Control device and a method for controlling components of a drivetrain system of a vehicle

A method for controlling a drivetrain system of a vehicle comprising a first switch device for connecting an electric battery to a DC electrical system, a bidirectional converter for enabling electric current to flow from the DC electrical system in alternating fashion to each one of a plurality of windings of a multi-phase AC electric machine for driving the AC electric machine, and enabling electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings to the DC electrical system for recovering electric energy from the AC electric machine, a clutch for coupling the AC electric machine to an internal combustion engine, and a second switch device for connecting at least one of the windings to a heating resistance of an electrically heatable catalyst device in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine, the method comprising:

• operating the drivetrain system in a first operation mode wherein the first switch device connects the electric battery to the DC electrical system, the converter causes electric current to flow from the DC electrical system in alternating fashion to each one of the plurality of windings, and the clutch couples the AC electric machine with the internal combustion engine for starting the internal combustion engine or for supplying an additional torque in the drivetrain system;
• operating the drivetrain system in a second operation mode wherein the internal combustion engine is running, the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the AC electric machine, the converter causes electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings to the DC electrical system, and the first switch device connects the DC electrical system to the electric battery for charging the electric battery;
• operating the drivetrain system in a third operation mode wherein the clutch decouples the AC electric machine from the internal combustion engine, the first switch device connects the electric battery to the DC electrical system, the converter causes electric current to flow from the DC electrical system to the at least one winding or in alternating fashion to each one of the plurality of windings, wherein the second switch device connects the respective winding to the heating resistance of the catalyst device for electrically heating the catalyst device;
• and
• operating the drivetrain system in a fourth operation mode wherein the internal combustion engine is running, the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the AC electric machine, the converter causes electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings via the second switch device to the heating resistance of the catalyst device for electrically heating the catalyst device.

A drivetrain system for a vehicle, the drivetrain comprising:

• a first switch device for connecting an electric battery of the vehicle to a DC electrical system of the vehicle and disconnecting the electric battery from the DC electrical system;
• a bidirectional converter for enabling electric current to flow from the DC electrical system in alternating fashion to each one of a plurality of windings of a multi-phase AC electric machine of the vehicle for driving the AC electric machine and enabling electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings to the DC electrical system for recovering electric energy from the AC electric machine;
• a clutch for coupling the AC electric machine with an internal combustion engine of the vehicle;
• a second switch device for connecting at least one of the windings of the AC electric machine to a heating resistance of an electrically heatable catalyst device in an exhaust passage of the internal combustion engine;
• and
• a control device for controlling the first switch device, the converter, and the clutch, wherein the control device causes the drivetrain to operate in at least one of the operating modes selected from the group consisting of:
• a first operation mode wherein the first switch device connects the electric battery to the DC electrical system, the converter causes electric current to flow from the DC electrical system in alternating fashion to each one of the plurality of windings, and the clutch couples the AC electric machine with the internal combustion engine for starting the internal combustion engine or for supplying an additional torque in the drivetrain system;
• a second operation mode wherein the internal combustion engine is running, the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the AC electric machine, the converter causes electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings to the DC electrical system, and the first switch device connects the DC electrical system to the electric battery for charging the electric battery;
• a third operation mode wherein the clutch decouples the AC electric machine from the internal combustion engine, the first switch device connects the electric battery to the DC electrical system, the converter causes electric current to flow from the DC electrical system to the at least one winding or in alternating fashion to each one of the plurality of windings, the second switch device connects the respective winding to the heating resistance of the catalyst device for electrically heating the catalyst device;
• and
• a fourth operation mode wherein the internal combustion engine is running, the clutch couples the internal combustion engine with the AC electric machine, the converter causes electric current to flow in alternating fashion from each one of the plurality of windings via the second switch device to the heating resistance of the catalyst device, and the second switch device connects the respective winding to the heating resistance for electrically heating the catalyst device.