Characterized By Control Of Braking (e.g., Blending Of Regeneration, Friction Braking) (epo/jpo) Patents (Class 903/947)
  • Publication number: 20130325230
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling motor torque of a vehicle capable of increasing vehicle mileage and improving fuel efficiency by adjusting regenerative torque of a motor according to a driving tendency of a driver when a vehicle is in a coasting mode by detecting a driving tendency of a driver by analyzing the number of brake pedal operations and engaging depth of a brake pedal for a predetermined period
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicants: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sang Joon Kim
  • Publication number: 20130317681
    Abstract: A control interface for drivetrain braking provided by a regenerative brake and a non-regenerative brake is implemented using a combination of switches and graphic interface elements. The control interface comprises a control system for allocating drivetrain braking effort between the regenerative brake and the non-regenerative brake, a first operator actuated control for enabling operation of the drivetrain braking, and a second operator actuated control for selecting a target braking effort for drivetrain braking. A graphic display displays to an operator the selected target braking effort and can be used to further display actual braking effort achieved by drivetrain braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Jay E. Bissontz
  • Patent number: 8594871
    Abstract: A vehicle battery diagnosis system diagnoses the state of use of a battery of a vehicle, and includes: an information accumulation portion that accumulates diagnostic information that includes a use condition regarding the battery; a control plan presentation portion that presents a plurality of control plans about the vehicle for increasing the service life of the battery on the basis of the diagnostic information; and an information changing portion that changes control information regarding the control of the vehicle which is retained in a vehicle-mounted ECU of the vehicle so that the control information corresponds to a control plan selected from the plurality of control plans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Uchida
  • Publication number: 20130297134
    Abstract: A regenerative control capable of realizing a comfortable operation, along with an efficient collection of a regenerative energy of a motor generator and an effective regenerative braking control. A regenerative control device for a motor generator generates a regenerative braking power for decelerating a motor vehicle at a time of collecting regenerative energy generated by driving of the motor vehicle. The arrangement includes a driving state detection unit for detecting a driving state and a deceleration level acquisition unit for acquiring a deceleration level. A braking force setting unit sets the regenerative braking force of the motor generator at a time of detection of a deceleration operation by the driving state detection unit. A braking force adjustment unit adjusts and suppresses the regenerative braking force set by the braking force setting unit, according to acquired deceleration level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masakazu Saito, Yoshiki Ito, Masaaki Tagawa, Hitoshi Ohkuma
  • Patent number: 8577531
    Abstract: A system and method for the automatic control of wheel brake-slip in a motor vehicle with an electric drive (2), including the following steps: detecting a brake signal (14) by means of a slip control device (9), at which point the slip control device (9) generates an electric drive signal (15) and a friction brake signal (16) for the automatic control of a predetermined slip value of a wheel (1) of the motor vehicle, transmitting the electric drive signal (15) to an electric drive control device (6) and transmitting the friction brake signal (16) to a friction brake control device (12), at which point a friction brake control device (12) activates a friction brake (10) of the wheel (1) according to the friction brake control signal (16) to generate friction brake signal (16) to generate friction brake torque and an electric drive control device (6) activates electric drive (2) according to electric drive signal (15) to generate electric drive torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG
    Inventors: Ákos Semsey, Michael Döricht
  • Patent number: 8573709
    Abstract: In a braking control apparatus for an electric vehicle, a target braking torque command value calculation section calculates a target braking torque command value on a basis of at least one of a state of road wheels and a braking request by a vehicle driver, a frequency component decomposition section decomposes a target braking torque command value into a first frequency component lower than a resonance frequency of a drive train and a second frequency component equal to or higher than the first frequency component, and a braking force control section provides an electrical braking torque for road wheels on a basis of a motor torque command value corresponding to the first frequency component and provides a frictional braking torque for the road wheels on a basis of a frictional braking torque command value corresponding to the second frequency component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Suzuki, Jun Kubo
  • Publication number: 20130289809
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided with at least one wheel and a motor that is coupled to the wheel. The motor is configured to provide regenerative brake torque. The vehicle also includes at least one controller that is configured to predict future powertrain oscillation based on input indicative of a wheel speed and a total brake torque. The controller is also configured to control the motor to reduce the regenerative brake torque prior to the powertrain oscillation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: William David Treharne, Jonathan Andrew Butcher, Dale Scott Crombez, Thomas Scott Gee
  • Publication number: 20130282250
    Abstract: A braking method for a motor vehicle including a hybrid or electric propulsion system, a hydraulic braking system, an electric braking system recuperating electrical energy, a brake pedal, systems to assist with driving of the vehicle, and a vehicle electronic stability control system. The method includes: selecting one of torque setpoints from between a pedal torque setpoint relating to position of or force supplied to the brake pedal, and a torque setpoint relating to the driver assistance systems; formulating a hydraulic braking torque setpoint independent of a state of the pedal by the electric or hybrid propulsion system; acquiring information relating to stability of the vehicle; formulating a hydraulic braking torque setpoint and an electric braking torque setpoint intended for the hybrid or electric propulsion system based on the selected torque setpoint, the independent hydraulic braking torque setpoint, and the information relating to the vehicle stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: RENAULT s.a.s.
