Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016186644-A1
Application number	US-201514975812-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 20, 2015
Priority date	Dec 26, 2014
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle includes an engine, a generator, an electric power storage device, a switch, a shutter, and a electronic control unit. The switch is configured to be operated by a user. The shutter is arranged in a path of air of intake air to the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle. The electronic control unit configured to charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when the switch is operated, and close the shutter when the electric power storage device is charged based on the operation of the switch.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle comprising:
an engine configured to generate power for the vehicle; a generator configured to generate electric power by receiving an output of the engine; an electric power storage device configured to perform charging and discharging and generate power for the vehicle; a switch configured to be operated by a user; an engine compartment accommodating the engine; a shutter arranged in a path of air, the air being let into the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle, the shutter being configured to switch between a closed state where the path of air is closed and an open state where the path of air is open; and an electronic control unit configured to: i) control driving of the shutter, ii) charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when the switch is operated, and iii) close the shutter when the electric power storage device is charged based on the operation of the switch.

2 . A vehicle comprising:
an engine configured to generate power for the vehicle; a generator configured to generate electric power by receiving an output of the engine; an electric power storage device configured to perform charging and discharging and generate power for the vehicle; a switch configured to be operated by a user; an engine compartment accommodating the engine; a shutter arranged in a path of air, the air being let into the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle, the shutter being configured to switch between a closed state where the path of air is closed and an open state where the path of air is open; and an electronic control unit configured to: i) control driving of the shutter, ii) charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when the switch is operated, and iii) close the shutter from termination of the charging of the electric power storage device resulting from the operation of the switch to satisfaction of a predetermined condition.

3 . The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heater configured to warm up the electric power storage device; and a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the electric power storage device, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to drive the heater when the temperature of the electric power storage device is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the electric power storage device is charged based on the operation of the switch.

4 . The vehicle according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a heater configured to warm up the electric power storage device; and a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the electric power storage device, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to drive the heater when the temperature of the electric power storage device is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature when the electric power storage device is charged based on the operation of the switch.

5 . A control method for a vehicle including
an engine configured to generate power for the vehicle, a generator configured to generate electric power by receiving an output of the engine, an electric power storage device configured to perform charging and discharging and generate power for the vehicle, an engine compartment accommodating the engine, a shutter arranged in a path of air,
the air being let into the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle,
the shutter being configured to switch between a closed state where the path of air is closed and an open state where the path of air is open, and
an electronic control unit, the control method comprising:
charging, by the electronic control unit, the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when a state of charge of the electric power storage device is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; and
closing, by the electronic control unit, the shutter from termination of the charging of the electric power storage device to satisfaction of a predetermined condition.

6 . A vehicle comprising:
an engine configured to generate power for the vehicle; a generator configured to generate electric power by receiving an output of the engine; an electric power storage device configured to perform charging and discharging and generate power for the vehicle; an engine compartment accommodating the engine; a shutter arranged in a path of air, the air being let into the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle, the shutter being configured to switch between a closed state where the path of air is closed and an open state where the path of air is open; and an electronic control unit configured to: i) control driving of the shutter, ii) charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when a state of charge of the electric power storage device is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and iii) close the shutter when the electric power storage device is charged.

7 . A vehicle comprising:
an engine configured to generate power for the vehicle; a generator configured to generate electric power by receiving an output of the engine; an electric power storage device configured to perform charging and discharging and generate power for the vehicle; an engine compartment accommodating the engine; a shutter arranged in a path of air, the air being let into the engine compartment from an outside of the vehicle, the shutter being configured to switch between a closed state where the path of air is closed and an open state where the path of air is open; and a electronic control unit configured to: i) control driving of the shutter, ii) charge the electric power storage device by using the electric power generated by the generator when a state of charge of the electric power storage device is equal to or lower than a predetermined value, and iii) close the shutter from termination of the charging of the electric power storage device to satisfaction of a predetermined condition.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murata Takashi

Classifications

• B60K11/085 Primary

  with adjustable shutters or blinds · CPC title

• H01M10/63

  Control systems (charging or discharging in response to temperature H01M10/44 {, H01M10/443}; measurement of temperature H01M10/48 {, H01M10/486}) · CPC title

• B60W2510/246

  Temperature · CPC title

• B60L1/02

  to electric heating circuits · CPC title

• F02B63/04

  for electric generators · CPC title