Conjoint Control Of Different Elements (epo/jpo) Patents (Class 903/930)
  • Publication number: 20140330469
    Abstract: A control device for a hybrid vehicle performs start control for an internal combustion engine. The start control includes (i) transition control that controls the transition of first and second engagement devices between a direct engagement state, a slip engagement state and a disengaged state, and (ii) rotational speed control that controls rotational speed of a rotary electric machine. The timing of the transition control and rotational speed control reduces the starting time of the internal combustion engine, and/or suppresses transmission of torque shock to wheels when the first engagement device transitions from the slip engagement state to the direct engagement state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshida, Yomei Hakumura, Yoichi Tajima, Jin Izawa
  • Publication number: 20140330475
    Abstract: After satisfaction of an overrun condition that a tentative torque Tm1tmp of a motor overruns a torque limit Tlim1, a torque command Tm1* of the motor is set by limiting the tentative torque Tm1tmp with the torque limit Tlim1. With respect to an engine, the greater between a converted power Pesh and a value 0 is set to a second correction power Pemo2. A requested power Pe* of the engine is recalculated by subtracting a first correction power Pemo1 and the second correction power Pemo2 from the requested power Pe*. The engine is controlled using the recalculated requested power Pe*, while the motor is controlled using the torque command Tm1*.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8880258
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for controlling hybrid powertrains are described. In one aspect, an engine is alternatingly operated at different effective displacements. One displacement delivers less than a requested powertrain output and the other delivers more. A motor/generator system is used to add and subtract torque to/from the powertrain to cause the net delivery of the requested powertrain output. In some embodiments, energy added and subtracted from the powertrain is primarily drawn from and stored in a capacitor (e.g., a supercapacitor or an ultracapacitor) when alternating between effective displacements. In another aspect a hybrid powertrain arrangement includes an engine a motor/generator and an energy storage system that includes both a battery and a capacitor. The capacitor stores and delivers electrical energy to the motor/generator unit during operation of the engine in a variable displacement or skip fire mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Tula Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo G. Breton, Ronald D. Yuille, Mark A. Shost, Louis J. Serrano, John W. Parsels, Matthew A. Younkins
  • Patent number: 8880268
    Abstract: Assumed torque Tb is calculated based on an operation state of an engine when there is no abnormality in sensors, the engine is in a warm-up completion state, and a travel mode is a series mode, and actual torque Ta is calculated and friction torque Tf is calculated based on information on an actual amount of electric power generation of a generator. When the friction torque Tf is larger than an upper limit clip value, the upper limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, and when the friction torque Tf is smaller than the lower limit clip value, the lower limit clip value is the friction torque Tf, correction torque Tc is calculated, and an operation of an electronic control instrument of the engine is controlled so as to set the assumed torque Tb to the correction torque Tc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Omi, Jun Aizawa, Tatsuya Tawaki
  • Patent number: 8875821
    Abstract: Since a power of an engine is transmitted to a first axle and a power of a MG is transmitted to a second axle, a space for providing the MG can be readily ensured. Further, since an accessory is driven by the power of the engine, a private power source for the accessory is not necessary. In this case, the accessory may be a water pump, an oil pump, or an air-conditioner compressor. Furthermore, since a vehicle driving mode is switched between an engine driving mode and a MG driving mode, only a control system relative to the MG driving mode is necessary to be developed when the hybrid vehicle is developed by using the engine vehicle as the base part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ono, Toyoji Yagi
  • Patent number: 8880265
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hybrid construction machine including: an engine, a generator-motor, a hydraulic pump, an electric storage device, a power control device which controls electric power between the generator-motor and the electric storage device, a temperature detector which determines a temperature of the electric storage device, an unload valve provided between a discharge port of the hydraulic pump and a tank, an unload-valve control device, and a relief valve. The power control device controls an electric power to be supplied from the electric storage device to the generator-motor, under abnormal circumstances where the temperature of the electric storage device is low, to a power obtained by adding an additional discharge power to a power to be supplied under normal circumstances. The unload-valve control device closes the unload valve, under abnormal circumstances. The relief valve controls the discharge pressure of the hydraulic pump to the set pressure, under abnormal circumstances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Goto, Yoichiro Yamazaki, Masayuki Komiyama, Takayuki Doi
  • Patent number: 8876655
    Abstract: A control strategy for launching a motor vehicle includes using an electric motor to provide high torque at low speeds during synchronization of launch clutches. An internal combustion engine is started and connected with the electric motor to provide additional torque capacity. Selective engagement and disengagement of an engine disconnect clutch prevents the engine start from interfering with the motor vehicle launch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, LLC
    Inventors: Norman Schoenek, Min-Joong Kim, Hong Yang
  • Publication number: 20140324264
