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AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsTakashi Kawai, Hiroshi Tsujii, Ken Kuretake, Masanori Sugiura, Hideto Hanada
Estimating the term…
The braking force control apparatus for a vehicle which has a function of applying a braking force to the vehicle by rotational resistance of the engine, by stopping the fuel supply to the engine during coasting of the vehicle and by controlling a torque capacity of a torque capacity control device that is provided between the engine and a wheel so that the torque capacity becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, and of decreasing the torque capacity of the torque capacity control device when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and has a function of applying the braking force to the vehicle by a function of an electric power generator which is coupled with the wheel such that power can be transmitted. The braking force control apparatus includes braking force control means which increases a braking force that is generated by the function of the electric power generator when the torque capacity of the torque capacity control device is decreased.
A braking force control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
A braking force control apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
A method of controlling a braking force of a vehicle which includes a torque capacity control device that is provided between an engine and a wheel, and an electric power generator that is coupled with the wheel such that power can be transmitted, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Backward citations are indexed for grants only.
Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles: controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
Characterised by the architecture of the hybrid electric vehicle: parallel type
Dynamic electric regenerative braking: controlling the braking effect
Acting by retarding wheels: by utilising wheel movement for accumulating energy, e.g. driving air compressors
Term end not estimated
The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-107070 filed on Apr. 9, 2002 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus which controls braking force that is generated during coasting of a vehicle, and a method thereof.
FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an example of control according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of a configuration of a vehicle to which an example of control in FIG. 1 can be applied; and
FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram which corresponds to the example of control in FIG. 1.
Next, an embodiment according to the invention will be described. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing configurations of a power train, an electric system and a control system of a vehicle 1 to which the invention is applied. The configuration of the power train of the vehicle 1 will be initially described. The vehicle 1 includes an engine 2 and a motor-generator 3 as a driving force source. The engine 2 is a power unit which outputs power by fuel combustion. As the engine 2, for example, an internal combustion engine, more particularly, a gasoline engine, a diesel engine, an LPG engine or the like, can be employed. A transmission 4 is provided on an output side of the engine 2, and a rotating member 5 of the transmission 4 is coupled with a wheel 6 such that power can be transmitted. Also, the motor-generator 3 is coupled with the rotating member 5 such that power can be transmitted. The motor-generator 3 has a powering function of transforming electric energy to kinetic energy, and a regenerative function of transforming kinetic energy to electric energy.
In addition, a fluid transmission device 7 and a lockup clutch (L/U) 8 are provided in parallel in a power transmission path between the transmission 4 and the engine 2. Also, as an actuator which controls the torque capacity of the lockup clutch 8, that is, an engagement pressure of the lockup clutch 8, for example, a hydraulic control device (not shown) is provided.
Next, the electric system of the vehicle 1 will be described. An alternator 10 is connected to a crank shaft (not shown) of the engine 2 through a transmission device 9. Also, the motor-generator 3 is connected to a capacitor 11, and the capacitor 11 can be charged with electric power generated by the motor-generator 3.