Hybrid electric vehicle controller and method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9428175-B2
Application number	US-201213983230-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2012
Priority date	Feb 1, 2011
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide control means for a hybrid electric vehicle, the control means comprising an energy management portion (EMP) configured to determine a required torque split between each of a first and at least a second actuator in dependence on a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, the required torque split being an amount of torque required to be provided to drive the vehicle by each actuator, the control means being configured to provide an actuator request control output whereby each actuator is controlled to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split, the control means further comprising a powertrain mode manager (PMM) portion, the PMM portion being arranged to override the control output of the EMP in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A controller for a parallel-type hybrid electric vehicle comprising:
an energy management portion (EMP) configured to determine a required torque split between each of a first actuator and a second actuator in dependence on a value of a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, wherein the first actuator comprises an engine and the second actuator comprises an electric machine, and wherein the first and second actuators are each operable to deliver torque to a driveline of the vehicle,
the controller being configured to provide an actuator request control output whereby each actuator is controlled to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split,
the controller further comprising a powertrain mode manager (PMM) portion, and
the PMM portion being arranged to override a control output of the EMP thereby to cause the first actuator to rotate when disconnected from the driveline of the vehicle in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters,
wherein, in a first control mode, the controller controls the first actuator and the second actuator to drive the vehicle, wherein the controller controls a speed of rotation of the first actuator to substantially match a speed of rotation of the second actuator prior to connecting the first actuator to the driveline, and
wherein, in a second control mode, the controller is configured to control a speed of rotation of the first actuator to vary with a speed of the vehicle when the first actuator is running and disconnected from the driveline of the vehicle such that a sound generated by the first actuator varies according to vehicle speed and creates a perception that the first actuator is connected to the driveline and driving the vehicle.

2. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is arranged to override the required torque split output of the EMP responsive to the value of the second set of one or more vehicle parameters thereby to maintain the value of the second set of one or more vehicle parameters within a prescribed range.

3. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is arranged to override the required torque split output of the EMP responsive to a control signal from a vehicle cabin temperature controller, the PMM portion being arranged to provide a control signal to start the first actuator thereby to generate heat to heat a cabin.

4. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is responsive to a temperature of an aftertreatment apparatus arranged to process exhaust gas generated by the first actuator, wherein the PMM portion is arranged to maintain the temperature of the aftertreatment apparatus above a prescribed first aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold by controlling the first actuator to start when the aftertreatment apparatus temperature falls below the prescribed first aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold and the first actuator is stopped.

5. The controller as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the PMM portion is arranged to maintain the temperature of the aftertreatment apparatus above the prescribed first aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold by overriding a command by the EMP to shut down the first actuator when the temperature of the aftertreatment apparatus is below a second prescribed aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold, wherein the first aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold is lower than the second aftertreatment apparatus temperature threshold.

6. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is arranged to maintain a coolant temperature above a prescribed first coolant temperature threshold by controlling the first actuator to start when the coolant temperature falls below the prescribed first coolant temperature threshold and inhibiting stopping of the first actuator by the EMP portion when the coolant temperature is below a second prescribed coolant temperature threshold.

7. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is responsive to a temperature of a power storage device operable to provide power to the second actuator, wherein when the temperature of the power storage device is below a prescribed value the PMM portion is arranged to command at least one of: charging of the power storage device; drawing of charge from the power storage device; and alternately to charge the power storage device and draw charge from the power storage device thereby to warm the power storage device.

8. The controller as claimed in claim 1 :
wherein the PMM portion is arranged to override the control output of the EMP responsive to a speed difference between a torque input portion and a torque output portion of a releasable torque transmitter that is arranged for coupling the first actuator to the driveline of the vehicle when the speed difference exceeds a prescribed value;
the controller being arranged to control rotation of the first actuator to reduce the speed difference to a value below the prescribed value.

9. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, when the first actuator is not operating, the PMM portion is arranged to start the first actuator thereby to power a brake pump when a state of a brake system status flag indicates a brake pressure is below a prescribed threshold.

10. The controller as claimed in claim 9 , wherein:
the controller is configured to monitor, when the first actuator is not operating, actuation of brakes of the vehicle,
the controller being operable to command starting of the first actuator responsive to at least one selected from amongst a number of times a brake pedal is depressed, a number of times pressure is applied to the brake pedal above a prescribed value, and a function responsive to an integral of the brake pressure applied as a function of time.

11. The controller as claimed in claim 1 :
wherein the EMP is operable to provide a control output to command starting and stopping of the first actuator,
the PMM portion being operable to override a command from the controller to start or stop the first actuator.

12. The controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the PMM portion is operable to override the control output of the EMP thereby to command an alternative torque split between the first and second actuators.

13. The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the releasable torque transmitter is a clutch.

14. The controller as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the controller is operable to control the releasable torque transmitter to selectively connect the first actuator to the driveline of the vehicle when the speed difference exceeds the prescribed value.

15. A method of controlling a hybrid electric vehicle, the method comprising:
determining a required torque split between each of a first actuator and a second actuator in dependence on a first set of one or more vehicle parameters, the required torque split being an amount of torque required to be provided to a driveline of the vehicle by each actuator, wherein the first actuator comprises an engine and the second actuator comprises an electric machine, and
providing an actuator request control output to control each actuator to provide an amount of torque according to the required torque split,
the method further comprising overriding a required torque split output in dependence on a value of a second set of one or more vehicle parameters, and, in a first mode, controlling a speed of rotation of the first actuator to substantially match a speed of rotation of the second actuator prior to connecting the first actuator to the driveline, and, in a secon

Assignees

• Dextreit Clement
• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Dextreit Clement

Classifications

• B60W2710/182

  Brake pressure, e.g. of fluid or between pad and disc · CPC title

• B60W2710/0688

  Engine temperature · CPC title

• B60W10/30

  including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps · CPC title

• B60W2510/0241

  Clutch slip, i.e. difference between input and output speeds · CPC title

• B60W2710/0694

  Engine exhaust temperature · CPC title