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle provided with a hybrid system that serves as the driving force thereof and has an engine and a motor, wherein: the engine torque is maintained while the output transmitted to the drive wheels is decreased by controlling the motor torque, when the accelerator and the brake pedal are simultaneously depressed, causing the recovery in the driving force of the hybrid vehicle when the decrease in output is released to occur through an increase in the motor torque, which is more responsive than the engine torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshiya Hashimoto, Hideaki Yaguchi
  • Publication number: 20140323265
    Abstract: A vehicle travel control device sets a first travel state in which a vehicle is caused to travel only by an internal combustion engine and a second travel state in which the vehicle is caused to travel by the internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The first travel state and the second travel state are switched to each other on the basis of vehicle information including the depression amount of an accelerator pedal. When a remaining electric power amount detected by a remaining electric power amount detection unit is less than a first predetermined value, a reaction force application unit sets a first accelerator pedal depression amount threshold at which the reaction force of the accelerator pedal is increased just before the switching from the first travel state to the second travel state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kohei Maruyama, Yutaka Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20140318878
    Abstract: A working machine includes a prime mover for supplying torque to the driving wheels of the working machine, and a transmission line arranged between the prime mover and the driving wheels for transmitting torque from the prime mover to the driving wheels. The transmission line includes a gearbox arranged between the prime mover and the wheels, and the working machine further includes at least one hydraulic machine in a hydraulic system for moving an implement arranged on the working machine and/or steering the working machine, and an electric machine for driving or braking the driving wheels and/or for driving or braking the at least one hydraulic machine. The electric machine is arranged in parallel with the prime mover with respect to the transmission line and is mechanically connected to the transmission line between the prime mover and the gearbox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AB
    Inventors: Per MATTSSON, Andreas NORDSTRAND, Rikard MÄKI
  • Publication number: 20140324263
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system is provided with: a fluid-operated power transmitting device having an input rotary member configured to receive a drive force from an engine, an output rotary member from which the drive force is transmitted to drive wheels, and a lock-up clutch configured to mechanically connect the input rotary member and the output rotary member to each other; a first electric motor connected directly or indirectly to said input rotary member; and a second electric motor connected directly or indirectly to a power transmitting path between said fluid-operated power transmitting path and said drive wheels, the control apparatus comprising: a hybrid control portion configured to control said first electric motor and said second electric motor to generate an engine starting torque for starting said engine while a power transmitting path between said second electric motor and said drive wheels is placed in a power cutoff state or a restricted power transmitting state and while
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsushi Tabata, Tooru Matsubara, Tatsuya Imamura
  • Patent number: 8874295
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle includes an automatic transmission, a clutch, a motor, a battery, a driving assist control device performing a driving assist control by driving the motor to generate an assist torque, a gear shift assist control device performing a gear shift assist control by driving the motor in response to a decrease of the engine torque caused by the disengagement state of the clutch, an SOC value detection device detecting an SOC value, and a first mode switch device switching an operation mode of the hybrid vehicle from a normal mode in which the driving assist control and the gear shift assist control are performed to a battery power preserving mode in which the driving assist control is prohibited and the gear shift assist control is permitted in a case where the SOC value is equal to or smaller than a first predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignees: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Ai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Terakawa, Yasuhiro Hosoi, Yuichiro Kitamura, Yoshihide Suzuki, Katsunori Ueda, Tuyoshi Murakami, Yoshiyuki Aoyama, Kazutaka Kobayashi, Takeshige Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20140316631
    Abstract: A drive control device for a hybrid vehicle which is provided with: a first differential mechanism and a second differential mechanism which have a total of five rotary elements; and an engine, a first electric motor, a second electric motor and an output rotary member which are respectively connected to four rotary elements of said five rotary elements, and which has at least a first drive mode and a second drive mode in which the engine is operated and which are established by selectively connecting a rotary element of said five rotary elements which is connected to said engine, and a rotary element of said five rotary elements which is not connected to any of said engine, said first electric motor, said second electric motor and said output rotary member, to each other through a clutch, or selectively fixing the rotary element connected to said engine and the rotary element not connected to any of said engine, said first electric motor, said second electric motor and said output rotary member, to a station
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Hayashi, Masato Terashima, Hiroyasu Harada, Tomohito Ono, Hiroyuki Ishii
  • Publication number: 20140316622
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for enabling engine diagnostics, including visual inspections of an engine cylinder, using existing hardware from a laser ignition system. Light pulses from a laser ignition device are received at a photodetector during non-combusting conditions and used to generate images of an inside of the cylinder that can be assessed by a service technician. An electric motor of the vehicle system can be used during a service mode of the vehicle to rotate the engine to, and hold the engine at, specified engine positions that enable the technician to perform selected diagnostic tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Raymond Martin, Lauren Angelina Martin
  • Publication number: 20140316624
    Abstract: An ECU determines whether or not fuel in a fuel tank deteriorates. A heating system is configured to be able to perform heating (engine heating) using heat of an engine which heating uses the engine under operation as a heat source, and heating (heat-pump heating) using a heat pump cycle without using the engine as a heat source. When it is determined that the fuel in the fuel tank deteriorates, the ECU controls the heating system and the engine so as to give priority to the engine heating over the heat-pump heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takanori AOKI
  • Patent number: 8868273
    Abstract: Compatibility between prevention of hunting of engine start and stop and improvement of fuel consumption is achieved during traveling with mode transitions. An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor-generator, a first clutch and a mode transition control means. The motor-generator is disposed in a drive system (power train) between engine and tire wheels to perform a start of the engine and drive for the tire wheels according to motor acceleration and power generation according to regeneration. The first clutch switches between an HEV mode and an EV mode. Mode transition control means implements a delay time from a time at which an engine stop allowance condition is established to a time at which a mode transition from the HEV mode to the EV mode is started in a high vehicle speed area that is higher than a delay time in another vehicle speed area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munetoshi Ueno, Tadashi Okuda, Noboru Kudo
  • Patent number: 8868274
    Abstract: Providing a control apparatus for a vehicular drive system, which is configured to implement a torque reduction control during a shifting action of an automatic transmission, and which permits reduction of the size and cost of an electric circuit including a smoothing capacitor. An electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01 is predetermined such that a point of a vehicle running state lies in the electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01 prior to a moment of determination to perform a shifting action of the automatic transmission, and electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting means 96 implements an electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting control to restrict a rate of increase of a total amount of an electric energy generated by first and second electric motors MG1 and MG2, to a predetermined upper limit value LTGN, when the point of the vehicle running state has moved into the electricity-generation-amount-variation restricting region A01.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Shiiba, Takeshi Kanayama, Talyo Uejima, Daiki Sato
  • Patent number: 8868278
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine and a motor each for generating vehicle driving power. An operation region indicated by rotational speed and torque of the engine includes: an normal region in which a fuel injection amount is calculated in accordance with a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio; and an amount increase region in which an amount of fuel is increased compared with the normal position so as to suppress temperature increase of a catalyst. A control device calculates a total required power of the vehicle depending on the vehicle state, and determines an engine operation point in accordance with the total required power. When the engine operation point is in the OT amount increase region, the engine operation point is changed to fall within the normal region by decreasing the engine output power. An output power of the motor is determined to compensate the decrease of the engine output power and secure the total required power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Amano
  • Patent number: 8868277
    Abstract: A hybrid drive system configured to selectively establish one of a first drive mode in which a first motor/generator MG1 is operated with a drive force of an engine, to generate an electric energy and in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator MG2, and a second drive mode in which the vehicle drive force is generated by the engine, and at least one of the first motor/generator MG1 and second motor/generator MG2 is operated to generate an assisting vehicle drive force, as needed, and further configured such that an amount of a working oil to be supplied to the first motor/generator MG1 is larger in the first drive mode than in the second drive mode, permitting sufficient cooling of the electric motor depending upon a selected one of the vehicle drive modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akiko Nishimine, Koji Hayashi, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Takeshi Miyagawa, Ryoki Ii, Tomoaki Furukawa, Norihiro Yamamura, Akihiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8868276
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control device is provided with an engine, a motor and a mode switch section, an automatic transmission and a controller. The controller outputs the gear shift command prior to an engine start command when a simultaneous output prediction condition is met that predicts the output of a gear shift request and a start request at the same time. In this way, the generation of a large shock by the entering of the engine start in the start prohibiting region during the gear shift is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaori Tanishima, Hiroaki Kawamura, Fumihiro Yamanaka
  • Publication number: 20140309823