    Inventors: Hamid Azzi, Richard Pothin
  • Patent number: 8548707
    Abstract: In a braking system and a method for braking a vehicle having a hybrid drive, at least one wheel, preferably at least the wheels of one axle, is brakable by a regenerative brake and by a service brake. The braking system includes a vehicle stability control system, which ascertains state variables describing a driving dynamics of the vehicle, for which there exist threshold values and/or threshold value combinations. The vehicle stability control system is arranged such that when reaching, exceeding and/or undershooting one of the threshold values or one of the threshold value combinations a wheel-specific braking force control is effected. A predefined maximum regenerative braking force is determined on the basis of the state variables ascertained by the vehicle stability control system and the regenerative brake is controlled such that the regenerative braking force exerted on the at least one wheel does not exceed the determined predefined maximum regenerative braking force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Bastian Witte
  • Publication number: 20130238208
    Abstract: A regenerative braking control device for a vehicle includes: a driver request braking torque computation unit configured to compute a driver request braking torque based on brake pedaling of a driver; and a regenerative braking torque computation unit configured to compute a regenerative braking torque by restricting a response time of the regenerative braking torque to match a braking rate of a frictional brake based on a vehicle speed and the computed driver request braking torque, and compute the regenerative braking torque by releasing restriction on the response time of the regenerative braking torque in a case where the driver request braking torque decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Takeshi Hirata
  • Patent number: 8528674
    Abstract: A device and a method for generating a vacuum in a brake system of a vehicle equipped with a hybrid drive. The hybrid drive includes an internal combustion engine and at least one electric drive, which is selectively uncoupled from the internal combustion engine with the aid of a clutch. A vacuum pump having an adjustable pumping capacity is mechanically connected to the at least one electric drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Kraft, Michael Bildstein
  • Publication number: 20130231812
    Abstract: When it is determined that a negative pressure is insufficient, an EGR-close control is executed so that an EGR valve is driven toward a close position to increase the negative pressure in an intake passage. After that, it is determined whether the negative pressure detected by a pressure sensor is restored to a specified target negative pressure. When the negative pressure is not restored to the target negative pressure even when a specified time period has elapsed after it is determined that the negative pressure is insufficient, an automatic brake unit executes a braking-force assist control to assist a braking force of a brake. A shortage of the braking force due to an insufficient negative pressure is compensated by the braking force generated by the automatic brake unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke TOKUMOCHI, Motoyoshi HATTA
  • Publication number: 20130218386
    Abstract: A system for controlling a mode of operation of a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an engine, and a drive motor coupled to the RESS and the engine, the drive motor selectively powered by at least one of the RESS and the engine includes a controller operable to adjust the vehicle to operate in a plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the drive motor is powered by the RESS, a second mode in which the drive motor is powered more by the engine than the RESS. When the second mode of operation is selected, controller is configured to operate the engine as necessary to maintain the RESS at or above a predetermined state of charge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Fisker Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Fisker Automotive, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130211644
    Abstract: A vehicle motion control apparatus that the travel stability of a vehicle can be maintained by appropriately controlling the regenerative braking force in accordance with the wheel slip state or the road surface friction coefficient, and that the amount of regeneration of regenerative energy by the electric motor can be ensured under various situations which may range from gradual braking to rapid braking is provided. A braking/driving force allocation unit of the vehicle motion control apparatus allocates braking/driving force to a front wheel and a rear wheel on the basis of braking/driving force required for the vehicle and decreases the braking/driving force for one of the front wheel and the rear wheel for which the braking/driving force is generated by the electric motor in response to a decrease in the ratio of braking/driving force to a slip ratio of at least one of the front wheel and the rear wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventor: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
  • Publication number: 20130179017
