US5670830A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car
Assignee: Mitsubishi Motors Corp
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Filing: 1995-04-28
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Granted: 1997-09-23
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Expires: 2015-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car has a battery unit chargeable by an external charger, an electric drive motor capable of driving wheels by electric power from the battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving a generator to supply electric power to the electric drive motor, and a controller for controlling operations of the electric drive motor and internal combustion engine. The hybrid electric car is further provided with a fuel-use-state detector for detecting a change in a parameter, which change corresponds to a quantity of fuel used by the internal combustion engine since charging of the battery unit by the external charger. The controller limits at least one of an output of the electric drive motor and that of internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by the fuel-use-state detector, the change in the parameter is found to have reached a predetermined value.
Inventors
- 👤 Hisamitsu Koga
- 👤 Naotake Kumagai
- 👤 Tomiji Ohwada
- 👤 Nobuya Furukawa
- 👤 Masaaki Kato
- 👤 Nobuyuki Kawamura
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 09:11
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W20/00; B60W20/10; B60W20/15; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/42; B60K6/46; B60L; B60L3/00; B60L3/0023; B60L3/06; B60L50/00; B60L50/50; B60L50/60; B60L50/61; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W10/24; B60W10/26; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/04; B60K15/0406; B60K15/06; B60K15/061; B60W2530/00; B60W2530/209; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/40; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging means, an electric drive motor for driving wheels by electric power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving a generator to supply electric power to said electric drive motor, and control means for controlling operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: fuel-use-state detection means for detecting a change in a parameter, said change corresponding to a quantity of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine since charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, wherein said control means limits at least one of an output of said electric drive motor and an output of said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said fuel-use-state detection means, said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging means, an electric drive motor for driving wheels by electric power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving a generator to supply electric power to said electric drive motor, and control means for controlling operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: fuel-use-state detection means for detecting a change in a parameter, said change corresponding to a quantity of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine since charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, wherein said control means limits at least one of an output of said electric drive motor and an output of said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said fuel-use-state detection means, said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of supplied fuel is used as said parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes supplied-fuel-quantity detection means for detecting a total quantity of fuel supplied after said charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor when from the results of detection by said fuel-use-state detection means, said total quantity of supplied fuel reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 2, further comprising: fuel quantity detection means for detecting a quantity of fuel in a fuel tank, wherein said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means detects the total quantity of the supplied fuel on the basis of detection information from said fuel quantity detection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 2, wherein said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means calculates the total quantity of the supplied fuel by using, as an initial value of the total quantity of supplied fuel, a quantity of fuel immediately after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means and then adding a quantity of fuel supplied at each fuel filling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
99 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 3, further comprising: filler cap open/close detection means for detecting an opened or closed state of a filler cap, wherein said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means calculates the quantity of fuel supplied at each fuel filling from a quantity of fuel in said fuel tank detected upon opening of said filler cap and another quantity of fuel in said fuel tank detected upon subsequent closure of the filler cap on the basis of detection information from said filler cap open/close detection means and detection information from said fuel quantity detection means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 3, further comprising: means for detecting a trouble of a path through which detection results are transmitted from said fuel quantity detection means to said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means, wherein said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor upon detection of a trouble by said trouble detection means irrespective of results of a detection by said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
113 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, further comprising: fuel quantity detection means for detecting a quantity of fuel in said fuel tank, wherein the quantity of fuel in said fuel tank is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes consumed-fuel-quantity detection means for detecting on the basis of detection information from said fuel quantity detection means a total quantity of fuel consumed after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits an output of said electric drive motor when from results of a detection by said consumed-fuel-quantity detection means, the total quantity of consumed fuel reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 7, wherein said consumed-fuel-quantity detection means calculates the total quantity of consumed fuel by subtracting a quantity of fuel after each running of said car from a quantity of fuel before the running to determine the quantity of fuel consumed during the running and summing quantities of fuel consumed during individual runnings.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 7, further comprising: trouble detection means for detecting a trouble of a path through which detection results are transmitted from said fuel quantity detection means to said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means, wherein said control means limits an output of said electric drive motor upon detection of a trouble by said trouble detection means irrespective of results of a detection by said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
103 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein a travelled distance of said car while using said internal combustion engine is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes travelled distance detection means for detecting a total distance travelled during the use of said internal combustion engine after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor when from results of a detection by said travelled distance detection means, the total distance travelled during the use of said internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 10, wherein said travelled distance detection means detects the total travelled distance during the use of said internal combustion engine on the basis of information on use of said internal combustion engine and detection information from wheel speed detection means which said car is equipped with.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 11, further comprising: trouble detection means for detecting a trouble of a path through which detection results are transmitted from said wheel speed detection means to said travelled distance detection means, wherein said control means limits an output of said electric drive motor upon detection of a trouble by said trouble detection means irrespective of results of a detection by said wheel speed detection means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
167 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein a quantity of supplied fuel or a travelled distance of said car while using said internal combustion engine is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes supplied-fuel-quantity detection means for detecting a total quantity of fuel supplied after said charging of said battery unit by said external charging means and travelled distance detection means for detecting a total distance travelled during said using of said internal combustion engine after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits an output of said electric drive motor when from results of a detection by said supplied-fuel-quantity detection means, said total quantity of fuel supplied after said charging of said battery unit by said external charging means reaches a predetermined value or when from results of a detection by said travelled distance detection means, said total distance travelled during said using of said internal combustion engine reaches another predetermined value.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