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system to transfer torque among an engine, torque machines, and a driveline in response to an output torque request includes executing a selection scheme to evaluate operating in a plurality of candidate powertrain states including a pseudo-electric vehicle (EV) range responsive to the output torque request. A respective minimum cost for operating the powertrain system in each of the candidate powertrain states including the pseudo-EV range is determined. A preferred powertrain state is selected, and is one of the candidate powertrain states including the pseudo-EV range associated with a minimum of the respective minimum costs. The powertrain system is controlled in the preferred powertrain state responsive to the output torque request.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: ANTHONY H. HEAP, KEE YONG KIM, RYAN D. MARTINI
  • Publication number: 20140309824
    Abstract: A battery charge/discharge control apparatus for controlling charge/discharge of a battery in a vehicle as defined herein, includes: a battery control portion which is provided for controlling charge/discharge of the battery; a vehicle control portion which controls the inverter and the engine and controls the charge/discharge of the battery based on information from the battery control portion; a failure determination portion which determines whether there is a failure in the battery control portion or not; and an inverter driving state detection portion which detects a driving state of the inverter; wherein: the vehicle control portion controls the charge/discharge of the battery based on the driving state of the inverter detected by the inverter driving state detection portion when the failure determination portion determines that there is a failure in the battery control portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Seiji BITO
  • Publication number: 20140309832
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one of embodiments of the present invention applies, to a drive axel, a torque equal to a user requesting torque determined based on an accelerator operation amount, by controlling a torque generated by an engine and a torque generated by an electric motor while adjusting a power generated by the engine in such a manner that an engine efficiency becomes optimum (i.e., while operating the engine at an optimum engine operation point). Further, the vehicle controls an electric power generated by a first motor generator by varying the power generated by the engine based on a remaining capacity of the battery so as to charge the battery. In addition, the vehicle controls the air-fuel of the engine to a rich air-fuel ratio when a predetermined condition is not satisfied, and to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio when the predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daigo Ando
  • Patent number: 8862298
    Abstract: In a drive control device of a hybrid vehicle including a power dividing mechanism which has a sun roller, a carrier, and a first disc with which a rotating shaft of a first motor/generator, an output shaft of an engine, and a rotating shaft of a second motor/generator which also functions as an output shaft directed toward drive wheel sides are coupled, respectively and by which differential rotating operations between the sun roller, the carrier, and the first disc are controlled using an alignment chart on which rotation speeds of the sun roller, the carrier, and the first disc are disposed in the sequence of the sun roller, the carrier, the first disc and shown by straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Murakami, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Takahiro Shiina, Daisuke Tomomatsu
  • Patent number: 8862376
    Abstract: A cruising distance calculation apparatus for a hybrid vehicle that includes a motor and an engine for driving a generator is disclosed. The cruising distance calculation apparatus includes a traveling mode decision unit that decides in which one of traveling modes the vehicle is traveling, the traveling modes including at least EV traveling mode and series traveling mode, an electricity consumption calculation unit that calculates, when the traveling mode is the EV traveling mode, an electric power consumption amount Ec of the battery based on electric power consumption of the battery whereas the electricity consumption unit calculates, when the traveling mode is the series traveling mode, the electric power consumption amount Ec based on output power of the motor, an electric mileage calculation unit that calculates an electric mileage Eef, and a cruising distance calculation unit that estimates a first cruising distance Dp1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryosuke Yabuta
  • Publication number: 20140303820
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, a motor configured to generate electricity using a power from the engine, a battery configured to exchange an electric power with the motor, a switch configured to set a charging acceleration mode and to cancel the charging acceleration mode, a reporting device configured to report information, and an electronic control unit configured to (a) increase the electric power generated by the motor higher when the charging acceleration mode is set than that when the charging acceleration mode is not set, and (b) control the reporting device to notify that the charging acceleration mode is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Koji HOKOI, Hiroki ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140303825
    Abstract: A hybrid drive device having an input member drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine. Control is performed so that motor torque output by the motor produces at least a part of inertia torque needed for rotation change of input-related members during the shifting. The control device limits the motor torque in an inertia phase during the shifting to a set value that has been set to or below a value having a smaller absolute value between values of performance limit torque of the motor at times before and after the shifting, sets a target input rotational speed of the input member during the shifting, and controls the engagement state of the friction engagement elements that control the rotation change of the input-related members in the inertia phase so as to generate the inertia torque calculated from the target input rotational speed in the input-related members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Kohei Tsuda, Yoichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20140303823