    Abstract: A drive system includes at least two drive devices, at least one of which is electric, that drive at least two drive axles, a power electronics system, an energy storage arrangement, and a control device. The control device includes a drive control module for providing a recuperation limiting value for each electric drive, a recuperation control module for combining the recuperation limiting values to form a maximum recuperation total limiting value, and a brake control module for providing a total braking torque requested by a driver or assistance system, such that it derives a recuperation total torque that is less than the recuperation total limiting value and also derives recuperation partial torques for each electric drive. In the case of a total braking torque that is greater than the recuperation total limiting value, the brake control module generates a hydraulic brake pressure and transmits it to the brake system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Publication date: July 11, 2013
    Applicant: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: DR. ING. H.C. F. PORSCHE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
  • Patent number: 8479850
    Abstract: A fluid pressure brake unit generates a friction braking force by supplying an operating fluid to a wheel cylinder provided to each wheel of a vehicle so as to press a brake pad against the wheel. A regenerative brake unit generates a regenerative braking force by electric power regeneration to a motor that drives the wheel. A battery collects electric power from the motor. A low-temperature determination unit determines that the temperature of the battery is low when the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range. A battery temperature increasing unit generates, when the temperature of the battery is determined to be low, a braking force to the vehicle by at least either a fluid pressure brake unit or a regenerative brake unit during acceleration of the vehicle by the motor or the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakata
  • Publication number: 20130173107
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle, threshold values A<B?C are provided to a value indicating a state of charge of the battery (SOC). When SOC<A or SOC?A, the vehicle uses the regeneration torque of the electric motor as the braking force. When SOC?A or SOC>A, the vehicle uses both of engine braking of the engine and the regeneration torque of the electric motor as the braking force. When SOC?B or SOC>B in the operating form solely with the electric motor, the vehicle uses both of engine braking of the engine and the regeneration torque of the electric motor as the braking force. When SOC?C or SOC>C in the operating form with cooperation of the engine and the electric motor, limitation of electric power by the regenerative power generation is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Junya KOKON
  • Publication number: 20130166127
    Abstract: A vehicle driving system control apparatus includes a regeneration control section that performs a regeneration control when a vehicle is decelerated. In the regeneration control, the regeneration control section drives at least one of a first motor generator and a second motor generator with a power of an axle so as to charge a battery with an electric power generated with the at least one of the first motor generator and the second motor generator. The regeneration control section selects a mode of the regeneration control by controlling engagement and disengagement statuses of first to third clutches in correspondence with at least one of a target energy regeneration amount, a required brake torque and a vehicle speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: DENSO CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130158768
    Abstract: In the present invention, a decrease in the amount of regeneration is prevented, and discomfort is not imparted to the driving sensation of a driver. A determination unit determines whether or not a braking device is being operated by the driver. When decelerating while regenerating, a gear shifting control unit controls the shift of gears of a gear box in a manner so as to suspend the shift of gears and continue regeneration when it has been determined that the braking device is being operated by the driver. The present invention can be applied to vehicles that can regenerate electric power by means of an electric motor when decelerating and that are driven by the electric motor and an internal combustion engine via an automatic gear box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HINO MOTORS, LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Sawayama
  • Publication number: 20130146374
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for hybrid power system braking. In one embodiment, a vehicle weight input is received by a brake controller. In response to receiving the vehicle weight input, a maximum negative braking torque is determined. Regulation of negative braking torque according to vehicle weight is accomplished by one or both of a regenerative braking device and mechanical braking device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Books, Praveen Muralidhar
  • Publication number: 20130133965
