the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Keiji Kahara, Hiroshi Aoyama
  • Patent number: 9162665
    Abstract: By increasing accelerator opening APO from time t1, kick-down shift is started at time t2. While the kick-down shift is carried out by changeover from a release element to an engagement element, a motor torque tTm that is increased as Tmo with an increase in accelerator opening APO is restricted as follows. In a shift initial stage from time t2 to inertia phase start time t3, motor torque tTm is restricted to not exceed upper limit value Tlimit obtained by subtracting an inertia phase progressing torque increment Tip from an inertia phase end outputtable maximum motor torque Tmo2 that is outputtable with motor rotation speed Nmo2 at inertia phase end time t4. During an inertia phase (t3-t4), the motor torque tTm is restricted to a value Tlimit+Tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryohey Toyota
  • Patent number: 9145125
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicle includes an engine installed on the vehicle as a drive source, an electric motor installed on the vehicle as a drive source, the electric motor being configured to run the vehicle even in a condition where the engine is stopped. The control apparatus includes a controller configured to start the engine after a given delay time elapses, if a starting condition based on an operation of a driver is satisfied, the controller being configured to keep the engine stopped if the starting condition ceases to be satisfied before the delay time elapses after the starting condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Koji Hokoi
  • Patent number: 9139193
    Abstract: A power take off system for a hybrid-electric vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a hybrid-electric motor and generator, a power take off mechanism, a hybrid control module, and an engaging mechanism. The hybrid-electric motor and generator couples to the internal combustion engine. The power take off mechanism couples to the internal combustion engine and the hybrid-electric motor and generator. The power take off mechanism receives torque from at least one of the internal combustion engine and the hybrid-electric motor and generator. The hybrid control module is disposed in electrical communication with an electronic system controller. The hybrid control module generates output signals for controlling the internal combustion engine. The engaging mechanism is disposed in electrical communication with the electronic system controller. The engaging mechanism has a first mode and a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Jay E. Bissontz
  • Patent number: 9114806
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling battery power in a hybrid vehicle for a given driver demand that balances battery state of charge and battery capacity limits while operating the engine at a system efficient engine power. Predictive information may be used to predict battery energy usage during a future time window that indicates a charging opportunity (excess power will be absorbed by the battery) or a boosting opportunity (battery power will be discharged). Based on this information and the current state of charge of the battery, an associated battery power for a given driver demand is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaoyong Wang, Wei Liang, Qing Wang, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Patent number: 9090256
    Abstract: A vehicle control device includes an engine, a motor disposed nearer to drive wheel sides than the engine in a vehicle, and a clutch disposed between the engine and the motor and configured to be engaged or released according to an operation input, wherein at the time the clutch is engaged to connect the engine and the drive wheels while the vehicle travels with the engine being stopped, the engine is started by the power transmitted to the engine via the clutch as well as the motor is caused to output assist torque for suppressing a reduction of acceleration of the vehicle caused by that the clutch is engaged, and the assist torque when a braking operation is performed is smaller than the assist torque when the braking operation is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9067589
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine, and a battery configured to power the electric machine. The vehicle further includes a controller programmed to operate the powertrain according to a forecasted torque allocation between the engine and the electric machine. The controller generates forecasted torque allocation for each of a plurality of predetermined route segments based on predicted driver demand. The forecasted torque allocation is confirmed for each of the route segments based on a target battery state of charge corresponding to an endpoint of the route segment while an actual state of charge is within a threshold value of the target battery state of charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yanan Zhao, Wei Liang, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20150149011
    Abstract: A method for managing energy in response to a request of a driver for torque on a power train of a hybrid vehicle including a heat engine and at least one electric motor powered by a battery, capable of recovering energy during deceleration in accordance with a management rule distributing the energy supply from the heat engine and from the electric motor in real time. The energy-management law depends on: an equivalence factor that is based on an instantaneous energy state of the battery, an energy target, and travel conditions of the vehicle; and a discharge precompensation factor that is based on energy potential that can be recovered during deceleration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: RENAULT S.A.S.
    Inventors: Maxime Debert, Franck Breuille-Martin, Loic Le-Roy
  • Publication number: 20150149014
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the operation of a mild hybrid electric vehicle having an engine and high and low voltage power systems selectively connectable via a DC to DC converter. The method comprises whenever possible using only a low voltage battery forming part of the low voltage power system to power low voltage loads during an engine E-stop performed automatically to save fuel and reduce emissions and whenever possible using only a high voltage battery forming part of the high voltage power system to recharge the low voltage battery when the engine is restarted following the E-stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Donatus Andreas Josephine KEES, Cayetano David Fuente SAN JUAN
  • Publication number: 20150144408
    Abstract: A hybrid construction machine comprises: a motor generator (2) which exchanges torque with an engine (1); a hydraulic pump (3) which is driven by at least one of the engine and the motor generator; a hydraulic actuator (5) which is driven by hydraulic fluid delivered from the hydraulic pump; an electrical storage device (10) for supplying electric power to the motor generator; and a controller (8) which sets target power of the engine and target power of the motor generator so as to satisfy demanded power of the hydraulic pump. The controller makes the setting so that the target power of the engine monotonically increases with the decrease in the remaining electric amount of the electrical storage device. With this configuration, the operator's operational feel can be kept excellent while also achieving reduction in fuel consumption and gas emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Shinji Ishihara, Masatoshi Hoshino, Hiroshi Sakamoto
  • Publication number: 20150149010
    Abstract: An engine start using an electric motor during a vehicle travel is performed by increasing an output torque of the electric motor in a slip state where a second frictional engagement element 3 connecting the electric motor 1 and a driving wheel slips. A controller determines a requested acceleration amount from a depression amount of an accelerator pedal. When the requested acceleration amount is significant, a different torque increment characteristic is applied, compared to a case where the requested acceleration amount is not significant. Thus, the internal combustion engine starts in a high response depending on the requested acceleration amount input by the driver, thereby improving a vehicle acceleration response.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroki Matsui
  • Publication number: 20150149013
    Abstract: A method for driving a vehicle having a propulsion system comprising a combustion engine with an output shaft, a gearbox with an input shaft, an electric machine comprising a stator and a rotor, and a planetary gear comprising a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet wheel carrier. The vehicle is driven with the members of the planetary gear interlocked. The planetary gear is brought to the releasing position by controlling the torque of the electric machine and of the combustion engine towards torque balance in the planetary gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Mikael Bergquist, Johan Lindström, Anders Kjell, Mathias Björkman
  • Publication number: 20150148187
    Abstract: A method for braking a vehicle driving forward towards stop. The vehicle has a propulsion system including a combustion engine with an output shaft (2a), a gearbox (3) with an input shaft (3a), an electric machine (9) comprising a stator and a rotor, and a planetary gear comprising a sun gear (10), a ring gear (11) and a planet wheel carrier (12). When braking the vehicle, a reverse gear of the gearbox is engaged and the electric machine is controlled to apply brake torque requested to the input shaft of the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Mikael Bergquist, Johan Lindström, Anders Kjell, Mathias Björkman
  • Publication number: 20150148168
    Abstract: A hybrid power train for vehicles, including a drive shaft rotated by engine power, an engine-side drive gear concentrically installed on the drive shaft so as to be rotated by drive shaft power, first and second power transmission control units configured to form different power transmission paths for transmitting power from the drive shaft to the engine-side drive gear, and to control respective power transmission states, an output shaft arranged in parallel to the drive shaft, an engine-side driven gear rotatably provided on the output shaft so as to mesh with the engine-side drive gear, a clutch unit for switching the operating state of the engine-side driven gear between a fixed state and a released state relative to the output shaft, a motor-side drive gear rotated by motor power, and a motor-side driven gear fixedly provided on the output shaft so as to mesh with the motor-side drive gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jong Yun Park, Jae Young Choi
  • Publication number: 20150149012
    Abstract: A drive system and a method of driving a vehicle, wherein the drive system includes a combustion engine, a motor control function, a gear box, an electric machine, an energy storage and a planetary gear. A control unit receives information concerning the charge level of the energy storage and determines if the charge level is lower than a limit level such that the energy storage needs charging. If this is the case, the motor control function is controlled such that the combustion engine increases rotation speed in relation to the rotation speed when the energy storage does not need charging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Mikael Bergquist, Karl Redbrandt, Mathias Björkman, Johan Lindström
  • Publication number: 20150149016
    Abstract: A power unit includes an engine, an electric-powered generator configured to regenerate power and to provide power assistance, a stepped or stepless transmission mechanism configured to perform a shift change operation during transmission of rotational power output from the engine and the electric-powered generator, an output shaft configured to output the rotational power as a driving force, a first clutch configured to transmit the rotational power or to disconnect the transmission of the rotational power from at least one of the engine and the electric-powered generator to the output shaft, and a battery configured to supply power to the electric-powered generator to drive the electric-powered generator and to store power generated by the electric-powered generator. During the shift change operation by the transmission mechanism, electric-powered generator is driven to add torque to the engine in a direction of increasing synchronization with the rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Tetsushi SAITOH
  • Patent number: 9043099
    Abstract: When a vehicle speed of a wheel loader (1) is determined to be not higher than a reference value (Yes) in step S4 and a forward/reverse command switch (40) is determined to have been switchingly operated (Yes) in step S5, the routine advances to step S6 where an increment ?N of engine speed according to an engine load factor is determined. In step S7, the increment ?N of engine speed is then added to a target engine speed Na corresponding to a depression stroke of an accelerator pedal (38), the thus-determined Na=Na+?N is set as a new target engine speed Na, and a target engine speed command i1 is sent to an engine controller (37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuji Tanaka, Koji Hyodo, Isamu Aoki, Keigo Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20150141198
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle of the present invention includes: an engine, a first motor, a second motor, a clutch and an electronic control unit. The first motor is connected with an output shaft of the engine. The second motor is connected with a driving wheel and configured to generate a driving torque at the driving wheel. The clutch is arranged between the output shaft of the engine and the driving wheel and configured to engage or disengage the output shaft of the engine and a rotary shaft connected with the driving wheel. The electronic control unit is configured to control the clutch to be engaged and control the first motor to generate the driving torque at the driving wheel, when the second motor cannot generate a predetermined output torque and the clutch is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Kentaro Tomo
  • Publication number: 20150141197
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between regenerative braking and providing positive torque to a driveline is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20150142243
    Abstract: A vehicle control system to control operation of a vehicle includes a powertrain system operable according to a plurality of operating modes that drive the vehicle. A sensor is mounted to the vehicle to detect a quality of air surrounding the vehicle. A vehicle control module is configured to select an operating mode of the powertrain system. The operating mode is selected to reduce at least one emission exhausted from the vehicle that contributes to a low air quality measure by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Robert W. Wisniewski
  • Publication number: 20150142239
    Abstract: A method for driving a hybrid vehicle with a propulsion system including a combustion engine, an electric machine with a rotor and a stator and a planetary gear with three components including a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet wheel carrier, where an output shaft of the combustion engine is connected to a first component, an input shaft of a gearbox is connected to a second component and the rotor of the electric machine is connected to a third component. The vehicle is driven forward by the electric machine. The reverse gear engaged in the gearbox drives the third component of the planetary gear to rotate with a negative rotational speed while a brake brakes the first component. Thereafter, move the component brake to an open position, so that the output shaft of the combustion engine rotates with a positive rotational speed so that the combustion engine may be started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Mikael Bergquist, Johan Lindström, Anders Kjell, Mathias Björkman
  • Publication number: 20150142229
    Abstract: Apparatuses, methods and systems for hybrid powertrain control are disclosed. Certain example embodiments control an internal combustion engine and a motor/generator of a hybrid electric powertrain. Example controls may determine a total output demanded of a powertrain based at least in part upon an operator input, a battery output target based upon a battery state of charge and independent of the operator input, and an engine output target based upon the total output demanded and the battery output target. Such example controls may further determine a constrained engine output target, a modified battery output target based upon the total output demanded and the constrained engine output target, and a constrained battery output target based upon the modified battery output target and a battery constraint. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and figures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: CUMMINS INC.
