Having Energy Storing Means (e.g., Battery, Capacitor) (epo/jpo) Patents (Class 903/903)
  • Publication number: 20140277866
    Abstract: A vehicle having a battery pack with cells grouped into subsets and at least one controller programmed to charge and discharge the battery pack is disclosed. A control output is generated based on a pack state of charge derived from each cell's initial state of charge at vehicle activation and an electric charge accumulated or spent by less than all of the cells of each of the subsets since vehicle activation. A method of estimating battery pack state of charge is disclosed in which a pack state of charge is calculated by identifying subsets of cells having similar properties and calculating an electric charge accumulated or spent for fewer than all of the cells of each subset. A cell state of charge is calculated for all cells based on an average electric charge accumulated or spent. The pack state of charge is based on all the cell states of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yonghua Li, Richard Dyche Anderson, Xu Wang
  • Publication number: 20140277878
    Abstract: A method and system used to identify an optimal hybrid vehicle operating mode based on a variety of potential factors, and then recommend the optimal operating mode to the driver so that they can make an informed decision regarding their operating mode selection. In one embodiment, the method uses geographic-, vehicle- and/or environmental-related factors to establish one or more operating zones, monitors the location of the hybrid vehicle and determines when it is within one of the operating zones, and then determines an operating mode that is optimal for that particular operating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Manickaraj, Aniket Kothari, Richard A. Marsh, Lawrence P. Ziehr, Norman J. Weigert, Rick W. Szymczyk, Andrew M. Zettel, Danielle A. Cory
  • Publication number: 20140259804
    Abstract: Provided is a lawn maintenance vehicle including a frame having a first axle and a second axle mounted to the frame. A first drive wheel and a second drive wheel are mounted to the first and second axle. An energy storage device and an electric motor having a motor shaft are mounted to the frame. The electric motor is in electrical communication with the energy storage device and the energy storage device provides electrical power to the electric motor. The lawn maintenance vehicle further includes a traction drive. The traction drive is operably connected to the motor shaft, and the traction drive is operably connected to the first and second axles. The lawn maintenance vehicle includes an implement mounted to the frame. The lawn maintenance vehicle can also include an internal combustion engine operably connected to the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Jimmy N. Eavenson, SR., Axel Schaedler
  • Patent number: 8838385
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes receiving a vehicle route. The method further includes receiving data relating to a vehicle charge level. Also, the method includes estimating a power requirement required to travel the length of the vehicle route. The method additionally includes contingent on a vehicle charge state being insufficient to meet the power requirement, comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish the presence of power outage regions along the vehicle route. Further, the method includes sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: John Robert Van Wiemeersch
  • Publication number: 20140256505
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a hybrid vehicle drive system for a vehicle comprising a first prime mover, a first prime mover driven transmission, a rechargeable power source, and a PTO. The hybrid vehicle drive system further includes a hydraulic motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the PTO and an electric motor in direct or indirect mechanical communication with the hydraulic motor. The electric motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO. The hydraulic motor can provide power to the prime mover driven transmission and receive power from the prime mover driven transmission through the PTO.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Dalum, Matthew J. Jarmuz, Daniel Francis Myers, Joseph Mario Ambrosio
  • Publication number: 20140257612
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle includes an engine, an electric motor, and an energy storage element coupled to the motor. The method involves receiving a request to supply operating power to drive the vehicle and responding to the request by selecting an apportionment of operating power between the engine and the motor from among a plurality of apportionments having respective operating costs such that the selected apportionment is associated with a minimum operating cost, the operating cost including at least an engine fuel consumption cost and a storage element lifetime cost. The method further involves causing power to be supplied by at least one of the engine and the motor in accordance with the selected apportionment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Liu, Nicolas Louis Bouchon
  • Patent number: 8825242
    Abstract: Vehicle system, comprising: —a hybrid powertrain (E, EMG, B) to drive the vehicle system and configured to generate electric energy; and —at least one electrically operable refrigerator unit (R) configured to cool at least one storage compartment of the system; wherein the refrigerator unit (R) is powered by electric energy generated by the hybrid powertrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Darren Leigh Foster
  • Patent number: 8825247