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a vehicle having a drive wheel mechanically coupled to a drive shaft of a hybrid power train. The hybrid power train includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft. The internal combustion engine including a compression braking device. The system includes an electric generator selectively coupled to the drive shaft and coupled to an electrical storage device. The system includes a brake pedal position sensor that provides a braking request value. The system includes a controller configured to interpret the braking request value, a regenerative braking capacity, and a compression braking capacity. The controller is further configured to provide a regenerative braking command and a compression braking command in response to the braking request value, the regenerative braking capacity and the compression braking capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventor: Martin T. Books
  • Patent number: 8437937
    Abstract: A method for operating a powertrain system including a torque machine coupled to a drive wheel of a vehicle includes determining a regenerative braking capacity of the powertrain system. In response to a net operator torque request including a braking torque request, a friction braking torque command to operate a friction brake system and a regenerative braking torque request for the torque machine are coincidentally generated, a torque command is generated for controlling operation of the torque machine in response to the regenerative braking torque request, and the friction braking torque command is adjusted by an amount corresponding to a difference between the braking torque request and the regenerative braking torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas E. Ganley, Sean W. McGrogan, William R. Cawthorne, Hanne Buur, Alexander K. Rustoni, Anthony H. Heap
  • Patent number: 8413439
    Abstract: A power supply of equipment onboard a motor vehicle equipped with a micro-hybrid system that can operate in a regenerative braking mode during which the energy recovered by a reversible rotary machine (1) of the micro-hybrid system is stored in an auxiliary energy storage unit (4). The micro-hybrid system provides a dual-voltage network including, on the one hand, a low voltage (Vb) for supplying a battery (3) of the vehicle and, on the other hand and at the terminals of said auxiliary energy-storage unit, a floating voltage (Vb+X) higher than the low voltage. The floating voltage (Vb+X) is used for powering the onboard equipment of the vehicle that may require high currents during short periods of time for the dynamic operation thereof. The power supply is particularly useful for powering an electric-assistance turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventor: Paul Armiroli
  • Publication number: 20130053213
    Abstract: A hybrid driving apparatus includes a diesel engine outfitted with an exhaust brake, and a clutch between the diesel engine and a hybrid motor. The exhaust brake is shiftable between an operational state and a non-operational state, and a switch is operable to change the exhaust brake from the non-operational state to the operational state. The switch is configured to automatically change the exhaust brake which is in the operational state while the vehicle is turned on to the non-operational state when the vehicle is turned off. The clutch is automatically changed from an engaged condition, in which the diesel engine and the hybrid motor are connected, to the disengaged condition, in which the diesel engine and the hybrid motor are disconnected, when the vehicle decelerates while the exhaust brake is in the non-operational state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicants: AISIN TECHNICAL CENTER OF AMERICA INC., AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya TAKAHASHI, Kazuhiro Irie, Kazushi Konno
  • Publication number: 20130025951
    Abstract: A process for controlling a vehicle start-stop operation having a hybrid drive with an internal-combustion engine and an electric motor, a service brake with an ABS and an electric parking brake, includes: determining, monitoring and analyzing performance parameters of the vehicle, the internal-combustion engine, the electric motor, the service brake and the parking brake; automatically releasing the parking brake in the case of a starting prompt because of determined performance parameters; driving the vehicle by the electric motor for the start; starting the engine by the electric motor if the engine is switched off; driving the vehicle by the electric motor and the engine; activating a generator operation of the electric motor in the case of a braking prompt because of determined performance parameters; activating the service brake; and automatically locking the electric parking brake when the vehicle is stopped after a previously definable deceleration time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Eduard HILBERER
  • Publication number: 20130020858
    Abstract: In a vehicle brake device, a port is provided at a hydraulic chamber of a master cylinder and communicates with a reservoir tank. A piston movable in the hydraulic chamber for closing the port is provided with at least one piston-side port that faces on the port when at a first position. When a brake pedal is stepped on from a retracted state to move the piston from the first position to a second position spaced from the first position by a predetermined distance, the hydraulic chamber is blocked from the communication with the reservoir tank. The at least one piston-side port is provided therein with an orifice, so that the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber is raised at the time of a quick stepping of the brake pedal but is allowed to flow to the reservoir tank without being raised at the time of a non-quick stepping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Kazuya Maki, Masayuki Naito
