Hybrid vehicle propulsion systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10259448-B2
Application number	US-201615239010-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2016
Priority date	Aug 17, 2016
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle propulsion includes an engine and a first electric machine, where each is configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle. The propulsion system also includes a second electric machine coupled to the engine to provide torque to start the engine from an inactive state. A high-voltage power source is configured to power both of the first electric machine and the second electric machine over a high-voltage bus. The propulsion system further includes a controller programmed to deactivate the engine and propel the vehicle using the first electric machine in response to the vehicle being driven at a steady-state speed for a predetermined duration of time. The controller is also programmed to restart the engine using the second electric machine powered by the high-voltage power source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a vehicle propulsion system comprising:
selectively operating at least one of a combustion engine and a first electric machine to provide a propulsion torque, the first electric machine being powered by a high-voltage power source;
deactivating the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being operated at a speed corresponding to a power draw less than a power threshold for a predetermined amount of time;
in response to a torque demand that is greater than a torque demand threshold, restarting the combustion engine using torque output from a second electric machine powered by the high voltage power source; and
powering at least one of the first electric machine and the second electric machine using a low-voltage power source in response to a fault condition associated with the high-voltage power source.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operating the second electric machine as a generator in response to a fault condition associated with the first electric machine.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
operating the first electric machine as a generator to provide power to the high-voltage power source in response to a vehicle coast condition.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
deactivating the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being at a standstill for a predetermined amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a state of health prognosis signal for at least one of the first electric machine, the second electric machine, and the high-voltage power source, and transmitting the prognosis signal to an off-board processor.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
powering at least one vehicle accessory component using torque output from the first electric machine while the engine is deactivated.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of at least one available parking space;
providing a user interface to inform a user of the at least one available parking space;
generating at least one proximity signal indicative of at least one object in a vicinity of the vehicle; and
in response to a user prompt, automatically operating the first electric machine to propel the vehicle to the target parking space.

8. A method of operating a vehicle propulsion system comprising:
selectively operating at least one of a combustion engine and a first electric machine to provide a propulsion torque, the first electric machine being powered by a high-voltage power source;
deactivating the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being operated at a speed corresponding to a power draw less than a power threshold for a predetermined amount of time;
in response to a torque demand that is greater than a torque demand threshold, restarting the combustion engine using torque output from a second electric machine powered by the high voltage power source; and
operating the second electric machine as a generator in response to a fault condition associated with the first electric machine.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
operating the first electric machine as a generator to provide power to the high-voltage power source in response to a vehicle coast condition.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
deactivating the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being at a standstill for a predetermined amount of time; and
powering at least one vehicle accessory component using torque output from the first electric machine while the engine is deactivated.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
generating a state of health prognosis signal for at least one of the first electric machine, the second electric machine, and the high-voltage power source, and transmitting the prognosis signal to an off-board processor.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of at least one available parking space;
providing a user interface to inform a user of the at least one available parking space;
generating at least one proximity signal indicative of at least one object in a vicinity of the vehicle; and
in response to a user prompt, automatically operating the first electric machine to propel the vehicle to the target parking space.

13. A propulsion system for a vehicle, the propulsion system comprising:
a combustion engine and a first electric machine each configured to selectively provide torque to propel the vehicle;
a second electric machine coupled to the engine to selectively provide torque;
a high-voltage power source configured to selectively power the first electric machine and the second electric machine;
a low-voltage power source configured to selectively power the first electric machine and the second electric machine; and
a controller programmed to:
selectively operate at least one of the combustion engine and the first electric machine to provide a propulsion torque, the first electric machine being powered by the high-voltage power source;
deactivate the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being operated at a speed corresponding to a power draw less than a power threshold for a predetermined amount of time;
in response to a torque demand that is greater than a torque demand threshold, restart the combustion engine using torque output from the second electric machine powered by the high voltage power source; and
power at least one of the first electric machine and the second electric machine using the low-voltage power source in response to a fault condition associated with the high-voltage power source.

14. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is programmed to:
operate the second electric machine as a generator in response to a fault condition associated with the first electric machine.

15. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is programmed to:
operate the first electric machine as a generator to provide power to the high-voltage power source in response to a vehicle coast condition.

16. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is programmed to:
deactivate the combustion engine in response to the vehicle being at a standstill for a predetermined amount of time.

17. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is programmed to:
generate a state of health prognosis signal for at least one of the first electric machine, the second electric machine, and the high-voltage power source, and transmit the prognosis signal to an off-board processor.

18. The propulsion system of claim 13 , further comprising:
at least one vehicle accessory component operatively connected to the first electric machine; and
wherein the controller is programmed to power t h e at least one vehicle accessory component using torque output from the first electric machine while the engine is deactivated.

19. The propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is programmed to:
receive a signal indicative of at least one available parking space;
provide a user interface to inform a user of the at least one available parking space;
generate at least one proximity signal indicative of at least one object in a vicinity of the vehicle; and
in response to a user prompt, automatically operate the first electric machine to propel the vehicle to the target parking space.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Bucknor Norman K
• Gopalakrishnan Suresh
• Hao Lei
• Lahr Derek F
• Li Dongxu
• Li Shifang
• Namuduri Chandra S
• Nehl Thomas W
• Omekanda Avoki M
• Prasad Rashmi
• Samie Farzad
• Sullivan Aaron M

Classifications

• B60Y2300/18066

  Coasting · CPC title

• B60K6/48

  Parallel type · CPC title

• B60K2006/4825

  Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft · CPC title

• F02N11/0837

  Environmental conditions thereof, e.g. traffic, weather or road conditions · CPC title

• B60W20/40 Primary

  Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} · CPC title