    Abstract: The hybrid vehicle has a motor generator disposed in a power transmission path and performing as an electric motor and an electric generator, a direct injection engine configured to execute an ignition start in which fuel is injected into any cylinder with a piston stopped in an expansion stroke and ignited for the start, and an engine connecting/disconnecting clutch of friction engagement type directly connecting and interrupting the direct injection engine to/from the motor generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Nakanishi, Susumu Kojima, Yukihiko Ideshio, Yasuyuki Kato
  • Publication number: 20140303822
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle control device includes an engine start control section that begins an engine start control when a mode transition request to change to a hybrid vehicle mode occurs due to an accelerator operation while traveling in an electric vehicle mode in which a first clutch is opened. The engine start control section begins engagement of the first clutch after slip engagement of a second clutch is determined and starting the engine using a motor as a starter motor. A negative slip detecting/predicting section detects/predicts if a slip polarity of the second clutch has transitioned from positive slip to negative slip after the engine start control has begun and before the engine has started. A forced backup start control section starts the engine with the second clutch in a fully engaged state when a transition of the second clutch to negative slip has been detected or predicted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawamura, Kaori Tanishima, Fumihiro Yamanaka, Yutaka Takamura, Munetoshi Ueno, Noboru Kudo
  • Publication number: 20140303819
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes a power storage device, an engine, a power generation apparatus, an input apparatus, and an ECU. The power generation apparatus is configured to generate charging power of the power storage device by using output of the engine. The input apparatus is configured to request, by a user input, an increase in a power storage amount of the power storage device. The ECU is configured to: (a) control charging of the power storage device by the power generation apparatus and accelerate the charging of the power storage device, when the increase in the power storage amount is requested, and (b) suppress charging of the power storage device at the time when a travel load is small in comparison with charging of the power storage device at the time when the travel load is large, when the increase in the power storage amount is requested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuma AOKI, Koji HOKOI, Hiroki ENDO
  • Publication number: 20140302964
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle mounting a torque converter with a lock-up clutch in order to better accomplish good drivability as well as good gasoline mileage than conventional vehicle control apparatuses includes an engine, a motor generator, a torque convertor with the lock-up clutch, and a battery, and expands a lock-up region when the battery is not under a input/output limited state wider than when the battery is under the input/output limited state while the vehicle is being driven at least by the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobufusa Kobayashi, Toshio Sugimura, Masato Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 8852053
    Abstract: A power generation control device for an electric vehicle includes a power generator driven by an internal combustion engine, a drive battery that stores power generated by the power generator and sensing an SOC that is a state of charge, and a drive motor that propels a vehicle using power generated by the power generator or power stored in the drive battery. The power generation control device controls a power generation torque of the power generator to correspond to an output that is a sum of a drive request output calculated based on a manipulation separately from a drive torque of the drive motor and a battery request output calculated based on the SOC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Izawa
  • Publication number: 20140296025
    Abstract: A control system for a vehicle includes: an engine; a first electric motor configured to output a starting torque for starting the engine; a second electric motor configured to output a starting torque for starting the engine and a running torque; an electrical storage device configured to supply electric power to the first electric motor and the second electric motor; and a controller configured to start the engine with the use of both the first electric motor and the second electric motor at the time of starting the engine when the sum of a required driving torque that is required for the vehicle and a required starting torque that is required to start the engine is larger than a maximum output torque of the second electric motor, which is outputtable at the electric power from the electrical storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunsuke FUSHIKI
  • Publication number: 20140297077
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle has an engine and a motor-generator as power sources and has an inter-vehicle distance detection unit to detect an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle. A power generation amount is restricted according to the inter-vehicle distance in a power generation travel mode in which power of the engine drives the motor-generator while being transferred to the drive wheels. Output torque of an engine drivetrain is reduced according to the restricted power generation amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Taichi KISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20140297089