  • Publication number: 20120325573
    Abstract: In a vehicle equipped for regenerative and non-regenerative braking, regenerative braking only is applied to predetermined wheels in response to braking demand when the driver attempts to slow the vehicle at a first rate (<D1 ft/sec2), no wheel locking on any braking wheel as indicated by an anti-lock braking system controller and speed exceeds a minimum threshold. If braking is applied in a turn, appropriate amount of non-drive wheel service/foundation brake torque to maintain vehicle stability is applied. The appropriate amount of foundation braking to be applied is determined by the amount of vehicle yaw, steering wheel input and vehicle speed by using a look-up table. As braking demand increases foundation/service braking is added, first to any wheels not providing for regenerative braking and later to wheels having regenerative braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventor: Stanton E. Miller
  • Patent number: 8327623
    Abstract: Electrical power from a dynamic braking process in an off-highway vehicle is used to power an auxiliary system in the vehicle. The auxiliary system may be a urea storage container heating unit or a particulate filter regeneration heating unit. When dynamic braking electricity is unavailable, and to the extent the dynamic braking electricity is insufficient for powering the auxiliary system, electrical power from an energy device on board the vehicle is used to power the auxiliary system. The energy device may be an auxiliary energy storage device, devoted for use in powering the auxiliary system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Venkatesh Raman
  • Patent number: 8324846
    Abstract: A retarding system for an electric drive machine (100) includes a direct current (DC) link (312), at which a DC voltage is developed, disposed between a rectifier (206) and an inverter (208). A first contactor switch (216) electrically communicates with a first rail of the DC link (312), and a second contactor switch (216) electrically communicates with a second rail of the DC link (312). A first resistor grid (214) is connected in series between the first contactor switch (216) and the second contactor switch (216). The first resistor grid (214) dissipates electrical energy in the form of heat by conducting a current between the first rail and the second rail of the DC link (312) when the first contactor switch (216) and the second contactor switch (216) are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Marchand, Matthew E. Williams, Gerald Brown, John Gunzburger
  • Patent number: 8296002
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle provided with: a rotating electrical machine capable of inputting or outputting a torque with respect to an input shaft; and a transmission, which is disposed between the input shaft and an output shaft coupled with an axle, which is provided with a plurality of engaging apparatuses, which transmits a torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, and which can establish a plurality of gear stages having mutually different transmission gear ratios in accordance with engagement states of the plurality of engaging apparatuses, the transmission gear ratio being a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed of the output shaft, the vehicle control apparatus provided with: a detecting device for detecting a braking operation amount of a driver; and an input shaft torque controlling device for controlling a torque of the input shaft such that in cases where the detected braking operation amount changes in a reducing dire
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20120226402
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicle includes: a charge control portion that adjusts an upper limit of charging power to a battery to prevent a negative electrode potential of the battery from dropping to a lithium reference potential, based on a charge/discharge history of the battery; a braking control portion that detects a sharing ratio between hydraulic braking force by a braking device and regenerative braking force for desired braking force according to a brake pedal depression amount so that a motor generator generates a regenerative braking force within a range of the adjusted upper limit of charging power; and a setting portion that variably sets, according to the hydraulic response rate detected by the detection portion, a degree of limitation of the upper limit when restricting charging current to the battery by restricting the upper limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keiichi Minamiura
  • Patent number: 8255137
    Abstract: In a hybrid vehicle 20, when an ECO switch 88 is “on” when a brake demand operation is performed by a driver, a target regeneration distribution rate d is set using an ECO mode regeneration distribution rate setting map that gives priority to energy efficiency in comparison to a normal regeneration distribution rate setting map that is used when the ECO switch 88 is “off” and a braking force demand BF* that is based on the brake demand operation of the driver (S150), and a motor MG2 and a brake unit 90 are controlled so that the braking force demand BF* is obtained based on the target regeneration distribution rate d (S160 to S230).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kunihiko Jinno, Tadashi Nakagawa, Masahiko Maeda, Hideaki Yaguchi
  • Patent number: 8242737