    Inventors: Martin T. Books, Vincent Freyermuth, Tung-Ming Hsieh, Praveen Muralidhar, Lining Zhou
  • Publication number: 20150142234
    Abstract: Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle, which makes it possible to manually select a degree of acceleration in tune with user's preferences and user's intended running quality. Provided is a control device for a hybrid vehicle 1 including an engine and a motor for assisting the engine with power, in which an ECU 20 is provided with a first changing unit, which prepares to increase the assist amount of the motor 12 in response to a user depressing a Plus Sport mode switch 30, and subsequently increases the assist amount of the motor 12 in response to the user pressing an accelerator pedal to cause a variation ?AP in an accelerator position to be at least a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Hara, Terukazu Torikai, Eri Itou, Yuusuke Obata, Kazuki Takahashi, Seiji Takaya, Satoshi Uchino
  • Publication number: 20150142232
    Abstract: A control device of a hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor outputting a running torque at the time of motor running and a starting torque at engine start, in a state of the motor running using even the starting torque, the control device being configured to give a notification of the state to a driver when a charging capacity is smaller than a first predetermined value, and to start an engine when the charging capacity is smaller than a second predetermined value which is smaller than the first predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Koichi Okuda, Kenta Kumazaki, Tatsuya Imamura, Keita Imai, Takeshi Kitahata, Shunya Kato, Yasuhiro Hiasa
  • Patent number: 9037330
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle comprises conducting unfire operation in an internal-combustion engine in a fuel cut-off mode during a hybrid-mode ride in deceleration of the internal-combustion engine, disconnecting the internal-combustion engine from an output while maintaining the fuel cut-off mode, and reducing a transmission capacity of a clutch configured to couple the internal-combustion engine and an electric motor. During a hybrid-mode ride in deceleration of the internal-combustion engine for transition to the purely electric drive, the internal-combustion engine may be disconnected from the output and shut down. When the internal-combustion engine is operated unfired in a fuel cut-off mode, the internal-combustion engine may be disconnected from the output and shut down by reducing the transmission capacity of the clutch that is connected between the internal-combustion engine and the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Bernd Allgaier, Michael Gromus, Friedrich Tenbrock, Thomas Lemp
  • Publication number: 20150134159
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is provided that includes an engine, a reversible electric machine capable of generating and providing electric power, and a clutch for selectively engaging the engine to the electric machine. While the vehicle is traveling, an operator of the vehicle may release (“tip-out”) the accelerator pedal, indicating a desire for a reduction in speed and/or acceleration of the vehicle. If the clutch is engaged during the tip-out, the at least one controller is programmed to disengage the clutch and alter a commanded torque to the electric machine in response to the tip-out of the accelerator pedal to simulate compression braking of the engine. If the vehicle is operating in an electric-only mode of propulsion during the tip-out, and if a state-of-charge of the battery is relatively high, the controller is programmed to activate the engine and provide compression torque to the driveline in response to the tip-out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Rajit JOHRI, Mark Steven YAMAZAKI, Xiaoyong WANG, Wei LIANG, Ryan Abraham McGEE, Ming Lang KUANG
  • Publication number: 20150134173
    Abstract: A control method of a hybrid vehicle is provided and includes determining whether a current vehicle driving mode is an EV mode, whether a current vehicle driving state satisfies a kick-down shift condition, and whether the current vehicle driving state satisfies a driving mode conversion condition for conversion into an HEV mode. The engine is started when the kick-down shift and the driving mode conversion conditions are satisfied. A current motor speed and discharging power of the battery are measured. The measured motor speed and predetermined motor reference speed are compared based on discharging power of the battery. A transmission input shaft target speed for the kick-down shift is calculated and compared to a predetermined transmission input shaft target reference speed based on discharging power of the battery. A control order is determined based on the comparisons and the kick-down shift and the engagement of the engine clutch are performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Namil Choi, Joon Young Park, Kwonchae Chung, Jongbum Oh
  • Publication number: 20150134166
    Abstract: When an engine is stopped in a state in which a supercharger is overheated (step S21: YES), a control device performs rotation processing for rotating a crankshaft of the engine under a condition in which the supply of fuel to the engine is stopped (step S23). After the rotation processing is ended (step S25: YES), the control device performs engine stop processing for stopping the rotation of the crankshaft (step S29).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori Aoki
  • Publication number: 20150134171
    Abstract: A control device is configured to control an engine to be started and stopped such that when a hybrid vehicle is required to output a vehicular required power smaller than an engine starting threshold value the control device operates to stop the engine and use only a motor generator to cause the vehicle to travel and when the vehicular required power exceeds the threshold value the control device operates to start the engine and use both the engine and the motor generator to cause the vehicle to travel. The engine starting threshold value is set to be higher when at least one of an amount of lifting the intake valve and a working angle on the intake valve controlled by a VVL device provided to the engine is small than when at least one of the amount and the angle is large.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Asami, Toshikazu Kato, Ryuta Teraya
  • Publication number: 20150133264
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between regenerative braking and engine braking is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey Allen Doering, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Dennis Craig Reed, Adam Nathan Banker, David Oshinsky
  • Publication number: 20150134160