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and a method for managing battery charge of an electric vehicle according to the present invention. A system for managing battery charge of an electric vehicle according to the present invention may include: a message processing unit to receive, from a management center, power information about a smart grid that supplies power, to receive, from a first user, user information for setting a charging condition, and to provide set charging information; a charging time/charging cost calculator to calculate a first charging tolerance time and a first charging cost of the first user who has requested charge according to a charging mode included in the user information; and a determining unit to select a charging time zone of a minimum cost within a tolerance time based on content calculated by the charging time/charging cost calculator, and to generate charging information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Ki Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8825252
    Abstract: After a collision has been detected, all the upper arm transistors of inverters (41, 42) are turned off, and all the lower arm transistors of the inverters are turned on. Then, when no counter electromotive force is generated in any one of motors (MG1, MG2), a gate voltage (V2) lower than a gate voltage (V1) at which each upper arm transistor completely turns on is applied to at least any one of the upper arm transistors of the inverters (41, 42), and at least any one of the lower arm transistors of the inverters (41, 42), which is serially connected to the at least any one of the upper arm transistors to which the gate voltage (V2) is applied, is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Sakata, Tomoko Shimana
  • Publication number: 20140244087
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oil pump control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle that controls an oil pump according to a demand of an output torque and oil temperature, and a method thereof. A oil pump control method includes controlling hydraulic line pressure by operating a oil pump at a maximum power if a starting demand for a hybrid vehicle is detected, calculating a viscosity to correspond to an oil temperature in an engine stop mode and controlling a rotation speed of the oil pump at a low power, and calculating a viscosity according to a variation of a line pressure in a driving mode and controlling the rotation speed of the electric oil pump in either a low power, a middle power, and a high power state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sanghyun Jeong, Jong Hyun Kim, Seunghyun Yang, Sang Lok Song, Yeonho Kim, Jaeshin Yi, Haksung Lee, Seung Ki Kong
  • Patent number: 8818589
    Abstract: Location information may be used to adjust the engine start/stop characteristics of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) in order to increase the amount of electric vehicle (EV) mode driving, particularly near a destination in which an ignition-off event may occur. Common ignition-off locations may be learned and stored in a database along with the number of ignition-off occurrences associated with each learned location. The vehicle may calculate current distance to a nearest ignition-off location stored in the database using positioning system coordinates and may determine whether to adjust one or more engine pull-ups based at least in part on the distance and the corresponding number of ignition-off occurrences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Frederick, Matthew D. Smith
  • Patent number: 8818592
    Abstract: A method of controlling a supercapacitor energy storage unit (12), included in a motor vehicle micro-hybrid system, is disclosed. The storage unit is suitable for performing the functions of an alternator, starter and automatic stop-restart of the vehicle heat engine, regenerative braking and torque assistance. The energy storage unit (12) is a plurality of supercapacitor elementary cells connected in series (C1 to C10) and capable of delivering information (Vmax, Temp and DeltaV) on its internal status. The method includes various stages of: comparing a temperature (Temp) with at least one temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.); and, deciding on limitations of the availability of functions of the unit when the (Temp) information reaches the temperature threshold (ST1=55° C., ST2=65° C. and ST3=70° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Bruno Dessirier, Marc Ranier, Serge Newiadomy, Benoit Soucaze-Guillous, Philippe Masson, Pierre Sardat, Michaël Chemin, Jean-Claude Matt
  • Patent number: 8818594
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hybrid vehicle (1) having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (4) and having a regenerable filter device that absorbs fuel vapors from a fuel tank of the internal combustion engine. To improve the reproducible operation of a hybrid vehicle with an internal combustion engine and an electric machine, in a purely electric driving mode in which the hybrid vehicle (1) is driven only by the electric machine (4), the regenerable filter device is rinsed by switching on the internal combustion engine (2) with a scavenging strategy that is dependent on the velocity of the hybrid vehicle (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christoph Baumann, Thomas Rauner, Stefan Fischer
  • Patent number: 8818600
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine may be operated at an idle speed while a driveline disconnect clutch separating the engine from a driveline is open in response to a reduction in driver demand torque. Engine torque may be applied to the driveline by simply closing the driveline disconnect clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dennis Craig Reed, Alex O'Connor Gibson, Jeffrey Allen Doering, Adam Nathan Banker, Seung-Hoon Lee
  • Publication number: 20140236405
    Abstract: A controller for hybrid vehicle includes: an electric generator that generates an electricity by a power of an internal combustion engine; an electric storage apparatus that is able to store the generated electricity of the electric generator; an electric motor that generates a vehicle driving power through at least the generated electricity of the electric generator or the stored electricity of the electric storage apparatus; a required-driving-force measurement section that measures a required driving force of a driver; a sound parameter setting section that sets a parameter relating to a sound which can be heard by the driver; and an electric generation control section that controls an electric generation output of the electric generator based on the required driving force, which is measured by the required-driving-force measurement section, and the parameter which is set by the sound parameter setting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Teruo Wakashiro
  • Publication number: 20140236402
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle which starts an engine safely by using a remote switch even when a charging plug is connected is provided. The hybrid vehicle can be charged from an external power source. The controller of the hybrid vehicle executes the following process, when an engine start request is received while the charging plug for supplying electric power from the external power source is connected to the vehicle. (1) Starting an engine if charging is not performed and a shift lever is at a parking position when a request for starting the engine (remote start request) is received from a remote switch outside the vehicle, and rejecting a remote start request if the shift lever is at a position other than a parking position. (2) Rejecting a request for starting the engine from a switch provided in the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nomura
  • Patent number: 8812197
    Abstract: A hybrid wheel loader includes: an engine that includes an output shaft; a motor/generator that includes a rotating shaft directly attached to the output shaft of the engine; a transmission that includes an input shaft attached to the rotating shaft of the motor/generator, and an output shaft; a propeller shaft disposed on an output side of the transmission and driven via the output shaft of the transmission; an electricity storage device; and a control device that stores electricity into the electricity storage device by collecting electrical energy at the motor/generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noritaka Itou, Satoru Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20140222261
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a torque determining device for determining respective divided torques outputted from a first electric motor and a second electric motor on the basis of total torque required for driving of a hybrid vehicle; a torque correcting device for correcting the respective divided torques of the first electric motor and the second electric motor such that pulsation torque of an internal combustion engine on a drive shaft is canceled by the respective divided torques outputted from the first electric motor and the second electric motor and such that the respective divided torques of the first electric motor and the second electric motor are directed opposite to each other with respect to the drive shaft; and a controlling device for controlling each of the first electric motor and the second electric motor so as to output respective one of the corrected divided torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Gen Kato
  • Publication number: 20140222274
    Abstract: A hybrid excavator includes a control unit that is arranged at an upper turning body and is configured to supply a drive signal to at least one of a motor generator control part and a charge/discharge control part. During a regeneration operation performed by a motor, the control unit sets an electrical energy storage target value for a second electrical energy storage device to a higher value than an electrical energy storage target value for a first electrical energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Yuta SUGIYAMA
  • Patent number: 8798831
    Abstract: The prevent invention provides a device and a method for calculating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle which can reduce an initial error in estimating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle. The device and the method for calculating a distance to empty of an electric vehicle can provide more accurate DTE information from the start to the end of traveling by reducing the earlier error, in estimating the DTE from the amount of the presently remaining fuel (the amount of remaining capacity of a battery) of the electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Il Cho, Ki Taek Sung, Woo Sung Kim, Do Sung Hwang
  • Publication number: 20140207321
    Abstract: A method of operating a vehicle having an electric drive is provided. The method includes defining a first zone and a second zone. The first zone has an associated first characteristic and the second zone has an associated second characteristic that differs from the first characteristic. The method further includes switching an operating mode of a vehicle from a first operating mode in the first zone to a second operating mode in the second zone in response to the vehicle translating from the first zone to the second zone. Associated vehicles and systems are provided also.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Dean King, Ajith Kuttannair Kumar, Roland Sidney Sedziol, Lembit Salasoo, Timothy Gerard Richter
  • Publication number: 20140200754
    Abstract: A method for operating a hybrid vehicle is provided, in which an engine generates secondary power that is either stored or used as direct input energy by a secondary power source to provide motive power to the vehicle. The secondary power source is powered by secondary energy from an energy storage device, direct input energy generated by the engine, or both, depending on the amount of stored secondary energy in combination with vehicle speed. When in use, the power level at which the engine is operated is also determined on the basis of available stored energy and vehicle speed. At higher vehicle speeds, the amount of stored energy is allowed to be depleted in order to increase the available storage capacity for regenerative braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventor: Charles L. Gray, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140200756
    Abstract: A system for storing electrically a regenerative energy of a vehicle is provided. The system includes a first energy storage device, a second energy storage device, an energy regulating device coupled to the first and second energy storage devices, a source of regenerative power configured to capture a regenerative energy during a regenerative power event of the vehicle, and a control unit coupled to the energy regulating device. The control unit is configured to transfer electrical energy from the first energy storage device to the second energy storage device based on a prediction of the regenerative power event using the energy regulating device. The transfer of the electrical energy serves to reduce the electrical energy stored in the first energy storage device thereby enabling the first energy storage device to receive from the regenerative power device when the predicted regenerative power event occurs an amount of the electrical regenerative energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Brian C. Sisk
  • Publication number: 20140196964
    Abstract: A vehicle has a motor and an engine each serving as a driving source for running the vehicle, and assembled batteries each capable of supplying an electric power to the motor. The assembled batteries include a high-power assembled battery and a high-capacity assembled battery. The high-power assembled battery is capable of charge and discharge with current relatively larger than that in the high-capacity assembled battery, and the high-capacity assembled battery has energy capacity relatively larger than that of the high-power assembled battery. In running of the vehicle using output from the motor with the engine stopped, the high-capacity assembled battery supplies more electric power to the motor than that in the high-power assembled battery. The high-power assembled battery is placed in a vehicle-inside space accommodating a passenger or baggage, and the high-capacity assembled battery is placed in a vehicle-outside space located on an outer face of a vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Hayashi, Kenji Kimura, Takurou Nakayama, Hirotaka Watanabe, Nobuyoshi Fujiwara, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8779719
    Abstract: A charging control apparatus mounted on a vehicle connected to an external charging device through a charging connector, for performing control related to charging, includes a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging connector, and a control device for estimating, based on variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging connector is connected to the vehicle, variation in voltage applied to the charging connector after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, and determining that a failure has occurred in the external charging device if a degree of separation between the variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor after the lapse of the predetermined period of time and the estimated variation in voltage is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsutomu Matsuki
  • Publication number: 20140195090
    Abstract: A driving force control system for vehicle for controlling a target speed of an engine serving as a prime mover by selecting a control mode based on an index representing a driving preference of a driver. The control mode is selected from a first mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed while optimizing a fuel economy, and a second mode for operating the engine to achieve the target speed at a speed lower than that achieved while optimizing the fuel economy. The driving force control system is configured to determine a lower limit speed of the engine based on the index provided that the second mode is selected, and to restrict a lower limit value of the target speed of the engine to the lower limit speed in case the target speed of the engine exceeds the lower limit speed under the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Takeuchi, Kazuo Tsuruoka, Toshio Tanahashi, Yoshimitsu Agata, Hiroki Kaneko, Koji Tsurumura
  • Publication number: 20140195078
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises an internal combustion engine, a traction motor, a starter motor, and a battery bank, all controlled by a microprocessor in accordance with the vehicle's instantaneous torque demands so that the engine is run only under conditions of high efficiency, typically only when the load is at least equal to 30% of the engine's maximum torque output. In some embodiments, a turbocharger may be provided, activated only when the load exceeds the engine's maximum torque output for an extended period; a two-speed transmission may further be provided, to further broaden the vehicle's load range. A hybrid brake system provides regenerative braking, with mechanical braking available in the event the battery bank is fully charged, in emergencies, or at rest; a control mechanism is provided to control the brake system to provide linear brake feel under varying circumstances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Inventor: Alex J. Severinsky
  • Publication number: 20140195097
    Abstract: An abnormality diagnostic apparatus for a vehicle, which can accurately determine whether or not there is an abnormality in a voltage detection unit, while curtailing a cost increase, is provided. Output voltages Va, Vb, Vc outputted from voltage detection units are acquired, and differences |Va?Vb|, |Vb?Vc|, |Vc?Va| between the acquired output values are calculated. If any of the calculation results is greater than a determination threshold value, it is determined that there is an abnormality in any of the voltage detection units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro YAMANAKA, Takashi NONAKA
  • Patent number: 8775004
    Abstract: The vehicle smoothly generates the torque requested by the driver. The vehicle includes an elapsed time measurement unit, a torque limit value deciding unit, and an electric motor torque control unit. The elapsed time measurement unit measures the time elapsed since the vehicle has started moving in an EV mode, in which travel or starting is performed only with the drive force of an electric motor. The torque limit value deciding unit decides a torque limit value of the electric motor by means of the time elapsed since starting and the acceleration opening amount originating from the driver's instructions. The electric motor torque control unit controls the electric motor so as to limit the torque of the electric motor to or below the limit value. The disclosed control method is used in hybrid vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8775003
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling a boost converter. In one embodiment, the method processes a command signal in a slew rate limiting circuit. The output of the slew rate limiting circuit is then processed using one or more feedback parameters from the proportional integrator to provide a processed command signal. The processed command signal is processed with a controlled signal to provide an error signal which is provided to the proportional integrator to provide a current command signal. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an error generating circuit configured to provide a processed command signal using one or more feedback parameters from the proportional integrator, and to provide the error signal by subtracting a signal to be controlled from the processed command signal. A slew rate limiting circuit is used to receive a command signal and provide an output to the error generating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Seok-Joo Jang, Lihua Li, Ray M. Ransom
  • Patent number: 8773136
    Abstract: The charge state of a battery powering a starter of a motor vehicle is evaluated to determine whether the battery voltage is sufficiently high to re-start an internal combustion engine during a stop/start operating mode. The engine is operated to drive a generator so that the generator output voltage is at a level below a setpoint value for a time period. At the end of the time period, the battery voltage is measured and if it exceeds a threshold voltage the battery charge state is determined to be sufficient to re-start the engine. The threshold voltage is approximately equal to the rated battery voltage. If the measured battery voltage is below the threshold voltage value, indicating that the battery will not have sufficient charge to re-start the motor, automatic shut-off of the engine when the vehicle stops is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Birger Fricke, Mark Eifert, Ralf Hecke, Eckhard Karden
  • Patent number: 8774993
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is equipped with an engine and a motor generator (MG2) serving as a power source for driving the vehicle. A catalytic converter is provided in an exhaust pipe of the engine. An HV-ECU estimates a possible EV-running distance based on an SOC of a power storage device for comparison with a traveling distance (L) to a destination set by a navigation device. When the possible EV-running distance is longer than the traveling distance (L), the HV-ECU outputs a control signal (CTL2) instructing prohibition of warm-up of the catalytic converter, to an EG-ECU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Harada, Daigo Ando
  • Publication number: 20140180514
    Abstract: A method for compressing measurement data which is transmitted from sensor control units via a data bus to a primary control unit of a battery management system for vehicles, includes transmitting a rate of change/slope of the measurement data to the primary control unit at a start of measurements. The method further includes transmitting deviations/differences in the measurement data from a current slope, and reconstructing, without loss of information, correct measured values from the rates of change/slope and the received deviations/differences with the primary control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicants: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Becker, Christoph Brochhaus
  • Patent number: 8761982
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a first drive device and a second drive device. The first drive device includes a motor, a motor control device, a connection-disconnection device, and a connection-disconnection device controller. When the vehicle is driven in a state where a driving force of the first drive device is substantially zero, or the vehicle is driven only by a driving force of the second drive device, the connection-disconnection device controller couples the connection-disconnection device to establish a connected state of the connection-disconnection device. The motor control device is configured to perform loss reduction control on the motor to reduce at least one of a loss of the motor and a loss in a power transmission path in power transmitted to the first driving wheel, by establishing the connected state of the connection-disconnection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yamamoto, Junji Kato, Yuichi Nakamura, Hiroshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 8761986
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle which runs on power from at least one of an electric motor and an engine. When a required output exceeds a sum of an output of the electric motor which is driven by electric power supplied from a battery and an output of the engine while the hybrid vehicle is running on a drive mode in which at least the engine works as a drive source with a clutch engaged, a transmission ratio changing unit increases a ratio of electrical transmission to mechanical transmission of the output of the engine, and an engaging/disengaging control unit releases the clutch at a time point when the mechanically-transmitted output of the engine becomes 0, with the clutch engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Tamagawa
  • Patent number: 8761981
    Abstract: A Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) apparatus and method for controlling the elements of a Hybrid Electric Drive Powered Vehicle are disclosed, wherein the VCU uses Current and Historical Route Data to determine Instantaneous Power required by each of the elements, and wherein the VCU controls the Instantaneous Power used by each of the elements to minimize an amount of hydrocarbon fuel used while the vehicle is being driven, while also maintaining an acceptable battery state of charge and providing vehicle drive power as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fuel Motion Inc.
    Inventors: Agha Shaheryar Hussain, Agha Bakhtiar Hussain, David P. Lautzenheiser
  • Publication number: 20140172206
    Abstract: A plug-in hybrid vehicle includes a hybrid powertrain system and an energy storage device. A method for operating the hybrid powertrain system includes initially operating the hybrid powertrain system in a charge-depletion mode to reduce a state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. In response to an operator request, the hybrid powertrain system operates in an opportunity charging mode to opportunistically charge the energy storage device to increase the SOC of the energy storage device during a trip prior to achieving a minimum SOC that is associated with triggering operation in a charge sustaining mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: BRYAN N. ROOS, LAN WANG, WEI D. WANG
  • Publication number: 20140167654
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement is described comprising a first battery; a second battery; an electrical machine connected between the first battery and the second battery wherein the electrical machine is connected to the first battery via a first switching arrangement and the electrical machine is connected to the second battery via a second switching arrangement and a controller configured to control the first switching arrangement and the second switching arrangement such that a current that has a DC component flows through the electrical machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: INFINEON TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Philip Georg Brockerhoff
  • Patent number: 8755964
    Abstract: An outlet is provided to output power stored in a power storage device as commercial power, and the outlet receives power supply from the power storage device via a voltage converter. A car navigation device is configured to store information about traveling of a vehicle to a destination. An ECU obtains the information about traveling to the destination from the car navigation device, and controls a state of charge of the power storage device based on the information up to the destination and a usage status of the outlet up to the destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Wanleng Ang, Yoshinobu Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140163804
    Abstract: There are provided an electric storage device (11), inverter devices (7, 10), a converter device (12) for converting the voltage of circuits to which the inverter devices (7, 10) are connected, a motor generator (6) for driving a hydraulic pump (4) using alternate current from the inverter device (7), a motor (9) for driving wheels (61) using alternate current from the inverter device (10), and a control device (200) for controlling the inverter devices (7, 10). When any of the devices necessary for supplying the current to the motor (9) has developed a failure, the control device (200) drives the motor (9) by getting another normal device to perform another process corresponding to the process that has been performed by the malfunctioned device before the failure. This makes it possible to continue travel movement even when part of a travel power supply system has developed a failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventors: Satoru Kaneko, Takashi Ikimi, Hidekazu Moriki, Norita Ito, Yuichiro Morita
  • Publication number: 20140163801
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a battery storing electric power generated by operating the engine, and an ECU allowing the engine to stop in the state where a remaining capacity of the battery is larger than a first threshold value. When the engine is started by a factor different from a reduction in the remaining capacity of the battery in the state where the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller than the first threshold value, ECU causes the engine to operate and causes the battery to be charged until the remaining capacity of the battery increases to a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keita Sato
  • Publication number: 20140163803
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle is mounted with a traction motor, a power storage device for storing electric power input to and output from the traction motor, an engine, and a power generation mechanism to generate charging electric power for the power storage device by an output from the engine. An ECU sets charging/discharging electric power of the power storage device to control SOC of the power storage device to be within a predetermined range centered about a SOC control target in a running mode with the engine operating. The output from the engine set to ensure the charging/discharging electric power. The ECU sets the charging/discharging electric power such that the power storage device is discharged to an extent corresponding to a predetermined SOC higher than the lower limit SOC according to requirement power required for vehicle running, even when the SOC is lower than the SOC control target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideki Kamatani, Takashi Amano
  • Publication number: 20140163854
    Abstract: An electronic control unit of a drive assist apparatus acquires electric power source identification information for identifying a source of an electric power currently charged in a battery and electric power amount information representing an electric power amount corresponding to the source from an electric power acquisition unit, thereby recognizing a battery remaining amount SOCrg representing a green electric power, a battery remaining amount SOCj representing a privately generated green electric power, and a battery remaining amount SOCrs representing a non-green electric power. The unit presents travelable ranges each formed by connecting a group of maximum reachable points to which a PHV can reach by using each of a battery total remaining amount SOCr and the battery remaining amounts SOCrg, SOCj, and SOCrs to a user (driver) by using an information presentation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Satoru Matsumoto, Kentaro Takahashi, Masato Endo
  • Patent number: 8751086
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a controller configured to estimate battery capacity in accordance with a first state of charge estimation, a charge integration, and a second state of charge estimation. The first and second state of charge estimations are in accordance with time and temperature constraints and are such that the estimated battery capacity has limited uncertainty. The controller is further configured to generate an output based on the estimated battery capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yonghua Li, Richard Dyche Anderson
  • Patent number: 8751083
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a rechargeable energy storage device, such as a battery. A recharging system is operatively connected to the energy storage device and configured to selectively charge the energy storage device by transmitting energy thereto. A regenerative braking system is operatively connected to the energy storage device to selectively transmit energy thereto. A controller is operatively connected to the recharging system and configured to control the recharging system. The controller is configured to determine an amount of the vehicle's gravitational potential energy that is recoverable by the regenerative braking system over a predicted route, and to control the recharging system such that the amount of energy transferred from the recharging system to the energy storage device is based on the amount of the vehicle's gravitational potential energy that is recoverable by the regenerative braking system over the predicted route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Fred W. Huntzicker
  • Patent number: 8751081
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle that runs in an electric running priority mode after the engine reaches a driving condition appropriate for heating the catalyst (S130-S150) if the system has been started up and the following conditions are met: the vehicle is running in an electric running priority mode in which electric power is used preferentially to drive the vehicle; the temperature (Tc) at which the catalyst becomes activated to purify the engine exhaust falls below a threshold value (Tref); and a battery storage rate (SOC) falls below a threshold value (Scd) which reaches a threshold value (Shv). Then the system switches to a hybrid running priority mode after running on electric power for the length of time necessary to heat the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihiko Kato, Masaya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8751079
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided for controlling a battery pulse heating mode of a traction battery of a hybrid vehicle. The method includes detecting a traction battery temperature (T) upon start-up of the hybrid vehicle. The method then includes determining a dependency of fuel consumption (V) during a battery pulse heating mode on the distance (W) travelled for at least one predefined road type at the detected traction battery temperature (T). The method continues by displaying the determined dependency on a display device (50), using an input device (60) to select whether a battery pulse heating mode should be carried out; and controlling the battery pulse heating mode as a function of the selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Matthias Lederer, Martin Roth, Marco Fleckner
  • Publication number: 20140156130
    Abstract: A control apparatus of an electrically-driven vehicle controls an electrically-driven vehicle including a motor transmitting a drive force to wheels, an inverter driving the motor, and a battery supplying power to the inverter. The control apparatus includes battery storage amount estimation means for estimating a storage amount of the battery and motor rotation speed detection means for detecting a rotation speed of the motor. Output terminals of the inverter are short-circuited when the rotation speed of the motor reaches or exceeds a predetermined rotation speed while the storage amount estimated by the battery storage amount estimation means is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasufumi Ogawa, Keiichi Enoki, Takuya Tamura
  • Publication number: 20140151138
    Abstract: An automobile includes: a controller for controlling a motor; a main battery for supplying electric power to the motor via the controller; a normally open relay interposed in an electric power supply path extending from the main battery to the controller; and a sub-battery for supplying the electric power to the relay. The controller is mounted with a terminal cover that covers an output terminal for connection with a power supply cable to the motor. The sub-battery is disposed adjacent to the controller so as to interfere with the removal of the terminal cover by a worker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicants: AISIN AW CO., LTD., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Akio Kitami, Tatsuyuki Uechi
  • Patent number: 8744657
    Abstract: A hybrid drive system including a rotating electric machine; an input member drive-coupled to an internal combustion engine and the rotating electric machine; an output member drive-coupled to a wheel; a speed change device with a plurality of switchable shift speeds changes the rotational speed of the input member and transmits the changed rotational speed to the output member; and a control device that controls the rotating electric machine. The control device corrects the output torque of the rotating electric machine so as to cancel out a torque fluctuation of the input member that accompanies an initial explosion of the internal combustion engine; and, when the initial explosion of the internal combustion engine occurs during a shift operation of the speed change device, modifies the torque correction amount in a direction that suppresses a change in the rotational speed of the input member that advances the shift operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin AW Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kaifuku, Tooru Matsubara