    Abstract: In a motor-driven vehicle using power stored in a secondary battery as a source of motive power in which part of vehicle braking is achieved by regenerative braking by generating electrical energy absorbed by charging the secondary battery, the state of charge of the secondary battery is adjusted during charging so that, when charging is completed, the state of charge of the battery will be such that it is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking. During charging, after the battery has been charged to a target charge level, and battery temperature has subsequently changed, a state where the battery is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking can be achieved by slightly discharging the battery depending on the temperature of the battery. Such slight discharge of the battery can be obtained by powering an electric heater (22) in an engine cooling water circuit or operating a generator (7) as a motor for motoring the vehicle engine (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Bito
  • Publication number: 20120160580
    Abstract: A fluid pressure brake unit generates a friction braking force by supplying an operating fluid to a wheel cylinder provided to each wheel of a vehicle so as to press a brake pad against the wheel. A regenerative brake unit generates a regenerative braking force by electric power regeneration to a motor that drives the wheel. A battery collects electric power from the motor. A low-temperature determination unit determines that the temperature of the battery is low when the temperature of the battery is below a predetermined temperature range. A battery temperature increasing unit generates, when the temperature of the battery is determined to be low, a braking force to the vehicle by at least either a fluid pressure brake unit or a regenerative brake unit during acceleration of the vehicle by the motor or the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Nakata
  • Publication number: 20120143420
    Abstract: A system for controlling a mode of operation of a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an engine, and a drive motor coupled to the RESS and the engine, the drive motor selectively powered by at least one of the RESS and the engine includes a controller operable to adjust the vehicle to operate in a plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the drive motor is powered by the RESS, a second mode in which the drive motor is powered more by the engine than the RESS, and a third mode in which the drive motor is powered by both the RESS and the engine. The third mode includes a plurality of braking modes adjusting the level of automatic brake power and manually requested brake power for providing resistance to the vehicle as the vehicle travels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Henrik FISKER, Thomas FRITZ, Paul E. BOSKOVITCH, Kevin WALSH
  • Patent number: 8190344
    Abstract: A method of optimizing steering and stability performance of a vehicle includes measuring a set of inertial data during a regenerative braking event (RBE), calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the inertial data, and comparing the performance data to calibrated threshold data to determine a maximum regenerative braking torque (RBT). The maximum RBT is automatically applied during the active RBE. The vehicle includes a chassis, an electric motor/generator for applying an RBT, a frictional braking system, chassis inertial sensors for measuring a set of chassis inertial data, and a controller having an algorithm for calculating a set of vehicle performance data using the chassis inertial data. The controller determines the maximum RBT by comparing the vehicle performance data to corresponding threshold data. The chassis inertial sensors can include accelerometers, a yaw rate sensor, a steering rate sensor, speed sensors, and/or a braking input sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Eric E. Krueger, Matthew M. Karaba, Kevin S. Kidston
  • Patent number: 8181726
    Abstract: A vehicle has at least one electric machine that can be operated as a generator, an electrical energy accumulator and a control unit for controlling the at least one electric machine and the electrical energy accumulator. The control unit operates so that in a recovery phase the vehicle can be decelerated by the generator load of the electric machine operated as a generator (2:a) and the resulting electrical energy (1:E) can be stored in the electrical energy accumulator. The control unit is configured so that the at least one electric machine operated as a generator in a recovery phase is operated by said control unit in a chronologically unlimited fashion with a predefinable overload (2?:a, 2?:a, 2??:a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Reuter, Rainer Wuest
  • Publication number: 20120083948
    Abstract: A vehicle includes first and second battery packs having respective first and second banks of contactors. The packs are wired in electrical parallel. A propulsion system is driven using electrical power from the packs. A controller determines which pack has the highest state of charge (SOC), and balances the SOC of the packs by controlling an open/closed state of the contactors. Contactors open to disconnect the pack having the highest SOC, and close again when a voltage difference between the packs is approximately zero. A system for use in the vehicle includes the packs, contactors, and controller. A method for controlling power flow in the vehicle includes determining which pack has the highest SOC, opening designated contactors during a near zero current event to disconnect the battery pack having the highest SOC, and closing the designated contactors when a voltage difference between the packs is approximately zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward D. Tate, JR., Alan G. Holmes
  • Patent number: 8150571
    Abstract: If a user applies a brake system while an electric vehicle that includes a battery is moving and it is confirmed that the user is not simultaneously applying the accelerator, a comparison is made between an actual deceleration and an expected deceleration corresponding to the user demand sensed by the braking system. If the actual deceleration is lower than the expected deceleration, an amount of regenerative electric current supplied to the battery is increased to better correlate the expected deceleration and the actual deceleration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Yamaha Motor Electronics Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukiyasu Takano
  • Patent number: 8145374
    Abstract: A method for dynamically controlling rollback in an electric vehicle having a motor for providing motive power to the electric vehicle and a shift lever for selecting either forward or reverse motion of the vehicle includes determining if the electric vehicle is moving in a direction opposite the direction of motion indicated by the shift lever. If the vehicle is moving in a direction opposite the direction indicated by the shift lever, the rollback acceleration of the vehicle is calculated. A power request for driving the electric motor is then determined such that the rollback of the vehicle is controlled. The determined power request is then applied to the electric motor thereby driving the electric motor and dynamically controlling the rollback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jared Michael Farnsworth
  • Patent number: 8135526
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a powertrain system and a friction braking system communicating tractive torque with a driveline, the powertrain system including a torque machine, and an energy storage device connected to the torque machine, said torque machine communicating tractive torque with the driveline. A method for controlling regenerative braking and friction braking includes monitoring a vehicle operating point, determining a braking torque request, determining a regenerative braking motor torque ratio based upon the vehicle operating point wherein the regenerative braking motor torque ratio is non-linearly dependent on the vehicle operating point, and actuating the friction brake based upon the regenerative braking motor torque ratio and the braking torque request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Monika A Minarcin, Jon K. Logan, Jian M Wang, Eric M. Rask
  • Patent number: 8133151
    Abstract: Operation of an electro-mechanical transmission includes determining motor torque constraints and battery power constraints. An additional constraint on the electro-mechanical transmission is determined. A preferred output torque is determined that is achievable within the motor torque constraints and based upon the additional constraint and the battery power constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tung-Ming Hsieh, Anthony H. Heap
  • Publication number: 20120053803
    Abstract: The in-vehicle control device includes first and second control units that perform first and second controls, respectively; first and second sensors for measuring the same physical quantity, and a transmission channel for communicating information between the first control unit and the second control unit. Outputs from the first and the second sensors are taken in and used for the first and the second controls by the first and the second control units, respectively. The first and the second control units repeatedly perform diagnoses of the first and the second sensors, respectively, and receive each results of measurements of the physical quantity measured based on the outputs of the first and the second sensors, respectively, through the transmission channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Ueno
  • Publication number: 20120053769
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a vehicle, the vehicle provided with: a rotating electrical machine capable of inputting or outputting a torque with respect to an input shaft; and a transmission, which is disposed between the input shaft and an output shaft coupled with an axle, which is provided with a plurality of engaging apparatuses, which transmits a torque between the input shaft and the output shaft, and which can establish a plurality of gear stages having mutually different transmission gear ratios in accordance with engagement states of the plurality of engaging apparatuses, the transmission gear ratio being a ratio between a rotational speed of the input shaft and a rotational speed of the output shaft, the vehicle control apparatus provided with: a detecting device for detecting a braking operation amount of a driver; and an input shaft torque controlling device for controlling a torque of the input shaft such that in cases where the detected braking operation amount changes in a reducing dire
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenta Kumazaki, Tooru Matsubara, Atsushi Tabata
  • Publication number: 20120031692
