Method of determining engine output power in a hybrid electric vehicle

• Main Authors: CAWTHORNE WILLIAM R, HUBBARD GREGORY A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.11.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; BLASTING; CALCULATING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; COMPUTING; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; CONTROLLING COMBUSTION ENGINES; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT OR PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLEDVEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES, IN GENERAL; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; LIGHTING; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

This novel silent operating mode for a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) reduces noise and emissions compared to traditional HEV operating modes. It is a complementary series of software control functions that allows the vehicle to operate with reduced noise and emissions where specifically needed, while phasing-in engine power where allowed. The method utilizes an energy storage system budget associated with a modal quantity of energy allocated for the mode, and is adapted to automatically adjust the operation of the vehicle to accommodate deviations from the budgeted energy amount. The method which implements the mode also adjusts the vehicle operation in conjunction with changes in the parametric conditions of the ESS, including the selective use of the engine output power. In particular, the silent operating mode comprises a method of selecting an engine output power from a speed-based engine output power and a grade-based engine output power. The grade-based engine output power may be determined from a plurality of vehicle state parameters.