JP3228438B2 - Hybrid vehicle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle, and more particularly, to a hybrid vehicle capable of performing appropriate traveling acceleration according to a driver's intention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, from the viewpoint of protecting the environment of the earth, an electric vehicle that drives a vehicle with clean electric power without using an engine that causes exhaust gas as a driving source has attracted attention. In an electric vehicle, an electric motor is rotated by electric power supplied from a large-capacity driving power source to generate driving force for the vehicle. However, this electric vehicle requires a power supply for driving, and it takes a long time to charge the electric vehicle, and at present, there is not always enough equipment for charging the power supply for driving. Therefore, a parallel type hybrid vehicle in which a conventional engine that can easily supply fuel and a motor that is clean as energy are combined and both drive wheels are directly rotated has been developed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-63901). , USP4533011).
In this parallel hybrid vehicle, driving by an electric motor and an engine is appropriately switched according to various conditions such as a traveling speed and a traveling region by connecting a clutch or the like.

[0003] In a parallel hybrid vehicle, since the vehicle can be driven by the driving force of both the engine and the electric motor, the capacity of both the engine and the electric motor is set to a capacity value that can secure the power performance required for the entire vehicle. Setting is useless. Therefore, it is common to lower the capacities of the two and to assure the required power performance by assisting each other. From an emission control point of view, it is better to avoid using the engine as much as possible.The engine mode runs only with the engine, the motor mode runs only with the electric motor, and the combined mode runs using both the engine and the electric motor. The control for determining whether to run in the mode is an important issue of the hybrid vehicle. In a conventional parallel hybrid vehicle, the depression amount of an accelerator pedal is detected by, for example, an accelerator pedal,
The travel mode is determined according to the depression amount.

[0004]

However, in the conventional parallel type hybrid vehicle, since the driving mode is determined only by the stroke amount of the accelerator pedal, the driver's will to desire a large acceleration force is determined by the driving mode. It was hard to reflect. Therefore, even when the driver does not request acceleration, the driver suddenly enters the combined use mode of the engine and the electric motor, causing a switching shock and giving the driver discomfort. In general, the driver easily depresses the pedal at the moment of starting to start, and once the vehicle starts moving, the pedal is easily released. For this reason, the engine suddenly starts running for a while, which is not favorable in terms of fuel efficiency and exhaust gas. Furthermore, in order to detect the stroke amount of the accelerator pedal or the like, preparative its
Adjustment is required at the time of attachment , and the number of work steps is required. In addition, maintenance for displacement is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a hybrid vehicle capable of obtaining an accurate high output corresponding to a driver's acceleration request.

[0006]

The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 Means for Solving the Problems], to generate a driving force of a vehicle, comprising an electric motor and the engine, based on the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed, motor drive region that is driven only by an electric motor And any one of an engine traveling region in which only the engine travels and a combined traveling region in which the motor and the engine travel together.
The A hybrid vehicle that runs by selecting the change amount detecting means for detecting a change amount of the accelerator opening degree, the variable
Accelerator opening as a criterion for selecting the travel region in accordance with the amount of change of the accelerator opening detected by the change amount detecting means.
And a changing means for changing the above. In the invention according to claim 2 , the hive according to claim 1 is provided.
In a lid type vehicle, the amount of change in the accelerator opening is large.
The higher the value, the greater the criteria for selecting the combined area.
It is characterized in that the cell opening becomes small. In the hybrid vehicle according to the third aspect, the driving force of the vehicle is generated.
Equipped with an electric motor and engine, based on accelerator opening and vehicle speed.
As a reference, the motor running area where only the motor runs
Engine running area where only the engine runs,
Any of the combined driving areas where the engine is used in combination
A hybrid vehicle that selects and runs
And a change amount detecting means for detecting a change amount of the accelerator opening.
And the accelerator opening detected by the change amount detecting means.
According to the amount of change, as a reference for selecting the traveling area
Changing means for changing the vehicle speed.
You. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising: an electric motor and an engine for generating a driving force of the vehicle , an electric motor traveling region in which only the electric motor runs based on an accelerator opening and a vehicle speed , and an engine traveling in which only the engine runs. Area and combined driving area where the motor and engine are used in combination
A hybrid vehicle that runs any of the travel area by selecting one of a pedal force sensor for detecting a depression force depressing the accelerator pedal, in accordance with the detected depression force by the depressing force sensor, the travel area Car as criteria to choose
And changing means for changing the speed . According to the invention described in claim 5, according to claim 3 or 4,
In the hybrid vehicle, the greater the pedaling force
However, the vehicle speed as a criterion for selecting
It is characterized by becoming.

[0007]

That is, in the present invention, the amount of acceleration required by the driver is determined, for example, by the amount of change in accelerator opening (change speed) Δθ.
Or, it is detected from the magnitude of the pedaling force F for depressing the accelerator pedal. Then, in accordance with the required acceleration, the traveling area in the combined mode in which a large driving force can be obtained is expanded. For example, a mode change opening θ for switching from the electric motor mode to the combined mode according to the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening.
c and θc ′ are shifted toward the low accelerator opening. Further, the mode change vehicle speeds Vc and Vc 'for switching from the electric motor mode and the combined mode to the engine mode are shifted to higher vehicle speeds in accordance with the amount of change .DELTA..theta. Furthermore,
For example, the mode change vehicle speeds Vc and Vc 'are shifted to a higher vehicle speed side according to the strength of the accelerator pedal depression force F.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a hybrid vehicle according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a hybrid vehicle . The hybrid vehicle includes an engine 4, and an output shaft thereof is connected to an input shaft of the clutch 12. The output shaft of the clutch 12 is connected to the input side of the transmission (or reduction gear) 6, and the engagement and release of the clutch 12 transmits the rotation of the engine 4 to the transmission 6. The output shaft of the transmission 6 is connected to the rotor input side of the electric motor 3. Electric motor 3
Is transmitted to the drive system output shaft 7.

As the electric motor 3, for example, various electric motors such as a DC brushless DC motor provided with a rotor composed of six-pole permanent magnets and an electromagnetic coil (stator coil) composed of three-phase windings are used. Hybrid vehicles are
An electric power storage device 1 is provided as a power supply for supplying electric power for driving the electric motor 3. This power storage device 1
Examples thereof include various types of secondary batteries such as lead-acid storage batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries, lithium secondary batteries, hydrogen secondary batteries, and redox batteries, fuel cells, and large-capacity capacitors. The power storage device 1 is configured by, for example, a DC power supply of 240 [V].

The hybrid vehicle includes an engine control mechanism 5, a clutch control unit 14, and an electric motor driving device 2 for controlling these components. Engine control mechanism 5
Is adapted to adjust the opening of the throttle valve according to the output torque value requested by the driver by depressing the accelerator pedal 8 or a brake pedal (not shown). The clutch control unit 14 engages and disengages the clutch 12 so as to selectively output the driving force of the engine 4 and the driving force of the electric motor 3 to the drive system output shaft 7 according to the traveling mode of the hybrid vehicle. Control. Hybrid
The driving modes of the C-type vehicle include an electric motor mode in which the electric motor 3 runs alone, an engine mode in which the engine 4 runs alone, and a combined mode in which the electric motor 3 and the engine 4 are used together. One of the modes is automatically selected according to the amount, the stepping speed, the stepping force F, and the vehicle speed.

The motor drive device 2 converts the current supplied from the power storage device 1 into a current value at which a predetermined torque is generated and supplies the current value to the motor 3, and regenerates the electric power from the motor 3 to the power storage device 1. Control. The vehicle speed sensor 21 is an electric motor 3
The vehicle speed V is detected from the rotation speed of the output shaft of the vehicle, and the detected vehicle speed V
Is supplied to the controller 11. Also, the shift lever 18
Signal indicating the shift lever position of the controller 11
Supplied to The hybrid vehicle also includes a required amount detection unit 22 that detects a required amount for a traveling speed and an acceleration by the driver. This request amount detection unit 22
An accelerator pedal 8, a depression amount sensor 10 for detecting the depression amount thereof, and a depression force sensor 9 for detecting a depression force F are provided, and detection signals from both detection devices 10 and 9 are supplied to a controller 11. .

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the required amount detecting section 22. As shown in this figure, the accelerator pedal 8
Is fixed to a floor panel 32 at one end by a pivot 31, and is rotatable about the pivot 31. At the rear of the accelerator pedal 8 (on the floor panel side)
One end of the rod 33 is arranged in contact, and a return spring 34 is arranged around a substantially central portion of the rod 33. The rod 33 moves to the right in the drawing when the accelerator pedal 8 is depressed, and returns to the original position together with the accelerator pedal by the force of the return spring 34 when the depression is released. The other end of the rod 33 is inserted and arranged in the stepping amount sensor 10. The depression amount sensor 10 detects the stroke amount (0) of the rod 33 that enters and exits when the accelerator pedal 8 is depressed.
% To 100%), and the detection signal is supplied to the controller 11 as the accelerator opening θ. Examples of the stepping amount sensor 10 include an optical sensor using reflection of light, a magnetic sensor reading a magnetic pattern recorded on a rod with a read head, a sensor using a semiconductor magnetoresistive element, and a capacitance type sensor. A position sensor or the like is used, and in this embodiment, a potentiometer is used.