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle drive device. A start control section executes internal combustion engine start control. A start slip control section executes start slip control of bringing one of the plurality of shift engagement devices into a slip engaged state. An intended engagement device deciding section that decides as an intended engagement device, based on a set determination speed. The intended engagement device deciding section decides as the intended engagement device a special engagement device that is the shift engagement device having been in the direct-coupling engaged state in order to form the reference shift speed, and that is disengaged when a transition is made to a special shift speed on an opposite side of the specific shift speed from the reference shift speed in order of speed ratios of the plurality of shift speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Kohei Tsuda, Yoichi Tajima
  • Publication number: 20140297088
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle including an engine having a catalyst in an exhaust passage, first and second motor generators, a battery and a power transmission mechanism coupling a drive shaft, the engine and the motor generators by a gear mechanism such that torque is transmittable, and its control method, are provided. When a coolant temperature is a threshold or below, catalyst warm-up operation for starting the engine and retarding an ignition timing by a retardation amount is executed. When a battery level is a threshold or below, forced charging operation for starting the engine and charging the battery by driving the first motor generator is executed. During the forced charging operation, an engine load is changed on the basis of the battery level. When the catalyst warm-up operation is executed during the forced charging operation, the retardation amount for facilitating warm-up of the catalyst is reduced as the engine load increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikuo Ando, Toshitake Sasaki, Tsukasa Abe, Masato Terashima, Koji Hayashi, Hiroyasu Harada, Masakazu Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20140297084
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment includes a method including providing a battery, producing a first magnetic field so that a second magnetic field is induced in the battery, sensing a magnetic field resulting from the interaction of the first magnetic field and the second magnetic field, utilizing the sensed net magnetic field to determine the state of charge of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Gregory P. Meisner, Jan F. Herbst, Mark W. Verbrugge
  • Publication number: 20140297079
    Abstract: An antiskid apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes a generator control section that adjusts a deceleration torque of a driving wheel by controlling a power generator to change from an operation of decreasing a generation amount of the power generator to an operation of assisted driving of a crankshaft when an engine rotation speed is higher than a predetermined rotation speed during rapid deceleration in which a vehicle deceleration speed is at a predetermined value or more or during deceleration associated with shift-down through a transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsushi SAITOH
  • Publication number: 20140297085
    Abstract: An inverter performs bidirectional DC/AC power conversion between a power line and a second MG so as to control an output torque of the second MG for generating vehicle driving force. A PM-ECU sets a torque command value of the second MG such that requested driving force for an entire vehicle is exerted on a drive shaft. An MG-ECU estimates, based on a rotation speed of the second MG, a magnitude of a drag torque acting as rotational resistance when the second MG rotates at zero torque, and stops the inverter in accordance with a difference between the estimated drag torque and the torque command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhito Hayashi, Mikio Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140297080
    Abstract: A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle has an engine, a motor, an engine-driven generator, and a battery. A controller determines an engine output based on an efficiency function that is defined by a drive power of the vehicle, a generated electric power from the generator, and a discharged electric power from the battery. The determined engine output controls the efficiency function to be kept in a value range that includes a maximum efficiency value of the efficiency function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi OKAMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140297071
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for estimating fuel volatility. During a vehicle-off condition following a refueling event, fuel volatility may be estimated. Based on estimated fuel volatility, fuel injection amount and leak test thresholds may be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Aed M. Dudar, Robert Roy Jentz
  • Patent number: 8844660
    Abstract: A hybrid working machine includes an engine, an assist motor configured to assist the engine, a hydraulic pump driven by the engine, an electric power accumulating unit configured to feed the assist motor with electric power, an electric-discharge electric motor configured to perform power running with electric power of an electric power accumulator of the electric power accumulating unit, an electric-discharge hydraulic motor connected to the electric-discharge electric motor, and a hydraulic circuit configured to control driving of the electric-discharge hydraulic motor. The hydraulic circuit includes a circulation circuit configured to be connected to a hydraulic feed port and a hydraulic discharge port of the electric-discharge hydraulic motor and a selector valve configured to perform such switching as to connect the electric-discharge hydraulic motor to the circulation circuit at a time of performing an electric discharge operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kawashima, Makoto Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 8849486
    Abstract: A vehicle has a restriction storing device that stores a plurality of restrictions that are respectively created for a plurality of virtual gear ranges, such that, in each of the virtual gear ranges, required driving force as driving force to be applied to a drive shaft corresponding to the same accelerator operation amount tends to be increased as the vehicle speed is higher, and the required driving force corresponding to the same accelerator operation amount tends to be increased as the virtual gear range is shifted to a lower range when the vehicle speed is constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8849489
