Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – One cell or battery charges another – Vehicle battery charging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-30
2001-10-16
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
One cell or battery charges another
Vehicle battery charging
C320S132000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304055
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for efficiently operating a hybrid vehicle and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for storing and dynamically adjusting a state of charge threshold value which is effective to allow torque to be efficiently transferred to the wheels of a hybrid vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A hybrid vehicle typically utilizes several sources of energy which are selectively and alternatively adapted to generate torque which is transferred to the wheels of the vehicle. At least one of these energy sources typically comprises, by way of example and without limitation, an electrical battery assembly which must be periodically “recharged” in combination with an electric motor. The second source of torque usually comprises an internal combustion engine which is typically adapted to generate and communicate torque to the wheels while selectively recharging the battery assembly when the state of charge of the battery assembly (i.e., the amount of electrical charge contained within the battery assembly) falls below a certain threshold value.
Each source of energy typically transfers the respectively produced torque to the vehicle wheels with a certain efficiency which is dependent upon several operating attributes of the vehicle (i.e., the speed of the vehicle). For instance, the internal combustion engine efficiently transfers torque to the wheels at relatively high speeds. However, the torque transfer efficiency of the internal combustion engine is reduced when it is also selectively charging the battery assembly.
A hybrid vehicle does not include an apparatus or employ a method to select one of several energy sources in a manner which is effective to ensure efficient torque transfer operation and does not include an apparatus or a method to operate the selected energy source (e.g., the internal combustion engine) in a manner which further ensures efficient operation and efficient torque transfer, thereby undesirably and unnecessarily wasting a portion of the generated energy.
There is therefore a need for a method and an apparatus for selecting an energy source and for transferring torque in a hybrid vehicle which overcomes at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks of prior hybrid vehicles and which, by way of example and without limitation, allows the generated torque to be efficiently transferred to the wheels of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a first object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for efficiently operating a hybrid vehicle which overcomes at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks of prior hybrid vehicles.
It is a second object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for efficiently transferring torque within a hybrid vehicle.
It is a third object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for selecting one of several energy sources which are operatively disposed within a hybrid vehicle, effective to allow torque to be transferred to the wheels of the vehicle in an efficient manner.
It is a fourth object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for transferring torque within a hybrid vehicle which overcomes at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks of prior hybrid vehicles and which dynamically selects one of several energy sources, depending upon a certain state of charges value, effective to allow the hybrid vehicle to be efficiently operated.
It is a fifth object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for transferring torque within a hybrid vehicle which overcomes at least some of the previously delineated drawbacks of prior hybrid vehicles and which dynamically creates and dynamically modifies a state of charge threshold value effective to allow the hybrid vehicle to be efficiently operated.
According to a first aspect of the present invention an apparatus for use within a hybrid vehicle is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller which stores a state of charge value and which selectively modifies the state of charge value in response to the speed of the vehicle.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a method is provided for use with a hybrid vehicle. The method comprises the steps of creating a state of charge value; monitoring the speed of the hybrid vehicle; and reducing the value in response to an increase in the speed of the vehicle.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and by reference to the following drawings.
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patent: 5786640 (1998-07-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 5820172 (1998-10-01), Brigham et al.
patent: 6166517 (2000-12-01), Wakashiro et al.
patent: WO 95/32100 (1995-11-01), None
Ford Global Tech. Inc.
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Tso Edward H.
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