    Abstract: A vehicle braking system includes an electric motor, an operating amount detector, a brake assist controller, a first braking device and a second braking device. The electric motor drives a driving wheel via a reduction ratio setting device. The first braking device makes the electric motor generate a first braking power under regenerative control. The second braking device generates a second braking power by actuating an actuator with an operating fluid to be pressurized through a hydraulic pressure source. When an initiation condition for a brake assist control is met, the reduction ratio setting device sets a reduction ratio so as to reduce the first braking power and then suspends a change in the reduction ratio, and the first braking device generates the first braking power as well as the second braking device generates the second braking power to produce a target braking power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Koike
  • Publication number: 20120022730
    Abstract: A method for driving a hybrid vehicle during a load reversal includes: the application of a first torque on a first hybrid vehicle axle during an acceleration reversal; and the application of a second torque on a second hybrid vehicle axle during the acceleration reversal, a direction of action of the second torque being opposite to a direction of action of the first torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Alexander Maass, Jens-Werner Falkenstein, Markus Vogelgesang, Benjamin Klotz, Manfred Hellmann
  • Publication number: 20110311894
    Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for using regenerative braking power to start a fuel cell stack for system restart during a start/stop operation of a fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The method includes disconnecting the fuel cell stack from a high voltage bus for the start/stop operation and using regenerative braking power provided by an electric traction system to recharge a battery in the hybrid vehicle during the start/stop operation. The method also includes reconnecting the fuel cell stack to the high voltage bus and providing at least some of the regenerative braking power from the electric traction system to a compressor that provides cathode air to the fuel cell stack when the stack is reconnected to the high voltage bus at the end of the start/stop operation. A bi-directional DC converter selectively distributes the power to the compressor and the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Jochen Schaffnit
  • Publication number: 20110304198
    Abstract: A method for controlling hydraulic braking and regenerative braking in a hybrid brake system is provided, and includes allowing depression of a brake actuator in response to a braking request. Depression of the brake actuator creates pressure in a master cylinder circuit, and the method commands regenerative braking upon depression of the brake actuator until the regenerative braking reaches a threshold level. Transfer of fluid pressure from the master cylinder circuit through a control valve to a wheel circuit is prevented between a first pressure and a second pressure of the master cylinder. Transfer of fluid pressure from the master cylinder circuit to the wheel circuit is partially limited between the second pressure and a third pressure. Full transfer of fluid pressure from the master cylinder circuit through the control valve to the wheel circuit is allowed when the fluid pressure is above the third pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventor: DANIEL D. COTTRELL, V
  • Patent number: 8066616
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a vehicular automatic transmission, which permits effective reduction of deterioration of vehicle drivability upon operation of a brake operating member, and which is configured to increase a sweeping rate in a sweep control of the torque capacity of a coupling element of an automatic transmission portion 20 to be engaged to perform a shifting action when a regenerative braking command is generated according to the operation of the brake operating member during an inertia phase of the shifting action, so that the coupling element is rapidly engaged for the purpose of generating an engine braking force when the regenerative braking command is generated according to the operation of the brake operating member during the inertia phase of the shifting action. Accordingly, the braking force generated during the shifting action is equal to the braking force generated in the normal state (in the absence of the shifting action).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koki Minamikawa
  • Patent number: 8010271
    Abstract: A brake control device for an electric vehicle includes an instruction controller, a pattern generator, and comparators. The instruction controller generates an instruction signal for instructing a motor about electric brake force. The pattern generator generates a first pattern signal for changing over electric brake force to machine brake force and a second pattern signal obtained by shifting the first pattern signal by a predetermined frequency. One of the comparators outputs, as an electric-brake force pattern, smaller one of the instruction signal and the first pattern signal. The other of the comparators outputs, as a notification signal, a signal output when the second pattern signal becomes equal to or smaller than the instruction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Ryotaro Harada