US 11,535,254 B2Granted

Hybrid/electric vehicle control system

AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC

InventorsAllen Magolan, Zachary John Sinisi, Francis Thomas Connolly, Paul Stephen Bryan, Minku Lee, Jason Wroblewski

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A vehicle includes a powertrain having an electric machine and a controller. The controller is programmed to, responsive to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a first threshold for a predetermined time period or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle being greater than a second threshold, transition the powertrain from a nominal driving mode to a performance driving mode. The controller is also programmed to, responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the nominal mode, maintain a power output of the electric machine at a driver demanded power defined by the accelerator pedal position. The controller is further programmed to, responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the performance driving mode, reduce a power output of the electric machine to less than the driver demanded power.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine, each configured to generate and deliver power to a transmission to propel the vehicle;
and
a controller programmed to,
in a nominal driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle;
in a performance driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle, wherein (i) a collective power output of the engine and the electric machine is greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode and (ii) shift points of the transmission relative to vehicle speed are greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode;
responsive to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a first threshold for a predetermined time period or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle being greater than a second threshold, transition the powertrain from the nominal driving mode to the performance driving mode,
responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the nominal mode, maintain a power output of the electric machine at a driver demanded power defined by the accelerator pedal position, and
responsive to an increase in a steering wheel angle while in the performance driving mode, reduce a power output of the electric machine to less than the driver demanded power.

5 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine, each configured to deliver power to a step-ratio transmission to propel the vehicle;
and
a controller programmed to,
in a nominal driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle;
in a performance driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle, wherein (i) a collective power output of the engine and the electric machine is greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode and (ii) shift points of the transmission relative to vehicle speed are greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode;
responsive to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a first threshold for a predetermined time period or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle being greater than a second threshold, transition the powertrain from the nominal driving mode to the performance driving mode,
responsive to a transmission upshift while in the nominal driving mode, adjust a power output of the electric machine to a driver demanded power defined by the accelerator pedal position, and
responsive to a transmission upshift while in the performance driving mode, adjust a power output of the electric machine to less than the driver demanded power.

5 more elements

A vehicle comprising:

a powertrain having an engine and an electric machine, each configured to deliver power to a step-ratio transmission to propel the vehicle;
and
a controller programmed to,
in a nominal driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle;
in a performance driving mode, operate both the engine and the electric machine to propel the vehicle, wherein (i) a collective power output of the engine and the electric machine is greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode and (ii) shift points of the transmission relative to vehicle speed are greater in the performance driving mode than in the nominal driving mode;
responsive to an accelerator pedal position exceeding a first threshold for a predetermined time period or a lateral acceleration of the vehicle being greater than a second threshold, transition the powertrain from the nominal driving mode to the performance driving mode, and
responsive to transitioning to the performance driving mode from the nominal driving mode, increase shift points of the transmission relative to vehicle speed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/437,722Filed 11 Jun 2019
Published: US 2020/0391740 A117 Dec 2020
Granted: 27 Dec 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification35 codes

B60L 15/209
For control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed: for overtaking
B60W 30/182
Propelling the vehicle: selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
B60K 6/48
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
B60K 6/547
Transmission for changing ratio: the transmission being a stepped gearing