Drive device for a hybrid vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200312-A1
Application number	US-201414913162-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 30, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle includes at least one drive axle which can be driven by means of a drive device, which has an accumulator, an electric machine coupled to the accumulator in order to exchange electric energy and an internal combustion engine which, when activated, mechanically drives the electric machine to generate electric energy. The hybrid vehicle also includes a control unit which controls both the electric machine and the internal combustion engine. The control unit is designed to operate the electric machine exclusively to start up the hybrid vehicle, until a threshold speed which allows the vehicle to be driven by the internal combustion engine is reached, and to control the operation of the electric machine and the internal combustion engine so that when the hybrid vehicle comes to a halt, the electric charge in the accumulator exceeds a predefinable comparison value, which is calculated such that the electric energy stored in the accumulator allows a start up of the hybrid vehicle by means of the electric machine up to the threshold speed.

First claim

1 .- 9 . (canceled)

10 . A hybrid vehicle, comprising:
at least one drive axle; a drive device for driving the at least one drive axle, said drive device comprising an accumulator, an electric machine electrically coupled with the accumulator for exchange of electric energy between the accumulator and the electric machine, and an internal combustion engine, which in an active state mechanically drives the electric machine for generating electric energy; and a control device controlling operation of the electric machine and the internal combustion engine, so that when the hybrid vehicle stops, an electric charge of the accumulator exceeds a predetermined comparative value, which is set so that the electric charge of the accumulator is sufficient to startup the hybrid vehicle by means of the electric machine up to a threshold speed at which a drive of the hybrid vehicle by means of the internal combustion engine is enabled, said accumulator comprising a separately operable startup accumulator, said control device being configured to exclusively operate the electric machine during the start up of the hybrid vehicle up to the threshold speed by exclusively using the electric charge of the startup accumulator.

11 . The hybrid vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the internal combustion engine is couplable with the drive axle of the hybrid vehicle in the absence of startup elements.

12 . A method for operating a hybrid vehicle drivable with an electric machine and an internal combustion engine, said method comprising:
driving the electric machine with the internal combustion engine in an active state of the internal combustion engine thereby generating electric energy with the electric machine; exchanging electric energy between the electric machine and an accumulator electrically coupled with the electric machine, said accumulator including a separately operable startup accumulator; controlling operation of the electric machine and the internal combustion engine so that when stopping the hybrid vehicle an electric charge of the accumulator exceeds a predetermined comparative value, said predetermined comparative value being determined so that the electric charge enables a startup of the hybrid vehicle by means of the electric machine up a threshold speed which enables a drive of the hybrid vehicle by means of the internal combustion engine; and starting up the hybrid vehicle up to the threshold speed exclusively with the electric machine by exclusively using an electric charge of the separately startup accumulator.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the comparative value is set in dependence on accumulator parameters.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the comparative value is set in dependence on environmental parameters.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the comparative value is re-determined when starting up and/or stopping the hybrid vehicle.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the comparative value is determined in dependence on a property of a stopping position of the hybrid vehicle.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising during the starting up at turning off at least one electric load of the hybrid vehicle and/or preventing the electric load from being turned on.

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Blasinski Boris

Classifications

• B60W2710/244

  Charge state · CPC title

• B60W50/0097

  Predicting future conditions · CPC title

• Y10S903/93

  Conjoint control of different elements · CPC title

• B60L2240/12

  Speed · CPC title

• B60W2510/244

  Charge state · CPC title