Hybrid Electric Vehicle Controller and Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016200315-A1
Application number	US-201414913104-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2014
Priority date	Aug 21, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a controller ( 140 ) for a parallel hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine ( 121 ), electric propulsion means ( 123 B; 123 C) powered by energy storage means ( 150 ), and electric generator means ( 123 B; 123 C) operable to be driven by the engine ( 121 ) to recharge the energy storage means. The controller ( 140 ) is operable to: receive one or more signals indicative of one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated at a given moment in time, the one or more operating modes being selected from a plurality of operating modes; receive a signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; and cause the engine ( 121 ) and electric propulsion means ( 123 B; 123 C) to deliver drive torque to one or more wheels ( 111; 112; 113; 114 ) to drive the vehicle in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque, the controller ( 140 ) being operable to cause the powertrain to operate in a parallel powertrain mode in which the controller is operable to cause the electric propulsion means ( 123 B; 123 C) to apply drive torque to the one or more wheels in addition to the engine ( 121 ), the amount of torque delivered by the electric propulsion means being determined by the controller ( 140 ) at least in part in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque and the one or more signals indicative of the one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated. The invention also relates to a corresponding method.

First claim

1 . A controller for a parallel hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by an energy storage device, and an electric generator operable to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage device, the controller configured to:
receive one or more signals indicative of one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated at a given moment in time, the one or more operating modes being selected from a plurality of operating modes; receive a signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; cause the engine and electric propulsion motor to deliver drive torque to one or more wheels to drive the vehicle in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; and cause the powertrain to operate in a parallel powertrain mode in which when the vehicle is operating with the engine delivering drive torque to the one or more wheels the controller is operable to cause the electric propulsion motor to apply drive torque to the one or more wheels in addition to the engine, the amount of torque delivered by the electric propulsion motor being determined by the controller in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque and the one or more signals indicative of the one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to determine an amount of torque that is required to be delivered by the electric propulsion motor in dependence on the one or more signals indicative of one or more vehicle operating modes only when a difference exists between the amount of torque delivered by the engine and the amount of demanded powertrain drive torque.

3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating modes include one or more transmission operating modes.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the one or more operating modes include one or more driving operating modes, wherein in each driving operating mode each of a plurality of selected vehicle sub-systems are caused to operate in a respective one of a plurality of sub-system operating modes.

5 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of selected vehicle sub-systems include at least one selected from amongst a powertrain controller arranged to select a correspondence between accelerator control and powertrain torque in dependence at least in part on the driving operating mode, a suspension control system and a brake control system.

6 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to cause the powertrain to operate in an engine charging parallel mode in which the engine drives the electric generator to recharge the energy storage device or an electric vehicle (EV) mode in which the engine is switched off and the electric propulsion motor is operable to develop drive torque to drive the vehicle.

7 . The controller of claim 6 , wherein the one or more operating modes include a plurality of hybrid operating modes, and wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a state of charge of the energy storage device and to determine which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate for the vehicle at a given moment; determine which of the plurality of powertrain modes is appropriate in dependence on the selected hybrid operating mode, the signal indicative of the instant state of charge of the energy storage device and a reference value of state of charge; and set the reference value of state of charge to one of a plurality of different respective values in dependence on the required hybrid operating mode.

8 . The controller of claim 7 , further configured to determine the appropriate powertrain mode in dependence on a deviation of the signal indicative of the instant state of charge from the reference value of state of charge.

9 . The controller of claim 7 , further configured to determine which of the powertrain modes is appropriate at a given moment in time according to a value of a cost function for each powertrain mode, the value of the cost function being determined by reference to the signal indicative of the instant state of charge and the reference value of state of charge of the respective powertrain operating modes.

10 . The controller of claim 9 , wherein the value of the cost function of each powertrain mode is determined in further dependence on at least one selected from amongst a rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle in a given powertrain mode, a rate of emission of a gas by the vehicle in a given powertrain mode and an amount of noise generated by the vehicle in a given powertrain mode.

11 . The controller of claim 9 , further configured to determine the required powertrain mode according to a feedback Stackelberg equilibrium control optimisation methodology.

12 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to determine the amount of additional torque to be delivered by the electric propulsion motor in further dependence on a signal indicative of a position of an accelerator control, the controller being operable to prevent additional drive torque from being delivered in dependence on the signal indicative of accelerator control position.

13 . The controller of claim 12 , further configured to prevent additional drive torque from being delivered unless the accelerator pedal position exceeds a prescribed position.

14 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to cause the powertrain to operate in a parallel boost mode in which the powertrain causes the electric propulsion motor to apply drive torque to the one or more wheels in addition to the engine in order to meet powertrain torque demand when the powertrain torque demand exceeds the maximum steady state engine output torque.

15 . The controller of claim 1 , further configured to cause the powertrain to operate in a parallel torque filling mode in which the powertrain causes the electric propulsion motor to apply drive torque to the one or more wheels in addition to the engine in order to meet powertrain torque demand more quickly when an amount of powertrain demanded torque is less than the maximum steady state engine torque but exceeds the instant amount of torque developed by the engine.

16 . A method of controlling a parallel hybrid electric vehicle having a powertrain comprising an engine, an electric propulsion motor powered by an energy storage device, and an electric generator configured to be driven by the engine to recharge the energy storage device, the method implemented by a controller and comprising:
receiving one or more signals indicative of one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated at a given moment in time, the one or more operating modes being selected from a plurality of operating modes; receiving a signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; causing the engine and electric propulsion motor to deliver drive torque to one or more wheels to drive the vehicle in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque; causing the powertrain to operate in a parallel powertrain mode in which the engine is caused to deliver drive torque to the one or more wheels and the electric propulsion motor is caused to apply drive torque to the one or more wheels in addition to the engine; and determining the amount of torque to be delivered by the electric propulsion motor at least in part in dependence on the signal indicative of demanded powertrain drive torque and the one or more signals indicative of the one or more operating modes in which the vehicle is to be operated.

Assignees

• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Fracchia Riccardo
• Liggins Steve
• Hancock Matthew
• Mould Andy

Classifications

• B60K6/448 Primary

  Electrical distribution type · CPC title

• B60W30/1882

  characterised by the working point of the engine, e.g. by using engine output chart · CPC title

• B60W20/13

  in order to stay within battery power input or output limits; in order to prevent overcharging or battery depletion · CPC title

• B60W2710/083

  Torque · CPC title

• B60W10/06

  including control of combustion engines · CPC title