# US 10,500,966 B2 · Adaptive boost voltage for hybrid vehicle operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,500,966 B2 - Document ID: US10500966B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/366,081 - Filed: 2016-12-01 - Published: 2018-06-07 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-01 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Lihua Chen; Yan Zhou; Shuitao Yang; Mohammed Khorshed Alam; Fan Xu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500966B2 ## CPC - H02M 3/158: including plural semiconductor devices as final control devices for a single load - B60L 50/10: using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines - B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer - B60W 50/082: {Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling} - H02M 1/15: using active elements - H02M 7/53871: {with automatic control of output voltage or current} - B60K 6/22: characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs - B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters - B60L 2210/40: DC to AC converters - B60L 2240/527: Voltage - B60W 2540/215: Selection or confirmation of options - B60W 2556/10: Historical data - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2400/61: Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters - H02M 1/0054: {Transistor switching losses (periodically suspending operation of switching converter in low power mode H02M1/0035)} - H02M 1/007: {Plural converter units in cascade (push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826)} - H02M 1/008: {Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators} - H02M 3/157: with digital control - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - Y02T 10/92: Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles - Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations - Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles - Y10S 903/904: Component specially adapted for hev - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A powertrain includes a DC-DC converter, an electric machine, and a controller. The DC-DC converter may be configured to output a bus voltage. The controller may be configured to, in response to a torque request exceeding an available torque of the electric machine, command the converter to boost the bus voltage to a discrete step value selected from a predetermined number of available discrete step values, that changes in response to a selected operating mode of the powertrain changing, to increase the available torque. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A powertrain comprising: a DC-DC converter configured to output a bus voltage; an electric machine; and a controller configured to, in response to a torque request exceeding an available torque of the electric machine, command the converter to boost the bus voltage to a discrete step value selected from a predetermined number of available discrete step values, that changes in response to a selected operating mode of the powertrain, to increase the available torque, wherein magnitudes of at least some of the available discrete step values are based on percentages of drive-cycle time at which the powertrain operates with particular torques, speeds, and powers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein a magnitude of each of the available discrete step values is based on the selected operating mode. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to update the magnitudes of the at least some of the available discrete step values based on historical operating data of the powertrain. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to hold the discrete step value for at least a predetermined duration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The powertrain of claim 4, wherein the predetermined duration is defined by the selected operating mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the selected operating mode is selected by a user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The powertrain of claim 1, wherein the selected operating mode is performance, sport, normal, or economy. ### Claim 8 A vehicle comprising: an electric machine configured to provide propulsive force to the vehicle at a bus voltage; and a controller configured to cause a converter to output the bus voltage at a discrete step value that is selected from a predetermined number of available discrete step values, and to change at least some of the available discrete step values in response to an operating mode of the electric machine, wherein magnitudes of at least some of the available discrete step values are based on percentages of drive-cycle time at which a powertrain that includes the electric machine operates with particular torques, speeds, and powers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to change the predetermined number in response to the operating mode of the electric machine changing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to update the magnitudes of the at least some of the available discrete step values based on historical operating data of the powertrain that includes the electric machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to hold the discrete step value for at least a predetermined duration. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the predetermined duration is defined by the operating mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the operating mode is selected by a user. ### Claim 14 A method of controlling a DC-DC converter comprising: in response to a torque request to a motor coupled with the converter exceeding an available torque, outputting by the converter for at least a predetermined duration a bus voltage at a discrete step value selected from a predetermined number of available discrete step values, and updating magnitudes of at least some of the discrete step values based on historical powertrain operating data; and in response to a selected powertrain operating mode, changing the predetermined number. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined duration is based on the selected powertrain operating mode. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the magnitudes are based on the selected powertrain operating mode. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the selected powertrain operating mode is sport, normal, or economy.