Apparatus and method for controlling hybrid vehicle having electric superchargers

An apparatus for controlling a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

• an engine configured to generate power by combusting fuel;
• a drive motor configured to supplement the power from the engine and operate selectively as an electric generator to produce electrical energy;
• a clutch disposed between the engine and the drive motor;
• a battery configured to supply electrical energy to the drive motor and be charged with the electrical energy produced by the electric generator;
• multiple electric superchargers including a first electric supercharger and a second electric supercharger installed in multiple intake lines through which outside air to be supplied into a combustion chamber of the engine flows;
• and
• a controller configured to determine an operation mode of the multiple electric superchargers based on required power of a driver and a state of charge (SOC) of the battery and adjust power output from the engine and power output from the drive motor,
• wherein the required power is determined based on an engagement degree of an accelerator pedal position sensor (APS) mounted within the vehicle and the required power is divided into a highest load state, a high load state, a middle load state, and a low load state,
• wherein the controller is configured to determine a traveling power of the vehicle to be transmitted to drive wheels of the vehicle based upon the required power of the driver;
• wherein when the required power is in the highest load state and the SOC of the battery is a preset value or greater, the controller is configured to:
• determine the operation mode of the multiple electric superchargers so that the engine outputs a maximum power, wherein the determined operation mode of the multiple electric superchargers is a series mode and, wherein in the series mode, the outside air is primarily boosted by the first electric supercharger and is additionally boosted by the second electric supercharger;
• operate the engine to output the maximum power;
• operate the drive motor to output a remaining power that is equal to the traveling power of the vehicle less the maximum power output from the engine;
• operate the battery to supply:
• the drive motor with the remaining power;
• and
• the multiple electric superchargers, electrical components, and an air conditioner with supercharger power required for the electric superchargers,
• electrical component power required for the electrical components, and air conditioner power required for the air conditioner respectively;
• and
• output the traveling power of the vehicle to the drive wheels;
• wherein, when the required power is in the highest load state and the SOC of the battery is less than the preset value, the controller is further configured to:
• determine the operation mode of the multiple electric supercharges to be the series mode so that the engine outputs the maximum power;
• operate the engine to output the maximum power;
• operate the drive motor as an electric generator to generate the supercharger power,
• the electrical component power, and the air conditioner power from the maximum power output by the engine;
• and
• operate the drive motor to supply the supercharger power, the electrical component power, and the air conditioner power to the multiple electric superchargers, the electrical components, and the air conditioner, respectively.