US6196344B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system and method for a hybrid electric vehicle
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1999-09-10
•
Granted: 2001-03-06
•
Expires: 2019-09-10
Abstract
Abstract Several control methods are presented for application in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including in various embodiments an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from the engine and the motor generator coupled to augment torque provided by the engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to the motor/generator, an engine controller (EEC) coupled to control the engine, a transmission controller (TCM) coupled to control the transmission and a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control the powertrain.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Alan Tamor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 03:49
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60W; B60W20/00; B60W20/10; B60K; B60K6/00; B60K6/20; B60K6/42; B60K6/48; B60L; B60L15/00; B60L15/20; B60L15/2045; B60L15/2054; B60L50/00; B60L50/10; B60L50/15; B60W10/00; B60W10/04; B60W10/06; B60W10/08; B60W10/10; B60K6/22; B60K6/26; B60K2006/268; B60L2240/00; B60L2240/40; B60L2240/42; B60L2240/423; B60W2540/00; B60W2540/10; B60W2710/00; B60W2710/06; B60W2710/0666; B60W2710/08; B60W2710/083; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/60; Y02T10/62; Y02T10/64; Y02T10/70; Y02T10/7072; Y02T10/72; Y10; Y10S; Y10S903/00; Y10S903/902; Y10S903/903; Y10S903/945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator and a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control said powertrain, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing an accelerator position signal to said VSC; in said VSC, calculating a first desired electric machine torque to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, said first desired electric machine torque being a function of said accelerator position signal; controlling output torque of said engine at least partly as a function of said accelerator position signal; in said VSC, calculating a second desired electric machine torque to reflect a battery-charge-maintenance torque; and controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque and said second desired electric machine torque.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator and a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control said powertrain, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing an accelerator position signal to said VSC; in said VSC, calculating a first desired electric machine torque to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, said first desired electric machine torque being a function of said accelerator position signal; controlling output torque of said engine at least partly as a function of said accelerator position signal; in said VSC, calculating a second desired electric machine torque to reflect a battery-charge-maintenance torque; and controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque and said second desired electric machine torque.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein said powertain further includes and engine controller (EEC) coupled to control said engine, said method further comprising: providing a first signal from said VSC to said EEC to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque of said electric machine; and providing a second signal from said VSC to said EEC to reflect a battery-charge maintenance torque of said electric machine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , further comprising: generating a first desired engine torque signal as a function of said accelerator position signal; and generating a second desired engine torque signal as a function of said first desired engine torque signal and said second signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as recited in claim 3 , wherein said powertrain further includes a transmission controller (TCM) coupled to control said transmission, said method further comprising: if a transmission shift event is impending or in progress, providing a TCM-desired transmission input torque signal from said TCM to said EEC; in said EEC, partitioning said TCM-desired transmission input torque signal into a TCM-desired engine torque signal and a TCM-desired electric machine torque signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising: controlling output torque of said engine in view of said first desired engine control signal and said TCM-desired engine torque signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising: providing said TCM-desired electric machine torque signal from said EEC to said VSC; controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque, said second desired electric machine torque and said TCM-desired electric machine torque signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 6 , further comprising: providing a third signal from the EEC to the TCM to reflect a target input torque to said transmission, said target input torque to said transmission being a sum of said driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, and said second desired engine torque signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising: providing a fourth signal from the EEC to the TCM to reflect a sum of a total engine output torque and said boost or regenerative torque.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator, an engine controller (EEC) coupled to control said engine and a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control said powertrain, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing an accelerator position signal to said VSC; in said VSC, calculating a first desired electric machine torque to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, said first desired electric machine torque being a function of said accelerator position signal; providing a modified accelerator position signal from said VSC to said EEC, said modified accelerator position signal reaching 100% before said first accelerator position signal; and controlling output torque of said engine at least partly as a function of said modified accelerator position signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator, an engine controller (EEC) coupled to control said engine and a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control said powertrain, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing an accelerator position signal to said VSC; in said VSC, calculating a first desired electric machine torque to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, said first desired electric machine torque being a function of said accelerator position signal; providing a modified accelerator position signal from said VSC to said EEC, said modified accelerator position signal reaching 100% before said first accelerator position signal; and controlling output torque of said engine at least partly as a function of said modified accelerator position signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising: in said VSC, calculating a second desired electric machine torque to reflect a battery-charge-maintenance torque; and controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque and said second desired electric machine torque.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising: providing a first signal from said VSC to said EEC to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque of said electric machine; and providing a second signal from said VSC to said EEC to reflect a battery-charge maintenance torque of said electric machine.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 11 , further comprising: generating a first desired engine torque signal as a function of said modified accelerator position signal; and generating a second desired engine torque signal as a function of said first desired engine torque signal and said second signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as recited in claim 12 , wherein said powertrain further includes a transmission controller (TCM) coupled to control said transmission, said method further comprising: if a transmission shift event is impending or in progress, providing a TCM-desired transmission input torque signal from said TCM to said EEC; in said EEC, partitioning said TCM-desired transmission input torque signal into a TCM-desired engine torque signal and a TCM-desired electric machine torque signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising: controlling output torque of said engine in view of said first desired engine control signal and said TCM-desired engine torque signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising: providing said TCM-desired electric machine torque signal from said EEC to said VSC; controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque, said second desired electric machine torque and said TCM-desired electric machine torque signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising: providing a third signal from the EEC to the TCM to reflect a target input torque to said transmission, said target input torque to said transmission being a sum of said driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque, and said second desired engine torque signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 16 , further comprising: providing a fourth signal from the EEC to the TCM to reflect a sum of a total engine output torque and said boost or regenerative torque.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator, an electronic engine controller (EEC coupled to control said engine and a transmission controller (TCM) coupled to control said transmission, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing a signal from said EEC to said TCM to reflect a sum of an actual or estimated electric machine torque and an actual or estimated engine output torque; providing a signal from said TCM to said EEC to reflect a TCM-commanded transmission input torque; partitioning said TCM-commanded transmission input torque signal into a TCM-commanded engine torque signal and a TCM-commanded electric machine torque signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain including an engine, a motor/generator, a transmission coupled at an input thereof to receive torque from said engine and said motor/generator coupled to augment torque provided by said engine, an energy storage device coupled to receive energy from and provide energy to said motor/generator, an electronic engine controller (EEC coupled to control said engine and a transmission controller (TCM) coupled to control said transmission, a method for controlling said powertrain comprising: providing a signal from said EEC to said TCM to reflect a sum of an actual or estimated electric machine torque and an actual or estimated engine output torque; providing a signal from said TCM to said EEC to reflect a TCM-commanded transmission input torque; partitioning said TCM-commanded transmission input torque signal into a TCM-commanded engine torque signal and a TCM-commanded electric machine torque signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein said powertrain further comprises a vehicle system controller (VSC) adapted to control said powertrain and wherein said TCM-commanded electric machine torque signal is provided from said EEC to said VSC.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as recited in claim 19 , further comprising: in said VSC, calculating a first desired electric machine torque to reflect a driver-commanded boost or regenerative torque; in said VSC, calculating a second desired electric machine torque to reflect a battery-charge-maintenance torque; and controlling said electric machine in view of said first desired electric machine torque, said second desired electric machine torque and said TCM-commanded electric machine torque signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 20 , wherein, when a transmission shift is impending or is in progress, said TCM-commanded electric machine torque signal overrrides at least said first desired electric machine torque.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5788004A
Cited
US5751137A
Cited
US5720690A
Cited
US5821706A
Cited
US5847520A
Cited
US5841201A
Cited
US5862497A
Cited
US5808427A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-03-05 | 2004-09-04 | 2005-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-05 | 2008-09-04 | 2009-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-05 | 2012-09-04 | 2013-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |