Apparatus and method for controlling operation of engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10495009-B2
Application number	US-201815995649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Jan 11, 2018
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

An engine operation control apparatus includes a controller configured to: decide an engine operation time point based on a lookup table in which a learning value that is previously learned is stored when a request to switch to an HEV mode occurs; determine whether to engage an engine clutch by comparing an engine RPM when a speed of an engine is synchronized with a speed of a motor with a first motor RPM; operate the engine at the engine operation time point and control engagement of the engine clutch depending on the determination; and store the engine operation time point based on a second motor RPM at a synchronization completion time point when a learning condition of the engine operation time point is satisfied when the speed of the engine and the motor are synchronized.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An engine operation control apparatus comprising a controller configured to:
determine an engine operation start time point based on a lookup table in which a determination value, which is previously determined, is stored when a request to switch from electric vehicle (EV) mode to a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) mode is received;
determine whether to engage an engine clutch by comparing an engine revolutions per minute (RPM), when a speed of an engine operated at the engine operation start time point is synchronized with a speed of a motor, with a first motor RPM at which engagement of the engine to clutch is available;
operate the engine at the engine operation start time point and control the engagement of the engine clutch depending on a determination result of engagement of the engine clutch; and
store the engine operation start time point based on a second motor RPM at a synchronization completion time point when a determining condition with respect to the engine operation start time point is satisfied while the speed of the engine is synchronized with the speed of the motor.

2. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the engine operation start time point when a first condition in which an engine coolant temperature exceeds a reference temperature and a second condition in which a hybrid starter generator (HSG) available power exceeds a reference power are satisfied.

3. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
calculate a difference value between the first motor RPM and the second motor RPM;
determine whether the difference value is within a reference range; and
determine an RPM correction value at the engine operation start time point based on the difference value according to a determined result of the difference value.

4. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine that the difference value is within the reference range when an absolute value of the difference value exceeds preset minimum value and is smaller than preset maximum value.

5. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the minimum value is set based on a difference in speed control time between the engine and the motor.

6. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the maximum value is set based on a difference in an engine start peak RPM.

7. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
request the RPM correction value at the engine operation start time point, which is stored in the lookup table;
add a value corresponding to a predetermined ratio of the difference value to the RPM correction value; and
determine a new RPM correction value.

8. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the new RPM correction value in the lookup table.

9. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined ratio is determined based on the determination value that is previously determined.

10. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lookup table stores the first motor RPM determined depending on a slope of a road and an accelerator pedal sensor (APS), a first RPM correction value depending on a rate of change in the motor RPM, and a second RPM correction value corresponding to an RPM correction value determined by the controller.

11. The engine operation control apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine a motor RPM at the engine operation start time point based on the first motor RPM, the first RPM correction value, and the second RPM correction value, which are stored in the lookup table.

12. An engine operation control method comprising steps of:
determining, by a controller, an engine operation start time point based on a lookup table in which a determination value, which is previously determined, s stored when a request to switch from an EV mode to an HEV mode is received;
operating, by the controller, an engine at the engine operation start time point;
storing, by the controller, the engine operation start time point based on a second motor RPM at a synchronization completion start time point when a determination condition with respect to the engine operation start time point is satisfied while a speed of the engine is synchronized with a speed of a motor;
comparing, by the controller, an engine RPM when the speed of the engine is synchronized with the speed of the motor with a first motor RPM at which engagement of the engine clutch is available to determine to engage the engine clutch; and
controlling, by the controller, engagement of the engine clutch depending on the determination.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of storing comprises determining whether a first condition in which an engine coolant temperature exceeds a reference temperature and a second condition in which an HSG available power exceeds a reference power are satisfied.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising steps of:
calculating, by the controller, a difference value between the first motor RPM and the second motor RPM when step of storing the engine operation start time point starts;
determining, by the controller, whether the difference value is within a reference range; and
determining, by the controller, an RPM correction value at the engine operation start time point based on the difference value according to a determined result of the difference value.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of determining the difference value comprises determining that the difference value is within the reference range when an absolute value of the difference value exceeds preset minimum value and is smaller than preset maximum value.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of determining the correction value comprises:
requesting the RPM correction value at the engine operation start time point, which is stored in the lookup table;
adding a value corresponding to a predetermined ratio of the difference value to the requested RPM correction value; and
learning a new RPM correction value.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising a step of storing the determined RPM connection value in the lookup table.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lookup table stores the first motor RPM determined depending on a slope of a road and an accelerator pedal sensor (APS), a first RPM correction value depending on a rate of change in the motor RPM, and a second RPM correction value corresponding to a RPM correction value.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the step of determining the engine operation start time point comprises determining a motor RPM at the engine operation start time point based on the first motor RPM, the first RPM correction value, and the second RPM correction value, which are stored in the lookup table.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of determining engagement of the engine clutch comprises:
determining to engage the engine clutch when the engine RPM at the synchronization time point is equal to or greater than the first motor RPM; and
determining to operate the engine in an idling state when the engine RPM at the synchronization time point is smaller than the first motor RPM.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Park Il Kwon

Classifications

• F02N11/0851

  characterised by means for controlling the engagement or disengagement between engine and starter, e.g. meshing of pinion and engine gear · CPC title

• F02D41/2496

  the memory being part of a closed loop · CPC title

• B60W2540/10

  Accelerator pedal position · CPC title

• B60W2510/244

  Charge state · CPC title

• B60W2510/081

  Speed · CPC title