A pedaling force sensor 9 is disposed at a position where the end surface of the rod 33 contacts when the accelerator pedal 8 is fully depressed. The pedaling force sensor 9 detects how much the accelerator pedal 8 is depressed after the accelerator pedal is depressed by 100%, and supplies a detection signal to the controller 11 after that. As the pedal force sensor 9, for example, a sensor using a piezoelectric element, a sensor of a type that measures distortion generated according to an external force, a sensor of a type that measures magnetic distortion generated according to an external force, and the like are used. Here, a load cell is used.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the controller 11. As shown in FIG.
Has a CPU (central processing unit) 41 for performing various controls. The CPU 41 is connected to a ROM (Read Only Memory) 42 and RA via bus lines such as a data bus.
An M (random access memory) 43, an input interface 44, and an output port 45 are connected to each other. The ROM 42 stores various programs and data for the CPU 41 to determine a running state and the like based on various signals input from the input interface 44 and to appropriately control each unit. RAM 43 is R
According to the programs and data stored in the OM42, the CP
U41 is a working memory for performing processing, in which various signals input from the input interface 44 and control signals output from the output port 45 are temporarily stored.

A shift lever position signal is supplied from the shift lever 18 to the input interface 44 of the controller 11, an accelerator opening θ, that is, a depression amount is supplied from a depression amount sensor 10, a depression force F is supplied from a depression force sensor 9, and a vehicle speed sensor is supplied. The vehicle speed V is supplied from 21. On the other hand, from the output port 45, various control signals corresponding to various conditions such as a driver request and a running state are output to the engine starting device 16, the engine control mechanism 5, the electric motor driving device 2, and the clutch control unit 14, respectively. It is supposed to be.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. FIG. 4 shows a basic region in which each traveling mode in the hybrid vehicle is determined from the accelerator opening θ and the vehicle speed V. As shown in this figure, when the accelerator opening θ and the vehicle speed V are small, the electric motor 3
The motor mode in which the vehicle travels alone is selected. When the accelerator opening θ increases, the combined mode in which the motor 3 and the engine 4 travel together is selected. When the vehicle speed increases, the engine mode in which the engine 4 travels alone is selected. .

That is, when the vehicle speed V gradually increases and becomes equal to or higher than the mode change vehicle speed Vc, if the accelerator opening θ <the mode change opening θc, the running mode is changed from the electric motor mode to the engine mode, and the accelerator opening is changed. If θ ≧ mode change opening θc, the traveling mode is changed from the combined mode to the engine mode. Conversely, while driving in engine mode,
When the vehicle speed V gradually decreases and becomes equal to or lower than the mode change vehicle speed Vc ', if the accelerator opening .theta. <The mode change opening .theta.c', the driving mode is changed to the motor mode, and the accelerator opening .theta..gtoreq.the mode change opening. If θc, the running mode is changed to the combined mode. On the other hand, in the motor mode in which the vehicle speed V is lower than the mode change vehicle speed Vc, when the accelerator opening θ gradually increases and becomes larger than the mode change opening θc, the mode is changed to the combined mode. Conversely, the vehicle speed V is the mode change vehicle speed V
In the combined mode less than c ′, when the accelerator opening θ gradually decreases and becomes equal to or less than the mode change opening θc ′, the mode is changed to the electric motor mode. When the accelerator opening θ and the vehicle speed V increase, the combination mode is selected in a region indicated by oblique lines. Conversely, when the accelerator opening θ and the vehicle speed V decrease, the combination mode is selected in a region indicated by dots. .

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining the state of change in each of the driving mode basic areas shown in FIG. 4 according to this embodiment. Concept of Changing Running Mode Basic Region When the amount of change Δθ in accelerator opening θ per unit time exceeds a predetermined value, it can be considered that the driver is rapidly depressing the accelerator and expecting rapid acceleration. Therefore, in order to obtain a large acceleration force, the mode change opening θc that changes the mode between the electric motor mode and the combined mode,
By reducing θc ′ and increasing the mode change vehicle speeds Vc and Vc ′ for changing the mode between the electric motor mode, the combined mode and the engine mode, the combined area of the electric motor 3 and the engine 4 (the combined mode area). Is enlarged.
Further, even if the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening θ is equal to or less than a predetermined value, the driver expects rapid acceleration even if the pedaling force F in a state where the accelerator pedal is fully depressed exceeds 100%. In this case as well, the mode change Vc, Vc 'is increased to enlarge the area of the combined mode.