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine (M/G) connected by an upstream clutch, and a gearbox connected to the M/G by a torque converter. A controller is configured to, in response to a Park or Neutral gear selection and an electrical power request from the M/G, operate the engine at an engine speed and an engine torque based on the request and M/G speed and torque for improved powertrain efficiency. A method is provided for controlling a vehicle. In response to a Park or Neutral gear selection and an electrical power request from the M/G, the engine is operated at an engine speed and an engine torque based on the request and M/G speed and torque for improved powertrain efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Wei Liang, Mark Steven Yamazaki, Xiaoyong Wang, Rajit Johri, Ryan Abraham McGee, Ming Lang Kuang
  • Publication number: 20150134161
    Abstract: A hybrid electric vehicle includes an engine and an electric machine, both capable of providing propulsion power. A clutch is configured to selectively couple the engine to the electric machine. At times, the vehicle may be subject to excessive loads, such as a large amount of weight in the vehicle or the vehicle towing another object. At least one controller is programmed to engage the clutch and start the engine in response to a load of the vehicle exceeding a predetermined threshold and a release of the brake pedal while the vehicle is stopped and in drive. This increases available engine torque prior to vehicle launch in anticipation of an upcoming acceleration demand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Steven YAMAZAKI, Wei LIANG, Xiaoyong WANG, Rajit JOHRI, Ryan Abraham MCGEE, Ming Lang KUANG
  • Patent number: 9028366
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle in which at least two shift ranges can be selected for a single running direction includes an engine, a motor generator, an EHC raising the temperature of a catalyst for cleaning up an exhaust gas from the engine, and an ECU. While the vehicle is running, if the engine is stopped and, of the two shift ranges, a shift range where larger decelerating force is produced by regenerative braking of the motor generator has been selected, the ECU causes the EHC to raise the temperature of the catalyst using electric power generated by the motor generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keita Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20150126328
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, a method for transitioning between driveline braking and wheel brakes is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Adam Nathan Banker, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, James William Loch McCallum, David Oshinsky
  • Patent number: 9026285
    Abstract: A battery charging method for a hybrid vehicle and the hybrid vehicle using the same are disclosed. The hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a motor as power source and includes the battery in which electrical energy for driving the motor is stored. The method and system may include: determining whether the battery needs to be charged while the vehicle is stopped; transitioning a transmission to a neutral position (N position) when the battery needs to be charged; starting the engine and engaging an engine clutch to connect the engine with the motor so that the motor generates electrical energy via power from the engine. The electrical energy generated by the motor is then stored in the battery accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gwang Seob Shin, Yeonho Kim
  • Patent number: 9022165
    Abstract: A method of controlling a fluid pump to supply lubricating fluid to a plurality of fluid requiring components in a hybrid vehicle powertrain includes selecting a component-required flow rate for each respective component using a determined operating speed and torque for that respective component. Once the each component-required flow rate is selected, the system flow rate is set to the maximum component-required flow rate of the plurality of component-required flow rates. The fluid pump is then commanded to supply fluid to each of the plurality of fluid requiring components at the system flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jy-Jen F. Sah, Ali K. Naqvi, Sean W. McGrogan, Mindy L. Barth, Besim Demirovic
  • Patent number: 9026290
    Abstract: To reduce the size, weight, and cost of a motor and peripheral devices of the motor. A hybrid automobile is structured in which a required torque is estimated on the basis of an accelerator operation by a driver, and if it is determined that the running by the motor is possible, and an estimation result exceeds a maximum torque of the motor during execution of a running mode by the motor, a mode switch is carried out to a mode in which the automobile runs by an engine or by the engine and the motor in cooperation with each other, even though the running mode by the motor is being executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Kabe
  • Patent number: 9026293
    Abstract: A drive control device of a hybrid vehicle in which an electric power loss predictor and a target electric power calculator are arranged, a target engine power calculator calculates a target engine power based on a target driving power, target charging/discharging power, and estimated power that is an electric power loss, and a motor torque instruction value calculator calculates the torque instruction values of a plurality of motor generators using a torque balance equation including the target engine torque and an electric power balance equation including the target electric power. In the electric power balance equation, the electric power generated or consumed by the plurality of motor generators, the estimated power that is the electric power loss, and input/output electric power of the battery are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Ito, Masaaki Tagawa, Masakazu Saito, Hitoshi Ohkuma, Yukihiro Hosoe
  • Publication number: 20150119190
    Abstract: A first shaft and a second shaft configured to connect the engine to the driving shaft and connectable/disconnectable to/from the engine, and a differential mechanism configured to connect the first shaft, the second shaft, and a rotating electrical machine to one another are provided, wherein, at the time of upshift to a gear shift stage of the second shaft from a state in which the engine is connected to the driving shaft through a gear shift stage of the first shaft, power transmission to the driving shaft through the second shaft is blocked, the second shaft is connected to the engine, power of the engine is transmitted to the second shaft by output control of the rotating electrical machine, the first shaft is disconnected from the engine, and the engine is connected to the driving shaft through the gear shift stage of the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruo Isomura, Hiroaki Ebuchi, Hiroyuki Shibata