Method and apparatus for controlling an electrified powertrain system of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731605-B2
Application number	US-201514633538-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2015
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

An electrified powertrain system for a vehicle includes an electric machine coupled to a driveline. An inverter controller communicates directly with an auxiliary power module. An ignition module indicates either a key-on state or a key-off state. When the ignition module is in a key-off state, a low-power DC/DC converter generates an output voltage originating on the high-voltage DC bus having a magnitude sufficient to activate the inverter controller. The inverter controller detects a key-off uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode. The inverter controller directly communicates detection of the key-off UCG mode to the auxiliary power module. The inverter controller controls the inverter. The auxiliary power module supplies electric power to operate low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrified powertrain system for a vehicle, comprising:
an electric machine mechanically rotatably coupled to a driveline;
a plurality of low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators;
an inverter module including an inverter electrically connected between a high-voltage DC power bus and the electric machine, and an inverter controller;
a low-power DC/DC converter electrically connected between the high-voltage DC power bus and the inverter controller; and
an auxiliary power module electrically connected to the high-voltage DC power bus and electrically connected to a low-voltage DC power bus;
wherein the inverter controller directly communicates with the auxiliary power module;
wherein an ignition module indicates either a key-on state, a key-accessory state or a key-off state; and
wherein, when the ignition module is in either the key-off state or the key-accessory state:
the low-power DC/DC converter generates an output voltage having a magnitude sufficient to activate the inverter controller, wherein the output voltage originates on the high-voltage DC power bus,
the inverter controller detects the electric machine operating in a key-off uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode,
the inverter controller directly communicates detection of the key-off UCG mode to the auxiliary power module,
the inverter controller controls the inverter, and
the auxiliary power module supplies electric power to operate the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators.

2. The electrified powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the inverter controller detecting the electric machine operating in the key-off UCG mode comprises the inverter controller detecting a vehicle speed greater than a minimum threshold and a voltage level of the high-voltage DC power bus greater than a minimum threshold.

3. The electrified powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators comprise one of a motor cooling pump, an oil pump and an auxiliary power module cooling pump.

4. The electrified powertrain system of claim 1 , further comprising discontinuing the inverter controller controlling the inverter and discontinuing the auxiliary power module supplying electric power to operate the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators when the key-off UCG mode is no longer detected.

5. The electrified powertrain system of claim 1 , wherein the inverter controller controlling the inverter comprises the inverter controller controlling electric power flow to the high-voltage DC power bus.

6. The electrified powertrain system of claim 1 , further comprising the electric machine mechanically rotatably coupled to the driveline through a gear train.

7. An electrified powertrain system for a vehicle, comprising:
an electric machine mechanically rotatably coupled to a driveline;
an inverter module including an inverter electrically connecting a high-voltage DC power bus to the electric machine, an inverter controller and a low-power DC/DC converter;
the low-power DC/DC converter electrically connected between the high-voltage DC power bus and the inverter controller; and
an auxiliary power module including a second DC/DC converter electrically connected to the high-voltage DC power bus and electrically connected to a low-voltage DC power bus and an APM controller;
wherein the auxiliary power module directly communicates with a body controller;
wherein the auxiliary power module supplies electric power to a plurality of low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators through the second DC/DC converter;
wherein an ignition module indicates one of a key-on state, a key-accessory state and a key-off state; and
wherein, when the ignition module is in the key-off state or the key-accessory state:
the low-power DC/DC converter generates an output voltage originating on the high-voltage DC bus, the output voltage having a magnitude sufficient to activate the inverter controller;
the APM controller detects if the electric machine operating in an uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode;
the APM controller directly communicates detection of the UCG mode to the body controller;
the body controller activates the inverter controller;
the inverter controller controls the inverter to control electric power flow to the high-voltage bus; and
the auxiliary power module supplies electric power to operate the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators.

8. The electrified powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the APM controller detecting the electric machine operating in an uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode comprises the APM controller detecting a vehicle speed greater than a minimum threshold and a voltage level of the high-voltage DC power bus greater than a minimum threshold.

9. The electrified powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators comprise one of a motor cooling pump, an oil pump and an auxiliary power module cooling pump.

10. The electrified powertrain system of claim 7 , further comprising discontinuing the inverter controller controlling the inverter and discontinuing the auxiliary power module supplying electric power to operate the low-voltage electrically-powered powertrain actuators when the key-off UCG mode is no longer detected.

11. The electrified powertrain system of claim 7 , wherein the inverter controller controlling the inverter comprises the inverter controller controlling electric power flow to the high-voltage DC power bus.

12. The electrified powertrain system of claim 7 , further comprising the electric machine mechanically rotatably coupled to the driveline through a gear train.

13. A method for controlling an electrified powertrain system for a vehicle including an electric machine mechanically rotatably coupling to a driveline, an inverter module including an inverter electrically connecting between a high-voltage DC power bus and the electric machine, an inverter controller and a low-power DC/DC converter, the low-power DC/DC converter electrically connecting between the high-voltage DC power bus and the inverter controller, an auxiliary power module electrically connecting to the high-voltage DC power bus and electrically connecting to a low-voltage DC power bus, the inverter controller directly communicating with a controller of the auxiliary power module, and an ignition module indicating one of a key-on state, a key-accessory state and a key-off state, the method comprising:
detecting either the key-off state or the key-accessory state;
generating an output voltage sufficient to activate the inverter controller via the low-power DC/DC converter;
detecting if the electric machine is operating in a key-off uncontrolled generator (UCG) mode;
communicating detection of the key-off UCG mode to the auxiliary power module;
controlling the inverter; and
supplying electric power from the auxiliary power module to operate low-voltage electrically-powered actuators.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting if the electric machine is operating in a key-off UCG mode comprises detecting a vehicle speed greater than a minimum threshold and a voltage level of the high-voltage DC power bus greater than a minimum threshold.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein supplying electric power from the auxiliary power module to operate low-voltage electrically-powered actuators further comprises supplying electric power from the auxiliary power module to operate cooling systems for the electric machine and the inverter including a motor cooling pump, an oil pump and an auxiliar

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wang Konking (Michael)
• Kothari Aniket
• Ivan William T
• Wybo Steven V
• Tan Ying
• Gandham Michael M

Classifications

• B60L1/003 Primary

  to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors · CPC title

• Y02T10/7275

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B60L11/1805

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• Y02T90/16

  Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles · CPC title

• Y02T10/7241

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic