Vehicle operation mode systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580066-B2
Application number	US-201514679945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2015
Priority date	Aug 4, 2010
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A system for controlling a mode of operation of a vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an engine, and a drive motor coupled to the RESS and the engine, the drive motor selectively powered by at least one of the RESS and the engine includes a controller operable to adjust the vehicle to operate in a plurality of operating modes including a first mode in which the drive motor is powered by the RESS, a second mode in which the drive motor is powered more by the engine than the RESS. When the second mode of operation is selected, controller is configured to operate the engine as necessary to maintain the RESS at or above a predetermined state of charge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for controlling a mode of operation of a driver operated vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS), an engine configured to drive an electrical generator, and a drive motor coupled to the RESS and the engine, the drive motor selectively powered by at least one of the RESS and the engine, the system comprising:
a controller operable to adjust the vehicle to operate in at least two operating modes including a first mode of operation in which the drive motor is powered only by the RESS and a second mode of operation in which the drive motor is powered by electrical power provided by the engine driven generator;
a switch for the driver to select either the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation;
a second switch for the driver to select either a first mode of braking operation or a second mode of braking operation;
wherein when the driver operates the switch to select the first mode of operation the controller is configured to maintain the system in the first mode of operation and ensure that the only power source for the drive motor is the RESS regardless of the power demanded by the driver;
wherein when the driver operates the switch to select the second mode of operation the controller is configured to operate the engine to generate electric power for the drive motor;
wherein, when the second mode of operation is selected, the controller is configured to operate the engine as necessary to maintain the RESS at or above a predetermined state of charge;
wherein, the controller is configured to automatically switch the mode of braking operation when the vehicle detects a grade change in a road through one of a level sensor and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to automatically shift the vehicle to the second mode of operation when the RESS reaches a target state of charge threshold.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined state of charge is greater than the target state of charge threshold.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch for selecting the mode of operation of the vehicle includes a driver interface that located on the steering wheel;
and wherein the vehicle includes an external sound system for emitting sounds when the vehicle is in first mode to indicate behaviors including one of acceleration, braking, and starting the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein in the first mode of braking operation a first amount of regenerative braking is provided when a brake pedal is not depressed.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein in the second mode of braking operation a second amount of regenerative braking is provided when the brake pedal is not depressed.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second amount of regenerative braking is greater than the first amount of regenerative braking.

8. The system of claim 5 ,
wherein the second switch includes a driver interface located on the steering wheel.

9. A system for controlling a mode of operation of a driver operated vehicle having a rechargeable energy storage system (RESS); an engine configured to drive an electrical generator, and a drive motor coupled to the RESS and the engine, the drive motor selectively powered by at least one of the RESS and the engine, the system comprising:
a controller operable to adjust the vehicle to operate in at least two operating modes including a first mode of operation in which the drive motor is powered only by the RESS and a second mode of operation in which the drive motor is powered by electrical power provided by the engine driven generator;
a switch for the driver to select either the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation;
a second switch for the driver to select either a first mode of braking operation or a second mode of braking operation;
wherein when the driver operates the switch to select the second mode of operation the controller is configured to operate the engine to generate electric power for the drive motor;
wherein, when the second mode of operation is selected by the driver, the controller is configured to operate the engine as necessary to maintain the RESS at an existing state of charge level present when the second mode of operation is selected by the driver;
wherein, the controller is configured to automatically switch the mode of braking operation when the vehicle detects a grade change in a road through one of a level sensor and a Global Positioning System (GPS).

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein when the driver operates the switch to select the first mode of operation the controller is configured to maintain the system in the first mode of operation and ensure that the only power source for the drive motor is the RESS regardless of the power demanded by the driver.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein, when the first mode of operation is selected by the driver, the controller is configured to automatically shift the vehicle to the second mode of operation when the RESS reaches a target state of charge threshold.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the switch for selecting the mode of operation of the vehicle includes a driver interface is located on the steering wheel;
and wherein the vehicle includes an external sound system for emitting sounds when the vehicle is in first mode to indicate behaviors including one of acceleration, braking, and starting the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein in the first mode of braking operation a first amount of regenerative braking is provided when a brake pedal is not depressed.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein in the second mode of braking operation a second amount of regenerative braking is provided when the brake pedal is not depressed.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second amount of regenerative braking is greater than the first amount of regenerative braking.

16. The system of claim 13 ,
wherein the second switch is part of a driver interface located on the steering wheel.

Assignees

• Karma Automotive Llc

Inventors

• Fisker Henrik
• Fritz Thomas
• Boskovitch Paul E
• Walsh Kevin

Classifications

• B60W10/08

  including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators · CPC title

• B60W2710/244

  Charge state · CPC title

• B60L7/18

  Controlling the braking effect (B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60W10/18

  including control of braking systems · CPC title

• B60W20/00

  Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles {(hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L)} · CPC title