91 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein an operation time of said internal combustion engine is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes operation time detection means for detecting an operation time of said internal combustion engine after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor when from results of a detection by said operation time detection means, the operation time of said internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 14, wherein said operation time detection means detects the operation time of said internal combustion engine by a timer on the basis of information on use of said internal combustion engine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, further comprising: warning means which is actuated when from results of a detection by said fuel-use-state detection means, said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined value of the change of the parameter, at which predetermined value said warning means is actuated, is set smaller than another predetermined value of the change of the parameter at said another predetermined value the output of said electric drive motor is limited.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor when the change in the parameter reaches the predetermined value.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 18, wherein said control means operates said internal combustion engine in an operation region in which gas mileage and exhaust gas are optimal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 18, wherein said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor by limiting a maximum torque of said electric drive motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 1, wherein said control means limits the output of said electric drive motor by gradually reducing a torque of said electric drive motor when a rotational speed of said electric drive motor reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
137 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging means, an electric drive motor for driving wheels by electric power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said wheels, and control means for controlling operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: fuel-use-state detection means for detecting a change in a parameter, said change corresponding to a quantity of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine since charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, wherein said control means limits at least one of an output of said electric drive motor and an output of said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said fuel-use-state detections means, said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging means, an electric drive motor for driving wheels by electric power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine for driving said wheels, and control means for controlling operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: fuel-use-state detection means for detecting a change in a parameter, said change corresponding to a quantity of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine since charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, wherein said control means limits at least one of an output of said electric drive motor and an output of said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said fuel-use-state detections means, said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
115 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 22, further comprising: fuel quantity detection means for detecting a quantity of fuel in said fuel tank, wherein the quantity of fuel in said fuel tank is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes consumed-fuel-quantity detection means for detecting on the basis of detection information from said fuel quantity detection means a total quantity of fuel consumed after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits said output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said consumed fuel reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 22, wherein a quantity of supplied fuel is used as said parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes supplied-fuel-quantity detection means for detecting a total quantity of fuel supplied after said charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits said output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when from results of said detection by said fuel-use-state detection means, said total quantity of supplied fuel reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
112 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 22, wherein a travelled distance of said car while using said internal combustion engine is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes travelled distance detection means for detecting a total distance travelled during said using of said internal combustion engine after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits said output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said travelled distance detection means, the total distance travelled during said using of said internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
100 words
A fuel use limiter-equipped hybrid electric car according to claim 22, wherein a operation time of said internal combustion engine is used as the parameter, said fuel-use-state detection means includes operation time detection means for detecting an operation time of said internal combustion engine after charging of said battery unit by said external charging means, and said control means limits said output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when from results of a detection by said operation time detection means, the operation time of said internal combustion engine reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
123 words
An output control method for a hybrid electric vehicle having a rechargeable battery unit rechargeable by an external charging unit, an electric motor which drives vehicle wheels by obtaining electrical power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine which drives a generator to recharge said battery unit, and a controller which controls operations of said electric motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: detecting a change in a parameter corresponding to an amount of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine after said battery unit was recharged by said external charging unit; and limiting an output of at least one of said electric motor and said internal combustion engine when said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
123 words
An output control method for a hybrid electric vehicle having a rechargeable battery unit rechargeable by an external charging unit, an electric motor which drives vehicle wheels by obtaining electrical power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine which drives a generator to recharge said battery unit, and a controller which controls operations of said electric motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: detecting a change in a parameter corresponding to an amount of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine after said battery unit was recharged by said external charging unit; and limiting an output of at least one of said electric motor and said internal combustion engine when said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
120 words
An output control method for a hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging unit, an electric drive motor which drives vehicle wheels by obtaining electrical power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine which drives said vehicle wheels, and a controller which controls operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: detecting a change in a parameter corresponding to an amount of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine after said battery unit was recharged by said external charging unit; and limiting an output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
120 words
An output control method for a hybrid electric car having a battery unit chargeable by external charging unit, an electric drive motor which drives vehicle wheels by obtaining electrical power from said battery unit, an internal combustion engine which drives said vehicle wheels, and a controller which controls operations of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine, comprising: detecting a change in a parameter corresponding to an amount of fuel which has been used by said internal combustion engine after said battery unit was recharged by said external charging unit; and limiting an output of at least one of said electric drive motor and said internal combustion engine when said change in said parameter reaches a predetermined value.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-22 | 2001-03-24 | 2001-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-22 | 2005-03-24 | 2005-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-22 | 2009-03-24 | 2009-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |