Power generation control device of hybrid vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9694806-B2
Application number	US-201414224831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2014
Priority date	Mar 27, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle has an engine and a motor-generator as power sources and has an inter-vehicle distance detection unit to detect an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle. A power generation amount is restricted according to the inter-vehicle distance in a power generation travel mode in which power of the engine drives the motor-generator while being transferred to the drive wheels. Output torque of an engine drivetrain is reduced according to the restricted power generation amount.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A power generation control device of a hybrid vehicle including, as power sources, an engine and a motor having an electric power generation function, the power generation control device comprising:
an inter-vehicle distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle; and
a controller configured to restrict a power generation amount from the motor by lowering an engine load in relation to a reduction of the inter-vehicle distance, during a power generation travel where a power of the engine drives the motor while being transferred to a drive wheel and before regenerative braking caused by a braking operation for deceleration is activated.

2. The power generation control device of a hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the engine load is reduced by lowering engine torque.

3. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 2 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

4. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the engine load is reduced by adjusting a transmission gear ratio.

5. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 4 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

6. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the engine load is reduced by lowering engine torque and adjusting a transmission gear ratio.

7. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 6 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

8. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

9. A power generation control device of a hybrid vehicle including, as power sources, an engine and a motor having an electric power generation function, the power generation control device comprising:
an inter-vehicle distance detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle;
a controller configured to restrict a power generation amount from the motor by lowering an engine load as the inter-vehicle distance reduces, during a power generation travel in which regenerative braking is not activated yet and power of the engine drives the motor while being transferred to a drive wheel; and
an inter-vehicle distance change amount detector configured to detect an inter-vehicle distance change amount between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle, wherein the power generation amount is restricted according to the inter-vehicle distance and the inter-vehicle distance change amount.

10. The power generation control device of a hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the engine load is reduced by lowering engine torque.

11. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 10 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

12. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the engine load is reduced by adjusting a transmission gear ratio.

13. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 12 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

14. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the engine load is reduced by lowering engine torque and adjusting a transmission gear ratio.

15. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 14 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

16. The power generation control device of the hybrid vehicle according to claim 9 , even during the power generation travel, the restriction of power generation amount is prohibited if the state of charge of a battery is equal to or lower than a predetermined value.

Assignees

• Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd
• Subaru Corp

Inventors

• Kishida Taichi

Classifications

• Y10S903/93

  Conjoint control of different elements · CPC title

• B60W2710/0666

  Engine torque · 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

• B60W10/10 Primary

  including control of change-speed gearings · CPC title

• B60W10/26

  for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors · CPC title