Specific Example of Changing Basic Mode of Running Mode The controller 11 takes in the vehicle speed V at each time from the vehicle speed sensor 21 and also takes in the accelerator opening θ and the pedaling force F by the accelerator pedal 8 from the pedaling amount sensor 10 and the pedaling force sensor 9. . Then, for example, the reference time t
A _{1 1} accelerator opening theta is theta, next moment, the time t ₂
Assuming that the accelerator opening θ becomes θ ₂ , the controller 11 calculates the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening by the following equation (1).
Is calculated. Δθ = (θ ₂ −θ ₁ ) / (t ₂ −t ₁ ) (1) In the controller 11, the mode change opening degrees θc and θc ′ and the mode change vehicle speed V according to the magnitude of the change amount Δθ.
By changing c and Vc ', the area of the combined mode using the electric motor 3 and the engine 4 is expanded.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the area is expanded in the combined mode according to the variation Δθ of the accelerator opening. In this figure, for the sake of simplicity, the mode change opening degree θc and the mode change vehicle speed Vc when increasing are shown, and θc ′ and Vc ′ when decreasing are omitted. As shown in FIG. 5, the controller 1
In step 1, the mode change opening is decreased from θc ₁ to θc ₂ and the mode change vehicle speed is increased from Vc ₁ to Vc ₂ in accordance with the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening θ. As a result, the area of the combined mode by the combined use of the electric motor 3 and the engine 4 becomes
It increases by the area indicated by the oblique lines in the drawing. Here, the changed mode change opening degree θc ₂ is changed from 0% to θc _1.
%, And the changed mode change vehicle speed Vc ₂ can be changed from Vc ₁ to the maximum allowable rotation speed Vm of the electric motor 3. And the controller 11
Is the running mode after the change, the vehicle speed, the accelerator opening θ
According to the above, the engine control mechanism 5, the clutch control unit 1
4. Output necessary control signals to the motor drive device 2.

As described above, by reducing the mode change opening degrees θc and θc ′ in accordance with the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening degree, for example, when the driver suddenly depresses the accelerator pedal 8 at a low speed, the operation mode is changed from the motor mode. Immediately, the mode is switched to the combined mode, and a large acceleration force according to the driver's will can be obtained. In this case, it is considered that the driver expects rapid acceleration and also actively expects switching from the electric motor mode to the combined mode, so that the feeling of discomfort due to the mode switching is small. In addition, by increasing the mode change vehicle speeds Vc and Vc ', the vehicle continues to run under a large acceleration force by the combined mode until the vehicle speed becomes higher, so that the rapid acceleration is continued earlier to the speed desired by the driver. be able to.

FIG. 6 shows a state in which the area is expanded in the combined mode in accordance with the pedaling force F. In this figure, for simplicity, the mode change vehicle speed Vc when the vehicle speed V increases is shown. As shown in this figure, when pedal force F is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the electric motor mode, the mode change speed Vc of mode change between the combined mode and the engine mode, change from Vc ₁ to Vc _2, the combined mode The area is expanding. That is, when the accelerator pedal 8 is set to 1
When the pedal is depressed by 00% (when θ = 100%), the pedaling force F by the driver is detected by the pedaling force sensor 9. In the controller 11, the pedal force F is determined whether a predetermined value or more, equal to or greater than a predetermined value, changes the mode change speed Vc in accordance with the pressing force F from Vc ₁ to Vc _2.
As described above, even if the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening θ is equal to or less than the predetermined value, even when the pedaling force F exceeds the predetermined value, the driver expects rapid acceleration by strongly depressing the accelerator pedal 8. In this case as well, the mode change Vc and Vc 'are increased to enlarge the area of the combined mode. This also makes it possible to obtain an acceleration force corresponding to the driver's request for rapid acceleration.

As described above, in the hybrid vehicle of this embodiment, since the mode switching opening θc and the mode switching vehicle speed Vc at which the mode is switched from the electric motor mode to the combined mode are not determined only by the depression amount of the accelerator pedal 8, it is unexpected. The usage area changes, and no discomfort or sudden feeling is felt. It is controlled by factors that clearly express the driver's will, such as the accelerator pedal depressing speed and the depressing force, so the driver also expects to switch the use area. Further, since the area of the combined mode in which the driving force is large can be expanded according to the driver's will, the acceleration force according to the driver's will can be provided. In addition, since the control is not performed while watching the value of the position where the accelerator pedal 8 is depressed, there is no need to adjust the mounting position of the sensor. Further, maintenance due to aging is not required.

In the embodiment described above, the configuration of the hybrid vehicle shown in FIG. 1 is adopted. However, in the present invention, the configuration shown in FIGS. That is, in the hybrid vehicle shown in FIG. 7, the transmission 6 is disposed closer to the output shaft 7 than the electric motor 3 is. A second clutch 13 is disposed between the electric motor 3 and the transmission 6, and a clutch control unit 15 for controlling engagement and disengagement of the clutch 13 is connected. In the hybrid vehicle shown in FIG. 8, a fluid electric device 17 including a torque converter, a fluid coupling, and the like further includes an engine 4 and a clutch 12.
It is located between. By arranging this fluid transmission, it is easy to set the switching accelerator opening from 0%. Further, the fluid transmission device facilitates synchronization between the engine rotation and the motor rotation without performing special control, and makes it easy to use the combined use region of the motor and the engine when the vehicle is stopped.

In the embodiment described above, the mode change opening is set to θc, and the mode change opening θc is made smaller according to the magnitude of the change Δθ in the accelerator opening.
In the present invention, θc may be set to 100%. That is,
As long as the change amount Δθ of the accelerator opening is small and the pedaling force is small, only the electric motor may be used in the range of θ = 0 to 100%. In the embodiment described above, the pedaling force is converted into the compressive force by the link mechanism of the accelerator pedal 8. However, in the present invention, for example, the pedaling force is reduced by the link mechanism of the accelerator pedal 8 to the pulling force (pulling direction). It may be configured by converting to.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the range of the combined mode in which the electric motor and the engine are used in combination in accordance with the depression speed of the accelerator pedal is expanded, so that it is possible to meet the driver's acceleration request. It is possible to obtain accurate high output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a hybrid vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a request amount detection unit according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a controller according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a basic region in which each driving mode is determined from an accelerator opening θ and a vehicle speed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a region is expanded in a combined mode according to a change amount Δθ of an accelerator opening;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a region is expanded in a combined mode according to a pedaling force F;

FIG. 7 is a configuration diagram of a hybrid vehicle according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a hybrid vehicle according to still another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 power storage device 2 electric motor drive device 3 electric motor 4 engine 5 engine control mechanism 6 transmission (reduction gear) 7 output shaft 8 accelerator pedal 9 pedal force detection device 10 depression amount detection device 11 controller 12 clutch 13 second clutch 14 clutch control Device 15 Second clutch control device 16 Engine starting device 17 Fluid transmission device 18 Shift lever 21 Vehicle speed sensor 22 Request amount detection unit

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI F02D 29/02 F02D 41/04 301C 41/04 301 B60K 9/00 E (56) References JP-A-59-204402 (JP, A) 60-201035 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60K 6/02 B60L 11/00-11/18 F02D 29/00-29/06 F02D 41/00 -41/40

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A generates a driving force of a vehicle, comprising an electric motor and the engine, based on the accelerator opening and the vehicle speed, and the motor drive region that is driven only by the electric motor, and an engine drive region that is driven only by the engine, and an electric motor a hybrid vehicle that runs by selecting one of the travel area of the combined travel area which runs in conjunction with the engine, a change amount detecting means for detecting a change amount of the accelerator opening, the amount of change In accordance with the amount of change in the accelerator opening detected by the detecting means , an access as a reference for selecting the traveling area is provided.
And a changing means for changing an opening degree of the hybrid vehicle. 2. The larger the change in the accelerator opening, the greater the change in the accelerator opening.
The accelerator opening as a criterion for selecting
2. The high according to claim 1, wherein the degree is reduced.
Brid type vehicle. 3. An electric motor for generating a driving force of a vehicle and an air motor.
Equipped with a motor, and runs only on the motor based on the accelerator opening and vehicle speed.
Motor running area and engine running only with engine
Combination of traveling area and traveling with both electric motor and engine
Select one of the driving areas to drive
That a hybrid type vehicle, the change amount detecting means for detecting a change amount of the accelerator opening, the amount of change in the accelerator opening detected by the variation detecting means
The vehicle speed as a criterion for selecting the traveling area is
And a changing means for changing . 4. An electric motor driving area including an electric motor and an engine for generating a driving force of the vehicle, based on an accelerator opening and a vehicle speed , an electric motor driving area for driving only with the electric motor, an engine driving area driving only for the engine, and an electric motor. a hybrid vehicle that runs one of the travel area by selecting one of the combination traveling region which runs in conjunction with the engine, a pedal pressure sensor for detecting a depression force depressing the accelerator pedal, is detected by the depression force sensor The running area
Hybrid vehicle, characterized by comprising changing means for changing the speed of the reference for selecting the frequency, the. 5. A combination area is selected as the pedaling force increases.
Vehicle speed as a criterion for
The hybrid vehicle according to claim 3 or 4, wherein: