FR3083489A1 - ELECTRICITY GENERATION CONTROL SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control system for producing electricity for an electric vehicle. The control system includes a power generation control module that initiates power generation (S2) by the generator by starting the engine after detecting that a manually operable switch is activated; and an electricity production alert module which alerts the driver (S3) of the vehicle that it is necessary to charge the battery by activating the switch in order to start the production of electricity from the generator in the event that it is almost impossible to safely drive the vehicle from the current position to the desired destination. Figure of the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM

Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a system for controlling the production of electricity.

Prior Art [0002] The document WO 2011/089726 A1 discloses an electric vehicle supplied with an electric generator of the motor type and a switch placed on a dashboard. The switch is the means to send a request from the driver to the electric generator.

The electric generator, disclosed in document WO 2011/089726 A1, is started when the driver activates the switch.

Technical problem [0004] However, in the known electric vehicle, a battery is not recharged but is discharged in order to supply electricity to a traction motor unless the switch is manually activated, increasing the probability that the vehicle will not allow plus ensure safe driving and must stop on the road. This can hinder circulation.

An object of the present invention to provide a control system for producing electricity capable of preventing the charge of a battery from falling below a level too low to be able to drive a vehicle safely even if the driver of the vehicle does not start producing electricity. Technical solution [0006] The invention relates to a system for controlling the production of electricity for an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle has a motor configured to move the vehicle, a battery supplying electricity to the motor, a generator configured to charge the battery, an internal combustion engine configured to drive the generator, a switch that can be manually operated by the driver of the vehicle, and a destination setting module which can be actuated manually so as to define a destination. The electricity production control system comprises: an electricity production control module which starts the production of electricity from the generator by starting the engine after detecting that the switch is activated; and an electricity production alert module warning the driver that it is necessary to charge the battery by activating the switch in order to start the electricity production of the generator in the event that it is almost impossible to drive in full secures the vehicle from the current position to the desired destination.

According to one embodiment, the electricity production control system comprises: a power adjustment module which can be actuated manually by the driver in order to adjust the amount of electricity; and a power adjustment alert module indicating to the driver the amount of electricity adjusted based on the level of battery charge required to safely drive the vehicle from the current position to the desired destination.

According to one embodiment, the power adjustment alert module indicates to the driver the quantity of electricity adjusted at a suitable time based on the possibility of charging the battery.

Advantages provided [0009] Thus, the present embodiment makes it possible to prevent the charge of a battery from falling below a level which is too low to be able to drive an electric vehicle safely even if the driver of the vehicle does not launch not the production of electricity.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig.l [fig.l] is a block definition diagram of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment;

Fig.2 [0011] [fig.2] is a flow chart of the procedures initiated by the electric vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a control system for the production of electricity for an electric vehicle. The electric vehicle has a motor configured to move the vehicle, a battery supplying electricity to the motor, a generator configured to charge the battery, an internal combustion engine configured to drive the generator, a switch that can be manually operated by the driver of the vehicle, and a destination setting module which can be actuated manually so as to define a destination. The electricity production control system comprises: an electricity production control module which starts the production of electricity from the generator by starting the engine after detecting that the switch is activated; and an electricity production alert module warning the driver that it is necessary to charge the battery by activating the switch in order to start the electricity production of the generator in the event that it is almost impossible to drive in full secures the vehicle from the current position to the desired destination. Thus, the present embodiment makes it possible to prevent the charge of a battery from falling below a level too low to be able to drive an electric vehicle safely even if the driver of the vehicle does not start the production of electricity.

Description of the embodiments With reference to the accompanying drawings, an electricity production control system according to one embodiment is described.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric vehicle, generally designated by the number 10, comprises a motor 20, a generator 30, wheels 12, a motor generator 40 (MG) configured so as to move the vehicle 10, a traction battery 50, a control device taking the form of an electronic control unit (ECU) 100, and a starter (which is not shown) for the rotation of the motor 20 during start-up. The electric vehicle 10 is moved by the MG 40.

The engine 20 is formed from a plurality of cylinders. In the present embodiment, the engine 20 is a four-stroke engine in which four piston strokes are required to complete a cycle. The cycle includes four separate processes: intake, compression, explosion (or detent) and exhaust.

The generator 30 is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine 20 via drive elements such as gears so that the generator 30 is driven by the engine 20 to produce electricity.

The MG 40 is a rotary electrical device ensuring the function of a motor and a generator, connected by drive to the wheels 12 via driving axles 11.

The battery 50 is an accumulator taking the form of a lithium-ion battery. The battery 50 is electrically connected to the generator 30 and to the MG 40 in order to supply electricity to the MG 40 and electrical components or to receive electricity from the generator 30 and the MG 40.

The ECU 100 consists of a computer unit comprising a processor (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory for saving data, input ports and output ports.

The computer unit ROM stores programs in addition to different constants and different programs so that the computer unit acts as an ECU 100. In other words, the computer unit is made to act UCE 100 by allowing the CPU to execute programs stored on the ROM using RAM as the work area.

Are connected to the ECU 100: the motor 20; the generator 30; MG 40; a detection module taking the form of a battery sensor 51; an accelerator position sensor 60; a switch 70; a navigation system for car 80 and a starter. The ECU 100 controls the engine 20, the generator 30 and the MG 40.

The battery sensor 51 detects the charge level (SOC) of the battery 50, thus acting as a charged capacity detector. The accelerator position sensor 60 detects the position of the accelerator pedal 61. Each of these sensors provides the ECU 100 with a signal indicating the detection results.

The switch 70 is placed on a dashboard inside the vehicle 10 so that it can be actuated manually by an occupant of the vehicle. The switch 70 can take the form of an icon on the screen, for example, of the car navigation system 80. In addition, the switch 70 can be provided on a remote control in order to start the vehicle 10 or it may take the form of specialized application software installed on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone.

The switch 70 can be actuated manually by an occupant of the vehicle in order to allow the generator 30 to produce electricity by starting the engine 20. Once the switch 70 is activated, the ECU 100 causes the generator 30 to produce electricity by keeping the motor 20 running. With the electricity produced, the battery 50 is charged.

In addition, the switch 70 consists of a button or a dial to facilitate handling and adjust the amount of electricity to be produced. More specifically, the switch 70 includes a power adjustment module 71 which can be actuated manually in order to adjust the amount of electricity.

An example of the power adjustment module 71, if the switch 70 consists of a button, includes a "+" button and a "-" button. The plus button is manually pressed to increase the amount of electricity to be produced, while the minus button is manually pressed to reduce the amount of electricity to be produced. In this case, the switch 70 is activated or deactivated by manually pressing an ON / OEE button remote from the plus and minus buttons.

An example of the power adjustment module 71, if the switch 70 consists of a wheel, comprises a wheel which is manually turned in a direction of rotation in order to increase the amount of electricity to be produced or in the direction opposite rotation to reduce the amount of electricity to be produced. In this case, the switch 70 is activated or deactivated by manually pressing an ON / OEE button remote from the dial. As a variant, the switch 70 is activated by manually turning the aforementioned wheel from its initial position or deactivated by returning the wheel to its initial position.

The configuration of the switch 70 and that of the power adjustment module 71 are not limited to the above-mentioned examples. The switch 70 and the power adjustment module 71 can adopt other desired configurations which enable / disable and adjust the amount of electricity to be generated.

The car navigation system 80 includes a display device which displays map information; a touch screen type input device that acquires a destination given by the occupant of a vehicle; a current position detector which detects current replacement of the vehicle 10; routing software able to calculate the route when instructions are required to reach the desired destination from the current position; distance software able to calculate the distance from the current position to the desired destination when taking the route that best meets one of the selected criteria (shortest, cheapest, fastest, etc.) between the desired destination and the current position on a road network; and an information history storage unit. The car navigation system 80 can define the destination given by an occupant of the vehicle to a destination point on the road network. In other words, the car navigation system 80 acts as a destination setting module to define the destination point on the road network.

The car navigation system 80 is connected to the ECU 100 so that they communicate with each other. For example, the car navigation system 80 receives various information from the ECU 100 (vehicle speed, etc.) and gives information to the ECU 100, such as the distance which is calculated by the tracking software. distance from the current position to the desired destination.

The ECU 100 acts as an electricity production control module 101 which starts the production of electricity from the generator 30 by starting the engine 20 after having detected that the switch 70 is activated. Subsequently, when a predetermined condition, such as the fact that the SOC _beat of the battery 50 must not be less than a desired SOC, is satisfied, the ECU 100 stops the production of electricity from the generator 30 by cutting the motor 20. After the start of the production of electricity, the ECU 100 stops the production of electricity from the generator 30 after having detected the deactivation of the switch 70.

The ECU 100 acts as an electricity production alert module 102 warning an operator that it is necessary to charge the battery 50 by activating the switch 70 in order to start the production of electricity from the generator 30 in the event that the SOC _beat of the battery 50 is too low to be able to safely drive the vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination.

More specifically, the ECU 100 determines whether or not it is almost impossible to drive the vehicle 10 safely from the current position to the desired destination and determines that it is almost impossible to drive the vehicle safely 10 from the current position to the desired destination if the remaining range which is calculated on the basis of the SOC _batt of the battery 50 is not sufficient in order to be able to safely drive the vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination . The ECU 100 refers to the cartographic data which correlates the SOC _batt of the battery 50 and the remaining autonomy and determines the remaining autonomy which depends on the current SOC _batt of the battery 50. The cartographic data are on an experimental basis determined and stored on the ROM of the ECU 100.

It may be that the determination that it is possible to safely drive the vehicle 10 to the desired destination is no longer valid once the traffic conditions are no longer considered normal and / or after having departed of the original route. In order to solve the aforementioned problem, after the vehicle 10 has started to reach the desired destination, the ECU 100 determines whether or not it is almost impossible to safely drive the vehicle 10 to the desired destination at regular intervals or at each predetermined distance traveled by the vehicle 10. Such repeated determination allows the ECU 100 to warn the driver of the vehicle that it is necessary to charge the battery 50 when it is determined that it is practically impossible to drive safely vehicle 10 to the desired destination. Thus, the ECU 100 can quickly warn the driver of the vehicle that it is necessary to charge the battery 50.

Any acceptable system can be used to warn the driver of the need to charge the battery 50. When it is determined that it is almost impossible to safely drive the vehicle 10 to the desired destination, the 'UCE 100 may use an audible warning device, which is not shown, and / or the screen of the car navigation system 80 in order to warn the driver that it is necessary to charge the battery 50 The audible warning device can emit a ring tone, an alarm or a pre-recorded voice. The screen may display a predetermined alert message in order to warn of the need to charge the battery 50. In other embodiments, an indicator light located on the dashboard can be lit or flash in order to warn of the need charge the battery 50.

The ECU 100 acts as a power adjustment alert module (103) which warns the driver of the amount of electricity adjusted on the basis of the SOC _dst of the battery 50 required in order to safely drive the vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination.

More specifically, the ECU 100 calculates the SOC _dst of the battery 50 required in order to drive safely to the desired destination over a distance which is calculated by the navigation system for car 80. The ECU 100 refers to map data that correlates the SOCdst of battery 50 and distance and determines the SOC _dst of battery 50 which is dependent on distance. The cartographic data are determined on an experimental basis and stored on the ROM of the ECU 100. This cartographic data can be replaced by the aforementioned cartographic data which correlate the SOC _batt of the battery 50 and the remaining autonomy.

The ECU 100 calculates the amount of electricity produced while the vehicle 10 is driven from the current position to the desired destination on the basis of the amount of electricity after adjustment by an operator via the power adjustment module 71 and the time required to drive vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination. The time required to drive vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination must be calculated taking into account the traffic situation.

The ECU 100 determines whether or not a power adjustment is required by comparing the SOC _req that the battery 50 is required to have if the quantity of electricity calculated is produced with the SOC _dst mentioned above. It is determined whether the SOC _req is much higher than the above mentioned SOC _dst (SOC _req "SOC _dst ) or much lower than the above mentioned SOC _dst (SOC _req ": SOC _dst ) or whether the SOC _req remains within a predetermined range of SOC around the SOC _dst .

The ECU 100 indicates to an occupant of the vehicle 10 the quantity of electricity adjusted at a convenient time based on the possibility of charging the battery 50 and alerts the occupant of the vehicle 10. The possibility of charging denotes the charging efficiency of a battery in the predetermined situation. The possibility of charging depends on the SOC _batt of the battery 50 so that the charging possibility is low and the charging efficiency is also low in a range where the SOC _batt of the battery is high, while the charging possibility is and highest charging efficiency is also high in the range where the SOC _batt of the battery is low.

As a result, the ECU 100 alerts the occupant of vehicle 10 of the amount of electricity adjusted at the appropriate time when the possibility of charging is high and therefore the charging efficiency is high. The fuel consumption by the engine 20 which drives the generator 30 is reduced. In addition, the battery 50 is efficiently charged.

The car navigation system 80 receives via the ECU 100 the current SOC _{batt data} from the battery 50. With the aid of this data, the car navigation system 80 can identify several routes, if necessary. , driving the vehicle 10 to the desired destination without recharging the battery 50.

In addition, the car navigation system 80 can identify one or more routes helping to reduce the time required for the vehicle 10 to reach the desired destination even if the battery 50 may have to be sought by the generator. 30 and / or it can identify one or more routes contributing to reducing the costs required for the vehicle 10 to reach the desired destination. The costs required for the vehicle 10 to reach the desired destination include the costs linked to the fuel consumed by the engine 20.

Based on the flowchart of FIG. 2, the procedures initiated by the ECU 100 are explained.

In step SI, the destination is defined in response to the input of an operator on the car navigation system 80. The ECU 100 determines whether or not the production of electricity is necessary in order to reach the desired destination.

More specifically, the ECU 100 determines whether or not the production of electricity is necessary in order to reach the desired destination by determining whether or not the vehicle 10 is able to reach the desired destination from the current position based on the current SOC _batt of battery 50.

If it is determined that the production of electricity is necessary, a decision step S2 joins step S3. If it is determined that electricity production is not necessary, decision step S2 joins step S4. In step S3, the ECU 100 warns an occupant of the vehicle 100 that it is necessary to charge the battery 50. The ECU 100 can use an audible warning device, which is not shown, and / or on the screen of the car navigation system 80 in order to warn the driver that it is necessary to charge the battery 50.

The ECU 100 determines whether or not the power adjustment module 71 is handled by an occupant of the vehicle. If the power adjustment module 71 is not manipulated, the decision step S4 reaches an end point and the present procedure ends.

If the power adjustment module 71 is handled by an occupant of the vehicle, the decision step S4 joins step S5. The ECU 100 determines whether or not a power adjustment is necessary. More specifically, the ECU 100 determines that the power adjustment is necessary if it is determined that the SOC _req is much higher than the SOC _dst (SOC _re q "SOC _dst ) or much lower than the SOC _dst (SOC _req ": SOC _dst ), i.e. if SOC _re q is not included in the predetermined range of SOC around SOC _dst . The ECU 100 determines that the power adjustment is not necessary if it is determined that the SOC _req remains within the predetermined range of SOC around the SOC dsf [0050] If it is determined that the power adjustment does not is not necessary, the decision step S5 reaches the end point and the present procedure ends.

If it is determined that the power adjustment is necessary, the decision step S5 joins step S6. In step S6, the ECU 100 alerts the occupant of the vehicle 10 that it is necessary to adjust the amount of power and the present procedure ends.

As described in this embodiment, the electricity production control system warns an occupant of the vehicle 10 that it is necessary to charge the battery 50 by turning on the generator 30 in the event of difficulty in being able to safely drive the vehicle 10 from the current position to the desired destination, preventing the SOC _beat from the battery 50 from reaching a level where it is impossible to move the vehicle 10. Consequently, it prevents the vehicle 10 does not have to stop on the road due to a power failure of battery 50.

In addition, in this embodiment, the electricity production control system can prevent the battery 50 from failing by avoiding the complete discharge of the battery 50.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the electricity production control system can warn the occupant of the vehicle 10 that it is necessary to adjust the amount of electricity based on the SOC _dst of the battery 50 required in order to be able to drive safely from the current position to the desired destination. With this configuration, the electricity production control system can reduce the fuel consumption required by the engine 20 to drive the generator 30 and it can prevent the battery 50 from being completely discharged.

Although the invention relates to, but is not limited to, the present embodiment, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. . By way of example, the generator 30 can take the form of a starting generator serving as a generator and a motor starter although, in the preceding description, the generator 30 is supplied separately from a motor starter. All of these modifications and their equivalents are covered by the present invention.

List of reference signs

- 10: Vehicle;

- 20: Internal combustion engine or engine;

- 30: Generator;

- 40: Engine or engine generator;

- 50: Battery;

-51: SOC detection module or battery sensor;

- 60: Accelerator position sensor;

- 61: Accelerator pedal;

- 70: Switch;

- 71: Power adjustment module;

- 80: Destination input module in the form of car navigation;

- 100: Control device or ECU;

- 101: Electricity production control module;

- 102: Electricity production alert module;

- 103: Power adjustment alert module:

Patent document 1: WO 2011/089726 A1

Claims (1)

claims [Claim 1] Control system for producing electricity for an electric vehicle (10), the electric vehicle having a motor (40) configured to move the vehicle (10), a battery (50) supplying electricity to the motor (40), a generator (30) configured to charge the battery (50), an internal combustion engine (20) configured to drive the generator (30), a switch (70) operable by the driver of the vehicle, and a destination setting module (80) which can be manually actuated so as to define a destination, the electricity production control system comprising: an electricity production control module (101) which starts the production of electricity by the generator (30) by starting the engine (20) after detecting that the switch (70) is activated; and an electricity production alert module (102) warning the driver that it is necessary to charge the battery (50) by activating the switch (70) in order to start the production of electricity from the generator (30) in the event that it is almost impossible to drive the vehicle (10) safely from the current position to the desired destination. [Claim 2] Electricity production control system according to claim 1 which comprises: a power adjustment module (71) which can be actuated manually by the driver in order to adjust the amount of electricity; and a power setting alert module (103) indicating to the driver the amount of electricity adjusted based on the battery charge level (50) required to safely drive the vehicle (10) from the position current to the desired destination. [Claim 3] The electricity production control system of claim 2, wherein the power setting alert module (103) indicates to the driver the amount of electricity adjusted at a convenient time based on the possibility of charging the battery ( 50). 1/2