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling first and second electric motors of a vehicle having an electrically variable transmission during an engine start/stop operation. The system and method determine a type of shift being performed, determine if a first clutch is being applied or released during the shift, determine if a second clutch is being applied or released during the shift, determine an acceleration limit based on the shift being performed and which clutch is being applied and/or released, determine acceleration and speed profiles based on the shift being performed, which clutch is being applied and/or released and the acceleration limit, determine a first electric motor torque and a second electric motor torque based on the acceleration and speed profiles, and set the torques of the first and second electric motors to the determined first and second electric motor torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Nadirsh Patel, Ashish Krupadanam, Goro Tamai, Mengyang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140288742
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle includes: an engine; a motor; a battery; a navigation system; and a controller configured to carry out navigation coordination traveling, the controller being configured to stop the navigation coordination traveling when a state of charge of the battery becomes lower than or equal to a first switching threshold, the controller being configured to resume the navigation coordination traveling when the state of charge of the battery becomes higher than or equal to a second switching threshold higher than the first switching threshold, the controller being configured to set a first predetermined state of charge for the first switching threshold when there is no regenerative travel section, and the controller being configured to set a second predetermined state of charge lower than the first predetermined state of charge when there is the regenerative travel section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Hokoi, Makoto Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140288740
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle includes an engine for traveling, a motor for traveling, and a battery exchanging electric power with the motor. the control apparatus including: a heater is configured to perform heating inside a cabin of the hybrid vehicle by using the engine or an electric heat source as a heat source; and a controller is configured to operate the engine intermittently, the controller is configured to select the heat source for the heater, the controller is configured to determine whether or not a fuel for the engine is degraded when the engine is stopped, and the controller is configured to start the engine and select the engine as the heat source when the controller determines that the fuel is degraded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke ITOYAMA, Hideaki YAGUCHI, Koji HOKOI, Kenji OONISHI, Hiroki ENDO, Kazuma AOKI, Mikihisa ARAI
  • Publication number: 20140288744
    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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Endo, Koji Hokoi
  • Publication number: 20140288753
    Abstract: In a method and an arrangement for powering up a DC distribution system in a hybrid vehicle power train, the power train includes an electric storage system, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator, a clutch device to connect the electric motor/generator to the internal combustion engine, a power electronics unit with a voltage regulator connected to the electric motor/generator, and an electronic control unit for controlling the power train. The electric storage system and the electric motor/generator are connectable to one or more electrical loads for driving the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventor: Henrik Engdahl
  • Publication number: 20140288757
    Abstract: A hybrid vehicle according to one of embodiments of the present invention generates a driving torque using an internal combustion engine, an motor generator, and the like when a shift position is a driving position, the driving torque being determined based on a selected driving mode (e.g., a power mode to give priority to the power, and a normal mode to give priority to fuel consumption) and an accelerator operation amount. On the other hand, when the shift position is a neutral position, the vehicle maintains a rotational speed of the engine at a constant speed (including zero when the engine is stopped) regardless of the accelerator operation amount. When the accelerator operation amount becomes equal to or larger than an accelerator operation amount threshold while the neutral position is selected, the vehicle supplies information indicating that the neutral position is selected to a driver. The accelerator operation amount threshold is determined based on the driving mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takahiko Hirasawa, Noritake Mitsutani
  • Publication number: 20140288755
    Abstract: A control apparatus (100) is a control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle (10), wherein the hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine (200) which operates by a burning of fuel and a rotating electrical machine (Mg) which operates by using electric power charged in a battery, the control apparatus is provided with: a stop controlling device which stops a supply of the fuel to the engine while the hybrid vehicle is running; a vibration suppress controlling device which controls the rotating electrical machine so as to generate a suppress force for suppressing vibration which is caused by a stop of the supply of the fuel to the engine; and an adjusting device which adjusts magnitude of the suppress force such that the magnitude of the suppress force becomes smaller as a braking amount for braking the hybrid vehicle becomes larger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventor: Koji Murakami